Tampa Bay area

The Tampa Bay area is a big city area around Tampa Bay on the Gulf Coast of Florida in the United States. It includes the main cities of Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Clearwater. It is the 17th-largest metropolitan area in the United States, with a population of over three million people as counted in the 2020 U.S. census.

The exact borders of the Tampa Bay area can change depending on how it is described. The smallest version includes Hillsborough County and Pinellas County, home to Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater, and smaller towns. Some official groups also add Hernando and Pasco counties to the north, making it the Tampa–St. Petersburg–Clearwater Metropolitan Statistical Area. This group of counties is one of the biggest in the country.

Other ways to describe the Tampa Bay area can include even more nearby counties like Citrus, Manatee, Sarasota, and Polk. Together, these areas are sometimes called West Central Florida.

History

When the Spanish first arrived in the Tampa Bay area, they met people known as the Safety Harbor culture. Archaeologists have found about 20 sites with special temple mounds around Tampa Bay, many located in Pinellas County. One of the most famous groups was the Tocobaga chiefdom, likely based at the Safety Harbor site in Philippe Park in northern Pinellas County.

Later, in 1513, Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León was the first European known to visit Tampa Bay. Then, in 1824, the first American settlers came and set up a small military post because the area was growing.

Tampa–St. Petersburg–Clearwater metropolitan statistical area

The Tampa Bay area is home to over 3 million people. It includes the cities of Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Clearwater, along with many smaller communities.

The area has grown quickly in recent years, with many new families moving in from different places around the world. It includes people of many different backgrounds and ages.

List of counties

Politics

The Tampa Bay area has often been seen as a key region in Florida. Since Donald Trump became the Republican nominee, the area has shown a slight lean toward Republican ideas. In the 2020 United States presidential election in Florida, while many suburban areas moved away from Trump, Tampa Bay shifted only a little. This change was likely due to more support from Hispanic voters. By the 2024 United States presidential election in Florida, Trump won the area by a larger margin.

Geography

See also: Tampa Bay

The Tampa Bay area is located along Tampa Bay, which gives the area its name. Pinellas County and St. Petersburg, Florida sit on a peninsula between Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. Much of Tampa, Florida lies on a smaller peninsula that stretches out into Tampa Bay.

Climate

Main article: Climate of the Tampa Bay Area

The Tampa Bay area has a humid subtropical climate with hot, humid summers and sunny, drier winters. Temperatures usually stay between 65 and 95 °F (18 and 35 °C) all year. Frost is rare, and very cold temperatures are almost never seen. Because of the nearby water, the area often feels warm and moist. Plants that usually grow in warmer places can sometimes be found here.

Economy

Tampa Bay is doing very well economically. Between 2019 and 2023, it was ranked second for growth among mid-sized U.S. cities. There are many jobs here, more than the national average, and wages are similar to the rest of the country. Over the last five years, the area has become one of the fastest-growing job markets in Florida.

The Tampa Bay area is becoming a big place for technology, especially for keeping computers and information safe. In 2026, Florida recognized this with a special award. Many tech companies have offices in Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Clearwater. Universities in the area help train people in these skills, and there are also important military bases nearby.

There are many banks and financial companies in Tampa Bay, including some of the biggest names in the business. The area also has many hospitals and healthcare centers.

The building industry slowed down after problems in 2008, and today there are not enough houses for everyone who wants one. The mayor is working with a company to build more affordable homes.

Education

The Tampa Bay area has many schools and colleges. Local school districts in each county take care of primary and secondary education.

The area is home to several universities and colleges. The main campus of the University of South Florida is in Tampa, with additional campuses in St. Petersburg and Sarasota. Other institutions include Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, the University of Tampa, Florida College in Temple Terrace, Trinity College in New Port Richey, and New College of Florida in Sarasota. There are also education centers at MacDill AFB for Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University and Troy University, plus a regional campus of Nova Southeastern University in Clearwater. Ultimate Medical Academy in Clearwater offers training for healthcare careers.

Two law schools serve the area: Stetson University College of Law with campuses in Gulfport and Tampa, and Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Riverview.

Community colleges in the area include Hillsborough Community College, St. Petersburg College, Polk State College, Pasco-Hernando State College, and State College of Florida.

Culture

The Tampa Bay area has many places where you can see beautiful art and learn about history. You can visit art museums and see old buildings in neighborhoods like Ybor City, Old Northeast, Palma Ceia, and Hyde Park.

The area is also known for its tasty fresh seafood and local fruits and vegetables. Some famous breweries, like Yuengling and Cigar City Brewing, are located here. Tampa Bay has a special place in music history, especially for a type of rock music called death metal.

The area's cultural places bring people together and help create jobs. Many people enjoy plays, music shows, and museum exhibits each year.

