Davis Islands

islands, Tampa, Florida, United States

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 25, 2026

Quick Summary

Davis Islands are man-made islands located in Hillsborough Bay, an arm of Tampa Bay, Florida, United States. They were created in the 1920s specifically for real estate development. The islands are part of the city of Tampa, which is situated on the northern shore of Tampa Bay. The area has a rich history, with early inhabitants including the Calusa and Timucua peoples, and later visits from Spanish explorers like Pánfilo de Narváez and Hernando de Soto. The development of Tampa was significantly boosted by the arrival of the railroad in 1884 and the introduction of cigar manufacturing in 1886.

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Tampa
In the 1920s the man-made Davis Islands were created offshore in Hillsborough Bay (Tampa Bay’s eastern arm) for real estate development. The origin of the city’s name is uncertain; it may be derived from a Creek word for “near it” or “a nearby place,” for its proximity to the bay,…
Read More
In the 1920s the man-made Davis Islands were created offshore in Hillsborough Bay (Tampa Bay’s eastern arm) for real estate development. The origin of the city’s name is uncertain; it may be derived from a Creek word for “near it” or “a nearby place,” for its proximity to the bay,…
Read More