In the early 1500's Ponce De Leon, a Spanish explorer, arrived in the Tampa area.  De Leon did not have the welcoming that he was expecting, as the area was already inhabited by Indians. It was in the West Central Florida area that De Leon received a wound that proved later to be fatal.  For hundreds of years after De Leon's visit, Tampa Bay remained a quite little fishing village.  It wasn't until the early 1800's that this regions history began.  With the Seminole Wars and the Civil War, General Andrew Jackson saw the need for a fort.  Fort Brooke was established in 1824 by the U.S. Army to protect the strategic harbor in Tampa Bay.  During the Civil War in 1863, two union ships attacked Fort Brooke leaving many casualties and another victory for the Union.  In the late 1800's Henry Plant extended his railroad into Tampa, connecting it to the country's railroad.  Plant then built two beautiful hotels to aid with the tourist industry.  In 1886, Vicente Martinez Ybor established a cigar factory in Tampa.  During this time phosphates where discovered in the area and the region began to prosper due to the shipping and mining of the phosphate and the Cuban cigar industry.  

Today, Tampa, Florida has evolved into a multi-cultural, diverse business area that has incredible communities of people residing within its borders.  The Tampa Museum of Art, Tampa Performing Arts Center, MOSI (Museum of Science and Industry) and the University of South Florida's Contemporary Art Museum are a few of the many museums and art galleries that call Tampa, Florida home.  Tampa is also the home to many of Florida's largest theme parks.  Busch Gardens is a 300 acre, African themed amusement park with amazing thrill rides and a zoo that contains more than 2,700 animals.  Adventure Island is 30 acres of water thrill rides aimed for fun in the sun for the whole family.  Lowry Park Zoo is one of America's finest zoo's that provides incredible manatee exhibits and research.  Don't forget, for all you sports buffs out there, Tampa is the home to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers!  With the head coach Tony Dungy and the new Raymond James Stadium the Bucs have proven to be a fantastic football team.  The breathtaking views of the sunsets and the incredible gulf breezes are a few of the free perks to living in this community. You'll never be bored in Tampa, Florida.  

Real Estate options in Tampa, Florida range from historic homes, high rise condominiums, gated country club communities, lake side water front homes to homes on the beautiful Tampa Bay. The wide varieties of homes that are available in Tampa are suited to fit every lifestyle and every budget.

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