This city (population 19,800) is north of St Petersburg on the Gulf of Mexico. It is a major spongefishing center and resort. It is situated between the gulf to the west, Lake Tarpon to the east, and the Anclote River bayous to the north. It was founded in 1886 and named for the abundant local game fish, tarpon. Many Greeks from the Dodecanese Islands settled here in the 1890s to follow the tradition of sponge diving. The area is known as Florida’s “Little Greece.”

Attractions include the Downtown Historic District, the Sponge Docks, Spongeorama, the Coral Sea Aquarium, the St Nicolas Greek Orthodox Church, the Unitarian Universalist Church, the Inness Paintings, and Noell’s Ark Chimpanzee Farm. In Sponge Docks, fishing and sightseeing boats moor along the docks and riverside boardwalk, which are as popular with visitors as the shops and restaurants along the adjacent Dodecanese Boulevard. Boating, fishing, swimming, hiking, and diving are popular recreational activities, and Tampa and St Petersburg are close enough to visit in a day. Lodging and dining options are limited here.

The nearest airports to service the area are Tampa International and St Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport.