1972 Map of Tampa

About this map

St Petersburg and Tampa serve as the urban anchors of this coastal survey, which reveals the extensive mid-century transportation network connecting the Gulf coast. Major thoroughfares like the Courtney Campbell Causeway, Gandy Bridge, and the Sunshine Skyway bridge across the mouth of Tampa Bay illustrate the era's focus on regional connectivity between the peninsula and the mainland. The landscape is a complex mix of heavy infrastructure, including Tampa International and MacDill AFB, and protected natural environments such as Myakka River State Park and the J N (Ding) Darling National Wildlife Refuge. Moving south, the map details the barrier island chain from Sand Key and Longboat Key down to Sanibel Island, documenting the rapid growth of beach communities and the intricate system of bays and sounds including Pine Island Sound and Charlotte Harbor.