Tarpon Springs, Florida

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Tarpon Springs is a city in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. Downtown Tarpon Springs has long been a focal point and underwent beautification in 2010.[1] It is part of the Tampa Bay area. Its population was 25,117 at the 2020 census.

As of 2000, Tarpon Springs had the highest percentage of Greek Americans of any city in the US, with 10.4% of residents who had Greek ancestry.[2]

History

The region, with a series of bayous feeding into the Gulf of Mexico, was settled by farmers and fishermen[3] around 1876. Some of the newly arrived visitors spotted tarpon jumping out of the waters, so named the location Tarpon Springs. The name is said to have originated with a remark by an early settler who said, "See the tarpon spring!" (most fish splashing here were mullet). In 1882, Hamilton Disston, who in the previous year had purchased the land, ordered the creation of a town plan.[4] On February 12, 1887, Tarpon Springs became the first incorporated city in what is now Pinellas County.[4] Less than a year later on January 13, 1888, the Orange Belt Railway, the first railroad line to be built in what is now Pinellas County, arrived in the city.[5] During this time the area was developed as a wintering spot for wealthy northerners.

In the 1880s, John K. Cheyney founded the first local sponge business. The industry continued to grow in the 1890s. Many people from Key West and the Bahamas settled in Tarpon Springs to hook sponges and then process them. A few Greek immigrants also arrived in this city during the 1890s to work in the sponge industry.

In 1905, John Cocoris introduced the technique of sponge diving to Tarpon Springs by recruiting divers and crew members from Greece. The first divers came from the Saronic Gulf islands of Aegina and Hydra, but they were soon outnumbered by those from the Dodecanese islands of Kalymnos, Symi, and Halki. The sponge industry soon became one of the leading maritime industries in Florida and the most important business in Tarpon Springs, generating millions of dollars a year. The 1953 film Beneath the 12-Mile Reef, depicting the sponge industry, takes place and was filmed in Tarpon Springs.[6]

The city's Rose Cemetery, where Black residents are interred, is believed to contain burials that began in the late 1800s; the earliest legible marked burial is from 1904.[3] The cemetery contains the grave of Richard Quarls, a Confederate veteran of the American Civil War who fought alongside his enslaver before moving to Tarpon Springs and choosing the new name "Christopher Columbus", and veterans of subsequent wars.[3]

In 1947, a red tide algal bloom wiped out the sponge fields in the Gulf, causing many of the sponge boats and divers to switch to shrimping for their livelihood, while others left the business. Eventually, the sponges recovered, allowing for a smaller but consistent sponge industry today. In the 1980s, the sponge business experienced a boom due to a sponge disease that killed the Mediterranean sponges. A small, active sponge industry still remains.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city of Tarpon Springs has a total area of Script error: No such module "convert"., of which Script error: No such module "convert". (45.83%) are covered by water.

Climate

Tarpon Springs' climate borders on humid subtropical and tropical savanna, with warm temperatures year-round, although winter nights are cool. Annual precipitation is around Script error: No such module "convert".. Winters are warm, with daytime highs of Script error: No such module "convert"., and nightly lows of Script error: No such module "convert".. Freezing temperatures (Script error: No such module "convert". or lower) occur infrequently, while snowfall is extremely rare; there was accumulation in 1977 and 1989, while the years 1899, 1954, 1958, 1973, 2001, 2006, 2010, and 2014 either had light snow mixed with rain, or flurries. The record low temperature of Script error: No such module "convert". was observed on four different dates: December 1, 1962, December 13, 1962, December 14, 1962, and January 13, 1985. Summers are hot and very humid, causing frequent afternoon thunderstorms that can occasionally produce hail, and even tornadoes or waterspouts off the Gulf. Daytime temperatures usually range from Script error: No such module "convert"., with temperatures over Script error: No such module "convert". very rare. The record high temperature of Script error: No such module "convert". was observed on July 10, 1997. Spring and fall are generally warm. Script error: No such module "weather box".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Template:Sronly%±
1890327—
1900541Script error: No such module "String".%
19102,212Script error: No such module "String".%
19202,105Script error: No such module "String".%
19303,414Script error: No such module "String".%
19403,402Script error: No such module "String".%
19504,323Script error: No such module "String".%
19606,768Script error: No such module "String".%
19707,118Script error: No such module "String".%
198013,251Script error: No such module "String".%
199017,906Script error: No such module "String".%
200021,003Script error: No such module "String".%
201023,484Script error: No such module "String".%
202025,117Script error: No such module "String".%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]

