New Tampa facts for kids

Quick facts for kids New Tampa
Region
New Tampa Location in Florida
Country	United States
State	Florida
County	Hillsborough
City	Tampa
Area
• Total	24 sq mi (62 km2)
Population  (2000)
• Total	22,466
• Density	938/sq mi (362.4/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP codes	33544, 33646 and 33647
Area code(s)	813

New Tampa is a special area in Florida. It includes a part within the city of Tampa. It also covers a larger area in Hillsborough County. Even though this part is outside the city, it still uses a Tampa mailing address.

The part of New Tampa inside the city is one of Tampa's biggest neighborhoods. Its population has grown very fast since 1988. That's when it officially became part of the city. In 2000, about 22,466 people lived here. Many new neighborhoods are being built. Big stores are also opening because more people are moving in. This has changed the area from a quiet, rural place.

Sometimes, "New Tampa" can also mean a bigger area. This includes parts of Wesley Chapel. Wesley Chapel is a nearby area just north of Hillsborough County. Even though it's not officially part of New Tampa, many people in Tampa think of the whole area as New Tampa.

Where is New Tampa Located?

New Tampa is surrounded by other communities. To the west, you'll find Lutz. To the north is Wesley Chapel. Morris Bridge Road, near Thonotosassa, is to the east. To the south, you'll find the University community and the University of South Florida.

Who Lives in New Tampa?

In 2000, about 22,466 people lived in New Tampa. There were many families and households. The area had about 936 people per square mile. Most residents were White (64%). About 21% were Hispanic or Latino. Around 15% were Black, and 11% were Asian. A small number were Native American or Pacific Islander. About 8% were from other backgrounds.

How New Tampa's Population Grew

New Tampa has seen amazing growth recently. In 1990, only 7,145 people lived there. By 2000, this number jumped to 26,634. That's a huge increase of 272.7%! By 2005, the population was estimated to be 37,350. New Tampa is responsible for over half of Tampa's citywide growth. This growth is expected to continue. Many new neighborhoods are being built, which brings more people to the area.

A Brief History of New Tampa

New Tampa was first settled in the mid-1800s. However, it stayed mostly undeveloped for a long time. Big changes began in the late 1980s. That's when the city of Tampa officially added the area.

One of its oldest neighborhoods is Pebble Creek. The oldest part of New Tampa within the city limits is Tampa Palms. Even though Tampa Palms started before the area was officially part of the city, it really grew in the 1990s. Most of Tampa's growth during the 1990s happened right here in New Tampa.

How New Tampa is Developing

New Tampa is growing very fast. Many new homes and businesses are being built. This rapid growth can sometimes cause confusion about where New Tampa officially ends. For example, a food event called "Taste of New Tampa" was held in Wesley Chapel. This happened because they couldn't find a good spot in New Tampa itself. This shows that New Tampa and Wesley Chapel are actually separate communities.

Another challenge for New Tampa is improving its roads and services. These improvements are needed to handle all the new people. Many new homes are being built, including apartments and townhouses. Several shopping centers have also opened or are being built. These include Shops at Wiregrass and Cypress Creek Town Center.

Busy roads like Bruce B. Downs Boulevard often have a lot of traffic. They were not built for so many cars. This makes travel slower in the area. Local groups are asking city and county leaders for help. They want solutions to these traffic problems. Luckily, many major road projects have started or are finished. These include making Cross Creek Boulevard wider. Also, a new ramp from I-75 to Bruce B. Downs Boulevard was built. Future plans include widening Bruce B. Downs Boulevard even more. There are also talks about a new East-West road. This road would connect New Tampa Boulevard directly to I-275 South.

Fun Things to Do in New Tampa

Flatwoods Conservation Park

This park is managed by the county. It's part of a larger nature area called the Lower Hillsborough Wilderness Preserve. You can enter it from Bruce B. Downs Boulevard or Morris Bridge Road. The park helps supply water to the Tampa Bay area. It has paved paths for biking and trails for off-road biking. You can also enjoy picnics and nature walks.

New Tampa Center

This recreation center is located in New Tampa Community Park. It has a huge gymnastics area. This area includes a gymnastics pit and equipment for all Olympic events. The center offers gymnastics and dance classes. There's also a cool skate park. It has ramps, stairs, and rails for skateboarding.

New Tampa Nature Park

The City of Tampa Parks and Recreation Department manages this park. It's off Dona Michelle Drive, near Interstate 75. This wooded park has both paved and unpaved trails. You can hike or bike here. There are also picnic spots and a playground. The playground even has a small ropes course!

New Tampa Regional Library

You can find this library on Cross Creek Boulevard. It's a large library with many free programs. These programs are for everyone in New Tampa and nearby areas. They offer classes on technology and early reading. The library also displays many artworks from Hillsborough County's Public Art Program.

Main Roads and Highways

• Bruce B. Downs Boulevard
• Cross Creek Boulevard
• Interstate 75
• Interstate 275
• New Tampa Boulevard

ZIP Code for New Tampa

• The main ZIP code for New Tampa is 33647.