Tarpon Springs, Florida
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Tarpon Springs is a city located in Pinellas County, Florida. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 21,003. Tarpon Springs is notable for having the largest percentage of Greek-Americans of any city in the U.S.
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Geography
Tarpon Springs is located at 28°8'55" North, 82°45'29" West (28.148658, -82.758098)Template:GR. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 43.7 km² (16.9 mi²). 23.7 km² (9.1 mi²) of it is land and 20.0 km² (7.7 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 45.83% water.
History
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The region, with a series of bayous feeding into the Gulf of Mexico, first attracted attention as winter homes about 1876. Some of the newly arrived spotted fish jumping out of the waters and so named the location Tarpon Springs. The Greek population first arrived to this city during the 1880s, when they were hired to work as divers in the growing sponge harvesting industry. In 1905, John Cocoris introduced the technique of sponge diving to Tarpon Springs. Cocoris recruited Greek sponge divers from the Dodecanese Islands. By the 1930s, the sponge industry of Tarpon Springs was very productive, generating millions of dollars a year.
When a red tide algae bloom occurred in 1947, wiping out the sponge fields in that region of the Gulf of Mexico, most of the sponge boats and divers switched to fishing and shrimping for a livelihood. The city then converted most of its sponge-related activities, especially the warehouses where they were sold, into tourist attractions. The Sponge Docks are now mostly shops, restaurants, and museums dedicated to the memory of Tarpon Springs' earlier industry. Most sponges sold on the docks are now imports: Very few sponges are harvested from the area. Attempts have been made in recent years to restart local sponge harvesting.
Epiphany Celebration
Tarpon Springs is known for elaborate religious ceremonies related to the Greek Orthodox Church such as Epiphany celebrated every January 6 with the blessing of the waters and the boats. Since livelihood of the initial Greek immigrants hinged around the sea and their boats, their attachment to a religious service centered at requesting divine protection for what used to be a highly risky job can be easily explained.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there are 21,003 people, 9,067 households, and 5,947 families residing in the city. The population density is 887.2/km² (2,297.1/mi²). There are 10,759 housing units at an average density of 454.5/km² (1,176.7/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 90.07% White, 6.15% African American, 0.29% Native American, 1.04% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.81% from other races, and 1.57% from two or more races. 4.33% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 9,067 households out of which 22.8% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.2% are married couples living together, 10.0% have a female householder with no husband present, and 34.4% are non-families. 29.2% of all households are made up of individuals and 14.6% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.27 and the average family size is 2.78.
In the city the population is spread out with 19.2% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 23.9% from 25 to 44, 25.9% from 45 to 64, and 24.8% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 45 years. For every 100 females there are 91.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 89.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $38,251, and the median income for a family is $46,316. Males have a median income of $36,356 versus $25,252 for females. The per capita income for the city is $21,504. 9.8% of the population and 7.7% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 16.1% of those under the age of 18 and 7.9% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
External links
- City of Tarpon Springs (http://www.ci.tarpon-springs.fl.us/) official site