International flair in Tampa (Miami, Pinellas Park: home, schools, to live in)

[lostintime83]

Does this exist? I've read posts that it's very diverse, and that it's very redneck and conservative.

I don't see how somewhere with so many strip clubs and a large porn industry can be conservative, unless Tampa is full of Right-wing liberals.

I'm assuming there is a prevalent "live and let live" attitude in Tampa.

Considering there is a large hispanic community, I can understand how it may be conservative, but hispanic conservatism is different than traditional American conservatism. It's largely still based around "machismo".

I'm hispanic myself (South American combination). Last question...does Tampa have a large South American community? Nothing wrong with Mexican culture - I simply don't identify with it, and it would be nice to be around a similar culture to my own while still in the US.

[Innertuber]

Tampa isn't carved up like NYC per se into ethnic communities. Probably more along the lines of affordability/schools.

We do have two Churrascarias near the airport. Guess that could be called a community cause they are close to each other.

Yum.

[Keeper]

The majority of hispanics in Tampa are from Cuba or Puerto Rico, of course there are others from other countries. Cuba more so because of Ybor City.

Italians also settled in Ybor years ago.

[gypsychic]

Yes, there are many different types of hispanics to be found in Tampa. My grandparents settled here from Spain, as did many others way back when. There are Spaniards, Cubans, Puerto Ricans, South Americans, Mexicans and many others -it's a big mix! Also plenty of Italians and African Americans. Tampa is pretty diverse, and basically everyone gets along. You should feel at home here.

I would consider Tampa basically "middle-of-the-road" - not too conservative, not too liberal. You have people on both sides and in-between. To me, that's a good thing!

[Sumermarie]

The only thing I want to add is the Sponge Docks at Tarpon Springs has a large amount of Greek influence, as they settled there. While it's not Tampa, I wasn't sure if you meant Tampa proper or the Tampa area itself. So I put it out there for you.

From my experience Tampa is a very diverse area, with it being heavier on the Spanish, Italian and Greek influence.

[lostintime83]

How's the breakdown of South American countries in Tampa? Lots of Colombians/Venezuelans/Peruvians in the area?

[tjax1000]

Here is a page showing the Hispanic breakdown:
https://www.tampabay.org/subpage.asp?navid=1&id=69

I think you are essentially looking for a breakdown of what they define as "other", and I'm not sure it is available. Perhaps if you check the census data- not sure?

It is unlikely you will find a community in this area where everyone you see at the store, your kid's school, the doctor, the parks, etc. are the same. This area is so big and so spread out that even an ethnicity with a 100K representation on paper will feel minimal.

My wife is Asian and it is rare we see people from her country although they are here and do have annual gatherings and that sort of thing. You just have to get used to embracing the people around you regardless of what color they are, where they are from, etc. In almost all cases you'll still be able to fulfill your ethnic dining and shopping needs- sometimes it just takes a little driving.

[ferret111]

There are some Colombians and Venezuelans in Tampa, as I've seen a few restaurants/stores specializing in their respective products, but their numbers are overshadowed by the Cuban, Puerto Rican, and Mexican populations.

The City of Tampa is pretty middle-of-the-road, but I think the county is somewhat more conservative. Then again, it's not an in-your-face kind of conservative.

[lostintime83]

I've lived in Chicago before, very diverse city. Too cold, and this Hispanic diversity is non-existent. Overwhelming vast majority Mexican, sizeable Puerto Rican community, and South Americans are far and few between although can be found if you look. I lived in Miami as a child, but my Spanish is not up to par, and at this point, I don't think I could comfortably afford it. Chicago was a struggle, and it wasn't even worth it. I feel like I wasted money to live in a big city.

I really just can't stand the cold. I find myself constantly looking forward to summer. I hate fall more than winter, because I know winter is coming. I'm back in Des Moines, IA, where I grew up. It snowed two days ago and may again tomorrow, yet last year this time, it got to 85.

You really only have 4 solid months of nice weather in the midwest. May-August. September can get cold at night. April is hit or miss. Iowa is actually warm compared to the Great Lakes States.

[Aconite]

The most important thing you need to understand is that some people use the term "Tampa" to mean the actual city, and some use it to mean the entire Bay Area. When you're talking about diversity, conservative/liberal, ethnicity, Latino community, which definition you use is going to make a huge difference.

For example, in the city of Tampa "Hispanic" often means Cuban. In East Hillsborough, it usually means Mexican. In central Pinellas, you have a community made up largely of people from one specific part of Mexico, plus a lot of Colombians, Venezuelans, and Guatemalans. And in St. Pete/Pinellas Park, the Spanish you hear may be mixed with a healthy dose of Tagalog.