Why Is It Called Old Tampa Bay?

It is called Old Tampa Bay because the northern portion of Tampa Bay was the first part settled. Another theory is because the northern part of Tampa Bay was the home of the village of Tampa or Tanpa as it was previously known. Still the implication is it is the "oldest inhabited" portion of Tampa Bay.

Tampa Bay

Parts Of The Tampa Bay Area & Hillsborough Bay

Currently it is most common to just hear the term Tampa Bay and not any more specific unless your speaking with a fisherman or someone with an interest in a particular region. Old Tampa Bay is to the north and Tampa Bay is basically the southern portion of the Bay. Confusing somewhat is the Mid Bay Bridge which passes over the southern portion of Tampa Bay.

Hillsborough Bay is nearest the downtown area of Tampa FL. It is fed by the Hillsborough River. From Hillsborough Bay you can access the Garrison Channel which takes you by the Tampa Bay History Center, The Tampa Riverwalk and downtown Tampa area. Also connected are the Seddon Channel, Sparkman Channel, East Bay and McKay Bay. The latter few are integral to Port Tampa Bay which is commonly just referred to as Port Tampa City.

Middle Tampa Bay & Lower Tampa Bay?

Let's be honest, the middle of the bay between Old Tampa Bay and just plain old Tampa Bay, pardon the slight pun. However the area where Gandy Bridge and the Howard Franklin Bridge are can easily be referred to in this manor.

Like many larger areas of Central Florida Florida's West Coast including the Tampa Bay Region has a lot of named smaller sections that locals will use the name of when speaking with other locals. You do not need to use a perfect dialect to enjoy life on Florida's Gulf Coast. Just don't commit the verbal gaff of referring to the Gulf as the Atlantic when in west Tampa Bay.