Ballast Point (Tampa)
Ballast Point is a neighborhood located in the city of Tampa, county of Hillsborough, and the U.S. state of Florida. It is bordered by Hillsborough Bay, a section of the larger Tampa Bay. The ZIP code serving the area is 33611. The boundaries are Gandy Blvd. to the north, MacDill Air Force Base to the south, Hillsborough Bay to the east and S. MacDill Ave. to the west. Also included are the homes and businesses on the west side of the street of S. MacDill Ave., Gadsden Park on S. MacDill Ave. and the adjacent ELAPP Property which is part of the South Tampa Greenway.
Ballast Point | |
|---|---|
 Ballast Point Neighborhood Overlooking Hillsborough Bay | |
  Ballast Point Location within the state of Florida | |
| Coordinates: 27°53′21.27″N 82°28′50.66″W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Florida |
| County | Hillsborough |
| Incorporated (City) | 1953 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor–council |
| • Mayor | Jane Castor (D) |
| • City attorney | Jim Shimberg[1] |
| • Legislative | City Council |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.70000 sq mi (4.40298 km2) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 4,940 |
| • Density | 2,900/sq mi (1,100/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP codes | 33611 |
| Area code(s) | 813 |
The Ballast Point neighborhood is an official City of Tampa neighborhood, and is largely residential. This neighborhood is canopied by mature oak trees full of Spanish moss, and is nestled on the Hillsborough Bay.
The neighborhood is home to the Ballast Point Neighborhood Association.
History
The Battle of Ballast Point took place on October 18, 1863. It was during the American Civil War, just two days after the Battle of Fort Brooke began. A Union raiding party, under Acting Master T.R. Harris, disembarked at Ballast Point, landing at the current intersection of Gandy Boulevard and Bayshore Boulevard. Under the protracted diversionary bombardment of the city of Tampa and Fort Brooke by two ships, the USS Tahoma and the USS Adela, the Union divisions marched 14 miles to the Hillsborough River near the site of today's Lowry Park Zoo.[2] They surprised, captured, and burned two notorious ships, the blockade runner Scottish Chief, a steamship, and the sloop Kate Dale a few miles up the river. The ships were owned by the future mayor of Tampa, James McKay. Escaping capture by mere minutes, with members of his crew in tow, James McKay sped to the city of Tampa and warned all of the landing party and the fate of his ships.
After the burning of the ships, the Confederate forces were alerted to the raiding party's location, and commenced pursuit. Harris's Union forces were surprised by a detachment of the garrison, the 2nd Florida Infantry Battalion. Casualties resulted in a brief but sharp exchange before the Union troops returned to sea.
A confederate cavalry unit (Oklawaha Rangers) caught up with the Union raiders, finally and a full engagement ensued. The union soldiers came under direct fire as they boarded their dinghies, in a tactical retreat. The Confederate defenders destroyed the steamer A.B. Noyes to preclude her capture.
Geography and climate
According to the Hillsborough Community Atlas, that lists the City of Tampa as their source of information, the neighborhood has a total area of 1.7 mi².
Demographics
According to the Hillsborough County Atlas, that lists the 2010 United States Census as their source of information, the neighborhood had a total population of 4,940. However, these records include census tracks that include the entire MacDill Air Force Base, and tracks west of MacDill Ave. that extend to Dale Mabry Hwy. There is a discrepancy on the City of Tampa website that states that Ballast Point is larger than the current boundaries declared by the Ballast Point Neighborhood Association.
References
- "Buckhorn Picks City Attorney". St. Petersburg Times — www.tampabay.com. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
- Hull of Civil War Sloop Likely Found in Tampa River
- George Wilkens (27 July 2011). "Months Later, Ballast Point Still Picking Up the Pieces". The Tampa Tribune, South Tampa News. Archived from the original on 14 March 2014. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
External links
- City of Tampa Ballast Point Neighborhood
- Ballast Point Neighborhood Association
- City of Tampa Police Department Neighborhood Watch Program
- Ballast Point Neighborhood Watch
- Florida Memory Project photos of old Ballast Point
- Hillsborough County Atlas - Ballast Point Neighborhood Association Area
- Update to the Civil War Sites Advisory Commission Report on the Nation’s Civil War Battlefields – State of Florida – Washington, DC – March 2011
- National Park Service Battle Summary of the Battle of Fort Brooke and Ballast Point