Florida: Central West Florida

Overview

The central west region contains the cosmopolitan cities of Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater and Bradenton, making it a popular destination for new arrivals and one of the fastest-growing regions in America. Tampa is the largest metropolitan area in Florida (even larger than Miami) and Pinellas County west of Tampa, which has around 360 days sunshine a year, is the most densely populated county in the state (and one of the most expensive). The region contains almost 90 miles (144km) of beautiful, blindingly-white sandy beaches (reputedly the world’s whitest) on the Gulf Coast, where property is in high demand. An imposing network of bridges (including the striking Sunshine Skyway Bridge) links the scattered islands and peninsula of the region, and creates a seemingly endless shoreline, which is illuminated nightly by spectacular orange-pink sunsets over the Gulf. The northern reaches are known as the Nature Coast and are dappled with scenic, freshwater sources including Crystal River and Weeki Watchee River in Hernando County. The region contains a huge variety of rolling parks, scenic campsites and man-made attractions including Busch Gardens (a popular theme park), the Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI), the new Florida Aquarium, the Garrison Seaport Center and the Salvador Dali Museum. The central west region contains the counties of Citrus (Inverness is the county seat), Hernando (Brooksville), Hillsborough (Tampa), Manatee (Bradenton), Pasco (Dade City) and Pinellas (Clearwater).

© Survival Books Limited 2004

“Buying a Home in Florida” 2nd Edition, David Hampshire.

Reproduced with the permission of Survival Books Limited.

Further information on this topic can be found in “Buying a Home in Florida” 2nd edition, by David Hampshire.

For extensive information about buying a property in Florida, you can purchase this book at www.survivalbooks.net