Museums

• Museum of Fine Arts near the Pier in downtown St. Petersburg
• Salvador Dalí Museum in downtown St. Petersburg
• Florida International Museum at St. Petersburg College in downtown St. Petersburg
• Florida Holocaust Museum in downtown St. Petersburg
• Tampa Museum of Art in downtown Tampa
• USF Contemporary Art Museum on the USF Tampa campus
• Florida Museum of Photographic Arts in downtown Tampa
• Museum of Science and Industry adjacent to USF's Tampa campus
• Tampa Bay Automobile Museum in Pinellas Park
• Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art on the Tarpon Springs Campus of St. Petersburg College
• The Royal Theater & Manhattan Casino Historic Landmarks in St. Petersburg
• The Carter J. Woodson African-American Museum St. Petersburg
• Tampa Bay History Center
• Ybor City Museum State Park in Ybor City
• Ringling Art Museum in Sarasota

Performing arts halls

• Straz Center for the Performing Arts in Tampa
• Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater
• Mahaffey Theater in St. Petersburg
• Tarpon Springs Performing Arts Center
• Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall in Sarasota

Cultural events

• Gasparilla Pirate Festival held every January in Tampa
• Florida State Fair held every February in Tampa
• Florida Strawberry Festival held every March in Plant City
• Clearwater Jazz Holiday held every October in Coachman Park in downtown Clearwater; in its 32nd year
• Guavaween, a Latin-flavored Halloween celebration held every October in the Ybor City section of Tampa
• Festa Italiana, annual festival of Italian heritage held every April in Ybor City, Tampa's Latin Quarter

Recreation

The Tampa Bay area is famous for its beautiful beaches, with warm, blue waters and many miles of sandy shores. Some of the beaches here have even been named among the best in the United States.

Besides beaches, the area has many fun places to visit, like theme parks such as Adventure Island, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, and Legoland Florida. There are also zoos and aquariums, including the Lowry Park Zoo and the Florida Aquarium.

The region also offers many parks and outdoor spaces to explore, such as Hillsborough River State Park and Honeymoon Island State Park. The area is great for activities like fishing, kayaking, and scuba diving.

Sports

Main article: Sports in the Tampa Bay area

The Tampa Bay Area is home to three major professional sports teams: the Buccaneers (NFL), Rays (MLB), and Lightning (NHL). The area also has many minor-league and college teams.

Major League Baseball teams come to the Tampa Bay area for spring training every year. This tradition started in 1913 and continues today. Many famous teams, like the New York Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies, play their spring games here.

The area has hosted many big sporting events. Five Super Bowls have been played in Tampa, and the World Series has also been held here. Tampa has been a site for NCAA basketball and soccer tournaments too. The University of South Florida is building a new stadium for its football team, which will be finished in 2027.

Transportation

For more about marine transportation in the area, including the many bridges over Tampa Bay, see Tampa Bay § Transportation.

Air

Main article: List of airports in the Tampa Bay area

Tampa International Airport is the largest airport in the region. St. Pete–Clearwater International Airport and Sarasota–Bradenton International Airport also offer flights, along with smaller private planes. There are many smaller airports for private planes throughout the area.

Rail

Amtrak offers train travel from Union Station in Tampa. CSX handles freight trains for the region.

Water

The Cross-Bay Ferry has linked Tampa's Channelside District to Downtown St. Petersburg since 2016. The Pirate Water Taxi, also starting in 2016, stops at many places along the waterways near Tampa’s downtown and Channelside District.

Transit systems

Bus services are run by Hillsborough Area Regional Transit (HART) in Hillsborough County, Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) in Pinellas County, Pasco County Public Transportation in Pasco County, and THE Bus in Hernando County. HART and PSTA have special express buses between Tampa and Pinellas County, and PSTA connects to Pasco County. HART also runs the TECO streetcar between Downtown Tampa and Ybor City. In 2013, HART started a quick bus service called MetroRapid that goes from Downtown Tampa to the University of South Florida.

On July 1, 2007, a group called the Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority (TBARTA) was created to plan better bus and other transportation for the whole area.

Roads and freeways

The Tampa Bay area has several major highways.

• Interstate 4
• Interstate 75
• Interstate 175
• Interstate 275
• Interstate 375

Hillsborough County has other roads like the Lee Roy Selmon Expressway (SR 618) for travel from Brandon to downtown Tampa, and the Veterans Expressway/Suncoast Parkway (SR 589) for traffic from the Citrus/Hernando County area down to Tampa. Both of these roads are toll roads and connect to Interstate 4.

In Pinellas County, U.S. 19 is the main road running north to south. It is being updated to highway standards with extra roads to help traffic. The Bayside Bridge lets cars travel from Clearwater to St. Petersburg without using U.S. 19.

The Courtney Campbell Causeway (SR 60) is one of three roads that connect Pinellas County to Hillsborough County across the bay. The others are the Howard Frankland Bridge (I-275) and Gandy Bridge (U.S. 92). The Sunshine Skyway Bridge is part of I-275 and connects drivers from Bradenton and other parts of Manatee County and Sarasota County into Pinellas County.