Planning to Work in Tampa, Florida? Here is what you should Know about the City
Did you know that Tampa, Florida is among the Top 10 places to live in the U.S.? Or that Tampa is the 8th Best city in America for Foodies? So, if you are about to relocate your business/home or open a branch of your company in Tampa, Florida, this article outlines some of the reasons and benefits of being in Tampa.
Here is all the Basic Info you need to get familiar with Tampa, Florida –
Area
Tampa stretches over 175 sq. miles, including waterbodies. The city is divided into – Downtown Tampa, New Tampa, East Tampa, West Tampa, South Tampa, and North Tampa.
Most of the area is just above sea level. Two water bodies border Tampa – Old Tampa Bay & Hillsborough Bay.
Climate
Tampa experiences hot & humid summers and dry & mild winters. The area experiences frequent thunderstorms; however, major hurricanes and hard freezes/snow are rare.
Landmarks
Downtown Tampa (seen from Bayshore Boulevard), Tampa Riverwalk, Tampa Theatre, Sulphur Springs Water Tower, Curtis Hixton Waterfront Park, Sunshine Skyway Bridge, YBor City, Amalie Arena are the major landmarks of Tampa city.
Major Industries in Tampa
Historically, the phosphate & cigar industries led to the astronomical growth of the city. While almost every industry exists in Tampa today, the major ones are the Maritime & Shipping Industry, Healthcare, Insurance, Finance, Tourism, Defence, Petroleum, Professional Sports, & Construction.
The bay’s port is the largest in Florida. Nearly half of all maritime commerce of Florida is done through the Port Tampa bay.
Fortune 1000 Companies like WellCare, Jabil, Bloomin’ Brands, Raymond James Financial, and TECO are headquartered in Tampa.
Real Estate
Compared to other U.S. cities, Tampa’s housing prices are pretty affordable. The median house prices is around $380,000. The Commercial Real Estate prices are also comparatively lower, and you can search for a Tampa Commercial Real Estate Professional easily online.
Transportation
Tampa is served by three Airports – Tampa International Airport, St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport, and Sarasota–Bradenton International Airport.
Tampa Union Station is the intercity passenger railway station that connects Tampa to other areas in the U.S. via Trains.
The traffic inside the city is managed by public buses and streetcar lines. Privately operated Neighborhood Electric Vehicles and Watertaxis are also available.
The Port of Tampa is one of the busiest ports in North America catering to cargo & passenger ships & boats. This port is a part of the U.S. Foreign Trade Zone program and hence is a major importer and exporter of this region in the maritime trade.
Education
Both the University of South Florida (USF) & the University of Tampa (UT) are based in Tampa. The School District of Hillsborough County (SDHC), which operates public schools for both primary & secondary education, is the eighth-largest school district in the United States.
Popular Nightlife Districts & Shopping Areas
Some of the popular areas within Tampa that are popular for nightlife and shopping are YBor City, the SoHo district, International Plaza & Bay Street, Channelside, Downtown Tampa, WestShore Plaza, Hyde Park Village.
Popular Spots to Eat
Ichicoro, Roca, Rooster & the Till, Bern’s Steak House, Bistro BT, Columbia Restaurant, Elevage, Haven, Koya, Mise En Place, Oak & Ola, Olivia, On Swann, Steel Bach, Timpano, and Yummy House are some of the recognized and famous restaurants in Tampa.
Tourist Attractions
Busch Gardens, Riverwalk Attraction Pass, Adventure Island, ZooTampa, Florida Aquarium, Glazer Children’s Museum, Hillsborough River State Park, Lettuce Lake Park, etc. are the major tourist attractions. The city has more than 160 parks & beaches within the city limits.
Sports
Tampa is home to Tampa bay Buccaneers & Tampa Bay Lightning playing in the National Football League & National Hockey League respectively. Tampa is also represented at the Major League Baseball & The Basketball League, to name just a few professional sports.
Tampa has hosted Superbowls, World Series Baseball games, Stanley Cup Finals, Soccer Bowl matches, etc. and keeps hosting major national and international sporting events frequently.
Major Events
The annual Gasparilla Pirate Festival and the related parades that happen between January & March every year is the most anticipated pirate-themed event of Tampa that draws over 400,000 people.
Other interesting annual events include Outback Bowl, Florida State Fair, Fiesta Day, MacDill Air Fest, Metrocon Anime Convention, etc.
