Tarpon Springs, Florida
Location in Pinellas County and the state of Florida
Coordinates: 28°8′55″N 82°45′29″W / 28.14861, -82.75806
Country	United States
State	Florida
County	Pinellas
Area
- Total	16.8 sq mi (43.8 km²)
- Land	9.1 sq mi (23.7 km²)
- Water	7.7 sq mi (20.1 km²)
Elevation	23 ft (7 m)
Population (2000)
- Total	21,003
- Density	1,250.2/sq mi (479.5/km²)
Time zone	Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
- Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP codes	34688-34689
Area code(s)	727
FIPS code	12-71150[1]
GNIS feature ID	0292048[2]

Tarpon Springs is a city in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. The population was 21,003 at the 2000 census. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2004 estimates, the city had a population of 22,554. Tarpon Springs is notable for having the highest percentage of Greek-Americans of any city in the U.S. ^[3] Pinellas County is a county located in the state of Florida. ... This article is about the U.S. State of Florida. ... This list of countries, arranged alphabetically, gives an overview of countries of the world. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Federal courts Supreme Court Circuit Courts of Appeal District Courts Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures (List) State Courts Local Government Other countries Atlas  US Government Portal      The political units and divisions of the United States include: The 50 states... Image File history File links Flag_of_Florida. ... This article is about the U.S. State of Florida. ... Following is a list of counties in Florida. ... Pinellas County is a county located in the state of Florida. ... This article is about the physical quantity. ... A square mile is an English unit of area equal to that of a square with sides each 1 statute mile (≈1,609 m) in length. ... Square kilometre (US spelling: Square kilometer), symbol km², is an SI unit of surface area. ... Elevation histogram of the surface of the Earth – approximately 71% of the Earths surface is covered with water. ... A foot (plural: feet or foot;[1] symbol or abbreviation: ft or, sometimes, ′ – a prime) is a unit of length, in a number of different systems, including English units, Imperial units, and United States customary units. ... This article is about the unit of length. ... Population density per square kilometre by country, 2006 Population density map of the world in 1994. ... Timezone and TimeZone redirect here. ... Metronome, a public art installation showing the time in New York City The Eastern Time Zone (ET) of the Western Hemisphere falls mostly along the east coast of Northern America and the west coast of South America. ... -12 | -11 | -10 | -9:30 | -9 | -8 | -7 | -6 | -5 | -4 | -3:30 | -3 | -2:30 | -2 | -1 | -0:25 | UTC (0) | +0:20 | +0:30 | +1 | +2 | +3 | +3:30 | +4 | +4:30 | +4:51 | +5 | +5:30 | +5:40 | +5:45 | +6 | +6:30 | +7 | +7:20 | +7... Although DST is common in Europe and North America, most of the worlds people do not use it. ... −12 | −11 | −10 | −9:30 | −9 | −8 | −7 | −6 | −5 | −4 | −3:30 | −3 | −2:30 | −2 | −1 | −0:25 | UTC (0) | +0:20 | +0:30 | +1 | +2 | +3 | +3:30 | +4 | +4:30 | +4:51 | +5 | +5:30 | +5:40 | +5:45 | +6 | +6:30 | +7 | +7:20 | +7... Mr. ... A telephone numbering plan is a plan for allocating telephone number ranges to countries, regions, areas and exchanges and to non-fixed telephone networks such as mobile phone networks. ... Area code 727 covers Pinellas county, including St. ... Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) are publicly announced standards developed by the U.S. Federal government for use by all (non-military) government agencies and by government contractors. ... GNIS (The Geographic Names Information System) contains name and locative information about almost two million physical and cultural features located throughout the United States of America and its Territories. ... Pinellas County is a county located in the state of Florida. ... This article is about the U.S. State of Florida. ... The United States Census Bureau (officially Bureau of the Census) is a part of the United States Department of Commerce. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... A Greek American is a citizen of the United States, who is of Greek heritage or descent. ...

Geography

Tarpon Springs is located at 28°8′55″N, 82°45′29″W (28.148658, -82.758098)^[4]. 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 (45.83%) is water. The United States Census Bureau (officially Bureau of the Census as defined in Title ) is a part of the United States Department of Commerce. ... A square metre (US spelling: square meter) is by definition the area enclosed by a square with sides each 1 metre long. ... A square mile is an English unit of area equal to that of a square with sides each 1 statute mile (≈1,609 m) in length. ...

