History of Tampa, Florida

History Of Tampa, Florida

Tampa ( /ˈtæmpə/), a United States city in Hillsborough County on the west coast of the state of Florida, was inhabited by various native American groups, including the Tocobaga. Its modern history began with the founding of Fort Brooke in today's downtown in 1823, the outpost helped bring a small population of civilians to the area.

Growth came slowly and sporadically for the village of Tampa during its first half-century, as poor transportation links, conflicts with the Seminole tribe, and repeated outbreaks of yellow fever made development difficult. This changed in the 1880s, when the construction of railroads brought increased trade and the development of industrial commerce brought sudden prosperity that attracted many new residents to the town. By the end of the 19th century, Tampa had grown into one of the largest cities in Florida, a status it has kept ever since. Growth continued in the early 20th century and into the 21st Century as Tampa emerged as a modern financial, trade, and commercial hub.