TAMPA-ST. PETERSBURG-CLEARWATER, FLORIDA, METROPOLITAN STATISTICAL AREA

(Redirected from Tampa Bay Area)

The 'Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, Florida, Metropolitan Statistical Area', also known as the 'Tampa Bay Area', 'the Bay Area', 'Bay Area, FL', or simply 'Tampa Bay' after the body of water it surrounds, is a metropolitan area on the Gulf Coast of west-central Florida. The population for the Tampa Bay Area currently stands at 2,697,731, as of a July 1, 2006 estimate^[1]. The Tampa Bay Partnership and U.S. Census data showed an average annual growth of 2.47 percent, or a gain of approximately 97,000 residents per year. Between 2000 and 2006, Tampa Bay communities experienced a combined growth rate of 14.8 percent, growing from 3.4 million to 3.9 million and hitting the 4 million mark on April 1, 2007 in the continuous tampa urban area^[2].

Contents

Counties

Demographics

Cities

Primary Cities

Suburbs between 50,000 to 100,000 Inhabitants

Suburbs with 10,000 to 50,000 Inhabitants

Attractions

Sports teams

Major League Baseball Spring training teams in the area

Minor League teams

Sporting Events

Transportation

See also

Counties

The following is the list of counties that make up the Tampa Bay Area.

★ Hernando County

★ Hillsborough County

★ Pasco County

★ Pinellas County

Demographics

As of 2000

★ White (Non-Hispanic/Latino)- 1,821,955 76.0%

★ Black - 248,058 10.4%

★ Hispanic - 248,642 10.4%

★ Asian/Pacific Islander - 57,235 2.4%

Cities

The following is a list of important cities and unincorporated communities that serves the metropolitan area.

Primary Cities

★ Clearwater

★ St. Petersburg

★ Tampa

Suburbs between 50,000 to 100,000 Inhabitants

★ Brandon (unincorporated)

★ Largo

★ Palm Harbor(unincorporated)

★ Spring Hill (unincorporated)

★ Town 'n' Country (unincorporated)

Suburbs with 10,000 to 50,000 Inhabitants

★ Citrus Park (unincorporated)

★ Dunedin

★ Egypt Lake-Leto (unincorporated)

★ East Lake (unincorporated)

★ Greater Carrollwood (unincorporated)

★ Holiday

★ Land O' Lakes (unincorporated)

★ Lealman (unincorporated)

★ Lutz (unincorporated)

★ New Port Richey

★ Greater Northdale (unincorporated)

★ Oldsmar

★ Palm River-Clair Mel (unincorporated)

★ Pinellas Park

★ Plant City

★ Safety Harbor

★ Seminole

★ Greater Sun Center (unincorporated)

★ Tarpon Springs

★ Temple Terrace

★ University (unincorporated)

★ Westchase (unincorporated)

Attractions

Other attractions include Busch Gardens, the Salvador Dalí Museum, the Florida Aquarium, Museum of Science and Industry, the Florida Holocaust Museum, Lowry Park Zoo and Weeki Wachee Springs. Long established cities, such as Cuban flavored Ybor City, near the bay contain historic architecture. Fresh seafood and locally grown produce are available in many restaurants. Sports attractions include the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, the Tampa Bay Lightning, and many professional quality golf courses, tennis courts, and pools. The area is highly noted for its beaches and nightlife as well.

Sports teams

The Tampa Bay Area is home to three major professional sports teams and a number of minor-league and college teams.

★ National Football League: Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Raymond James Stadium in Tampa

★ National Hockey League: Tampa Bay Lightning: St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa

★ Major League Baseball: Tampa Bay Devil Rays: Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg

★ Arena Football League: Tampa Bay Storm: St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa

★ NCAA Football, Div.1, Big East : The University of South Florida Bulls: Raymond James Stadium in Tampa

★ NCAA Basketball, Div. 1, Big East: The University of South Florida Bulls: The Sun Dome in Tampa

Major League Baseball Spring training teams in the area

Spring training in Florida for teams in the Grapefruit League:

★ The Tampa Bay Devil Rays of Major League Baseball play spring training games at Al Lang Field in St. Petersburg

★ The New York Yankees of Major League Baseball play spring training games at Legends Field in Tampa

★ The Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball play spring training games at Bright House Networks Field in Clearwater

★ The Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball play spring training games at Knology Park in Dunedin

Minor League teams

Minor League baseball teams in the area include:
Florida State League (Single-A baseball)

★ The Tampa Yankees: Legends Field in Tampa

★ The Clearwater Threshers: Bright House Networks Field in Clearwater

★ The Dunedin Blue Jays: Dunedin Stadium at Grant Field in Dunedin

Sporting Events

★ The NCAA football Outback Bowl at Raymond James Stadium is held annually, usually on January 1.

★ Three Super Bowls have been held in Tampa, in 1984, 1991 and 2001.

★ Tampa will host Super Bowl XLIII on February 1, 2009.

Transportation

The Tampa Bay Area is served by three major interstate highways.
# Interstate 4
# Interstate 75
# Interstate 275
Hillsborough County is also served by other roadways such as the Lee Roy Selmon Crosstown Expressway (SR 618) which commutes workers from Brandon into downtown Tampa and the Veterans Expressway/Suncoast Parkway (Toll 589) which serves traffic from the Citrus/Hernando County border southward into Tampa.
In Pinellas County, US 19 is the main north-south route through the county, and is being upgraded to freeway standards complete with frontage roads to ease congestion through the north part of the county. Also, the Bayside Bridge allows traffic to go from Clearwater into St. Petersburg without having to use US 19. In the southern part of the county, Interstate 175 and Interstate 375 provide easier access into downtown St. Petersburg.
The Courtney Campbell Causeway (SR 60) is one of the 3 roads that connect Pinellas County to Hillsborough County across the bay. The other two are the Howard Franklin Bridge (I-275) and Gandy Bridge (US 92). The Sunshine Skyway Bridge is part of I-275 and connects Bradenton and other Manatee County and Sarasota County commuters into Pinellas County.

See also

United States metropolitan area