Tarpon Springs is a city in Pinellas County situated on 16.9 square miles, 9.1 square miles of land and 7.7 square miles of water. It is 20 minutes north of Clearwater. The population was 23,484 at the 2010 census.
After the discovery of natural sponge beds in the early 1900's, Greek sponge divers arrived in Tarpon Springs. The main attraction of Tarpon Springs then became its famous Sponge Docks, which are set along the Anclote River. The Greek heritage is till strong here, as Tarpon Springs has the highest percentage of Greek Americans of any city in the US.
Dodecanese Boulevard, which follows the riverfront, is lined with gift shops, and a few blocks south you'll find antique shops, authentic Greek restaurants and the Tarpon Springs Aquarium where visitors can pet baby sharks and sting rays and learn about the sea life of the Gulf of Mexico.
The nearby beaches are popular for swimming, windsurfing, picnics, boating, and other water sports. People also come to the beaches to watch the beautiful sunsets over the Gulf of Mexico. Sandy barrier islands off shore shift position over time with the waves and storms. They are accessible by boat and are especially ideal for shell spotting and watching bottlenose dolphins at play. One permanent island, Anclote Key, is a State Park Preserve with a historic lighthouse, bird nesting colonies and pristine beaches.
There are several districts or properties in Tarpon Springs that have been listed on the National Register of Historic Places:
Tarpon Springs Greektown Historic District
Tarpon Springs Historic District
Arcade Hotel
Old Tarpon Springs City Hall
Old Tarpon Springs High School
Safford House
Rose Hill Cemetery
Photo: dpursoo [CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)]
