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 Tampa owes its commercial success to Tampa Bay and the Hillsborough River. Development of the Tampa Bay region began in 1845. In spite of the blockade and Federal occupation during the Civil War, the area grew steadily. Henry B. Plant's 1884 railroad extension to the Hillsborough River provided access to new areas, and he built lavish hotels along his rail line to attract visitors. 10 years later, Tom's Grandfather and Great-Grandfather moved to Tampa along with the growing railroad. When phosphates were discovered nearby in the late 1880s, the resulting mining and shipping industries prompted a boom of growth and wealth that lasted through the 1890s. Tampa's port is now the seventh largest in the nation; today phosphate shipping is supplemented by trade in shrimp. A pleasure cruise line operates as well. In 1886 Vicente Martinez Ybor established a cigar factory in Tampa. Hispanic culture enlivens Ybor City, which covers about 2 square miles. The military has also had an ongoing role in Tampa's development. The city was the primary outfitting and embarkation port for U.S. troops bound for Cuba during the Spanish-American War. Today the U.S. Operations Command is headquartered nearby at MacDill Air Force Base. The advent of the automobile was responsible for a large settlement wave that occurred 1923-26. Many subdivisions were built during this era; one of the most notable was Davis Island, a man-made island created by D.P. Davis. The elegant homes Davis built remain some of Tampa's loveliest.  The Tampa downtown business district has grown phenomenally since the 1960s. Major banks and an increasing number of other corporations occupy large glass, steel and concrete buildings that tower high above the Bay. The Tampa Convention Center, overlooking the Hillsborough River, offers meeting facilities and features an erupting fire and water sculpture.In January of 2003, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers became home to the Lombardi Trophy after a 48-21 victory over Oakland in Super Bowl XXXVII. Tampa has evolved into a multi-cultural, diverse business center with sustainable communities for its citizens. People of all ages arrive here to escape the winters of wherever they came from, and an increasing number of them stay for good. Mayor: Pam Iorio http://www.tampagov.net/ |
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