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Drew Park (Tampa), Florida
Encyclopedia
Drew Park is a neighborhood within the city limits of Tampa, Florida
. As of the 2000 census the neighborhood had a population of 1,129. The ZIP Code
s serving the neighborhood are 33607 and 33614.
to the north, Tampa Bay Blvd. to the south, Tampa International Airport
to the west, and Dale Mabry Highway
to the east.
The area is flat but above any flood zones.
Drew Park was originally Drew Field, named for cattleman and land developer John H. Drew. It was Tampa's first municipal airport, a 130 acre (0.5260918 km²) grass airfield that opened in 1928. At the onset of World War II, the federal government took over the field and developed a military base containing airstrips, barracks, field hospitals, and a German and Italian POW camp. The City of Tampa leased the field to the army for one dollar a year. Parts of the film Air Force were filmed here. The base theater is still standing today as the Playhouse Adult Theater
. Dale Mabry Highway was built in 1943 to link Drew Field with MacDill Air Force Base
to the south.
Drew Park is now home to the main campus of the Hillsborough Community College
, George Steinbrenner Field and (before it was demolished) the former W. T. Edwards Tuberculosis Hospital
. Auto dealerships populate much of the Dale Mabry edge of Drew Park and shopping and restaurants make up the Hillsborough Ave edge. The core of Drew Park is occupied by light industry, adult entertainment establishments and several homes, due to its mixed-use zoning. Law enforcement has conducted many raids on the businesses in the area accusing them of prostitution, operating without licenses, and illegally selling alcohol.
In 1988, Hillsborough County Aviation Authority announced long-term plans to acquire several hundred acres in Drew Park for the expansion of Tampa International. This will include the redevelopment of the Airport's air cargo facility, aircraft maintenance, fuel farms, equipment maintenance, Aircraft Rescue Fire Training facilities and other aviation-related facilities. To date, the authority has acquired 96% of the parcels in the land acquisition area.
which was used in the manufacturing of printing rollers. Two employees, William C. Whitman and Duane C. Whitman, were sentenced to 27-month prison sentences for illegally handling, storing or disposing of toluene. Durex Industries was fined $1.5-million. A Hillsborough county jury awarded the families a $500-million verdict against the company. The corporation itself was broke and no money was paid to the families. In 1998, the owner William Recht Jr. agreed to pay each family $400,000 and a $200,000 fine after pleading guilty to storing hazardous wastes without a permit. He was sentenced to 30 months of probation.
The incident caused many businesses in the area to install locks on their dumpsters. It later inspired the play The Toxic Wave by Susan Hussey
, co-founder of the Drew Park-based Gorilla Theatre
.
As of the census
of 2000, there were 1,129 people and 338 households residing in the neighborhood. The population density
was 873/mi². The racial makeup of the neighborhood was 35% White, 16% African American, 1% Native American, 5% Asian, and 5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 38% of the population.
There were 338 households out of which 25% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38% were married couples
living together, 8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 9% were non-families. 38% of all households were made up of individuals.
In the neighborhood the population was spread out with 19% under the age of 18, 33% from 18 to 34, 31% from 35 to 49, 7% from 50 to 64, and 9% who were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 150.1 males.
The per capita income
for the neighborhood was $9,887. About 26% of the population were below the poverty line, 19% of those under age 18 and 12% of those age 65 or over.
Tampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
. As of the 2000 census the neighborhood had a population of 1,129. The ZIP Code
ZIP Code
ZIP codes are a system of postal codes used by the United States Postal Service since 1963. The term ZIP, an acronym for Zone Improvement Plan, is properly written in capital letters and was chosen to suggest that the mail travels more efficiently, and therefore more quickly, when senders use the...
s serving the neighborhood are 33607 and 33614.
Geography
Drew Park boundaries are Hillsborough AvenueHillsborough Avenue
Hillsborough Avenue is a major east–west arterial road in Hillsborough County, Florida, also designated as State Road 580, U.S. Highway 41 or U.S. Highway 92 in various places.-Route description:...
to the north, Tampa Bay Blvd. to the south, Tampa International Airport
Tampa International Airport
Tampa International Airport is a major public airport located six nautical miles west of the central business district of Tampa, in Hillsborough County, Florida, United States. This airport is publicly owned by Hillsborough County Aviation Authority...
to the west, and Dale Mabry Highway
Dale Mabry Highway
Dale Mabry Highway is a north–south road in Tampa, Florida. The majority of its length consists of three lanes each direction plus a central turn-lane and often includes a right-turn lane. It begins at the MacDill Air Force Base entrance in South Tampa and ends by merging with US 41 just...
to the east.
The area is flat but above any flood zones.
