Port Tampa City is the neighborhood at the southwest tip of Tampa's Interbay Peninsula, on Tampa Bay next to MacDill Air Force Base and about 9 miles by road southwest of downtown Tampa. It began in the 1880s as a railroad port town at the end of Henry B. Plant's line, was the main embarkation port for the Spanish-American War in 1898, and was annexed by the City of Tampa in 1961. Today its streets pair original bungalows and ranch homes with new construction, and it contains Picnic Island Park on the bay.
History of Port Tampa City
Plant founded the town in 1885 at the end of his railroad. To draw visitors and residents he built the Port Tampa Inn, which stood on stilts directly over the bay. In 1898 the port was the main embarkation point for the Spanish-American War, handling more than 33,000 troops and support personnel, including Theodore Roosevelt and the Rough Riders. Its importance faded once dredging opened Tampa's main port to larger ships. The Port Tampa City Library, at 4902 W. Commerce Street, occupies the neoclassical First Bank of Port Tampa, built in 1926. The building was designated a landmark in 1994 and reopened as a library in 1998. Its Maritime Reading Room holds more than 350 maritime books along with ship models and navigational instruments.
Picnic Island Park and the water
Picnic Island Park, at 7409 Picnic Island Boulevard, is the neighborhood's front yard on Tampa Bay. It has a white-sand beach, a gated dog beach, a fishing pier and a concrete boat ramp open 24 hours with 13 trailer spaces. There is also a disc golf course with more elevation than most in Florida, a sand volleyball court, a playground, picnic shelters with grills, fitness stations, restrooms, an outdoor shower and changing rooms. Across the street, a canoe and kayak launch leads into a mangrove tunnel. The park is open sunrise to sunset.
Living in and getting around Port Tampa City
Interbay Boulevard, West Shore Boulevard and Commerce Street are the main roads, with Tampa Bay to the west. Gandy Boulevard is about 2.5 miles north, with the Gandy Bridge to St. Petersburg and the Selmon Expressway toll road toward downtown and Brandon. The Westshore Marina District's shops and restaurants on Bridge Street are about 3 miles north. Gadsden Park, with its paved loop trail, fishing lake and dog park, is about 3 miles east. Downtown Tampa is about 9 miles by road, and Tampa International Airport about 10.
Homes in Port Tampa City
The original town's housing survives in its bungalows and ranch homes, many on the grid laid out when Port Tampa was a separate city. New construction has joined them on redeveloped lots. The original city limits ran west of Manhattan Avenue to the bay.
