Carrollwood Village, Carrollwood and surrounding communities offer plenty of recreational activities including golf, fishing, skiing and beach access to any number of lakes which give these communities their names--such as Lake Carroll and Lake Magdelene. The Carrollwood-Northdale areas northwest of Tampa also are noted for having some of the best schools in the area.

The Hillsborough River dominates the area northwest of Tampa as it winds serenely through the countryside. The northern reaches of the river provide an idyllic setting, complete with oak and cypress canopies. The area is perfect for canoeing, sighting alligators and exotic tropical birds like the Blue Heron, or simply enjoying nature's riches at Hillsborough River State Park.

Four major malls, two large "flea markets" and several neighborhood shopping centers are among the shopping mix in the area. The areas two newest malls are Citrus Park Towncenter and Brandon Towncenter. Citrus Park Towncenter is designed with individual, unique storefronts as well as captivating bronze statues of children playing. The new International Plaza, located on the grounds of Tampa International Airport, features Neiman Marcus, Lord & Taylor and Nordstrom. The center’s inviting Bay Street outdoor lifestyle area and a planned upscale hotel complement the selection of four anchor department stores and over 200 specialty retailers including the market’s only Tiffany & Co.

The University of South Florida, Florida's second largest state-supported university, is a coed, comprehensive educational and research institution with more than 36,000 students enrolled during the academic year. The two-year Hillsborough Community College annually enrolls more than 33,000 for a class or two, but regularly serves about 8,000 students on several campuses scattered throughout the county.

Located midway along the west coast of Florida, Hillsborough County encompasses 1,072 square miles, 24 of which are made up of inland waterways. The unincorporated area encompasses 931 square miles, or more than 86 percent of the total county area. Incorporated cities include Temple Terrace, Plant City, and Tampa--the largest city which is the Hillsborough county seat.

The County, which takes its name from the British Colonial Secretary of 1772, was first mapped and explored by the Spanish in the early 16th century. Between 1559 and 1819, the area now called Florida was under the rule of four nations: Spain, France, Great Britain and, finally, the United States. The United States purchased Florida from Spain in 1821 for $5 million.

In 1845, Florida was granted statehood. And, on Jan. 25, 1834, the U.S. Legislative Council for the Territory of Florida approved an act organizing Hillsborough as Florida's 19th county. At that time, Hillsborough County was a sprawling area that included what is now Pinellas, Polk, Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte, DeSoto, Hardee and Highlands counties, most of Glades and a third of Lee county.