Jan. 25 marks nearly two centuries of change
Hillsborough County, Fla. (Jan. 22, 2026) - Long before Tampa's skyline rose along the bay and long before Florida became the 27th state, Hillsborough County was already on the map.
Hillsborough County was officially established on Jan. 25, 1834. The founding came 11 years before Florida achieved statehood. At the time, the county was far larger in size and far smaller in population, stretching across much of what is now Central and Southwest Florida.
Originally, Hillsborough County encompassed land that would later become Pinellas, Polk, Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte, DeSoto, Hardee, and Highlands counties, along with portions of Glades and Lee counties. At the time of its founding, the county's population totaled just 836 residents, not including soldiers or Native Americans. Today, more than 1.5 million residents call Hillsborough County home.
When the county was founded, the United States was only 57 years old, and Andrew Jackson was president. Homes lit by candles and oil lamps were commonplace. It would be 45 more years before Thomas Edison invented the light bulb.
Here are a few historic moments that helped shaped Hillsborough County into what it is today:
Jan. 25, 1834: Hillsborough County was officially established by Florida's territorial government, marking the formal beginning of local governance in the region.
March 3, 1845: Florida became the 27th state, integrating Hillsborough County into the United States as part of a new state rather than a U.S. territory.
Jan. 1, 1912: Pinellas County was carved out of Hillsborough County, significantly reshaping the county's geography and regional influence.
July 15, 1887: Tampa officially incorporated as a city, helping establish Hillsborough County's urban and economic center.
1910: The first cigar factory workers' strike highlighted Ybor City's role in shaping labor rights, immigration, and the county's cultural identity.
Feb. 2, 1928: The city completed Drew Field six miles west of Downtown Tampa. It was named for local developer John H. Drew, who formerly owned the land on which the airport stood. The land would later become Tampa International Airport in 1971.
March 31, 1959: Busch Gardens Tampa Bay opened, accelerating tourism and solidifying the county's role as a regional entertainment destination.
Jan. 22, 1984: Hillsborough County hosted Super Bowl XVIII, signaling the county's emergence as a major national sports and events hub. Nearly 20 years later, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers won Super Bowl XXXVII, marking the region's first championship in a major sport.
June 7, 2004: The Tampa Bay Lightning won their first Stanley Cup championship, uniting the community and underscoring the county's modern sports legacy.
Photos are courtesy of Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library System.