Brandon, FL

Brandon, Florida, is located in Hillsborough County, near Tampa. The area has recently grown to nearly 90,000 people and encompasses around 30 square miles. Brandon is named for founder and landowner John Brandon from the late 19th century, and it is said to be the area where the Ringling Brothers started to gather their legions of circus performers. Brandon remained rural through 1950 and has seen periodic episodes of growth, one of the highest being during the 1960s when it was estimated that one family moved to the city every day.

Development has not slowed down to date. Located within minutes of downtown Tampa, Brandon combines a small-town feel with easy commutes for residents.

Its near-water location has had a large effect on Brandon, where boating and water sports are paramount. The local U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Floatilla gives regular courses in boater safety and other water-related concerns and also offers free boat inspections.

ECONOMY AND INDUSTRIES

Beyond a few local stores and restaurants, Brandon leaves the majority of economic influx to Tampa, the city located nearby. The lack of big business adds to the charm and small-town feel of the area. The Brandon community is the home of the official training facility for future World Wrestling Entertainment stars.

The city is also considered the birthplace of Beef O'Brady's, founded by Jim Mellody in 1985. These bar and grill-style restaurants are located mostly in the Southeast United States and serve lunch and dinner. Brandon's Westfield Shoppingtown provides jobs for area residents. The mall is a 900,000 square-foot shopping facility and the Tampa area's number-one shopping destination with plenty of anchor stores and other national retailers.

The major industries in the city are healthcare, finance and insurance, educational services, construction, professional, scientific and technical services and public administration.

The major employers in the city are Brandon Regional Hospital, Wal-Mart Supercenter, Florida Living Options Inc., Humana Hospital Brandon, North American Roofing Services and Publix Supermarket.

NEIGHBORHOODS AND DISTRICTS

Known as being Tampa's premier bedroom community, Brandon boasts many characteristic establishments that have lasted more than a quarter of a century. Some of the neighborhoods within Brandon include Barrington Oaks East, Brandon Hills, Kensington Estates, La Viva and Limona. Neighborhoods and districts of Brandon accommodate above 30,000 houses, out of which more than 28,000 are occupied. Of the occupied houses, more than 20,000 are owner-occupied while renters occupy around 8,000 houses. The median home price in Brandon is a little lower than the statewide median price.

FAMILY FUN

Brandon has very few attractions, but it's a short drive to the major tourist destination of Tampa. Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, the Florida Aquarium, Florida Holocaust Museum, the Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI), Tampa Museum of Art and WildLife on Easy Street are all within driving distance.

Brandon does offer The Brandon Sports and Aquatic Center, an award-winning youth recreational center.

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

• Brandon Ballet: The Brandon Ballet maintains the art education of residents and tourists alike. Regular performances dot the year with annual presentations of the holiday classic The Nutcracker.
• Center Place Fine Arts and Civic Association: A not-for-profit association takes on the task of promoting fine arts and civic involvement. It began in 1976 to improve the cultural environment of the area through art exhibits, art education and showings of the performing arts both publicly and privately.
• Brandon Foundation: The Brandon Foundation associates itself with charities in need. Residents contribute money, time or other help. The Brandon Foundation puts those donations to work where they are needed most, such as the American Cancer Society's Brandon Unit, American Red Cross, Brandon Junior Women's Club, Brandon Kiwanis, Nativity Food Pantry, Women's Resource Center of Tampa Bay, Inc., YMCA and others.

EVENTS

• Brandon Balloon Classic: During April of each year, hot air balloons fill the skies over Brandon. Sponsor-Glow creates an incandescent sky with different shapes and sizes of balloons that are floating, tethered to the ground. This event brings balloons such as Tony the Tiger, snowmen and even a pumpkin floating through the sky. An amusement area entertains kids with balloon rides, aircraft displays, exhibits and demonstrations.
• Brandon Running Club: Avid runners in and around Brandon get together for group runs and training, and a schedule includes a daily time and place to meet for the runs. The running club is an open group and everyone is welcome to participate.
• 24 Hours: Designed and executed by kids under the age of 21, the 24 Hours program has kids spend 24 hours as a homeless person. Designed to bring awareness to the situation plaguing so many Americans, volunteers spend one day in a homeless scenario. Donated backpacks are stuffed with food and other necessities for homeless children.

EDUCATION

• Hillsborough Community College moved to Brandon during the 1970s. At first, classes were conducted in public schools. As the area grew, so did the school, and now a complete Associate in Arts degree can be obtained on the campus. Brandon campus is also home to the Honors Institute of Hillsborough Community College, which offers scholarship opportunities, special recognition at graduation and other special privileges to top students.

LOCAL MEDIA

• Brandon News & Tribune is the area's local paper, serving residents in Brandon, Valrico, Bloomington, Fishhawk, Seffner, Riverview and surrounding communities.