Tampa (pronounced /?tĉmp?/) is a United States city in Hillsborough County on the west coast of the state of Florida.
The area was once a home to various native American cultures, including the Tocobaga. Its modern history began with the founding of Fort Brooke in today's downtown in 1823, which in turn brought a small population of civilians to the area.
Growth came slowly and sporadically for the village of Tampa during its first half-century, as poor transportation links, conflicts with the Seminole tribe, and repeated outbreaks of yellow fever made development difficult. This changed in the 1880s, when the coming of the railroad and new industries brought sudden prosperity and attracted many new residents to the town. By the turn of the 19th century, Tampa had grown into one of the largest cities in Florida, a status it has kept ever since.
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