Tampa, Kansas, United States

🇺🇸 Tampa is a city in Marion County, Kansas, United States. It is located between Durham and Ramona next to a railroad.

History For many millennia, the Great Plains of North America was inhabited by nomadic Native Americans. From the 16th century to 18th century, the Kingdom of France claimed ownership of large parts of North America. In 1762, after the French and Indian War, France secretly ceded New France to Spain, per the Treaty of Fontainebleau.

History: 19th century In 1802, Spain returned most of the land to France. In 1803, most of the land for modern day Kansas was acquired by the United States from France as part of the 828,000 square mile Louisiana Purchase for 2.83 cents per acre.

From the 1820s to the 1870s, one of the most significant land routes in the United States was the Santa Fe Trail. It was located along the edge of what would become Tampa. Two Santa Fe Trail markers were located on the trail near Tampa. The trail was active across Marion County from 1821 to 1866.

In 1854, the Kansas Territory was organized, then in 1861 Kansas became the 34th U.S. state. In 1855, Marion County was established within the Kansas Territory, which included the land for modern day Tampa.

In 1887, the Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska Railway built a main line from Herington through Tampa to Pratt. In 1888, this line was extended to Liberal. Later it was extended to Tucumcari, New Mexico and El Paso, Texas. It foreclosed in 1891 and was taken over by Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway, which shut down in 1980 and reorganized as Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas Railroad. The company merged in 1988 with Missouri Pacific Railroad, and merged again in 1997 with Union Pacific Railroad. Most locals still refer to this railroad as the "Rock Island".

The Golden Belt Town Company filed the plat for Tampa in 1887. The source of the city name is said to have been suggested by a railroad engineer who rode one of the first trains through Tampa. Tampa was incorporated as a city in 1908.

A post office was established in Tampa on April 17, 1888.

Geography Tampa is located in the scenic Flint Hills and Great Plains of the state of Kansas. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.18 square miles (0.47 km²), which is all land.

Area attractions Tampa has one building listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). • 1910 P.H. Meehan House (NRHP), 401 North Columbus Street, not open to public • Santa Fe Trail; ◦ Santa Fe Trail Markers, numerous markers in the area; ◦ Santa Fe Trail Self-Guided Auto Tour.

Economy Tampa is home to Tampa State Bank and Tampa Cafe.

Government The Tampa government consists of a mayor and five council members. The council meets the 1st Monday of each month at 7PM (winter) or 8PM (summer). • City Hall, 113 W 3rd. • Fire Department, 302 N Main St.

Education The community is served by Centre USD 397 public school district. The high school is a member of T.E.E.N., a shared video teaching network between five area high schools. • Centre School; 2374 310th St, Lost Springs, KS; between Lost Springs and Lincolnville, east of the U.S. 77 highway

Tampa High School was closed through school unification. The Tampa High School mascot was Tampa Tigers.

Media: Print • The Herington Times, newspaper from Herington. • Marion County Record, newspaper from Marion. • Hillsboro Free Press, free newspaper for greater Marion County area.

Transport The K-15 highway is 3.75 mi W of the city. Tampa is served by the Union Pacific Railroad, formerly the Southern Pacific, and formerly the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad. Tampa is located on UP's Golden State main line to El Paso, Texas and still serves the Tampa Elevator during summer harvests.

Utilities • Internet ◦ Fiber Optics is provided by TCT. ◦ Satellite is provided by HughesNet, StarBand, WildBlue. • TV ◦ Fiber Optics is provided by TCT. ◦ Satellite is provided by DirecTV, Dish Network. ◦ Terrestrial is provided by regional digital TV stations. • Telephone ◦ Fiber Optics is provided by TCT. • Electricity ◦ Rural is provided by Flint Hills RECA. • Water ◦ Rural is provided by Marion County RWD #1.