The Tampa Bay Area, also known as the Bay Area, Bay Area, FL (in constrast to the San Francisco Bay Area), or simply Tampa Bay after the body of water it surrounds, is the second most populated metropolitan region in the state of Florida, and the 19th-largest metro area in the United States. It is defined by the Office of Management and Budget for census purposes as the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, Florida, Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population for the Tampa Bay Area currently stands at 2,697,731, as of a July 1, 2006 estimate.^[1] The Tampa Bay Partnership and U.S. Census data showed an average annual growth of 2.47 percent, or a gain of approximately 97,000 residents per year. Between 2000 and 2006, the combined Tampa Bay and Sarasota region (comprising eight counties) experienced a combined growth rate of 14.8 percent, growing from 3.4 million to 3.9 million and hitting the 4 million mark on April 1, 2007 in the continuous Tampa Bay urban area.^[2]

Counties

The following counties constitute the Tampa-St. Pete-Clearwater MSA:^[1]

• Hernando County
• Hillsborough County
• Pasco County
• Pinellas County

Other counties are sometimes included in the Tampa Bay Area, depending on how the region is defined. For example, included in the jurisdiction of TBARTA are the above counties, plus the following:^[3]

• Citrus County, Florida
• Manatee County, Florida
• Sarasota County, Florida

Polk County, Florida is also frequently included in definitions of the Tampa Bay Area.^[2]

Cities

The following is a list of important cities and unincorporated communities located in the Tampa Bay Area. Most of these locations are also in the Tampa-St. Pete-Clearwater MSA. Those that are not are indicated by a ★.

Primary cities

These cities are the primary cities of the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater MSA. Each has a population in excess of 100,000 inhabitants. Also frequently included in the Tampa Bay Area are cities in other Metropolitan Statistical Areas; among these are two of the primary cities in the Sarasota-Bradenton-Venice, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area.

• Clearwater
• St. Petersburg
• Tampa

Between 50,000 to 100,000 inhabitants

• Bradenton ★
• Brandon (unincorporated)
• Largo
• Lakeland ★
• Palm Harbor(unincorporated)
• Sarasota ★
• Spring Hill (unincorporated)
• Town 'n' Country (unincorporated)

Between 10,000 to 50,000 inhabitants

• Citrus Park (unincorporated)
• Dunedin
• Egypt Lake-Leto (unincorporated)
• East Lake (unincorporated)
• Greater Carrollwood (unincorporated)
• Holiday
• Homosassa Springs (unincorporated) ★
• Land O' Lakes (unincorporated)
• Lealman (unincorporated)
• Lutz (unincorporated)
• New Port Richey
• Greater Northdale (unincorporated)
• Oldsmar
• Palm River-Clair Mel (unincorporated)
• Palmetto ★
• Pinellas Park
• Plant City
• Safety Harbor
• Seminole
• Greater Sun Center (unincorporated)
• Tarpon Springs
• Temple Terrace
• University (unincorporated)
• Westchase (unincorporated)

Demographics

According to the 2000 U.S. Census, the Tampa-St. Pete-Clearwater MSA consists of the following ethnic demographics:

• White (Non-Hispanic/Latino)- 1,821,955 76.0%
• Black - 248,058 10.4%
• Hispanic - 248,642 10.4%
• Asian/Pacific Islander - 57,235 2.4%

Population and age

Tampa Bay’s expanding population has grown more than 11 percent in the past six years and is projected to grow an additional 9 percent by 2011. The Tampa Bay region’s population is projected to increase from the current 3.8 million to more than 4.2 million in 2011. That translates to over 70,000 new people a year, mostly through migration.

Nearly 20% of Tampa Bay’s population is in the 18-34 age group.

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino by Origin

Migration

From 2000-2004, total net migration for the Tampa Bay region was 262,961 or an average of 65,740 per year. During this time Tampa Bay accounted for nearly 20% of Florida’s total net migration. The annual migration totals grew steadily since 2000 until 200 people a day moved to Tampa Bay in 2004. Two Tampa Bay region counties are among the top counties in the country for net in-migration. Pasco County ranks 8th in the nation for net migration and Hillsborough County ranks 13th out of more than 3,000 counties.

Culture and recreation

Arts and culture make a big impact in Tampa Bay. In a single year, the economic impact of the cultural institutions in the Tampa Bay area was $521.3 million, according to a recent PricewaterhouseCoopers study. In 2004, 5.6 million people attended plays, musical performances, museum exhibits and other cultural institutions in Tampa Bay, supporting 7,800 jobs.

Long established communities, particularly those near the bay such as Cuban flavored Ybor City, contain historic architecture. Fresh seafood and locally grown produce are available in many restaurants. Sports attractions include many professional quality golf courses, tennis courts, and pools. The area is highly noted for its beaches and nightlife as well. Other attractions include Busch Gardens, the Salvador Dalí Museum, the Florida Aquarium, Museum of Science and Industry, the Florida Holocaust Museum, Lowry Park Zoo and Weeki Wachee Springs.

