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Gibsonton, Florida, also affectionately known as Showtown USA by those in-the-know in the outdoor amusement industry, is considered the "Holy Grail" of carnival fans; the area called "Gibtown" by fans and locals has inspired books, fan-zines and even a documentary movie of the same name. Why all the fuss? The community of Gibsonton, bordered by Tampa Bay on the west and U.S. 41 on the east, has unique zoning laws that allow carnival performers to keep carnival booths, rides and animals on their property – thus it's not extraordinary to awake in the morning to elephants, lions and cotton candy or other colorful carnival booths on your neighbors' lawns. The community, on 13-square miles and with a population of around 18,000, lies just south of the Alafia River—eight miles southeast of Tampa and eight miles southwest of Brandon, as the crow flies.

Residents today are torn as to what Gibsonton's future will hold—some believe the area's "carny" past—and its "carny" future—is and will be responsible for helping the community retain modest growth in an area where growth and even overgrowth are oft-cited woes. Others, however, say "what's past is past"; they call Gibsonton "up and coming," with friendly people, excellent schools and many aesthetic improvements underway, including landscaped gateways and attractive medians. People seeking growth also tend to want to repeal the carnival zoning laws and spruce up the rundown trailer-home areas, which they believe will help the area to appreciate in value. It appears that growth and improvement may win in Gibsonton as it has in other areas in the region as well: the Gibsonton Community Plan calls for new, single-family home residential areas, a revitalization of older residential areas and outdated mobile home parks, a Riverwalk and several nature preservation areas.

The Gibsonton Community Plan speaks warmly of life in Gibsonton:

Our neighborhoods have been revitalized where needed through major partnering efforts. A mix of single family homes and parks embrace our new revitalized riverfront along the Alafia River, where private marinas and boating services thrive. Our working residents can afford to live here without relying on poorly designed and maintained mobile homes. Old, stable residential areas remain as a key choice for those seeking traditional town lifestyles. Well-designed and managed mobile home parks remain, and are a lesser percentage of overall housing stock. New housing areas are walkable, with a range of choices covering single-family and rental units.

Gibsonton Schools

Children in Gibsonton attend Corr Elementary, an "A" school, Gibsonton Elementary, Eisenhower Middle and East Bay High schools. East Bay is one of four Hillsborough County schools to receive a Smaller Learning communities Grant from the U.S. Department of Education. With the grant, East Bay has become a career academy, offering small learning communities that focus on career themes, with studies in an Academy of Fine Arts, Academy of Natural Resources, a Professional Services Academy and School of Communications Technology.