Tarpon Springs is a city in north Pinellas County at the mouth of the Anclote River on the Gulf, about 30 miles northwest of downtown Tampa by US 19 and Alternate US 19. It incorporated on February 12, 1887, the first city in what is now Pinellas County. It is known for the Sponge Docks on Dodecanese Boulevard, its bayous and historic district, Gulf beaches at Fred Howard Park, and the northern end of the Pinellas Trail.
The Sponge Docks and downtown Tarpon Springs
Tarpon Springs' sponge industry began in the 1880s and was reshaped by sponge diving starting in 1905. The Sponge Docks line the Anclote River along Dodecanese Boulevard, sponges are still sold there, and the 1908 Sponge Exchange, once a sponge storage and auction site, now holds specialty shops. Downtown, Tarpon Avenue is known for its antique shops. The Tarpon Springs Historic District, listed on the National Register in 1990, reaches to Spring Bayou and includes the 1883 Safford House museum.
Beaches, parks and water in Tarpon Springs
Fred Howard Park, at the west end of Sunset Drive, covers 155 acres. A 1-mile causeway leads to its white-sand beach, and the park has swimming and windsurfing areas, a canoe and kayak launch, fishing, nine picnic shelters and two playgrounds. It is open from 7 a.m. to sunset, with a daily parking fee. The city's smaller Sunset Beach is on Gulf Road.
About 3 miles offshore, Anclote Key Preserve State Park is reached only by private boat or ferry. It has an 1887 lighthouse at the island's south end and primitive camping at the north end.
A.L. Anderson Park, a 135-acre county park on Lake Tarpon off US 19, has a boat ramp, boardwalks through cypress and a dog park. Tarpon Springs Golf Course is owned by the city, is Florida's oldest municipal course, and was rebuilt to 18 holes in 1926 by Wayne Stiles and John Van Kleek. The Fred Marquis Pinellas Trail begins here and runs about 47 miles south to St. Petersburg on a former railroad corridor.
Homes in Tarpon Springs
Much of the city lies along a series of bayous that feed into the Gulf, so housing includes waterfront homes on the bayous and the Anclote River as well as older homes in the historic district near Spring Bayou. The 34688 ZIP code reaches east of Lake Tarpon to Brooker Creek Preserve and takes in golf communities such as Crescent Oaks and Cypress Run, which also fall within East Lake.
Getting around
US 19 and Alternate US 19 run south toward Palm Harbor, Dunedin and Clearwater. East Lake Road and Tampa Road lead southeast to Oldsmar and Tampa, and New Port Richey is about 10 miles north.