Sports teams

The Tampa Bay Area is home to three major professional sports teams and a number of minor-league and college teams.

• National Football League: Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Raymond James Stadium in Tampa
• National Hockey League: Tampa Bay Lightning: St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa
• Major League Baseball: Tampa Bay Rays: Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg
• Arena Football League: Tampa Bay Storm: St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa
• NCAA Football, Div.1, Big East : The University of South Florida Bulls: Raymond James Stadium in Tampa
• NCAA Basketball, Div. 1, Big East: The University of South Florida Bulls: The Sun Dome in Tampa

Major League Baseball Spring training teams in the area

Spring training in Tampa Bay is a favorite pastime of both residents and tourists alike.

• The Tampa Bay Rays of Major League Baseball play spring training games at Progress Energy Park in St. Petersburg.
• The New York Yankees of Major League Baseball play spring training games at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa.
• The Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball play spring training games at Bright House Networks Field in Clearwater.
• The Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball play spring training games at Knology Park in Dunedin.

Also playing in the Grapefruit League in the Tampa Bay Area are the Cincinnati Reds, in Sarasota; the Pittsburgh Pirates, in Bradenton; the Cleveland Indians, in Winter Haven; the Detroit Tigers, in Lakeland; and the Boston Red Sox, in Ft. Myers.

Minor League teams

Minor League baseball teams in the area include: Florida State League (Single-A baseball)

• The Tampa Yankees: Legends Field in Tampa
• The Clearwater Threshers: Bright House Networks Field in Clearwater
• The Dunedin Blue Jays: Dunedin Stadium at Grant Field in Dunedin

Sporting events

• The NCAA football Outback Bowl at Raymond James Stadium is held annually, usually on January 1.
• Three Super Bowls have been held in Tampa, in 1984, 1991 and 2001.
• Tampa will host Super Bowl XLIII on February 1, 2009.

Transportation

Transportation in the Tampa Bay Area is heavily affected by its position around Tampa Bay. For more about marine transportation in the area, including the many bridges over Tampa Bay, see Tampa Bay#Transportation.

Air

Tampa International Airport is the largest airport in the region with 21 carriers and more than 17 million passengers served last year. In addition to the recent opening of a new terminal, improvements are being planned to handle 25 million passengers by 2020. Traveler satisfaction has always been a top priority for “America’s Favorite Airport.” It has won high recognition in the international J.D. Power and Associates Global Airport Passenger Satisfaction Study for three consecutive years. Conde Nast Traveler Magazine recognized TIA as the third best airport in the world and IATA Skytrax 2003 survey named TIA as the No. 2 airport in North America.

Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport has experienced a 19.2 percent increase in passenger traffic during the first quarter of 2005, mainly due to the addition of AirTran airways and expanded service to destinations.

St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport provides excellent access to commercial airliners, and smaller charter craft. The airport is currently planning an expansion which will include new terminal facilities and runway extension. Dotting the landscape throughout the area, are many general aviation airports for the aircraft enthusiast and smaller corporate jets.

Rail and intermodal

CSX provides rail service for the entire Tampa Bay region. The railroad serves every major population and industrial center east of the Mississippi including Ontario and Montreal. CSX also connects with more than 166 bulk intermodal distribution terminals and rail-to-truck bulk transloading facilities throughout its service area, linking it to all of North America.

On July 1, 2007, an intermodal transportation authority was created to serve the seven county Tampa Bay area. The Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority (TBARTA) was formed to develop bus, rapid transit, and other transportation options for the region.

Roads

The Tampa Bay Area is served by three major interstate highways.

1. Interstate 4
2. Interstate 75
3. Interstate 275

Hillsborough County is also served by other roadways such as the Lee Roy Selmon Crosstown Expressway (SR 618) which commutes workers from Brandon into downtown Tampa and the Veterans Expressway/Suncoast Parkway (Toll 589) which serves traffic from the Citrus/Hernando County border southward into Tampa.

In Pinellas County, US 19 is the main north-south route through the county, and is being upgraded to freeway standards complete with frontage roads to ease congestion through the north part of the county. Also, the Bayside Bridge allows traffic to go from Clearwater into St. Petersburg without having to use US 19. In the southern part of the county, Interstate 175 and Interstate 375 provide easier access into downtown St. Petersburg.

The Courtney Campbell Causeway (SR 60) is one of the 3 roads that connect Pinellas County to Hillsborough County across the bay. The other two are the Howard Frankland Bridge (I-275) and Gandy Bridge (US 92). The Sunshine Skyway Bridge is part of I-275 and connects Bradenton and other Manatee County and Sarasota County commuters into Pinellas County.

See also

United States metropolitan area

References