Harbour Island (Tampa) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Harbour Island
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 Harbour Island
Location in Florida
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| Country | United States |
| State | Florida |
| County | Hillsborough |
| City | Tampa |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP Code |
33602
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| Area code(s) | 813 |
Harbour Island is a cool island neighborhood in Tampa, Florida. It's right next to Downtown Tampa, which is the city center. The island has its own ZIP Code, which is 33602.
Where is Harbour Island Located?
Harbour Island is located right across the Garrison Channel from Downtown Tampa. You can easily walk to the Tampa Convention Center from the island. Other nearby areas include Davis Islands and the Channelside area.
How Did Harbour Island Change Over Time?
Harbour Island used to be called Seddon Island. It was named after W. L. Seddon, who was a chief engineer for a railway company. In 1906, people decided to build a new port for Tampa here. Seddon's company dug a channel and made a port on what was then called Grassy Island.
Later, in 1979, the island was sold to a company called Beneficial Land Corporation. They wanted to build homes, offices, and shops there. The first building projects started in 1985. Before that, the island was still used for shipping materials like phosphate.
The head of Beneficial, Finn M. W. Caspersen, had a big idea. He wanted to turn the island into a busy waterfront area. He imagined it would have offices, stores, and restaurants, much like the Inner Harbor in Baltimore.
From 1985 to 1999, you could get to Harbour Island from Downtown Tampa using the Harbour Island People Mover. This was an automated tram that ran on a raised track. It connected the island's shopping center to a parking garage in downtown.
What is Harbour Island Like Today?
Today, Harbour Island is mostly a private neighborhood. It has many different types of homes, like tall condo buildings, apartments, and even large single-family houses. There's also a yacht club for boats.
You can find a Westin hotel on the island. There's also Jackson's Bistro Bar & Sushi, which is a huge restaurant with space for events, Sunday brunch, and waterfront dining. It even turns into a nightclub on Friday and Saturday nights.
For food, there's a Pizza and Sushi Shop that delivers. In the middle of the island, you'll find small shops. There's a Coffee Shop that makes fresh breakfast and lunch. Plus, Cafe Dufrain is a popular spot focusing on seasonal food and seafood with great waterfront views.
To get around, the TECO Line Streetcar connects the island to downtown and Channelside. You can also use small electric vehicles, called NEVs, to travel to other nearby neighborhoods like Hyde Park.
