Florida - Central West around St Petersburg & Tampa

Aside from Seminole and Calusa Indians who came to the area as early as 200 BC, Central West Florida also saw many pirates in its early human history. The maze of bays, inlets and coves made for the perfect hiding ground.

Spaniards explored the area in the 1500's but never established a permanent base here. It wasn't until after the Seminole wars that former soldiers and other pioneers began to build settlements.

Development started in earnest as wealthy industrialist Henry Plant competed for tourists with his eastern Florida counterpart, Henry Flagler. Plant brought his railroad to Tampa in 1884 and built a number of luxury hotels to attract wealthy clients. His opulent Tampa Bay Hotel still stands and now houses part of the University of Tampa and a museum.

Today, many people come to the area to visit the St. Petersburg and Clearwater beaches. Though the region has seen several development booms over the years, Central West Florida still contains some rural districts and a lot of land has been set aside for parks and reserves.