C h a n g e  o f  A d d r e s s USPS Online Address Change     C o u n t y HIllsborough   A r e a   C o d e 813 G e o g r a p h y Tampa, located on Tampa Bay in west-central Florida, is separated from the Gulf of Mexico by the Pinellas Peninsula. Tampa's southern and western contours border on salt water bays--Old Tampa, Tampa, Hillsborough and McKay-and the Hillsborough River winds through the city. Surrounding terrain is nearly flat with an average elevation of 57 feet above sea level. MacDill Air Force Base, largest operational air base in the Southeast, is on a piece of land extending into Tampa Bay. C l i m a t e Semi-Tropical. Average temperatures range from 50°F to 71°F in winter and from 74°F to 90°F in summer. Relative humidity averages 75%, increasing during the summer months. Average annual rainfall totals approximately 51 inches. P o p u l a t i o n City: 290,806 County: 928,425 G o v e r n m e n t City - Mayor/Council County - Board of Commissioners County Seat - Tampa Information about city and county government policies and procedures can be obtained from: Tampa City Hall 306 East Jackson Street Tampa 33602 274-8211 - Information Hillsborough County Courthouse 419 North Pierce Street Tampa 33602 272-5900 - Information T a x e s Property tax rates may fluctuate yearly and vary according to location of residence. Information may be obtained from the Hillsborough County Property Appraiser/Tax Assessor, Phone 272-6100. L i c e n s e s State auto licenses may be obtained from: County Tax Collector Auto Tag Department 601 East Kennedy Boulevard Tampa 33602 272-6020 Driver licenses may be obtained from the Florida State Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Appointments are recommended. For more information, contact one of these locations: 4100 West Martin Luther King Boulevard 33614, 871-7375 2814 East Hillsborough Avenue 33610, 272-3770 14220 North Nebraska Avenue 33613, 975-6544 10101 East Adamo Drive 33619, 272-2711 Pets The community has a law requiring dogs to be on a leash or in a fenced in area at all times. Pets must be inoculated for rabies every 12 months. Licenses are required for dogs and cats over four months of age and may be purchased from a local veterinarian or Hillsborough County Animal Services, phone 744-5660.   E c o n o m y   &   E m p l o y m e n t Tampa, a major industrial, distribution and trade center of Florida, has numerous manufacturing plants with a wide diversity of products. Also of importance are construction, transportation, tourism, agriculture, printing and publishing, shipping, educational and government employment, finance, real estate, insurance and the wholesale, retail and service industries. For current information about employment opportunities in the area, contact: Job Services of Florida 9215 North Florida Avenue Tampa 33612 930-7400 H o u s i n g Because the availability and cost of homes and apartments change constantly, it is advisable to check the classified columns of the local newspaper, particularly the Sunday editions, for current information. Or, contact the following for assistance and/or names of realtors: Greater Tampa Association of Realtors 2918 West Kennedy Boulevard Tampa 33609 879-7010 Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce 401 East Jackson Street Tampa 33602 228-7777 U t i l i t i e s Water Municipal Water Department 306 East Jackson Street Tampa 33602 274-8811 Gas Peoples Gas System, Inc. 1400 Channelside Drive Tampa 33605 272-1502 Phone GTE Florida 800-483-4200 Electric Tampa Electric Company 223-0800 Cable Time Warner communications 525 Grand Regency Boulevard Brandon 33510 875-7570 Refuse City of Tampa Solid Waste Department 4010 West Spruce Street Tampa 33607 348-1111 E d u c a t i o n Elementary and secondary public school information may be obtained from: Hillsborough County Public Schools School Board Administration Offices 901 East Kennedy Boulevard Tampa 33602 272-4000 Colleges/Universities Public Hillsborough Community College and University of South Florida. Private Florida College (two year), University of Tampa and a number of vocational, technical, business, professional, trade and special interest schools. B a n k s The community has 25 commercial banks, six savings banks, 20 credit unions and two trust companies. In order to transfer credit information ask your present banker for assistance, or contact: Merchants Association Credit Bureau 134 South Tampa Street Tampa 33602 273-7833 New checking accounts may take ten working days to open. Grocery stores will not cash out-of-town checks. New residents may need traveler's checks, cash and/or credit cards.   P l a c e s   o f   W o r s h i p The community has seven synagogues and numerous churches of various denominations. Information concerning them may be obtained from: Jewish Federation of Tampa 13009 Community Campus Drive Tampa 33625 960-1840 Catholic Diocese of St. Petersburg 2021 East Busch Boulevard St. Petersburg 33612 631-3005 Tampa Chamber of Commerce 401 East Jackson Street Tampa 33602 228-7777   N e w s p a p e r s The local daily newspaper is the Tampa Tribune (mornings and Sunday). For home delivery, contact: Tampa Tribune 202 South Parker Street Tampa 33606 259-7422   L i b r a r y Tampa Hillsborough Public Library System 900 North Ashley Street Tampa 33604 273-3652 In addition to the main library, there are 16 branch libraries.   