History

American and Greek flags flying in Tarpon Springs

The region, with a series of bayous feeding into the Gulf of Mexico, first attracted attention as a place for winter homes about 1876. Some of the newly arrived visitors spotted Tarpons jumping out of the waters and so named the location Tarpon Springs. The first Greek immigrants 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 and Halki in particular leading, by the 1930s, to a very productive sponge industry in Tarpon Springs, generating millions of dollars a year. Lamp post with American and Greek Flags. ... Lamp post with American and Greek Flags. ... Gulf of Mexico in 3D perspective. ... Species See text. ... Classes Calcarea Hexactinellida Demospongiae The sponges or poriferans (from Latin porus pore and ferre to bear) are animals of the phylum Porifera. ... For other uses, see 1905 (disambiguation). ... John Cocoris John Cocoris was born in Leonidion, Greece on September 17, 1877. ... The Dodecanese (Greek: Δωδεκάνησα, Dodekánisa, meaning twelve islands) are a group of Greek islands in the Aegean Sea, off the southwest coast of Turkey. ... Halki can refer to several different things: An island in the Aegean Sea belonging to Turkey; see Halki (Island). ...

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. Led by local businessman George Biliris, in the late 1980's the sponge industry made a great come back. In the fall of 2007, a record harvest of sponges by a single boat was made. The industry is alive and well in Tarpon Springs. A red tide off the coast of La Jolla, California. ... Gulf of Mexico in 3D perspective. ...

Historic sites

Sponge diving mural at the Tarpon Springs Sponge Exchange.

There are several locations in Tarpon Springs which have been listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
They are: Sponge diving mural in Tarpon Springs, Florida. ... Sponge diving mural in Tarpon Springs, Florida. ... A typical plaque showing entry on the National Register of Historic Places. ...

• Arcade Hotel
• Safford House
• Old Tarpon Springs City Hall
• Old Tarpon Springs High School
• Tarpon Springs Historic District

Remnants of the once thriving sponge industry have also been recognized. They include two packing houses: Arcade Hotel (Springfield, Ohio) Category: ... The Safford House is a historic home in Tarpon Springs, Florida. ... The Old Tarpon Springs City Hall is a historic site in Tarpon Springs, Florida. ... The Old Tarpon Springs High School (also known as the Tarpon Springs City Hall) is a historic U.S. school in Tarpon Springs, Florida. ... The Tarpon Springs Historic District is a U.S. historic district in Tarpon Springs, Florida. ...

• E. R. Meres Sponge Packing House
• N. G. Arfaras Sponge Packing House The Arfaras Sponge Packing House is still an active sponge warehouse used by George Biliris Sponge Merchant International. Biliris led the new sponge industry in the late 1980's by massing a fleet for spongefishing the beds which came back after 40 years. In September 2007, the largest single harvest of sponges by one boat was recorded. Yes, the sponge industry is alive and well in Tarpon Springs.

And five boats: The E. R. Meres Sponge Packing House is a historic site in Tarpon Springs, Florida. ... The N. G. Arfaras Sponge Packing House is a historic site in Tarpon Springs, Florida. ...

• Duchess (Sponge Hooking Boat)
• George N. Cretekos (Sponge Diving Boat)
• N. K. Symi (Sponge Diving Boat)
• St. Nicholas III (Sponge Diving Boat)
• St. Nicholas VI (Sponge Diving Boat) :/

The Duchess (Sponge Hooking Boat) is a historic boat in Tarpon Springs, Florida. ... The George N. Cretekos (Sponge Diving Boat) (also known as the Samarkos Bros. ... The N. K. Symi (Sponge Diving Boat) (also known as the Eleni) is a historic site in Tarpon Springs, Florida. ... The St. ... The St. ...

Epiphany Celebration

A double-headed eagle portrayed in a stained glass window inside Tarpon Springs' St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral.

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 the 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. Image File history File links Window_St_Nicholas. ... Image File history File links Window_St_Nicholas. ... Double-headed eagle emblem of the Eastern Roman Empire. ... Strictly speaking, stained glass is glass that has been painted with silver stain and then fired. ... Saint Nicholas, also known as Nikolaus in Germany and Sinterklaas (a contracted form of Sint Nicolaas) in the Netherlands and Flanders, is the common name for the historical Saint Nicholas of Myra, who lived in 4th century Byzantine Anatolia, (now in modern Turkey) and had a reputation for secret gift... The Church of Greece (Greek: Ekklēsía tês Helládos, IPA: /eklisia tis elaðos/) is one of the fifteen autocephalous Eastern Orthodox churches which make up the Eastern Orthodox Communion. ... The Wise Men (Magi) adoring the infant Jesus. ... is the 6th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ...

