2018 Fall Newsletter

COUNTY SPOTLIGHT: HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY

Hillsborough County, which takes its name from Wills Hill, British Secretary of State to the Colonies from 1768- 1772, was first mapped and explored by the Spanish in the early 16th century. Between 1559 and 1819, the area now called Florida was under the rule of four nations: Spain, France, Great Britain and the United States. The United States purchased Florida from Spain in 1821 for $5 million, and on Jan. 25, 1834, the U.S. Legisla- tive Council for the Territory of Florida approved an act organizing Hillsborough as Florida’s 19th county… At that time, Hillsborough County was a sprawling area that included what is now Pinellas, Polk, Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte, DeSoto, Hardee and Highlands Counties, most of Glades County and part of Lee County. Despite its size, Hillsborough’s population was only 836, not including soldiers or Native Americans. When the first Commissioners met in 1846, the topics were taxes, transportation, a new courthouse and jail, and downtown development. The County tax raised $148.69 that year and Commissioners were paid $2 per day while in session” ( www.hillsboroughcouny.org ) Today’s Hillsborough County consists of 1,266 square miles, almost 20% of which is water, has a population estimate of just over 1.4 million and is located North of Manatee County, South of Pasco County, East of Pinellas County bordering Tampa Bay and West of Polk County. The county consists of unincorporated Hillsborough County and three incorporated cities; the City of Tampa, the largest city in the county and the third most populous in Florida, the City of Temple Terrace, Florida’s first golf course community, and Plant City, known for its hometown charm and agricultural contribution to the nation’s food supply, providing three- fourths of the nation’s strawberry supply in midwinter. Hillsborough County is home to the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning, and the off- season training home to the MLB’s New York Yankees. It is also the home of the University of South Florida, recently named a Preeminent State Research University by the Florida Board of Governors, the University of Tampa, one of the first institutions of higher learning in the Bay Area founded in 1931 and Tampa General Hos- pital, nationally recognized as one of the top 50 transplant facilities in the US for their success in kidney trans- plantation. Residents and visitors alike enjoy the view and activities afforded from the various forms of waterfront Hills- borough County has to offer, from Tampa Bay to the Alafia, Little Manatee and Hillsborough Rivers, to the springs of Lithia and the many lakes majorly located in the northern part of the county. Other fun and inter- esting attractions include Busch Gardens and Adventure Island theme parks, as well as the Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI), The Florida Aquarium, ZooTampa at Lowry Park Zoo, The Glazer Children’s Museum, The Straz Center for the Performing Arts, the beautifully transformed Tampa Riverwalk, a 2.6 mile pedestrian

waterfront trail combining commerce, transportation, entertainment and fitness in one experience and nature preserves like Hillsborough State and Lettuce Lake parks. For the historic at heart, there several cultural museums and the lively spirit of Ybor City, a one square mile hub of historical architecture, culture and cuisine originally founded in 1885 via the Cuban cigar factory industry. Hillsborough County is a beautiful melting pot of nature, economic development , and history and diversity in culture, economics and activity.

Hon. Bob Henriquez, CFA| First elected in 2012| Web: www.hcpafl.org

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Fall 2018 Newsletter of the FCIAAO