TAMPA, a city on the west coast of Florida, U.S.A., at the head of Tampa bay (Gulf of Mexico), 33o m. S.E. of Pensacola and 220 m. N.W. of Key West; a port of entry and the county seat of Hillsborough county. It is on Federal highways 45 and 92; has a municipal airport (24o ac.) connected with the Bay by a canal 500 ft. wide, to accommodate seaplanes; and is served by the Atlantic Coast Line and the Seaboard Air Line railways, 21 steamship lines, operating to both American coasts and foreign ports, and four motor-bus lines, covering Florida and adjacent territory and connecting with lines for New York and Chicago. Pop. 94,743 negroes and about 20% foreign-born white) in 1925 (State census) and was 1O1,161 in 1930 by Federal census (after the annexation of West Tampa and other territory).
The city lies at the mouth of the Hillsborough river, with the Ybor estuary on its eastern boundary, facing the islands in Hills borough bay (the eastern arm of Tampa bay). The climate is delightful, with an average monthly mean temperature ranging from 6o.6° F in January to 81.5° in August, an average annual precipitation of 53.13 in., and an average of 66% of the "possible sunshine" in the year. Tampa has been a resort since the '8os and with one exception the hotels are open the year round. It is a centre for tarpon fishing, and winter headquarters for the National Professional Polo Association. Tampa Bay hotel (the oldest one for tourists in the city) is owned and operated by the city. There is a municipal polo field, a municipal fishing pier and generous provision for all the usual sports and recreations. The Gasparilla Carnival is an annual event in February. About io0,000 visitors from the North stop in the city during the year. Between 1925 and 1928 extensive additions were made to the public school plant (according to a programme mapped out for the city by experts) bringing its total value to $12,000,000. Tampa ships more phos phate rock tons in 1927) and manufactures more clear Havana cigars than any other city. Its water-borne commerce
amounted to 3,586,923 tons in 1927, valued at $102,034,470. There are about 160 cigar factories. Tampa has a large wholesale and retail trade. The product of the city's industries in 1927 was valued at $55,704,016. Bank debits in 1926 aggregated $921, 229,000. The city's assessed valuation for 1927 was $139,141,000. In 1927, after seven years under a commission-manager form of government, the city modified its charter to provide for a mayor with broad authority and a council of 12 district representatives.
Tampa was the name of the Indian village which de Narvaez and de Soto found here in 1528 and 1539. The harbour, accord ing to tradition, was a favourite resort of pirates, including the picturesque Capt. Jose Gasparilla, whose memory is kept alive in the annual carnival. In 1823 the U.S. Government established a fort (Ft. Brooke, an important base of supplies in the Second Seminole War; abandoned in 1860) and around it grew up a civil settlement. In Nov. 1862, Tampa was taken by Federal gun boats. During the Spanish-American War (1898) it was the point of embarkation for the U.S. troops that invaded Cuba. Theodore Roosevelt and his Rough Riders were encamped here for several weeks. In 1880 the population was only 72o. Between 1880 and 1890 the cigar industry was established, the first railroad reached the city, and the first hotel for tourists was built. By 1890 the city had a population of 5,532, which was shown to have increased to 15,839 in 1900, 37,782 in 1910, and 55,608 in 1920. The open ing of the Panama Canal (1920) greatly enhanced the importance of the port, and within a few years its traffic was doubled. Tampa was one of the principal foci of the Florida "rush" of 1924-25. The city was incorporated in 1855.