Tampa Airport

 

Tampa was once inhabited by many different indigenous cultures, most recently the Tocobaga. It was noted by Spanish explorers in the early 16th century, but there were no permanent American or European settlements in or around the area until 1824.

Tampa has many sports teams, such as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the NFL, the Tampa Bay Lightning of the National Hockey League, the Tampa Bay Storm of the Arena Football League and the FC Tampa Bay Rowdies of the North American Soccer League (2010). Although the Tampa Bay Rays in Major League Baseball, are based in neighboring St. Petersburg, Florida.

The word "Tampa" could mean "sticks of fire" in the language of the Calusa, a Native American tribe that once lived south of today’s Tampa Bay. This could be a reference to the many lightning strikes that the area receives during the summer months. Other historians claim the name means "the place to gather sticks".