Tampa Neighborhoods, Locations and Districts

(Tampa, Florida - FL, USA)

Set in the lush green state of Florida, Tampa is a city that combines great natural beauty with tasteful urban development. Tampa's downtown district is an important business hub with a busy port, while the Hyde Park district is the most historic area of Tampa, with many buildings dating back to the 1900s.

Both natural and man-made tourist attractions are spread throughout the Tampa's districts, allowing visitors to see the larger part of the city as opposed to only seeing a concentrated tourist area. The burgeoning waterfront district in Tampa is becoming increasingly popular with visitors and locals alike.

Downtown District

As the center of commercial activity along the West Coast of Florida, downtown Tampa is one of the city's most important districts. Aside from its business aspects, Tampa's downtown district is also bustling with popular visitor attractions such as the Florida Aquarium and the Gasparilla Pirate Fest. The Port of Tampa is situated here and is a busy hub for cruise ships, freighters and sail boats following routes to the Caribbean and Mexico. Important centers such as the University of Tampa and the Tampa Convention Center are also based in downtown Tampa.

Cultural District

The local government designated this portion of Tampa as a cultural district in the late 1980s with a view to creating a region in which local arts and culture could be actively promoted. The district is relatively small and includes only a handful of cultural centers; however, interest has recently been shown in the idea of developing it further. Despite its size, Tampa's cultural district is a very active area and the venues located here are on the whole very successful.

Hyde Park Historic District

Tampa's Hyde Park district was originally home to Cuban fishermen back in the 18th century and subsequently became the city's first western suburb. It was in the late 1900s when a certain O.H. Platt bought property here that development in the area began and Florida's more affluent residents started to take an interest in the district. Modern day Hyde Park still contains many of Tampa's original buildings from its early days, which have since been renovated. The historic district of Tampa is well worth a visit for its variety of unique shops and restaurants, and an ambiance based on a long and interesting heritage.

Waterfront District

Essentially a sub-district of downtown, Tampa's waterfront area is a burgeoning district that was once a commercial seaport. Nowadays, interest in the area is mainly focused on its role as an entertainment and tourist center that has seen great development, while there is continuing interest in its potential. Attractions, restaurants and shopping facilities are available, while Tampa's Channelside Center alone offers 230,000 square feet of dining and entertainment options.

Ybor City

Ybor is a district located northeast of downtown Tampa and is a historic area that takes its name from a 19th-century cigar maker. The area is rich in Latin culture and its streets are lined with historic architecture. Cigars and the long standing cigar industry still contribute significantly to the ambiance of the area and the Ybor City Museum State Park gives visitors an in depth background into this aspect of the district's history. Great restaurants, clubs and shopping are also typical of Tampa's Ybor City, with the Seventh Avenue area in particular seeing plenty of night time action.