![Stone Church on Columbus Ave](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f5/Stone_Church_on_Columbus_Ave.%2C_Tampa%2C_Florida.jpg)
Columbus Drive is a major road in
Tampa
Tampa () is a city on the Gulf Coast of the U.S. state of Florida. The city's borders include the north shore of Tampa Bay and the east shore of Old Tampa Bay. Tampa is the largest city in the Tampa Bay area and the seat of Hillsborough County ...
,
Florida
Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, and to ...
from
State Road 589 on its west side east through
West Tampa
West Tampa is one of the oldest neighborhoods within the city limits of Tampa, Florida, United States. It was an independently incorporated city from 1895 until 1925, when it was annexed by Tampa.
West Tampa is located west of the Hillsborough ...
. It was originally known as Michigan Avenue
and was renamed Columbus Drive in 1933.
On its west end,
International Plaza, an upscale mall, and several upscale restaurants are located off Columbus Drive on Jim Walter Boulevard, named in 2003 for
Jim Walter. East on Columbus there are several Latin markets and eateries including
La Teresita and Arco Iris. Columbus Drive crosses the
Hillsborough River via the Columbus Drive Bridge.
East Columbus Drive travels through a historic area of Tampa,
Tampa Heights
Tampa Heights is one of the oldest neighborhoods within the city limits of Tampa, situated in the central part of the city. As of the 2000 census, the neighborhood had a population of 16,393.
Historic buildings in the area include the Tampa Free ...
. Latin food restaurants on East Columbus Drive include Arco-Iris and
Brocato's Sandwich Shop. The area is a center of Latin culture in Tampa. The Michigan Avenue grammar school opened in 1907 and became
Robert E. Lee Elementary School in 1933.
and is located at 305 East Columbus Drive between Jefferson Street and Morgan Street. It is
Hillsborough County, Florida
Hillsborough County is located in the west central portion of the U.S. state of Florida. In the 2020 census, the population was 1,459,762, making it the fourth-most populous county in Florida and the most populous county outside the Miami metrop ...
's oldest brick school building.
The Villa Madonna School was established at 315 West Columbus Drive.
A historic marker commemorating "
Buffalo Soldiers
Buffalo Soldiers originally were members of the 10th Cavalry Regiment of the United States Army, formed on September 21, 1866, at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. This nickname was given to the Black Cavalry by Native American tribes who fought in t ...
" is located at Central Avenue and Columbus Drive. The all-black regiment settled in Tampa Heights during the
Spanish–American War
, partof = the Philippine Revolution, the decolonization of the Americas, and the Cuban War of Independence
, image = Collage infobox for Spanish-American War.jpg
, image_size = 300px
, caption = (clock ...
.
References
Roads in Tampa, Florida
{{Florida-road-stub