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 Library ''For other Carnegie library, Carnegie Libraries, see Carnegie library (disambiguation)''
The Old Tampa Free Public Library (also known as the Exceptional Children Education Center) is a historic building in the Tampa Heights neighborhood of Tamp ...
. Redevelopment efforts are underway in the community and include an extension of
Tampa Riverwalk
The Tampa Riverwalk is a open space and pedestrian trail along the Hillsborough River in Tampa, Florida. The Riverwalk extends along most of the downtown Tampa waterfront from the Channelside District on the eastern terminus to the mouth of ...
and renovation of
Water Works Park (Tampa, Florida).
Description
Tampa Heights is bounded by the North Boulevard to the west, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard to the north,
Downtown Tampa to the south, and Ybor Heights,
V.M. Ybor, and
Ybor City to the east. The land area of the neighborhood is .
Thomas P. Kennedy is credited with naming the area when he moved there calling it the "Highlands" and it was developed as Tampa's first suburb in the 1880s. Today the neighborhood is known for its diversity and historic status, but
gentrification
Gentrification is the process of changing the character of a neighborhood through the influx of more affluent residents and businesses. It is a common and controversial topic in urban politics and planning. Gentrification often increases the ec ...
of the area is causing controversy.
Demographics
As of the
census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses in ...
of 2010, there were 5,782 people residing in Tampa Heights. The racial makeup of Tampa Heights was 59.4%
Black or African American, 32.4%
White
White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White o ...
, 21.3% of the population was
Hispanic
The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad.
The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to viceroyalties forme ...
or
Latino
Latino or Latinos most often refers to:
* Latino (demonym), a term used in the United States for people with cultural ties to Latin America
* Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States
* The people or cultures of Latin America;
** Latin A ...
of any race, 3.7% from two or more races, 3.4% from
other races
Other often refers to:
* Other (philosophy), a concept in psychology and philosophy
Other or The Other may also refer to:
Film and television
* ''The Other'' (1913 film), a German silent film directed by Max Mack
* ''The Other'' (1930 film), a ...
, 0.6%
Asian and
Pacific Islander
Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the Pacific Islands. As an ethnic/racial term, it is used to describe the original peoples—inhabitants and diasporas—of any of the three major subregions of O ...
and 0.3%
Native American.
In Tampa Heights, the population was spread out, with 8% under 5 years; 8% 5 to 9 years; 14.7% 10 to 19 years; 29.7% 20 to 39 years; 24.7% 40 to 59 years; 11.6% 60 to 79 years; 3.3% 80 years and over.
New development
In recent years, Tampa Heights has seen new people flow into the area aiming to restore it. Many new businesses have opened in the area such as art galleries and coffee shops. A new development called "The Heights of Tampa" has begun with some initial phases of construction. The project is mixed use for residential and commercial. It would be the northern end of the
Tampa Riverwalk
The Tampa Riverwalk is a open space and pedestrian trail along the Hillsborough River in Tampa, Florida. The Riverwalk extends along most of the downtown Tampa waterfront from the Channelside District on the eastern terminus to the mouth of ...
.
New developments also include Armature Works. Armature Works is a 73,000-square-foot space that consists of event spaces, trendy restaurants and bars, workspaces and the Heights Public Market.
The building dates back to 1910. It was originally a warehouse that stored
TECO streetcars.
One way to access Armature Works is by walking along the
Tampa Riverwalk
The Tampa Riverwalk is a open space and pedestrian trail along the Hillsborough River in Tampa, Florida. The Riverwalk extends along most of the downtown Tampa waterfront from the Channelside District on the eastern terminus to the mouth of ...
.
See also
*
Downtown Tampa, due south of the neighborhood.
*
Hillsborough River, borders the area to the west.
*
Riverside Heights, historic neighborhood that hugs the Hillsborough River
*
Seminole Heights, similar historic neighborhood also undergoing gentrification.
*
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 ...
, historic neighborhood with
Cuban
Cuban may refer to:
* Something of, from, or related to Cuba, a country in the Caribbean
* Cubans, people from Cuba, or of Cuban descent
** Cuban exile, a person who left Cuba for political reasons, or a descendant thereof
* Cuban citizen, a perso ...
roots a couple miles to the northwest
References
External links
Tampa Heights Neighborhood Page
{{Tampa neighborhoods
Neighborhoods in Tampa, Florida