The region around Tampa Bay on Florida’s west coast includes the cities of Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Clearwater, along with many smaller towns. The Tampa Bay area is the fourth-largest metropolitan area in the U.S. Southeast, having a combined population of 3.2 million.
Residents and visitors can enjoy a multitude of recreational activities and events, with miles of wide beaches on the Gulf of Mexico, dozens of municipal and state parks, prominent museums and performing arts venues, famed attractions such as Busch Gardens and Lowry Park Zoo, and professional football, baseball, hockey, and soccer. The Tampa Bay area has something for everyone, encompassing natural beauty, cultural diversity, and a thriving business community.
About St. Petersburg
The City of St. Petersburg is home to Plasma-Therm headquarters. St. Pete, as it’s called by locals, has a population of about 260,000, making it the fourth-largest city in Florida. Located in Pinellas County on a peninsula between the Gulf of Mexico and Tampa Bay, St. Petersburg is renowned for the many barrier islands and beaches located minutes from downtown. St. Pete’s cultural attractions include The Dalí Museum, Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg Museum of History, and the Mahaffey Theater near downtown. Tropicana Field is home to the Tampa Bay Rays baseball. St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport is located about 9 miles north of St. Pete’s downtown, which surrounds beautiful waterfront parks and marinas.
About Tampa
The City of Tampa is east of St. Petersburg, at the north end of Tampa Bay. The city, which is in Hillsborough County, has a population of about 385,000. Tampa is home to MacDill Air Force Base, Busch Gardens, the University of South Florida, and the Lowry Park Zoo. Tampa International Airport, located about 6 miles west of downtown Tampa, is the region’s major airport, serving 16 million passengers a year.
About Clearwater
The City of Clearwater is located north of St. Petersburg and west of Tampa in Pinellas County. Clearwater has a population of about 115,000. Clearwater attractions include spring training baseball, the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, Capitol Theater, Ruth Eckerd Hall, and the Clearwater Beach Marina.