"Welcome to New Tampa, the fastest growing community in Hillsborough County!" That's the greeting of the New Tampa Community Council, a chamber-of-commerce type organization that serves both the business and community interest of New Tampa residents. And fast growing it is—New Tampa's population jumped from 7,100 in 1990 to some 37,500 in 2005—and the growth hasn't stopped yet. This clean, upscale new community, 24-square miles annexed by the city of Tampa in 1988, comprises thousands of acres of beautiful master-planned residential communities and big-box shopping centers—with more of both still to come. New Tampa received recognition as one of the top ten upscale communities in the US;
projections say that by 2013, one-third of Hillsborough County's residents will live in New Tampa.
New Tampa Schools
Children in New Tampa attend mostly "A" schools in the highly acclaimed School District of Hillsborough County, a "Blue Ribbon District" according to a 2002 report card of the nation's best schools. Elementary schools include: Chiles Elementary, Clark Elementary, Heritage Elementary, Hunter's Green Elementary, Pizzo Elementary, Pride Elementary and Tampa Palms Elementary—all but Pizzo, which earned a "B" during the latest grading period, are "A" schools. Older children attend Benito Middle, Liberty Middle, Freedom High and Paul Wharton High. New Tampa children in grades K-5 may also attend the University of South Florida's Patel Charter school;
USF being the first public university in the nation to establish a charter school.
Shopping and Dining in New Tampa
What's your shopping pleasure? No matter what your taste or style, you will certainly find whatever you might need or desire in and around the New Tampa area. New Tampa is only 15 minutes away from Tampa's SOHO (South Howard), Ybor and Channelside districts, not to mention International Plaza and Bay Street. And coming soon to the Wesley Chapel area, literally right up the street, is nearly three million square feet of shopping space in three new malls set to open by the end of 2008: The Groves at Wesley Chapel, a $175 million project with a Toys 'R Us, Best Buy, and Bed Bath and Beyond; the Cypress Creek Town Center on I-75 and SR 56, nearly one-million square feet; and the Shops at Wiregrass,
a $105 million shopping experience including Macys, Dillards, JC Penny's and much, much more.
