Wimauma, Florida facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Wimauma, Florida
|
|
|---|---|
Location in Hillsborough County and the state of Florida
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | Florida |
| County | Hillsborough |
| Established | 1902 |
| Incorporated | 1925 (but no longer active) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 25.28 sq mi (65.47 km2) |
| • Land | 25.03 sq mi (64.83 km2) |
| • Water | 0.25 sq mi (0.64 km2) |
| Elevation | 102 ft (31 m) |
| Population
(2020)
|
|
| • Total | 9,467 |
| • Density | 378.21/sq mi (146.03/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
33598
|
| Area code(s) | 813 |
| FIPS code | 12-78025 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0293391 |
Wimauma is a community in Hillsborough County, Florida, United States. It is a "census-designated place," which means it's a special area defined for collecting population data. In 2020, about 9,467 people lived there. This was a big jump from 6,373 people in 2010.
History of Wimauma
How Wimauma Got Its Name
Wimauma was started in 1902 by a man named Captain C.H. Davis. He named the town in a very special way. He took the first few letters from the names of his three daughters: Will, Maude, and Mary. That's how Wimauma got its unique name!
Railroad and Early Development
In the late 1800s, a railroad was being built in Florida. It stretched about 55 miles from Durant down to Manatee County and Sarasota. Captain Davis helped build a part of this railroad. He decided to create a town right in the middle of the route, and that town became Wimauma.
A post office opened in Wimauma on October 24, 1902. The town grew around Lake Tiger, which is now called Lake Wimauma. A train station was built in 1903. This station was a busy place where people could catch trains until 1968. The train tracks were removed in 1984, and the old station was taken down even earlier.
Wimauma's Town Government
Wimauma officially became a town with its own government in 1925. It was the fourth town in Hillsborough County to do so. However, the town government stopped working sometime in the 1930s. About 60 years later, in 1993, people realized that Wimauma was still technically an incorporated town. But because the government hadn't been active for so long, it was decided that the incorporation was no longer valid.
Geography of Wimauma
Where is Wimauma Located?
Wimauma is located in a central part of Florida. To its north, you'll find the community of Balm. To the west is Sun City Center. South of Wimauma is Manatee County.
Major Roads and Area
U.S. Route 301 runs along part of Wimauma's western side. This road can take you north about 19 miles to the Brandon and Tampa areas. If you go southwest on it, you'll reach Bradenton in about 24 miles.
Another important road is Florida State Road 674. It goes right through the middle of Wimauma. Going east on this road for 9 miles leads to Fort Lonesome. Going west for 9 miles, through Sun City Center, takes you to Ruskin.
The total area of Wimauma is about 25.28 square miles (65.5 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, about 25.03 square miles (64.8 square kilometers). A small part, about 0.25 square miles (0.6 square kilometers), is water.
Population and People
How Wimauma's Population Has Changed
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1930 | 400 | — | |
| 1940 | 557 | 39.3% | |
| 1950 | 440 | −21.0% | |
| 1960 | 576 | 30.9% | |
| 1980 | 1,477 | — | |
| 1990 | 2,932 | 98.5% | |
| 2000 | 4,246 | 44.8% | |
| 2010 | 6,373 | 50.1% | |
| 2020 | 9,467 | 48.5% | |
| source: | |||
Wimauma has seen its population grow quite a bit over the years. In 1930, only about 400 people lived there. By 2000, the population had grown to 4,246. The community continued to grow, reaching 6,373 people in 2010, and then 9,467 people by 2020.
Who Lives in Wimauma?
In 2000, there were 4,246 people living in Wimauma. The community was made up of people from many different backgrounds. About 51% of the people were White, and about 7% were African American. A large part of the population, about 73%, identified as Hispanic or Latino.
Many households in Wimauma had children living in them. About 53.5% of households had kids under 18. The average household had about 4.31 people. The average family size was about 4.36 people.
The median age in Wimauma in 2000 was 24 years old. This means half the people were younger than 24 and half were older. Many young people lived there, with 38.6% of the population being under 18.
Income in the Community
In 2000, the median income for a household in Wimauma was $35,114. For families, the median income was $34,671. The average income per person was $8,597. Some families and people in the community had lower incomes.
Notable People from Wimauma
- Bill Warner - A famous motorcycle racer.
- Paul Kickliter - A teacher, lawyer, judge, landowner, and a Florida state senator.
