Florida City Named After a Bay: Tampa

Tampa and Tampa Bay

The city of Tampa takes its name from Tampa Bay, the large natural harbor on Florida's Gulf Coast where the city is situated.

About Tampa Bay

• Length: ~45 miles (72 km); width: ~15 miles (24 km).
• Largest open-water estuary in Florida.
• Rich marine life: fish, dolphins, manatees.
• Popular for boating, fishing, swimming, and water sports.

Historical Note

The name "Tampa" may derive from the Calusa language. The area has been inhabited for thousands of years, with Spanish exploration in the 1500s and American settlement after 1821.