Tampa

Tampa is a city of Florida, located on Tampa Bay, an inlet of the Gulf of Mexico.

Tampa was founded in 1824 as Fort Brooke; the 'Village of Tampa' was incorporated in 1849 and received a town charter in 1855. The name Tampa derives from the Cree Itimpi, 'close to it or 'near it', though what 'it' was supposed to be near is unknown.

In the late nineteenth century Tampa prospered from a growing trade in phosphates and the manufacture of cigars.

Modern Tampa has a population of 382,000 and is part of a conurbation (Tampa Bay-St Petersburg-Clearwater) which has a population of around 3 million. In 2012, the Republican National Convention was held in Tampa.

The city is home to three professional sports teams:

* The Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the NFL
* The Tampa Bay Rays of the MLB's American League
* The Tampa Bay Lightning of the NHL

During the 2020-2021 season, the Lightning and Buccaneers won their league's championship, while the Rays also competed in theirs but falling short.

## See also[edit]

* Battle of Fort Brooke