approximately 17,836 residents inhabited Hillsborough County (including 
what is now Pinellas County) and Manatee County (including what is now 
Sarasota County) (Figure 6). This number increased approximately 500 
percent to 87,923 in 1910 (U.S. Department of Commerce 1913). The 
estimated population of the four counties in 1950 was approximately 
473,000, increasing 260 percent to approximately 1.23 million residents 
in 1970 (Bureau of Economic and Business Research 1988). The 1987 
estimated population of the area was approximately 2.06 million 
residents. Medium projections indicate that the area’s population will 
reach 2.53 million by the year 2000 --an 18.5% increase over the 1987 
figure (BEBR 1988). 
The Tampa Bay region supports its own symphony orchestra, dance 
and drama companies, and public and private art galleries. In addition, 
the region contains many major attractions which include: 
o Busch Gardens 
o Clearwater Marine Science Center 
o Museum of Science and Industry 
o Ringling Museum Complex 
o Ruth Eckerd Hall 
o Salvador Dali Museum 
o Sunken Gardens, and 
o Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center. 
Professional sports in the area include the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 
(football) and the Rowdies (soccer). The Tampa Bay region served as host 
for the Super Bowl in 1984 and will again host Super Bowl XXV in 1991. 
There are numerous educational and research facilities located in 
the Tampa Bay and Sarasota Bay areas. The University of South Florida 
maintains three campuses in the four county area -- Tampa (main campus); 
St. Petersburg (Bayboro); and Sarasota (New College). The Bayboro area 
of St. Petersburg is also the site of the Florida Department of Natural 
Resources’ Bureau of Marine Research, and the Florida Institute of 
Oceanography. The federal Department of Interior, U.S. Geological Survey 
(USGS) maintains a field office in Tampa, and another office is being 
proposed for the Bayboro area of St. Petersburg. Finally, extensive 
research and study are undertaken at the Mote Marine Laboratory, located 
in Sarasota. 
ECONOMICS 
The presence of Tampa and Sarasota Bays on the Florida "Suncoast" 
has historically shaped and continues to influence the economic base of 
the counties and cities surrounding them. Together, the bays provide two 
of the finest natural harbors on the Gulf coast of peninsular Florida. 
Fishing villages along the shores of both bays became active trade 
centers in the early 1800’s, stimulated by thriving agriculture and 
cattle industries (Powell 1973). The expansion of the railroad system 
9 