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Tarpon Springs city, Florida – Racial composition
Race (NH = Non-Hispanic) 2020[8] 2010[9] 2000[10] 1990[11] 1980[12]
White alone (NH) 78.8%
(19,804) 		83.2%
(19,531) 		87%
(18,263) 		89.3%
(15,985) 		87.9%
(11,652)
Black alone (NH) 6.1%
(1,524) 		6.1%
(1,437) 		6%
(1,265) 		8%
(1,431) 		9.6%
(1,266)
American Indian alone (NH) 0.2%
(56) 		0.2%
(50) 		0.2%
(49) 		0.2%
(37) 		0%
(5)
Asian alone (NH) 1.4%
(360) 		1.4%
(331) 		1%
(218) 		0.7%
(123) 		0.6%
(76)
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 0.1%
(16) 		0.1%
(19) 		0%
(10)
Other race alone (NH) 0.5%
(131) 		0.2%
(48) 		0.1%
(11) 		0%
(7) 		0.1%
(17)
Multiracial (NH) 3.8%
(944) 		1.5%
(361) 		1.3%
(278) 		— —
Hispanic/Latino (any race) 9.1%
(2,282) 		7.3%
(1,707) 		4.3%
(909) 		1.8%
(323) 		1.8%
(235)

2010 and 2020 census

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 25,117 people, 10,971 households, and 6,191 families residing in the city.[13] The most reported ancestries in 2020 were:[14]

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 23,484 people, 9,870 households, and 6,113 families residing in the city.[15]

2000 census

As of the census[16] of 2000, there were 21,003 people, 9,067 households, and 5,947 families residing in the city. The population density was Script error: No such module "convert".. There were 10,759 housing units at an average density of Script error: No such module "convert".. The racial makeup of the city was 90.07% White, 6.15% African American, 0.29% Native American, 1.04% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.81% from other races, and 1.57% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.33% of the population.

In 2000, there were 9,067 households, out of which 22.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.2% were married couples living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.4% were non-families. 29.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.78.

In 2000, in the city, the population was spread out, with 19.2% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 23.9% from 25 to 44, 25.9% from 45 to 64, and 24.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.1 males.

In 2000, the median income for a household in the city was $38,251, and the median income for a family was $46,316. Males had a median income of $36,356 versus $25,252 for females. The per capita income for the city was $21,504. About 7.7% of families and 9.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.1% of those under age 18 and 7.9% of those age 65 or over.

In 2000, 84.99% of the population spoke English as a first language, while the second most spoken language was Greek, at 8.87% of residents. 3.46% spoke Spanish, 1.09% at French, German 0.56%, and Italian was spoken by 0.55% of people living in Tarpon Springs. In total, 15% of the population spoke a language other than English as a mother tongue.[17]

Arts and culture

File:Recent Sponge Harvest - panoramio.jpg
Sponge harvest
File:Spongeorama's Sponge Factory (Tarpon Springs, Florida) 01.jpg
The Spongeorama museum
File:Tarpon Springs old city hall01.jpg
Tarpon Springs Cultural Center (Old City Hall).
File:Tarpon Springs Depot 2016.jpg
Tarpon Springs Depot, built 1909

