Republican National Convention: Twelve Things to Know About Tampa

Get to know the RNC's host city.

Welcome to Florida - On Aug. 27, Mitt Romney, former United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and more Republican power players will descend upon Tampa, Florida, for the Republican National Convention. Keep reading for a closer look at the RNC's host city. —Britt Middleton.   (Photo: PRNewsFoto/2012 Republican National Convention)

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Welcome to Florida - On Aug. 27, Mitt Romney, former United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and more Republican power players will descend upon Tampa, Florida, for the Republican National Convention. Keep reading for a closer look at the RNC's host city. —Britt Middleton.  (Photo: PRNewsFoto/2012 Republican National Convention)

Tampa's Early History - Spanish conquistador Ponce De Leon arrived in Tampa in 1513, but Spanish explorers largely settled on Florida's east coast, leaving the western coast untouched for some 200 years. In 1824, four companies of the U.S. Army established Fort Brooke, which contributed to steady growth in the harbor at Tampa Bay. By 1884, Henry B. Plant's railroad expansion along the Hillsborough River paved the way for economic growth and tourism, while the discovery of phosphates in the late 1880s spurred a boom in the mining and shipping industries.   (Photo: Public Domain)

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Tampa's Early History - Spanish conquistador Ponce De Leon arrived in Tampa in 1513, but Spanish explorers largely settled on Florida's east coast, leaving the western coast untouched for some 200 years. In 1824, four companies of the U.S. Army established Fort Brooke, which contributed to steady growth in the harbor at Tampa Bay. By 1884, Henry B. Plant's railroad expansion along the Hillsborough River paved the way for economic growth and tourism, while the discovery of phosphates in the late 1880s spurred a boom in the mining and shipping industries.  (Photo: Public Domain)

Population - Total Number: 335,709 (source: 2010 U.S. Census Bureau estimate) White: 62.9 percent African-American: 26.2 percent Latino: 23.1 percent  (Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

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Population - Total Number: 335,709 (source: 2010 U.S. Census Bureau estimate) White: 62.9 percent African-American: 26.2 percent Latino: 23.1 percent (Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Medical Research Halts - The National Institutes of Health will not take on any new patents or begin new clinical trials.  (Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

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Local Economy - Tampa's economy is driven by tourism, agriculture, construction, finance, health care, technology and maritime industries. The most recent U.S. Census Bureau estimates that there are 38,655 firms operating there, with 11.3 percent being Black-owned. (Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Photo By Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Geography - Tampa is located on Florida's west coast on the Gulf of Mexico. It is bordered on the south and west by the Hillsborough and Old Tampa bays. The city's area is 170.6 square miles. Tampa is the largest city within Hillsborough County.  (Photo: Courtesy of Maps.com)

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Geography - Tampa is located on Florida's west coast on the Gulf of Mexico. It is bordered on the south and west by the Hillsborough and Old Tampa bays. The city's area is 170.6 square miles. Tampa is the largest city within Hillsborough County.  (Photo: Courtesy of Maps.com)

Photo By Photo: Courtesy of Maps.com

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Political Affiliations - Registered Republicans: 237,005 (4,354 African-American) Registered Democrats: 288,988 (85,494 African-American) (Source: Florida State Division of Elections)   (Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

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Unemployment - Rate of Unemployment in Tampa: 9.0 percent Rate of Unemployment in Florida: 8.6 percent (Photo: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

Average Weather (August) - Average Temperature: 90 degrees F Average Low: 76 degrees F  (Photo: Courtesy of ClearwaterBeach.com)

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Average Weather (August) - Average Temperature: 90 degrees F Average Low: 76 degrees F (Photo: Courtesy of ClearwaterBeach.com)

Photo By Photo: Courtesy of ClearwaterBeach.com

City Leadership - Democrat Bob Buckhorn is the mayor of Tampa. He assumed office on April 1, 2011.  (Photo: Courtesy of WikiCommons)

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City Leadership - Democrat Bob Buckhorn is the mayor of Tampa. He assumed office on April 1, 2011.  (Photo: Courtesy of WikiCommons)

Chocolate City - Detroit’s population is more than 80 percent Black.  (Photo: Getty Images/STOCK)

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Average Income and Poverty - Average Income Per Household (2006-2010): $43,117 Percentage of Residents Living Below Poverty Line (2006-2010): 19.5 percent (Source: U.S. Census Bureau) (Photo: Jack Hollingsworth/Getty STOCK)

Photo By Photo: Getty Images/STOCK

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Famous Residents - Ray Charles, Derek Jeter, Hulk Hogan and Angela Bassett are just a few famous personalities who have called Tampa home over the years.  (Photo: RB/Redferns)

Places to Go - Tampa is home to Busch Gardens, known for its Africa-themed attractions, death-defying rollercoasters and exotic animals. In January, Tampa is flooded with pirate fans donning their best eye patches and swords for the Gasparilla Pirate Festival, a spirited celebration of the pirate José Gaspar.  (Photo: Courtesy of Busch Gardens)

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Places to Go - Tampa is home to Busch Gardens, known for its Africa-themed attractions, death-defying rollercoasters and exotic animals. In January, Tampa is flooded with pirate fans donning their best eye patches and swords for the Gasparilla Pirate Festival, a spirited celebration of the pirate José Gaspar.  (Photo: Courtesy of Busch Gardens)

Sports Teams - Tampa really has something for everyone: while the football fans flock to support the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the city also supports the Tampa Bay Lightning ice hockey team and the Tampa Bay Rays baseball team.   (Photo: Grant Halverson/Getty Images)

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Sports Teams - Tampa really has something for everyone: while the football fans flock to support the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the city also supports the Tampa Bay Lightning ice hockey team and the Tampa Bay Rays baseball team. (Photo: Grant Halverson/Getty Images)