Brandon, Florida
Once upon a time, in the late 1960s, there was a sleepy little town called Brandon twelve miles east of Tampa on State Road 60. At the time Brandon’s population was just 1,655. Then boom, progress happened; and it has been continuing ever since.
Brandon’s history is like most in the region; the area, originally called New Hope, was settled a number of folk, including its namesake John Brandon, who arrived in 1958 to build a 160-acre homestead—log home, farm animals and all. Brandon’s son James built a large, 2-story frame home for his wife Joanna and their seven children on Brandon Boulevard; the home still stands today—it is a landmark and site of Stowers’ Funeral Home.
The railroad came to Brandon in 1890, which opened the area to an influx of new growth. In May, 1890, the Tampa Tribune described the then-new city this way:
The new city of Brandon is … on a beautiful, level tract of high pine land, on the south side of the railroad track, while on the north side of the track is situated the beautiful orange grove of Mrs. Victoria Brandon, which nestling between the city and the beautiful circular lake and deep hammock, on the north-east, is indeed a beautiful picture. The land for the city, as platted, is of the most fertile pine lands of Florida, with tall, aged, immense pines rearing their lofty heads to heaven, with here and there a cluster of beautiful oaks grouped beneath the immense monarchs of the forest. These deep, cool, shady bowers are truly inviting to the lovers of nature.
Brandon grew in fits and starts over the years, congestion finally becoming an issue in the 1970s. When the Interstate came to town in the late 1980s, the population swelled even further, to nearly 75,000. Today Brandon is an unincorporated region with a population pushing upwards, and perhaps over, 100,000. The large and still-growing community is spilling outwards, having just about completely swallowed up its smaller neighbors, though they strive to retain some sense of individuality—neighbors like Dover, Lithia, Mango, Valrico, Seffner, Riverview. Together, these communities comprise the Greater Brandon area, a region of more than 190 square miles and with more than a quarter-of-a-million people.
Homes in Brandon
The median home price in Brandon is $207,000, with many homes ranging from $160,000 to $600,000 and up for homes with scenic lake or river views. Condominiums and townhouses are common, starting at $125,000. Subdivisions and communities abound, especially in southern Brandon, which is continuing to be developed.
The Bloomingdale community is a collection of quiet neighborhoods, each with a sense of community and a neighborhood association. East Bloomington is considered the newer section, with larger, more expensive homes surrounding a public golf course. West Bloomington, west of Bell Shoals Boulevard, is the older section with smaller, lower-priced homes.
Brentwood Hills is a popular deed-restricted community of more than 1,000 homes, with its own swim and tennis club, a private onsite preschool, a playground and soccer field. Lakeview Village is a collection of more than 900 homes divided into seven distinct neighborhoods around the 66-acre Mango Lake and 20-acres of wetlands. Other communities include Heather Lakes, north of Causeway Boulevard, Hickory Lakes, Sterling Ranch and Providence Lakes.
Brandon Schools
Brandon is recognized for its high quality elementary schools, all of which are “A” schools according to the State of Florida. There is Limona Elementary, with its vision of being among the top 1% of elementary schools in Hillsborough County, Brooker Elementary, renovated in 2000, as well as Mintz, Kingswood, Schmidt and Yates elementary schools. Middle schoolers attend Mann, McLane or Burns Middle, while high school students attend Brandon High. Brandon is also home to a variety of private schools, including the popular Nativity Catholic School on East Brandon Boulevard, which serves 700+ students from grades pre-k to eight.
Shopping and Dining in Brandon
There is no lack of choice when it comes to dining and shopping in Brandon; chain stores and restaurants abound in the area, as do many smaller, locally owned and flavored establishments. Barnacles, behind Walgreen’s on the corner of Providence and Causeway, serves up yummy Cajun and Creole-style seafood dishes along with a heaping helping of sports: with hundreds of televisions, all tuned to sports, the place is always packed with locals during major area games. Another “must try” in Brandon is Babe’s Pizza on North King’s Avenue, home of the famous double-decker pizza. For a taste of the South Pacific mixed with jazz, try Della’s After Dark on Oakfield Drive. Della’s serves up a unique blend of Asian specialties and standard American fare, along with live jazz entertainment each weekend. If you’re craving sangria and enchiladas, head over to Estela’s Mexican Restaurant on Highway 60. Estela’s, beyond its fine food, has the honor of being the first restaurant in the world to have installed a solar-powered air conditioning system that operates on both solar and used-cooking-oil power.
With shopping and strip malls dotting the area, Brandon residents rarely want for anything. Beyond the smaller plazas and strip malls though, head over to the Westfield Brandon Mall for all the shopping you could ever want—and more. It’s 250+ stores of pure shopping pleasure. The Westfield Brandon is currently one of the largest malls in the region, drawing crowds from up and down Florida’s west coast. Or, head east to the fine malls of Tampa: International Plaza, Westshore Plaza, the Village at Hyde Square. Or hop on I-75 for a trip to the Ellenton Outlet for discount shopping.
Leisure and Play in Brandon
Brandon is a growing name when it comes to fine arts. It is home to the Brandon Ballet, a dance education and performance company; the Ballet’s annual Christmas-time Nutcracker rendition has become a tradition to many. Center Place at the Sandy Rodriguez Center on Vonderburg Drive is another area for artistic expression; the Center, known for its original art exhibits, art education and performing arts programs, is home to a 300-seat auditorium, the Mook Gallery, art workshop rooms and a gift shop. Also nearby is the Winthrop Theatre on Bloomingdale, and the McCabe Theatre in downtown Valrico. Brandon is also home of the Brandon Balloon Classic, a two-day event in April that brings together hot air balloons from all over the country.
For outdoor fun, visit Davis Park on North Parsons Ave in the center of Brandon. This 15-acre park along the shores of Lake Mead is a locals’ treasure. The park claims limited amenities—a shelter, grills, an open picnic area and some playground equipment—which is precisely why locals prefer it. Davis Park is the perfect place to catch sight of egrets, herons, sandhill cranes and duck, plus marsh rabbits and gopher tortoises. Another popular park is Limona Park on Lakewood Drive; Limona is the first public disk golf course in Hillsborough County.
Another local treat is the Ice Sports Forum, a taste of winter in sunny Florida, all year long. With two NHL-regulation ice rinks, the Forum is the training ground of the Tampa Bay Lightening. It also serves as home to various local hockey programs, and offers opportunities for figure and public skating as well.
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