Welcome to Temple Terrace, Florida. . .

Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow

Since its incorporation as a city in 1925, Temple Terrace has been known for the magnificent oak trees that shade the city, the 18-hole golf course that meanders through it, and the Hillsborough River that borders much of the residential area but most of all, for its relaxed, easy-going life-style and beautiful neighborhoods where its citizens reside.

Yesterday...

In the early 1900s, the land that is now Temple Terrace was acquired by the famous Potter Palmer family of Chicago as part of their 6,000-acre winter hunting preserve. In the early 1920s the property was sold to two different developers, Temple Terrace Estates who developed the golf course and residential area, and Temple Terraces Inc., who developed 5,000 acres of orange groves, the largest orange grove in the world in 1922. The name Temple Terrace was derived in part from the development of a new kind of orange- the Temple- that was grown in the community's extensive citrus groves.

It was the idea of the original development team that this would be a golf course community targeted exclusively to the wealth, retired elite of the north. The community's Mediterranean Revival theme can still be seen in the many homes and buildings that have been preserved over the years.

...Today...

Temple Terrace is currently a thriving City of 23,000 residents. It is comprised of diverse and unique homes with modern homes intermingled with the older stucco style. The oak trees have grown to make a graceful canopy over many of the curving streets, and the neighborhoods accommodate the tastes of singles and families of all ages. Sidewalks and walkways throughout the City provide easy pedestrian access to parks, schools and recreation facilities.

...And Tomorrow

Currently the City of Temple Terrace is embarking on an exciting new project - a New Urbanism downtown area. Planned for an area that was part of the original 1922 plan, the City has purchased the property necessary to develop a vital, mixed-use downtown area. This would include residential, commercial and civic buildings intermingled with plenty of parks and green space that would enhance the quality of life of the residents. This revitalization area includes much of the southeast quadrant of Temple Terrace, with a plan being developed by Torti Gallas and Partners.

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