Finding the Best Places to Retire Since 2006!
Oldsmar, Florida
Situated Along Tampa Bay, Oldsmar is a Quiet Town with Safe Neighborhoods, Waterfront Homes and Nearby World Class Oceanfront Beaches
Ransom E. Olds, father of the Oldsmobile, purchased a large tract of land near the northern tip of Tampa Bay in 1916. His planned community looked a little bit like Detroit and was called R. E. Olds-on-the-Bay. The town was also called Tampa Shores. In 1927, the name Oldsmar stuck.
Quiet and primarily residential, Oldsmar has well-established sections on its southern end and newer sections on its northern end. The southern areas have compact, leafy neighborhoods with narrow lanes and older waterfront homes. The northern sections have subdivisions, shopping centers and open space. There is not much of a downtown, but there are some nicely restored historic buildings. The town hosts fishing and golf tournaments as well as car shows. Harbor Palms Nature Park features a floating dock and a boardwalk. The Mobbly Bayou Wilderness Preserve offers a canoe launch, guided kayak tours, lookout towers, and a fishing dock.
Oldsmar also has a large indoor flea market, a shopping extravaganza that spreads across 20 acres and has more than 1,200 vendor booths. Residents enjoy several bayfront parks. Just north of town, Lake Tarpon beckons with 2,500 acres of freshwater fishing. The world class oceanfront sands of Clearwater Beach are about 15 minutes away.
Population: 15,000 (city proper)
Age 45 or Better: 33%
Cost of Living: Meets the national average
Median Home Price: $410,000
Climate: Summer temperatures are in the 80s and 90s with frequent rainstorms. Winter temperatures are in the 60s and 70s. On average, the area receives 52 inches of rain per year.
At Least One Hospital Accepts Medicare Patients? No, but Mease Countryside Hospital, just three miles away in Safety Harbor, accepts Medicare patients.
At Least One Hospital Accredited by Joint Commission? No, but Mease Countryside Hospital, just three miles away in Safety Harbor, is accredited.
Public Transit: Yes
Crime Rate: Below the national average
Public Library: Yes, and people love it.
Political Leanings: Liberal
College Educated: 28%
Is Florida Considered Tax Friendly for Retirement? Yes
Cons: Traffic along Florida 580, which traverses Oldsmar and heads into Tampa, is heavy during rush hours.
Notes: Oldmar has grown 9% during the decade, and home prices have remained steady since a year ago.
Recommended as a Retirement Spot? Yes
Florida:
Named Pascua Florida by Juan Ponce De Leon, the Sunshine State did not enter the Union until March 3, 1845. Balmy mild winters began attracting snowbirds to the state in the late 19th century. Retirees continue to flock to the state. It's not hard to see why tourism has become the leading industry.
International trade and citrus are also major contributors to the state's economy. Eighty percent of the nation's oranges and grapefruits are grown here, and 40 percent of all U.S. exports to Latin America flow through Florida.
Florida's landscape includes uplands and coastal plains. It contains more than 11,000 miles of waterways and about 4,500 islands spread across 10 acres.
The state has 1,250 golf courses, more than any other state in the Union. The 47 mile Pinellas Trail is the longest urban trail on the east coast. Orlando theme parks attract more visitors than any other theme parks in the U.S. The only place in the world where alligators and crocodiles co-exist is in National Everglades Park.
Webwerxx, Inc. Copyright (c) 2006-2023. All rights reserved. No part of this electronic publication may be reproduced in any way without the express written consent of Webwerxx, Inc. Reproducing any original part of this publication without written permission from Webwerxx, Inc. is plagiarism. Numerous attempts were made to verify the accuracy of the information contained in this website, but some information may have changed since each article and/or report went online, and Webwerxx, Inc. is not liable for inaccurate information contained in its articles and/or reports.