The celebration attracts Greek Americans from across the country, and the city's population is known to triple in size for that day. The Metropolitan of Atlanta usually presides over the blessings, sometimes joined by the Archbishop of America. The blessings conclude with the ceremonial throwing of a wooden cross into the city's Spring Bayou, and young men dive in to retrieve it: whoever recovers the cross is said to be blessed for a full year. Following the blessings, the celebration moves to the Sponge Docks where food and music are made part of the festivities. In hierarchical Christian churches, the rank of metropolitan bishop, or simply metropolitan, pertains to the diocesan bishop or archbishop (then more precisely called Metropolitan archbishop) of a metropolis; that is, the chief city of an old Roman province, ecclesiastical province, or regional capital. ... This article is about the state capital of Georgia. ... The Archdiocese of America, better known as the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, is a jurisdiction of the Eastern Orthodox Church under the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. ...

On January 6th, 2006, for the 100th anniversary celebration of the Epiphany services in Tarpon Springs, his all-holiness Bartholomew I, the Patriarch of Constantinople, who is considered "first among equals" of all hierarchs of the Orthodox Church, visited Tarpon Springs to preside over the Epiphany services. Bartholomew's visit to Tarpon Springs was one of the few visits to America by an Ecumenical Patriarch thus far in history. Patriarch Bartholomew I (born Demetrios Archontonis on February 29, 1940) has been the Patriarch of Constantinople, and thus first among equals in the Eastern Orthodox Communion, since November 2, 1991. ... The Patriarch of Constantinople is the Ecumenical Patriarch, ranking as the first among equals in the Eastern Orthodox communion. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Eastern Christianity. ... The Patriarch of Constantinople is the Ecumenical Patriarch, the first among equals in the Eastern Orthodox Communion. ...

Demographics

Natural sponges in Tarpon Springs, Florida

As of the census^[1] of 2000, there were 21,003 people, 9,067 households, and 5,947 families residing in the city. The population density was 887.2/km² (2,297.1/mi²). There were 10,759 housing units at an average density of 454.5/km² (1,176.7/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 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. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.33% of the population. 11.8% of the total population reported their ancestry as Greek, which is included in the 90.07% White statistic. 8.87% reported speaking Greek at home, while 3.46% speak Spanish, and 1.09% French [1]. Download high resolution version (1024x768, 249 KB)Natural Sponges in Tarpon Springs, Florida. ... Download high resolution version (1024x768, 249 KB)Natural Sponges in Tarpon Springs, Florida. ... Image:1870 census Lindauer Weber 01. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ... It has been suggested that Ethnicity (United States Census) be merged into this article or section. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ...

There were 9,067 households out of which 22.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.2% were married couples living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.4% were non-families. 29.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.78. Matrimony redirects here. ...

In the city the population was 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 were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females there were 91.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $38,251, and the median income for a family was $46,316. Males had a median income of $36,356 versus $25,252 for females. The per capita income for the city was $21,504. About 7.7% of families and 9.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.1% of those under age 18 and 7.9% of those age 65 or over. The per capita income for a group of people may be defined as their total personal income, divided by the total population. ... Map of countries showing percentage of population who have an income below the national poverty line The poverty line is the level of income below which one cannot afford to purchase all the resources one requires to live. ...

Trivia

Trivia sections are discouraged under Wikipedia guidelines. The article could be improved by integrating relevant items and removing inappropriate ones.

• The 1953 film Beneath the 12-Mile Reef takes place and was filmed in Tarpon Springs.
• In Star Trek: Enterprise, Commander Tucker has a vision where he travels to Tarpon Springs.
• It is also mentioned in Michael Newcomer's Celebreality Remix Internet Radio Show.

Image File history File links Broom_icon. ... The starship Enterprise (NX-01) Star Trek: Enterprise is a science fiction television series set in the Star Trek universe. ...

Gallery

Dodecanese Avenue in Tarpon Springs, FL Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 580 pixelsFull resolution (1522 × 1103 pixel, file size: 241 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Dodecanese Avenue in Tarpon Springs, looking east. ...

Sponge docks in Tarpon Springs, FL Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1600 × 1200 pixel, file size: 409 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Boats along the sponge docks on Dodecanese Avenue in Tarpon Springs, FL File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old...

Sponger statue and sponge boat on the Sponge Docks, Tarpon Springs

ALT US 19 and FL 582 in Tarpon Spring, FL (July 28, 2003)

Notable Residents

2 Pistols-Rapper
Norm Augustinus-Cult Writer/Podcaster Norman Augustinus, photographed by Lang Winters, 2002 Norman Theodore Augustinus is an American satire writer, comic illustrator and audiocaster. ...

