History

Bay Shore Boulevard in Tampa when it was a brick road. 1922.
Credit: University of South Florida, USF Libraries Digital Collections

Water resources within the State of Florida have undergone change throughout history; from periods during the ice age when most coastal areas were uplands to recent history where humankind have created canals to divert freshwater from land into the estuaries. This section of the Atlas includes links to historic information and the geologic record.

Human History

Human History Documents

Explore this section to find information about the history of human habitation and culture in the Tampa Bay area.

Natural History

Personal Narratives (Oral History)

Narrative History Documents

Follow this link to read word-of-mouth histories of the habitat, wildlife and waters of the Tampa Bay basin.

Other Published Reports

Other Published Historical Reports

Find links and documents pertaining to the natural history of Tampa Bay and its watersheds.

Geologic History

Geological History Documents

Florida is rich in Geological history. Explore this section to learn more about the lands and seas that have come and gone where Florida now stands.

Developed by:

This Atlas is part of the award winning WaterAtlas.org family of web sites. To view other geographic areas within the Water Atlas, visit www.wateratlas.org.

Special Thanks to the Tampa Bay Estuary Atlas Advisory Committee and the Water Atlas Program Advisory Group.

Information Partners:

United States Geological Survey, Tampa Bay Estuary Program, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Florida Marine Research Institute, Environmental Protection Agency, Florida Center for Community Design and Research, GIS Team, Water Atlas Program, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Shellfish Environmental Assessment Section, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Invasive Plant Management, Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Water Programs, Florida Healthy Beaches Program, Florida Natural Areas Inventory, National Audubon Society, Christmas Bird Counts, Southwest Florida Water Management District, Hillsborough County, Pinellas County, Manatee County, Sarasota County, City of Tampa, Environmental Protection Commission of Hillsborough County, Tampa Bay Water

Project Partners:

United States Geological Survey Tampa Bay Estuary Program Fish and Wildlife Research Institute

Disclaimer:

The Atlas is still in development and may be inconsistent in its functionality. All data obtained from the Atlas are provisional, subject to change, and provided without warranty of any kind as detailed in our Full Disclaimer

Accessibility:

The Atlas has been developed with wide accessibility in mind. We have made efforts to make the content of the Atlas available to as many visitors as possible, whatever technology they are using or constraints they may be operating under. For more information, please see our Accessibility Statement.