Three years after the 1821 purchase of Florida from Spain, Fort Brooke became the first permanent, modern settlement on the site of present-day Tampa, and a new life began for settlers on Florida's rich gulf coast. By 1855, it was incorporated as the city of Tampa. Continuing its rich, diverse, cultural, and ethnic heritage, Tampa has become the nation's 54th-largest metropolitan community. Its abundant history is uniquely told with a leisurely stroll...