Port Tampa-Interbay (Tampa), Florida

Port Tampa is a neighborhood in the southwesternmost portion within the city limits of Tampa, Florida on the western end of the Interbay Peninsula. Within this neighborhood is Picnic Island Park as well as several public schools including Westshore Elementary, Monroe Middle School, and Robinson High School.

History

Port Tampa City was established in 1885, a town built around the end of the Henry B. Plant railroad line. Port Tampa was the primary port of embarkation for the Spanish-American War in Cuba. In June of 1898 Port Tampa and the city of Tampa hosted more than 33,000 visitors including military officers, enlisted men, nurses, civilian clerks, teamsters, packers, stevedores, war correspondents, tourists, and a host of foreign military observers. Wartime notables who passed through Port Tampa included Teddy Roosevelt and the Rough Riders, the Buffalo Soldiers, Clara Barton of the American Red Cross, Richard Harding Davis, Stephen Crane, and Frederic Remington.

Though the city of Port Tampa was annexed by the City of Tampa in 1961, community members still recognize the neighborhood's heritage. A centennial celebration was held in 1993, complete with home tours, and a large block party in the Spanish-American War Memorial Park at the corner of Interbay Blvd. and Westshore Blvd.

A large neoclassical style building with marble base and glazed terracotta tile above, formerly used as a bank, was saved from demolition through a community effort spearheaded by the Port Tampa City Woman's Club and the Civic Association of Port Tampa. The renovated building was converted into the neighborhood's public library in 1998.

Boundaries

The approximate boundaries of Port Tampa are anything south of Gandy boulevard, west of Dale Mabry highway, and East of Manhattan avenue. Locals refer to it as anything "south of gandy" although this is not true, being that the areas south of Gandy boulevard contain many different neighborhoods other than Port Tampa.

Claims to Fame

Tommy Gomez was from Port Tampa City and was a Heavyweight boxer. He fought several well known heavyweights like Ezzard Charles and Jersey Joe Walcot in the famous Madison Square Garden in New York City.

References

Port Tampa City Women's Club. P"ort Tampa City: A History of Change." 2003.