Imagine a little piece of Greece transplanted to the northern part of Pinellas County. The delightful town of Tarpon Springs, which has a population of around 20,000 is famous for its unique Greek heritage and culture. It also has the distinction of being the oldest town in the St Petersburg area.
The first Greek immigrants were attracted to the area during the 1800s when they were employed in the thriving sponge industry. The town was given its name after residents spotted fish jumping out of the water and in 1905 sponge diving was introduced to the town. By 1930, millions of dollars a year were being generated by the sponge industry.
Today, although the sponge industry isn't as profitable as it once was, Tarpon Springs retains its unique Greek culture and not surprisingly, has the largest percentage of Greek-Americans in the country. Today, more than 20 restaurants offer authentic Greek cuisine and the downtown area offers antique shops, boutiques and specialty stores.
The town is also well known for its Epiphany celebrations every year in January ? the largest such festival in the United States. Naturally, delicious Greek food and traditional music feature large in the festivities, as well as several religious services.
Undoubtedly though, the highlight of the event is the spectacle of several young men of the town diving into the cold waters of the bayou to retrieve a wooden cross. Tradition says that whoever recovers the cross will be blessed for the next year, and the proud winner is carried triumphantly through the town.
And, if like many others before, you have the urge to buy a home, a second home, a vacation home ? or even relocate - to this unique and fascinating town, property in Tarpon Springs is affordable and plentiful.
Homes for sale in Tarpon Springs range from sprawling waterfront properties such as Anclote Isles to exclusive gated golf course communities like Wentworth or Crescent Oaks to imposing mansions in and around Craig's Park. The more affordable end of the market has a wide selection of condos, modest single family homes, and mobile homes as well. Greece never seemed so easy to get to!
