Tarpon Springs, Florida is a popular senior vacation community known as the “Sponge Capital of America.”

Tarpon Springs FL History

In 1877, Joshua Boyer came to the area and built a home. His wife Mary selected the name “Tarpon Springs” because of the great number of tarpon fish that frequented the springs. The Boyer family enjoyed exclusive privileges to the area until 1880, when Governor W. D. Bloxam sold four million acres of swamp and overflow land to the development company owned by Hamilton Disston of Philadelphia. The land was purchased for twenty-five cents per acre. The purchase money was used to pay off the bond indebtedness of the state. The federal government had ceded the swamp and overflow land to Florida and retained the more valuable land that had a higher elevation. This land was to be used for settlement by homesteaders. Section sixteen of each township was given to the state for school purposes.

The city first developed in the 1880's as a winter resort for wealthy Northerners. It incorporated as a city in 1887. Tarpon Springs has long been the "Sponge Capital of the United States" even after the industry nearly vanished due to the destruction of Florida's sponge beds during the red tide of the 1940’s. Many Greek immigrants came to the area after 1905 to continue their traditional trade of sponge diving.

Tarpon Springs Florida – Senior Vacation Area with a Greek Influence

Today, Tarpon Springs Florida is a flourishing senior vacation area that maintains a strong Greek influence. The Epiphany ceremony, an old Greek Orthodox rite, is a colorful event that is held each year.