M e d i c a l   C a r e Tampa, known as the medical center of southwestern Florida, has more than 20 major general, specialty and military hospitals. Some include Memorial Hospital of Tampa, Tampa General Health- Care, St. Joseph's, Tampa Children's hospital at St. Joseph's, Town and Country Hospital and University Community Hospital. There are several medical centers, psychiatric treatment centers, private rest and convalescent homes and special treatment centers. The community also has a number of medical and dental practitioners offering professional services to area residents. For assistance in selecting a family doctor or dentist, contact the referral services of: Hillsborough County Medical Association Inc. 606 South Boulevard Tampa 33606 253-0471 West Coast Dental Association 9720 Armenia Avenue, North Tampa 33612 931-3018 Ask-A-Nurse/St. Joseph's 3001 West Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard Tampa 33607 870-4444 - 24-hour health information and physician referral For Medicare information, contact: Social Security Administration 3415 East Frontage Road Tampa 33607 800-772-1213   O r g a n i z a t i o n s A listing of local organizations can usually be obtained from the local chamber of commerce, the phone book, or your present chapter can usually refer you to the local organization in your in your new city.   C u l t u r e Cultural opportunities include the Tampa Museum of Art, Florida Opera, Florida Orchestra, Tampa Ballet, the Tampa Players, Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center and Tampa Theatre. There are many small art galleries, theaters, dance groups and scheduled exhibitions held each year. Many of the cultural events of the colleges and universities are open to the public. For information on arts events in the Tampa Bay area, call the Arts Council of Hillsborough County at 276-8250. Major annual festive events include the Hall of Fame Bowl (January), The Florida State Fair (February), Gasparilla Pirate Invasion (February), Florida Strawberry Festival (March), Hillsborough County Fair (September), Annual Taste of Florida (October), Old Hyde Park Village Art Festival (October), Ybor City Folk Festival (November) and Annual Victorian Christmas Stroll (December). For more information on area attractions, contact: Tampa/Hillsborough Convention & Visitors Association 400 North Tampa Street Tampa 33602 223-1111 800-448-2672 R e c r e a t i o n For information about municipal recreational programs and facilities, contact: Tampa Recreation Department 1420 North Tampa Street Tampa 33602 274-8615 YMCA of Tampa 110 East Oak Avenue Tampa 33602 224-9622 Tampa has facilities for all the traditional Florida sports and activities including sunbathing, boating, fishing, general water recreation, picnicking, golf, tennis, tournaments and regattas. In the vicinity are numerous parks, two major beaches and five major camping facilities. Spectator sports include football (Tampa Bay Buccaneers), baseball, soccer, polo, Jai-Alai and dog and horse racing. Points of interest include Adventure Island (a water-theme amusement park), Busch Gardens Children's Museum of Tampa, Lowry Park Zoological Garden and Amusement Park, Museum of Science and Industry, and Ybor City State Museum (featuring specialty shops in a restored cigar factory), Henry B. Plant Museum. For information, contact: Tampa Historical Society Association 245 Hyde Park Avenue Tampa 33606 259-1111   S h o p p i n g The principal shopping districts of Tampa are neighborhood shopping areas scattered throughout the city, including the Shops on Harbour Island, a waterfront market featuring specialty shops, entertainment, restaurants and boat cruises on Tampa Bay. Located downtown are Tampa's Esplanade and Franklin Street Mall. Larger shopping malls include East Lake Square, Hillsborough Square, Olde Hyde Park Village, Tampa Bay Center, University Square Mall and West Shore Plaza. Major Retail Outlets Banana Republic, Beall's, Burdines, J. Byron, Dillard's, Dollar General, Family Dollar, Jacobson's, K-Mart, Luria's, Marshalls, T.J. Maxx, Montgomery Ward, J.C. Penney, Ross, Sam's Club, Sears Roebuck, Service Merchandise, TG&Y, Target, and Wal-Mart. Chain Grocers Albertson's, Circle K, Coastal Mart, Farm Stores, Food Lion, Lee's Food Store, Majik Markets, Pick Kwik, Publix, Save 'N Pak, Scotchman, 7-Eleven, U-Save and Winn-Dixie.   T r a n s p o r t a t i o n HART Line (Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority) serves the city and county; phone 254-4278 for routes, fares and schedules. Taxicabs and rental cars are also available. Interstate passenger service is furnished by Greyhound Bus Lines (phone 229-2174 or 800-231-2222) and Amtrak (phone 221-7600). Domestic and international air service is available at Tampa International Airport. Facilities for private planes are maintained at Peter O Knight Airport.   C h a m b e r  o f  C o m m e r c e Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce 401 East Jackson Tampa 33602 228-7777       A d d i t i o n a l  I n f o r m a t i o n Welcome Service Inc. 968-6078