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Oldsmar, Florida

Oldsmar, Florida
City
Aerial view of Oldsmar from the east
Aerial view of Oldsmar from the east
Motto: Where Business Meets Prosperity
Location in Pinellas County and the state of Florida
Location in Pinellas County and the state of Florida
Coordinates: 28°2′31″N 82°40′35″W / 28.04194°N 82.67639°W / 28.04194; -82.67639Coordinates: 28°2′31″N 82°40′35″W / 28.04194°N 82.67639°W / 28.04194; -82.67639
Country  United States
State  Florida
County  Pinellas
Area
 • Total 10 sq mi (25 km2)
 • Land 8.7 sq mi (22.5 km2)
 • Water 1.0 sq mi (2.5 km2)
Elevation 7 ft (2 m)
Population (2010)
 • Total 13,591
 • Density 1,400/sq mi (540/km2)
Time zone Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
 • Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code 34677
Area code(s) 813
FIPS code 12-51350
GNIS feature ID 0288131
Website www.myoldsmar.com

Oldsmar is a city of 13,591, as of the 2010 census, in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. The Oldsmar name dates to April 12, 1916 when automobile pioneer Ransom E. Olds purchased 37,541 acres (151.92 km2) of land by the northern part of Tampa Bay to establish "R. E. Olds-on-the-Bay". The name was later changed to Oldsmar, then to "Tampa Shores" in 1927, and finally back to Oldsmar in 1937. Ransom Olds named some of the original streets himself, such as Gim Gong Road for Lue Gim Gong.

Oldsmar includes several parks along Tampa Bay, historic bungalows, a downtown, and a commercial area along West Hillsborough Avenue. The historical society operates a museum in Oldsmar, and the city erected a new library in 2013.

In hopes of returning to the days of "Old Florida", Oldsmar's downtown is currently undergoing redevelopment efforts. Oldsmar celebrates its history every year with Oldsmar Days and Nights, including parades, car shows (featuring the Oldsmobile), and carnival rides. Notable Oldsmar businesses include the nearby Tampa Bay Downs and the production office of Nielsen Media Research.

Oldsmar is located at 28°02′31″N 82°40′35″W / 28.042061°N 82.676350°W / 28.042061; -82.676350.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 9.7 square miles (25.0 km2), of which 8.7 square miles (22.5 km2) is land and 0.97 square miles (2.5 km2) (9.83%) is water.

There were only a handful of settlers in the area in 1916 when Ransom Eli Olds decided to purchase 37,541 acres (151.92 km2) on the northern tip of Tampa Bay from Richard Peters in what is the present-day Oldsmar. At the age of 52, the inventor of the Oldsmobile and REO cars embarked on a grand undertaking, turning the untamed land in northern Tampa Bay into a bustling community. He paid $400,000 for the land: $200,000 in cash, $75,000 in bonds and a $125,000 apartment house in Daytona Beach. The town was originally named R. E. Olds-on-the-Bay. The name was later changed to Oldsmar. In 1927 the name was changed again to Tampa Shores, and finally in 1937 it was changed back to Oldsmar.


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