About Sun Bay South - Tampa, FL

Spanish conquistador Ponce de Leon came to Tampa Bay in 1513 and met the native people while trying to discover the legendary “fountain of youth.” Not finding much interest in Tampa then, the Spanish focused on settling along the eastern coast of Florida and ignored the western areas of Florida.

The first American settlers did not arrive until 1824 when the U.S. Army built Fort Brooke to guard Tampa Bay, which was strategically important. Florida became part of the United States in 1845.

The area grew despite a blockade and Federal occupation during the Civil War. In 1884, Henry B. Plant built a railroad extension to reach the Hillsborough River. He also built lavish hotels along his rail line to attract tourists.

The distinctive neighborhood of Sun Bay South in Tampa, Florida, emerged as a lovely area in a prosperous city. The location is also known for being home to the MacDill Air Force Base, built during WWII starting in 1939.

What To Do in Tampa, FL

Tampa is family-friendly, with lots of fun things to do.
Here are a few suggestions for things to do in the Sun Bay South area that locals appreciate:

• Bobby Hicks Public Swimming Pool: This well-maintained public pool is popular. Families pay just $50 for annual membership; teenagers can come anytime for free.
• Rembrandt Gardens: This is a lovely green space within the Sun Bay South community, and it has nice apartments with garden views.
• Picnic Island: Picnic Island is just a few miles southwest of Sun Bay South. It has a beach, island park, beach dog park, and disc golf course. Kids love playing here, and bring your dogs on a leash for added fun.
• Community Events: The annual Gasparilla Music Festival is named after the pirate Jose Gaspar, who was historically a terror in the Tampa Bay area. There is also the Gasparilla Pirate Fest, where everyone comes in their favorite pirate costume, and the Gasparilla Festival of the Arts.
• Destination: Tarpon Springs: A short 30-mile drive north of Tampa, this waterfront town was established many centuries ago by the Native Creek people, who used to dive for natural sponges in the ocean. Enjoy Creek cuisine at the local restaurants and authentic heritage sites.

Working in Tampa, FL

The local economy benefits from healthcare, hospitality, professional/scientific/technical services, education, and finance/insurance. The unemployment rate is 5%, more than the national average of 4.1%. The median household annual income in Tampa is $71,089 annually, near the American average of $69,021.

The economy is growing much faster than the national average. The predicted job growth rate for the next decade is 42.7%, compared to the national rate expected to be 33.5%.

The industries offering the most jobs are:

• Healthcare (12.9%)
• Professional, scientific, and tech services (10%)
• Accommodations/food services (9.9%)
• Education (8.9%)
• Finance/insurance (7.2%)
• Construction (6.5%)
• Administrative support and waste management (5.7%)

Sun Bay South - Tampa, FL Neighborhoods

Tampa has many nice neighborhoods, and Sun Bay South is one of them, just north of MacDill Air Force Base. Here are a few neighborhoods in that area with homes to consider:

• Gandy Sun Bay South: Highway 92 (W Gandy Blvd) causeway connects this area of Tampa to the city of Gandy. The median real estate price is $380,742, pricier than 40.9% of all other places in Florida. There is a nice mix of owner-occupied homes with rental units. The average rent is $2,955. The vacancy rate is 6.8%, so it is easy to find an available place.
• Rattlesnake: This neighborhood is adjacent to Sun Bay South on its western side. The median real estate sales price is $452,788. The average rental price is $3,462. The vacancy rate is 5.8%.
• Gandy Sun Bay Southwest: This area is on the water and has many luxurious homes with amazing views. The median price for a home is $1,373,318. The average rent is $3,469. The vacancy rate is 4.2%.

Tampa, FL School District

Hillsborough County Public Schools is the administrator of all public schools in Tampa. The school district spends $11,744 per year per student, and the student-to-teacher ratio is high at 18 to one.

There are 116 private schools in Tampa. The private schools in this area are:

• Holy Trinity Lutheran School (PK to 7th grade)
• Bayshore Christian School (PK to 12th grade)
• Academy Of The Holy Names (PK to 12th grade)

There are five colleges and universities in Tampa and 24 others within 50 miles. The top-ranking local colleges are:

• University of South Florida (public, four-year)
• University of Tampa (private, four-year)
• Remington College (private, four-year technical school)

Moving to Tampa, FL Resource Guide

Tampa has an elected mayor and six City Commissioners who serve on the City Council. The city’s official website has more information.

The Parks and Recreation Department maintains the parks and public areas. There are well-kept playgrounds, basketball courts, beaches, marinas with docks and boat ramps, dog parks, greenways, trails, skate parks, and recreation centers.

Residents enjoy many programs for youth, adults, and seniors, including aquatics, arts and theater, athletics, fitness, gymnastics and dance, and therapeutic recreation.

Tampa, FL Housing

The median price for a home is $450,000. However, expect to pay over a million dollars if you want something on the water. The price trend is down -1.1% year-over-year. The housing market is balanced, with enough homes listed for sale to match the number of interested buyers. Housing costs are 38% higher than the rest of Florida and 68% higher than the American average. The cost of living here is 39% higher than other cities in Florida and 46% higher than the national average.