It is truly a city with something for everyone. In addition to being a major port city, Tampa also has a thriving downtown business district and a vibrant, multicultural and diverse community. Its location on both the bay and the Hillsborough River also contributed to its growth, and today, Tampa’s port is the seventh-largest in the nation. The area officially became United States territory in 1845 and began to grow steadily after a railroad hub was established there in the late 1800s. Spanish explorer Ponce de Leon first arrived in the area that is now Tampa Bay in 1513, although the Spanish primarily focused their attention on the development of areas in eastern Florida at that time, and it was not truly until the 1800s with the arrival of American settlers that the area truly began to grow. It also has a strong, steadily growing LGBTQ community, one where everyone can find their place and be a part of all that makes the Tampa Bay area wonderful.
And beyond all of the fun it offers, it offers professional opportunities too – and plenty of them. It offers professional sports, a thriving arts scene, excellent restaurants, and plenty of entertainment options, indoors and out. This sunshiny city on the shores of the Gulf of Mexico has so much to offer visitors and residents alike.