References

The United States Census Bureau (officially Bureau of the Census as defined in Title ) is a part of the United States Department of Commerce. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini (or common era), in accordance to the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 31st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... InsertSLUTTY WHORES≤ non-formatted text here{| class=toccolours border=1 cellpadding=4 style=float: right; margin: 0 0 1em 1em; width: 20em; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 95%; clear: right; |+ United States Geological Survey |- |style= align=center colspan=2| [[Image:USGS logo. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 298th day of the year (299th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini (or common era), in accordance to the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 31st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... The United States Census Bureau (officially Bureau of the Census as defined in Title ) is a part of the United States Department of Commerce. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 123rd day of the year (124th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini (or common era), in accordance to the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 31st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• City of Tarpon Springs official site
• History of Tarpon Springs
• Tarpon Springs Chamber of Commerce
• Tarpon Springs Sponge Docks

• Tarpon Springs, Florida is at coordinates 28°08′55″N 82°45′29″W / 28.148658, -82.758098 (Tarpon Springs, Florida)Coordinates: 28°08′55″N 82°45′29″W / 28.148658, -82.758098 (Tarpon Springs, Florida)

v • d • e Municipalities and communities of Pinellas County, Florida
County seat: Clearwater
Cities	Belleair Beach | Belleair Bluffs | Clearwater | Dunedin | Gulfport | Indian Rocks Beach | Largo | Madeira Beach | Oldsmar | Pinellas Park | Safety Harbor | St. Pete Beach | St. Petersburg | Seminole | South Pasadena | Tarpon Springs | Treasure Island Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ... Pinellas County is a county located in the state of Florida. ... This article is about the U.S. State of Florida. ... A county seat is a term for an administrative center for a county, primarily used in the United States. ... Clearwater is a city located in central Pinellas County, Florida, USA, nearly due west of Tampa. ... For other uses, see City (disambiguation). ... Belleair Beach is a city located in Pinellas County, Florida. ... Belleair Bluffs is a city located in Pinellas County, Florida. ... Clearwater is a city located in central Pinellas County, Florida, USA, nearly due west of Tampa. ... Bandstand at Edgewater Park. ... Gulfport is a city located in Pinellas County, Florida. ... Indian Rocks Beach is a city located in Pinellas County, Florida. ... Largo is the third largest city in Pinellas County, Florida, USA and is part of the Tampa Bay Area. ... Madeira Beach is a city located in Pinellas County, Florida. ... Oldsmar is a city located in Pinellas County, Florida. ... Pinellas Park is a city located in central Pinellas County, Florida. ... Safety Harbor is a city located in Pinellas County, Florida. ... St. ... For other uses, see St. ... Picture of Pinellas County water tower in Seminole, Florida on 113th Street, near Seminole Mall. ... South Pasadena is a city located in southern Pinellas County, Florida, near St. ... Treasure Island is a city located in Pinellas County, Florida. ...
Towns	Belleair | Belleair Shore | Indian Shores | Kenneth City | North Redington Beach | Redington Beach | Redington Shores Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Ronda, Spain Main street in Bastrop, Texas, United States, a small town A town is a community of people ranging from a few hundred to several thousands, although it may be applied loosely even to huge metropolitan areas. ... Belleair is a town in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. ... Belleair Shore is a town located in Pinellas County, Florida. ... Indian Shores is a town located in Pinellas County, Florida. ... Kenneth City is a town located in Pinellas County, Florida. ... North Redington Beach is a town located in Pinellas County, Florida. ... Redington Beach is a town in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. ... Redington Shores is a town located in Pinellas County, Florida. ...
CDPs	Bay Pines | East Lake | Feather Sound | Gandy | Harbor Bluffs | Palm Harbor | Ridgecrest | South Highpoint | Tierra Verde | West and East Lealman A census-designated place (CDP) is an area identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical reporting. ... Bay Pines is a census-designated place located in Pinellas County, Florida. ... East Lake is a census-designated place (CDP) in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. ... Feather Sound is a census-designated place located in Pinellas County, Florida. ... Gandy is a census-designated place (CDP) in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. ... Harbor Bluffs is a census-designated place located in Pinellas County, Florida. ... Palm Harbor is a census-designated place and an unincorporated community in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. ... Ridgecrest is a census-designated place located in Pinellas County, Florida. ... South Highpoint is a census-designated place located in Pinellas County, Florida. ... Tierra Verde is a census-designated place located in Pinellas County, Florida. ... West and East Lealman is a census-designated place located in Pinellas County, Florida. ...