Port Tampa (neighborhood) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Port Tampa
|
|
|---|---|
 Port Tampa
Location in Florida
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | Florida |
| County | Hillsborough |
| City | Tampa |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
Port Tampa is a neighborhood in the city of Tampa, Florida. It's located on the southwest side of the city, at the very end of the Interbay Peninsula. This area used to be where Tampa's main port was located. Inside this neighborhood, you'll find Picnic Island Park and West Shore Elementary School.
Sometimes, Port Tampa is confused with Port Tampa Bay. That's a much larger port area near downtown Tampa. It's on the northern part of Hillsborough Bay. Port Tampa is also known by shorter names like PT, PTC, or Port Tampa City. It's a historic area that has been improving a lot in recent years.
Contents
History of Port Tampa
The town of Port Tampa City was started in 1885. It was built at the end of a railroad line owned by Henry B. Plant. Back then, Tampa Bay was too shallow for the biggest ships. So, Plant built a new port several miles away. To attract people, he built the St. Elmo Inn and the Port Tampa Inn. The Port Tampa Inn was special because it was built right on the bay, standing on stilts.
Port Tampa and the Spanish-American War
Port Tampa became very important during the Spanish–American War in Cuba. In June 1898, Port Tampa and the city of Tampa hosted over 33,000 visitors. These included soldiers, nurses, and many other people involved in the war. Famous people who passed through Port Tampa included Teddy Roosevelt and his Rough Riders. The Buffalo Soldiers also came through. Clara Barton from the American Red Cross was there too.
Changes to the Port
Over time, Port Tampa became less important for big ships. This happened because the main Port of Tampa was made deeper. Even so, the port in Port Tampa is still used today. It's the main place where fuel arrives for both Tampa International Airport and MacDill Air Force Base.
Port Tampa City Joins Tampa
The city of Port Tampa officially became part of the City of Tampa in 1961. But people in the community still remember its unique history. In 1993, they held a big celebration for its 100th anniversary. This included home tours and a large block party. The party was held at the Spanish–American War Memorial Park.
A beautiful old building, once a bank, was saved from being torn down. Community groups like the Port Tampa City Woman's Club helped save it. This building became the Port Tampa City Library in 1998. The library's second floor has Tampa's Maritime Reading Room. It holds old maps, books, and artifacts about the sea.
Where is Port Tampa?
The official borders of Port Tampa are west of Manhattan Avenue. They stretch all the way to Tampa Bay. The area also includes everything south of the old east-west railroad track. This track is just north of McCoy Street. Some locals might say it's anything "south of Gandy." But this isn't quite right, as there are other neighborhoods there too.
Famous Connections to Port Tampa
Port Tampa is special because it was one of only two communities directly started by Henry Plant's company. The other was Belleair, near Clearwater.
Famous People from Port Tampa
- Future President Theodore Roosevelt stayed in a Port Tampa home. This was just before he left with his Rough Riders for Cuba in 1898.
- Tommy Gomez was a heavyweight boxer from Port Tampa City. He fought famous boxers like Ezzard Charles and Jersey Joe Walcott. He even fought in places like Madison Square Garden in New York City.
- Hulk Hogan, the famous wrestler, grew up in Port Tampa. His real name is Terry Bollea. He went to Robinson High School.
- Javier Arenas also graduated from Robinson High School. He played as a cornerback for the Arizona Cardinals in the National Football League.
