New Tampa
Encyclopedia
New Tampa is an area in Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...

 that encompasses both a 24 square miles (62.2 km²) area within the corporate limits of the City of Tampa
Tampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....

, as well as a larger land area that is in unincorporated Hillsborough
Hillsborough County, Florida
As of the census of 2000, there were 998,948 people, 391,357 households, and 255,164 families residing in the county. The population density was 951 people per square mile . There were 425,962 housing units at an average density of 405 per square mile...

, but retains a Tampa mailing address. The incorporated portion of "New Tampa" that lies within the city limits of Tampa is one of the largest city neighborhoods. The area has grown rapidly since being annexed by the city of Tampa in 1988. As of the 2000 census, the district had a population of 22,466. Many new master planned residential communities are planned or already under construction. Big-box store
Big-box store
A big-box store is a physically large retail establishment, usually part of a chain. The term sometimes also refers, by extension, to the company that operates the store...

s are following the boom in population and are transforming this once rural area.

"New Tampa" may also refer to a larger area that includes the area described above as well as parts of Wesley Chapel, an unincorporated area that abuts Hillsborough county to the north. Although neither technically nor officially part of the Tampa designated neighborhood New Tampa, most Tampa area residents identify the entire area as New Tampa.

Description

New Tampa is bounded by Lutz
Lutz, Florida
Lutz is an unincorporated census-designated place in Hillsborough County, Florida, United States. The population was 19,344 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Lutz is located at ....

 to the west, Wesley Chapel
Wesley Chapel, Florida
Wesley Chapel is a census-designated place in Pasco County, Florida, United States. Wesley Chapel is considered part of the Tampa Bay Area metro. The population was 44,092 at the 2010 census. In 2003, some residents of Wesley Chapel started a movement to incorporate the community...

 to the north, Morris Bridge Road (near Thonotosassa
Thonotosassa, Florida
Thonotosassa is an unincorporated census-designated place in Hillsborough County, Florida, United States. The population was 6,091 at the 2000 census.-History:...

) to the east, and the University
University, Florida
University is an unincorporated census-designated place in Hillsborough County, Florida, United States. The population was 41,163 at the 2010 census. It is the home of University of South Florida located just east of the community. The community is also known as University West, mainly due to its...

 community and the University of South Florida
University of South Florida
The University of South Florida, also known as USF, is a member institution of the State University System of Florida, one of the state's three flagship universities for public research, and is located in Tampa, Florida, USA...

 to the south.

Demographics

As of the census
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...

of 2000, there are 22,466 residing in the district. 14,891 families, and 15,447 households. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...

 is 936/mi². There are 11,143 housing units at an average density of 464.3/mi². The racial makeup of the district is 80.77% White, 6.13% Black, 0.51% Native American, 7.46% Asian, less than 0.01% Pacific Islander, 2.98% from some other race. 8.82% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

NOTE: The demographic numbers excludes Pebble Creek
Pebble Creek, Florida
Pebble Creek is an unincorporated census-designated place in Hillsborough County, Florida, United States. The population was 4,824 at the 2000 census...

, which is in unincorporated Hillsborough County
.

Population explosion and building explosion

New Tampa has seen extraordinary growth in the past few years. The population rose from 7,145 residents in 1990 to 26,634 in 2000, an increase of 19,489 or 272.7%. The population was estimated at 37,350 in 2005. New Tampa is accounting for 52% of Tampa's citywide growth and is expected to continue. Housing units increased by 850 between 2004 and 2005 to a total of 15,340 and many new subdivision are being built which is causing the extraordinary growth.

History

Although first settled in the mid-19th century, New Tampa remained undeveloped until the late-1980s, when the city of Tampa annexed the 24 square miles (62.2 km²) area. Its oldest neighborhood, Tampa Palms, although originally developed when the area was still unincorporated
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...

, did not thrive until the district boom of the 1990s. Most of the city's growth in the 1990s occurred in this district.

