Dover

With Florida being one of five states with the largest population growth (the top five together accounted for more than half the nation's total population growth in recent years), it's becoming harder and harder to find a quiet piece of Florida to call home—somewhere near enough to big city amenities but far enough away to buffer you from the hustle and bustle. If you head east on 574 from Tampa, on the way to Plant City, you'll pass through a small community called Seffner. Four miles later, you'll find yourself in Dover, Florida—a small, slowly growing community dotted with lakes and ponds, mature trees and parks, and within three miles of the Tampa-Orlando connector I-4. Needless to say, Dover, although still retaining its rural feel, is growing, with beautiful gated and new home communities sprouting here and there. It is a largely ethnic community, with more than half of its 18,000 residents claiming Hispanic heritage.

Dover and nearby Seffner were once known as Simmon's Hammock, after the Reverend David Simmon, a Baptist preacher who moved into the area in 1829 to convert the local Seminole Indians. The Dover section of Simmon's Hammock was renamed Sydney in 1882, and then Cork in 1884. With the arrival of settlers from Dover, Delaware in 1890, the community's name was changed for the last time—to Dover. Dover is second only to Plant City in strawberry production; Florida's first out-of-state rail shipment of strawberries came from Dover.

Homes in Dover

Dover today is a rural land marked by both old and new—by beautiful new home communities, lakefront and equestrian estate homes on large acreage, as well as older mobile home and apartment communities. The median home price is $280,000, although homes are available to suit any budget. Abbey Trace is a 90-home gated community off North Valrico Road offering luxury homes with nature views from $260,000 to $400,000. Ridge Crest is another new home community promising tranquil living in large homes with conservation views of Dover's gently rolling landscapes and old-growth oaks; homes in Ridge Crest start in the high $200s. Taylor Estates and Strawberry View are two other popular communities.

Dover Schools

Depending on where in Dover they live, elementary-aged children may attend Valrico Elementary, Nelson Elementary or Dover Elementary school. Older children are served by Mann Middle or Mulrennan Middle, and Brandon or Durant High. For the most part, schools in the Dover area are "A" and "B" schools. Dover is also home to the Willis Peters Exceptional Center, a special education school for children with various disabilities (deaf, blindness, language and speech impairment, etc.) from pre-K through grade 12.

Shopping and Dining in Dover

You won't be doing much shopping in Dover proper, but many residents feel the short drive to Plant City, Brandon or Tampa is a small price to pay for the peace and serenity of their rural home. Dover is just minutes away from Plant City to the east and Brandon to the south, which puts Dover residents within easy reach of everything they could possibly need or want: Wal-Mart, specialty shops galore, all the major chain restaurants and more. Brandon is also home to the popular Westfield Brandon Mall, a million-square-foot-plus mega-center brimming with all things pleasant to the eye, nose and touch. Plus, Dover is just 20 miles and a 30-minute drive away from Tampa to the west and Lakeland to the east, bringing even more shopping pleasure and dining options to those who enjoy an afternoon or evening on the town.

Within Dover proper are a few places worth mentioning: like Taco Loco on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, a popular place for the best in authentic Mexican delights. Also within Dover is the Strawberry Education and Event Center, host of numerous strawberry-related events and home of 10-acres of fresh Florida strawberries, including a U-Pick strawberry farm. Another Dover favorite is the Bits and Pieces Puppet Theatre on Tom Gallagher Road, which brings theatrical delights to children of all ages around the Bay area; the Theatre, famous for its nine-feet-tall, larger-than-life puppets, is known locally for its 11 original musical productions.

Leisure and Play in Dover

Dover, being minutes away from some of the finest courses in Florida, is a haven for golf enthusiasts. The Diamond Hills Golf and Country Club lies on rolling terrain and features tree-lined fairways; the course was designed by Chic Adams. Nearby Plant City is home to 36-holes in the Walden Lake Golf and Country Club, with its "Lakes" and "Hills" courses designed by the renowned architect Ron Garl. Also nearby is the championship course at River Hills, nestled within more than 200 acres of countryside, and the Bloomingdale Golfers' Club, ranked one of Florida's top 10 courses with a championship layout in a setting of towering pines, oaks and marshland.

Dover residents also enjoy Dover District Park on Gallagher Road, a large park with a civic club building, baseball fields, basketball courts, soccer fields, playgrounds and picnic facilities—as well as a large lake stocked with channel catfish, brown bullhead, bluegill, large-mouthed bass and blue tilapia. And keep in mind—Dover is just minutes from I-4 and thus within easy reach of all the entertainment you could possibly enjoy in Orlando to the east and Tampa and the white-sand beaches of Florida's Gulf coast to the west. Dover is truly a lovely place to call home.