Description
Drew Park was originally Drew Field, named for cattleman and land developer John H. Drew. It was Tampa's first municipal airport, a 130 acre (0.5260918 km²) grass airfield that opened in 1928. At the onset of World War II, the federal government took over the field and developed a military base containing airstrips, barracks, field hospitals, and a German and Italian POW camp. The City of Tampa leased the field to the army for one dollar a year. Parts of the film Air Force were filmed here. The base theater is still standing today as the Playhouse Adult Theater
Adult theater
An adult movie theater is a movie theater where pornographic films are shown to an adult audience. There are usually continuous showings. The movie posters in front of the theaters normally feature no nudity.- Films and patrons :...
. Dale Mabry Highway was built in 1943 to link Drew Field with MacDill Air Force Base
MacDill Air Force Base
MacDill Air Force Base is an active United States Air Force base located approximately south-southwest of downtown Tampa, Florida...
to the south.
Drew Park is now home to the main campus of the Hillsborough Community College
Hillsborough Community College
Hillsborough Community College is a two-year community college, located in Hillsborough County, Florida. The college has six campuses located throughout the county. Locations include: Brandon, Dale Mabry, Plant City, Ybor City, MacDill AFB, and South Shore...
, George Steinbrenner Field and (before it was demolished) the former W. T. Edwards Tuberculosis Hospital
Sunland Hospital
Sunland Hospital refers to a chain of defunct mental health facilities located throughout the state of Florida.Originally named the W. T. Edwards Tuberculosis Hospitals, the facilities were later remodeled into "Sunland Centers" with services for the mentally and physically disabled, specializing...
. Auto dealerships populate much of the Dale Mabry edge of Drew Park and shopping and restaurants make up the Hillsborough Ave edge. The core of Drew Park is occupied by light industry, adult entertainment establishments and several homes, due to its mixed-use zoning. Law enforcement has conducted many raids on the businesses in the area accusing them of prostitution, operating without licenses, and illegally selling alcohol.
In 1988, Hillsborough County Aviation Authority announced long-term plans to acquire several hundred acres in Drew Park for the expansion of Tampa International. This will include the redevelopment of the Airport's air cargo facility, aircraft maintenance, fuel farms, equipment maintenance, Aircraft Rescue Fire Training facilities and other aviation-related facilities. To date, the authority has acquired 96% of the parcels in the land acquisition area.
Durex Industrial
On June 13, 1992, two nine-year-old boys, Scotty Perez and Anthony Storman, died after climbing into an open dumpster containing toxic chemicals. The dumpster was used by Durex Industrial, Inc. at 4815 N West Shore Blvd. to illegally dispose of tolueneToluene
Toluene, formerly known as toluol, is a clear, water-insoluble liquid with the typical smell of paint thinners. It is a mono-substituted benzene derivative, i.e., one in which a single hydrogen atom from the benzene molecule has been replaced by a univalent group, in this case CH3.It is an aromatic...
which was used in the manufacturing of printing rollers. Two employees, William C. Whitman and Duane C. Whitman, were sentenced to 27-month prison sentences for illegally handling, storing or disposing of toluene. Durex Industries was fined $1.5-million. A Hillsborough county jury awarded the families a $500-million verdict against the company. The corporation itself was broke and no money was paid to the families. In 1998, the owner William Recht Jr. agreed to pay each family $400,000 and a $200,000 fine after pleading guilty to storing hazardous wastes without a permit. He was sentenced to 30 months of probation.
The incident caused many businesses in the area to install locks on their dumpsters. It later inspired the play The Toxic Wave by Susan Hussey
Susan Hussey
Susan Hussey was a U.S. playwright and co-founder of the Gorilla Theatre performing arts venue in Tampa, Florida....
, co-founder of the Drew Park-based Gorilla Theatre
Gorilla Theatre
Gorilla Theatre is a performing arts venue in the Drew Park area of Tampa, Florida. Founded in 1990 by playwrights Aubrey Hampton and Susan Hussey, the 76-seat full-season theatre presents original dramas, musicals and revivals of classic works...
.
Demographics
Source: Hillsborough County AtlasAs of the census
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 1,129 people and 338 households residing in the neighborhood. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 873/mi². The racial makeup of the neighborhood was 35% White, 16% African American, 1% Native American, 5% Asian, and 5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 38% of the population.
There were 338 households out of which 25% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 9% were non-families. 38% of all households were made up of individuals.
In the neighborhood the population was spread out with 19% under the age of 18, 33% from 18 to 34, 31% from 35 to 49, 7% from 50 to 64, and 9% who were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 150.1 males.
The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the neighborhood was $9,887. About 26% of the population were below the poverty line, 19% of those under age 18 and 12% of those age 65 or over.