Development

The explosive growth of New Tampa, both in terms of residential and commercial properties, has given rise to a great deal of confusion regarding where the area of New Tampa extends to. For instance the annual "Taste of New Tampa" culinary event was held in Wesley Chapel
Wesley Chapel, Florida
Wesley Chapel is a census-designated place in Pasco County, Florida, United States. Wesley Chapel is considered part of the Tampa Bay Area metro. The population was 44,092 at the 2010 census. In 2003, some residents of Wesley Chapel started a movement to incorporate the community...

, Pasco County, not in part to it being a part of the New Tampa community, but due to failure to find an acceptable location. The end result is that the New Tampa and Wesley Chapel communities are both separate communities each and of their own.

Another "growing pain" for the New Tampa area is the amount of infrastructure improvements being made to accommodate the fast growth of the area. Numerous residential developments, including high density housing (condominiums, townhouses, etc.), continue to dot the landscape while several retail outlets were planned for completion by the end of 2008, including the Cypress Creek Town Center Mall. Roadways, like Bruce B. Downs Boulevard
Bruce B. Downs Boulevard
State Road 581, also known as Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, is a 3.6-mile north–south road in Pasco County, extending from State Road 56, north to SR 54 in Wesley Chapel...

 continue to deal with vehicle traffic well above the numbers the roadways were built to support, making for slower traffic movement in the area. Citizens groups, continue to petition elected officials of both City and County Office for relief from these problems. Recently many major roadway improvements have begun and/or been completed to include, the widening of Cross Creek Blvd., the initial construction of the I-75 flyover ramp from the westbound traffic lane of Bruce B. Downs Blvd to the Southbound lane of I-75 S. Roadway projects also in future city planning roadway plans are the widening of Bruce B Downs Blvd from Bearss Ave. east to the County Line Rd. intersection, the construction of the Friendship bridge to connect West Meadows Blvd. (in the West Meadows community) and Commerce Park Blvd (in Tampa Palms), and the construction of the highly debated East-West Connector Road to connect New Tampa directly to I-275 south (to be located north of Livingston Ave Bridge and the Bearss Ave Exit).

Major roads and highways in New Tampa

  • Bruce B. Downs Boulevard
    Bruce B. Downs Boulevard
    State Road 581, also known as Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, is a 3.6-mile north–south road in Pasco County, extending from State Road 56, north to SR 54 in Wesley Chapel...

  • Cross Creek Boulevard
    Cross Creek Boulevard
    Cross Creek Boulevard is a road located in New Tampa area of Tampa, Florida. It runs four miles in length, starting in the west at Bruce B. Downs Blvd., running to the east at Morris Bridge Road. It provides access to many residential areas, shopping centers, schools, the New Tampa Regional...

  • Interstate 75
    Interstate 75
    Interstate 75 is a major north–south Interstate Highway in the Great Lakes and Southeastern regions of the United States. It travels from State Road 826 and State Road 924 in Hialeah, Florida to Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, at the Ontario, Canada, border...

  • Morris Bridge

See also

  • Neighborhoods in Tampa, Florida
    Neighborhoods in Tampa, Florida
    The city of Tampa, Florida is officially divided into five geographical regions: North Tampa, West Tampa, East Tampa, South Tampa, and New Tampa, each coinciding with a respective Tampa City Council district...

  • Tampa Palms
  • Wesley Chapel
    Wesley Chapel, Florida
    Wesley Chapel is a census-designated place in Pasco County, Florida, United States. Wesley Chapel is considered part of the Tampa Bay Area metro. The population was 44,092 at the 2010 census. In 2003, some residents of Wesley Chapel started a movement to incorporate the community...

    , similar area in Pasco County, borders New Tampa at County Line Rd.
  • Westchase
    Westchase, Florida
    Westchase is an unincorporated census-designated place in Hillsborough County, Florida, United States. The population was 11,116 as of the 2000 census. The Census area is co-extensive with the ZIP code that serves the area . Westchase is also one of the wealthiest areas of Hillsborough County.-...


External links

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