Elaborate religious ceremonies are hosted by the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral, part of the Greek Orthodox Church, including the January 6 Epiphany celebration. The first Greek immigrants depended on the sea and their boats for their livelihood. The Metropolitan of Atlanta usually presides over the blessings, sometimes joined by the Archbishop of America. The blessings conclude with the ceremonial throwing of a wooden cross into the city's Spring Bayou, and boys ages 16 to 18 dive in to retrieve it: whoever recovers the cross is said to be blessed for a full year.[18]

Museums include:

  • Tarpon Springs Heritage Museum in Craig Park, which features the history and culture of the Greek Community as well as a permanent exhibition featuring the work of Artist Christopher Still.
  • 1883 Safford House Museum
  • The Historic Train Depot Museum

Notable districts and properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places include:

Sites related to the sponge industry include:

Library

The Tarpon Springs Public Library was founded in 1916 by Julia Roswell Smith Inness and other leading members of the Tarpon Springs community.[19] The library began in the northern portion of the second floor of the Tarpon Springs City Hall and was supported by the Library Association and public dues.[19]

The Tarpon Springs Public Library has moved five times over the course of its history to accommodate its increasing collection to support the growing population of Tarpon Springs.[20]In 1921, the library moved into a house on Orange Street owned by Miss Richey, who also managed the collection.[19] After the sale of the house on Orange Street and some financial difficulties for the library due to the Great Depression, the library was set up in the Tarpon Hotel thanks to the support from the Tarpon Springs Enterprise Association.[19] 

In 1937, a plot of land was donated by John and Mabel Cheyney to build a new library on what later became known as Library Lane.  Groundbreaking for this building began in July 1938.[19] The library was located here until 1964 when a new library building opened in Coburn Park.[19] The library was housed in this building until the current library building, located at 138 East Lemon St. Tarpon Springs, FL 34689, opened in January of 1997.[20]

The current Tarpon Springs Public Library building is 20,000 square feet and is located in the downtown area of Tarpon Springs.[20] The front of the building is adorned with a fountain showcasing two life size Tarpons springing forth from the water in celebration of the city's namesake.[19]  The building entrance is decorated with Mediterranean green marble which was also used to create both the Circulation and Reference desks.[19] 

Tarpon Springs Library is a member of the Pinellas Public Library Cooperative. It offers Pinellas County residents access to its wide collection, free computer use, as well as one-on-one Genealogy assistance.   [21]

Media

Tarpon Springs is the setting and primary filming location of the 1953 film Beneath the Twelve-Mile Reef which follows the lives of a family of Greek sponge fishermen and depicts the annual Epiphany celebration.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

Infrastructure

File:TSPD Officer Rodriguez' patrol car.jpg
Tarpon Springs Police Department police car with ghost markings

Tarpon Springs Police Department has 57 total police officers, with 32 assigned to patrol.[22][23]

AdventHealth North Pinellas is a hospital in Tarpon Springs.[24]

Notable people

Sister cities

In 2007 and 2008, the Tarpon Springs established sister city relationships with Kalymnos, Halki, Symi, Hydra, and Larnaca, Cyprus, recognizing the historical link with those Greek-speaking islands.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

See also

References

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  1. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  5. ↑ Tap Lines – History of the Orange Belt Railway
  6. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  13. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  14. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  17. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  18. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  19. ↑ a b c d e f g h Schnur, James Anthony, "The Tarpon Springs Public Library : A Cultural Treasure for Nearly a Century" (2013). USF St. Petersburg campus Faculty Publications. 3082. https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/fac_publications/3082
  20. ↑ a b c "Tarpon Springs Public Library" (1998). Florida Library History Project. 35. https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/fl_library_history/35
  21. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  22. ↑ TSPD Command Staff, accessed 01/29/2025
  23. ↑ Women of The Tarpon Springs Police Department, The Patch, February 25th 2025, Alympia Peaceful
  24. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  25. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  26. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

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External links

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