Location MacDill Air Force Base is 8 miles south of Tampa on the southwestern tip of the Interbay Peninsula in Hillsborough County. Tampa is the 53rd largest city in the United States, third-largest city in Florida and is part of the Greater Tampa Bay area along with St. Petersburg

  Hillsborough County is Florida’s fourth most populous county with nearly 1.35 million people, 369,075 of whom live in Tampa, the county seat. Hillsborough County is part of the rapidly growing Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater Metropolitan Statistical Area, which has a population of 2.9 million. The county, which lies midway along the

  Hillsborough and Pinellas counties lie midway down the west coast of Florida, and the region boasts a growing a population of 4.3 million. This bustling area is popular with visitors and residents alike with its abundant sunshine, attractions, public gardens and miles of white sand beaches. With all that

  A reasonable cost of living, abundant sunshine and plentiful entertainment and cultural opportunities in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties contribute to a high quality of life. In 2015, an estimated 1.4 million people called Hillsborough County home, while 949,827 resided in Pinellas County, the U.S. Census Bureau says. Population density

  White sand beaches that beckon for miles and record-setting golden sunshine have long lured tourists to Florida’s southwest coast and Pinellas and Hillsborough counties, but in more recent years the metropolitan area known as the St. Petersburg-Tampa-Clearwater Metropolitan Statistical Area has diversified from tourism and fishing businesses into technology-related

  There are many health care services in Tampa, St. Petersburg and Clearwater for military, civilians and veterans, though implementation of the Affordable Care Act has changed established insurance options. Florida chose not to set up a state-based health insurance exchange marketplace, so the federal government has assumed full responsibility

  Picking up from one place and moving to another is always a hassle, especially when kids and pets are involved. Knowing whom to call or where to find information can help make the transition easier. Local government websites are valuable resources for newcomers to Tampa, St. Petersburg and Clearwater

  For those moving to a new location, it’s important to know what educational options are available. This chapter outlines the public schools system in in the Tampa, St. Petersburg and Clearwater area, with information about local libraries and higher education; the website www.publicschoolreview.com can be helpful for overviews. There

  There are bucketloads of entertaining activities — music, sports, theater, museums, parks and shopping — in the Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater and Greater Bay Area. Ride the coasters at Busch Gardens, for instance, or check out the Spanish artist’s highly original works at the Salvador Dali Museum in Tampa.