Hillsborough County is a
county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2005, the population is
1,147,120. Its county seat is Tampa, Florida. Hillsborough County is the
largest county in the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater Metropolitan
Statistical Area
History
Hillsborough County was created on January 25, 1834 from Alachua and
Monroe counties. [1] It was named for Wills Hill, Viscount Hillsborough of
England. The county's boundaries of 1834 included the present-day counties
of Charlotte, DeSoto, Hardee, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk and Sarasota.
Population by year
2000 998,948
1990 834,054
1980 646,960
1970 490,265
1960 397,788
1950 249,894
1940 180,148
1930 153,519
1920 88,257
1910 78,374
1900 36,013
1890 14,941
1880 5,814
1870 3,216
1860 2,981
1850 2,377
1840 452
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of
3,279 km˛ (1,266 mi˛). 2,722 km˛ (1,051 mi˛) of it is land and 558 km˛
(215 mi˛) of it (17.00%) is water. The county's unincorporated area
approximately 888 square miles, or more than 84 percent of the total land
area. Municipalities account for 163 square miles. The modern boundaries
of the county place it midway along the west coast of Florida.
Adjacent Counties
- Pasco County, Florida - north
- Polk County, Florida - east
- Hardee County, Florida - southeast corner
- Manatee County, Florida - south
- Pinellas County, Florida - west
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 998,948 people, 391,357
households, and 255,164 families residing in the county. The population
density was 367/km˛ (951/mi˛). There were 425,962 housing units at an
average density of 156/km˛ (405/mi˛). The racial makeup of the county
was 75.17% White, 14.96% Black or African American, 0.39% Native American,
2.20% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 4.66% from other races, and 2.56%
from two or more races. 17.99% of the population were Hispanic or Latino
of any race.
There were 391,357 households out of which 31.40% had children under
the age of 18 living with them, 47.70% were married couples living
together, 13.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and
34.80% were non-families. 26.90% of all households were made up of
individuals and 8.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or
older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was
3.07.
The age distribution was as follows: 25.30% were under the age of 18,
9.30% from 18 to 24, 31.70% from 25 to 44, 21.70% from 45 to 64, and
12.00% were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For
every 100 females there were 95.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and
over, there were 92.70 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $40,663, and the
median income for a family was $48,223. Males had a median income of
$34,111 versus $26,962 for females. The per capita income for the county
was $21,812. About 9.10% of families and 12.50% of the population were
below the poverty line, including 17.20% of those under age 18 and 10.00%
of those age 65 or over.
Government
A Home Rule Charter for Hillsborough County was approved by voters in a
county-wide referendum held in September 1983, and the first County
Commissioners elected under this new charter took office on May 28, 1985.
The Home Rule Charter divides the power of county government between
legislative and executive branches. The Board of County Commissioners,
which composes the legislative branch, sets overall policy by means of
ordinances, resolutions and motions.
The executive powers of county government are vested in the County
Administrator, appointed by County Commissioners and charged by the
charter to faithfully implement the powers of the Board. The charter
provides for a County Attorney, to be hired by the County Administrator
with the advice and consent of the County Commissioners. The charter
contains a provision for a Charter Review Board appointed by County
Commissioners every five years to conduct a study of county government and
propose amendments to the charter. These amendments must be presented to
voters for approval. One amendment was approved in November 2002, adding
the position of County Internal Performance Auditor to the government
structure. This position reports directly to the County Commission.
Presently the County Administrator is Pat Bean.
There are seven members of the Board of County Commissioners for
Hillsborough County. Four are elected from single-member districts, and
three are elected county wide. The Board approves the County's operating
and capital budgets and the County's capital improvement program. It may
take action on any programs for the improvement of the county and the
welfare of its residents.
Under a Charter Ordinance that went into effect May 1985, County
Commissioners are directed to perform legislative functions of government
by developing policy for the management of Hillsborough County. The County
Administrator, a professional appointed by the Board, and the
administrative staff are responsible for the implementation of these
policies.
The Board also serves as the Environmental Protection Commission.
Individual Board members serve on various other boards, authorities, and
commissions such as the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority,
Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council, Tampa Bay Water, Aviation Authority,
Expressway Authority, Sports Authority, Port Authority, Arts Council of
Hillsborough County, Children's Board, Metropolitan Planning Organization
and the Council of Governments.
Hillsborough County charges a discretionary sales tax of 1% on top of
Florida's 6%. It is only collected on the first $5000 of any large
purchase.
Municipalities and Unincorporated areas
Incorporated
Plant City
Tampa
Temple Terrace
Unincorporated
- Apollo Beach
- Bloomingdale
- Boyette
- Brandon
- Cheval
- Citrus Park
- Dover
- East Lake-Orient Park
- Egypt Lake-Leto
- Fish Hawk
- Gibsonton
- Greater Carrollwood
- Greater Northdale
- Greater Sun Center
- Keystone
- Lake Magdalene
- Lutz
- Mango
- Palm River-Clair Mel
- Pebble Creek
- Progress Village
- Riverview
- Ruskin
- Seffner
- Thonotosassa
- Town 'n' Country
- University
- Valrico
- Westchase
- Wimauma
Unincorporated Communities not Census Designated Places
- Balm
- Carrollwood (part of Greater Carrollwood)
- Clair-Mel City (part of Palm River-Clair Mel)
- Del Rio
- East Lake (not to be confused with the development in Pinellas
County)
- East Tampa
- Egypt Lake (part of Egypt Lake-Leto)
- Fort Lonesome
- Gulf City
- Hopewell
- Keysville
- Knights
- Lithia
- Northdale (part of Greater Northdale)
- Sun City Center (see also: Greater Sun Center)
- Trapnell
- Turkey Creek
It is perhaps surprising that Tampa, Plant City, and Temple Terrace are
the county's only incorporated places. For a county of its size,
Hillsborough has an unusually high number of communities that are
unincorporated, and an unusually high percentage of its people living in
these areas.
External links
Government Links
Special Districts
Judicial branch
Tourism links
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Hernando
County Real Estate 
