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Wimauma is one of the most interesting communities in Hillsborough County, a place with a charming origin story that is currently undergoing one of the most profound transformations in the entire Tampa Bay region. From my location in the established suburbs of Citrus Park, I see Wimauma as the new frontier—a historic farming town that is rapidly evolving into a major center for suburban growth.

Zip Codes: 33598

Latitude, Longitude: 27.7125° N, 82.2983° W

A Captain’s Daughters 👩‍👧‍👧

The story of Wimauma begins in 1902 with the arrival of the Seaboard Air Line Railway. The town was founded by a captain in the U.S. Army, C.H. Davis, who was instrumental in developing the area around the new railroad line.

The town’s unique and memorable name is a direct legacy of Captain Davis and his family. He created the name “Wimauma” as a portmanteau, cleverly combining the first letters of his three daughters’ names: Wilmal, Maudine, and Mary. This personal and creative origin gives Wimauma one of the most distinctive naming stories in all of Florida.

For most of its history, Wimauma was a classic “Old Florida” agricultural town. Its economy was built on the vast pine forests for turpentine and lumber, and later, on the rich soil for citrus, tomato, and vegetable farming. It was a small, hardworking, and tight-knit rural community.

A Town in Transition 🚜➡️🏡

To understand modern Wimauma is to understand a community in the midst of a dramatic metamorphosis. The historic “downtown” still exists as a quiet collection of older buildings, and the surrounding landscape is still dominated by vast commercial farms, nurseries, and the modest homes of the agricultural workers who have been the backbone of the community for generations.

However, Wimauma has become the “next frontier” for the explosive suburban sprawl pushing south from Riverview and east from Sun City Center. Its once-empty pastures are now the sites of massive, new, master-planned communities. This has created a fascinating “new” Wimauma of resort-style amenities and modern suburban homes right alongside the “old” Wimauma of farms and country roads. It is, of course, a large unincorporated Census-Designated Place (CDP) governed by Hillsborough County.

Wimauma by the Numbers 📊

The demographic data for Wimauma reflects its deep agricultural roots and the beginning of its suburban boom.

• Official Designation: Census-Designated Place (CDP)
• County: Hillsborough
• Established: Founded in 1902.
• Named For: The daughters of founder C.H. Davis: Wilmal, Maudine, and Mary.
• Population: Approximately 10,000 residents (and growing very rapidly).
• Area: A large 25 square miles.
• Median Age: Roughly 35 years old.
• Racial & Ethnic Composition: A community with a very large Hispanic population, reflecting its agricultural history:
  • Hispanic or Latino: ~66%
  • White (non-Hispanic): ~19%
  • Black or African American: ~12%
• Median Household Income: Approximately $51,000, a figure that is expected to rise significantly as new, more affluent suburban communities are built out.

Landmarks and SouthShore Attractions lagoon

The interesting places in and around Wimauma reflect its blend of rural heritage and new, amenity-driven suburban life.

• Southshore Bay Lagoon: The ultimate symbol of the “new” Wimauma. This massive, 5-acre man-made crystal lagoon is the centerpiece of a new housing development and has become a major regional attraction for swimming, kayaking, and enjoying a resort-style beach experience.
• Little Manatee River State Park: Located just south of Wimauma, this beautiful state park is a haven for nature lovers. It offers some of the best hiking and equestrian trails in the region, winding through pristine pine flatwoods and along the scenic Little Manatee River.
• Hunsader Farms: While in nearby Bradenton, this massive agri-tourism destination is a cultural institution for the entire rural SouthShore region, including Wimauma. It’s famous for its huge annual pumpkin festival, petting zoo, and U-pick fields.
• Sun City Center: The massive 55+ retirement community to the west serves as the primary commercial hub for Wimauma residents, providing the majority of the area’s shopping, dining, and medical services.
• Wimauma Community Health Center: A vital institution representing the heart of the long-standing community. Operated by Suncoast Community Health Centers, it provides critical medical and dental care to the area’s agricultural workers and families.