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Timeline of Tampa, Florida facts for kids

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Tampa is a vibrant city located in Hillsborough County, Florida, United States. It has a long and interesting history, starting from its early days as a military fort to becoming a major city in Florida. This timeline highlights some of the most important events that shaped Tampa into the place it is today.

Tampa's Beginnings: The 1800s

Fort Brooke
Fort Brooke around 1840
  • 1845 – Tampa Bay became part of the new U.S. state of Florida.
  • 1848 – A big hurricane hit Tampa Bay.
  • 1849 – The small village of Tampa was officially recognized.
  • 1850 – Oaklawn Cemetery was created.
  • 1855 – Tampa officially became a town.
  • 1856 – Joseph B. Lancaster became Tampa's first mayor.
  • 1859 – The First Baptist Church was established.
  • 1861 – Florida left the U.S. and joined the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War.
  • 1862 – June 30-July 1: The Battle of Tampa took place.
  • 1863 – October 16–18: The Battle of Fort Brooke happened.
  • 1873
    • There was an outbreak of yellow fever.
    • The Tampa Guardian newspaper started publishing.
  • 1877 – A stagecoach service began between Gainesville and Tampa.
  • 1882 – Hillsborough High School opened its doors.
  • 1884 – Henry Plant's South Florida Railroad began operating, connecting Tampa to other areas.
  • 1885 – A Board of Trade was set up to help local businesses.
  • 1886 – Vicente Martinez Ybor established Ybor City, and the first cigar factories opened there.
  • 1887
    • Ybor City became part of the city of Tampa.
    • Tampa Electric Company was started.
  • 1888 – Plant Park was created.
  • 1889 – The Florida Railway began operating.
  • 1890
    • Tampa Business College was established.
    • Telephone service became available in Tampa.
  • 1891
  • 1893 – The Tampa Daily Times newspaper began publication.
  • 1895 – The Tampa Fire Department was established.
  • 1899
    • The Burgert Brothers photo studio opened.
    • Circulo Cubano, a Cuban social club, was founded.
  • 1900 – The Tampa Woman's Club was formed.

Tampa in the 20th Century

Early 1900s to Mid-Century Growth

Jackson Rooming House Tampa
Jackson Rooming House
  • 1904 – The South Florida Fair and the first Gasparilla Parade took place.
  • 1905
    • The famous Columbia Restaurant opened.
    • Sacred Heart Catholic Church and the United States Courthouse Building were built.
  • 1907
  • 1908 – A YMCA building was constructed.
  • 1912
    • Union Station opened, serving as a major train hub.
    • The El Centro Español de Tampa building was constructed.
    • El Comercio, a Spanish-language newspaper, began publishing.
    • The Union Hotel opened for guests.
  • 1913 – The Centro Asturiano de Tampa building was constructed.
  • 1914 – The St. Petersburg-Tampa Airboat Line started, offering early air travel.
Tampa City Hall from the Madison Building
Tampa City Hall
  • 1915 – Tampa City Hall was built.
  • 1916 – Heraldo Dominical, another Spanish-language newspaper, began publication.
  • 1917
  • 1918 – The Unione Italiana building was constructed.
  • 1920 – Tampa's population reached 51,608 people.
  • 1922
    • WDAE radio began broadcasting.
    • La Gaceta, a newspaper published in three languages, began publication.
  • 1924 – The Gandy Bridge connecting Tampa to St. Petersburg was built.
  • 1925
    • West Tampa was added to the City of Tampa.
    • The Municipal Auditorium was built.
    • WFLA radio began broadcasting.
  • 1926
    • The Junior League of Tampa was founded.
    • The historic Tampa Theatre opened.
  • 1927
  • 1930 – Tampa's population grew to 101,161.
  • 1931
    • Cigar workers went on strike.
    • Tampa Junior College was established.
  • 1934 – The Davis Causeway opened.
  • 1938 – The Janus Administration Building was constructed.
  • 1939 – The U.S. Army Southeast Air Base was established.
  • 1940 – The population reached 108,391.
  • 1950 – The population was 124,681.
  • 1955 – WFLA-TV and WTVT television stations began broadcasting.
  • 1956 – Britton Plaza Shopping Center opened.
  • 1957 – Lowry Park Zoo opened.
  • 1959 – Busch Gardens theme park opened its doors.

Late 20th Century Developments

  • 1960 – Tampa's population grew significantly to 274,970.
  • 1962 – The Museum of Science and Industry was founded.
  • 1965 – Curtis Hixon Hall opened.
  • 1966 – The Franklin Exchange Building was constructed.
  • 1970 – The population was 277,767.
  • 1972 – The Sant'Yago Knight Parade began.
  • 1977
    • The new Florida State Fairgrounds hosted its first fair.
    • Floriland Cinema opened.
  • 1978 – Cracker Country, a living history museum, was established.
  • 1979
  • 1980
    • Hillsborough Area Regional Transit (HART) was established.
    • The population was 271,523.
  • 1981 – Feeding America Tampa Bay started its work (around this time).
  • 1982 – A foreign trade zone and the Ybor City Museum Society were established.
  • 1984 – The Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library System was established.
  • 1986 – Barnett Plaza, a tall building, was constructed.
  • 1987
  • 1988 – Rivergate Tower was built.
  • 1989 – The Tampa Bay History Center was founded.
  • 1990
    • The Tampa Convention Center opened.
    • The Tampa International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival began.
    • The population was 280,015.
  • 1992 – The AmSouth Building and SunTrust Financial Centre were constructed.
  • 1995 – The Florida Aquarium opened.
Amalie Arena, Tampa
The Ice Palace (now Amalie Arena)
  • 1996
    • The city's website went online.
    • The Ice Palace arena opened.
  • 1997 – The Tampa Police Museum was founded.
  • 2000 – Channelside 9 Cinemas opened.

Tampa in the 21st Century

  • 2001
  • 2002
    • January 5: A plane crash occurred in Tampa.
    • The TECO Line Streetcar began operating, with Centennial Park Station and Tampa Bay Federal Credit Union Station opening.
  • 2003 – Whiting Station opened for the streetcar.
  • 2004
    • The Ford Amphitheatre opened.
    • The first parts of the Tampa Riverwalk opened.
  • 2007
    • SkyPoint building was constructed.
    • Kathy Castor became the U.S. representative for Florida's 11th congressional district.
  • 2009 – The Tampa Bay History Center opened its new location.
  • 2010
  • 2011
    • Florida Voices began publication.
    • Bob Buckhorn became mayor.
    • The population was 346,037; the metro area was 2,824,724.
  • 2012 – The 2012 Republican National Convention was held in Tampa.
  • 2014 – The Tampa Baseball Museum opened.
  • 2018-21 – The first phase of the Water Street district construction took place.
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