By Nicole Schoen
The Bloomingdale neighborhood is currently the largest neighborhood in the Tampa Bay area with a population of around 22,000 living in 5,200 homes in over 40 individual communities spanning between the Brandon, Valrico and Bloomingdale area. The community includes the Bloomingdale Golfer’s Club which is rated a Tampa Bay Top course and a community sports complex for adult and little league baseball. The Campo Community YMCA is also located in the community and offers residents and members exercise classes, equipment, two swimming pools with swim lanes, a rock climbing wall and more. The Bloomingdale Public Library and several top-rated county schools are located within or around the community’s borders.
Before the land became the large residential neighborhood it is now, it was first discovered by early settlers in the 1840’s that arrived in the area of Lithia Pinecrest Rd., Bell Shoals Rd. and Bloomingdale Ave. north of the Alafia River. By 1885 there was a Presbyterian, a Catholic, a Methodist and a Baptist church. German immigrant Ludwig Wilhelm Buchhoz began petitioning settlers for a school in 1883 and on September 23, 1884 a grade school was established with Dr. Raymond as principal. Although rural and slightly isolated, residents continued to be drawn to the area during World War II and by the 1960’s Bloomingdale had become quite suburban. In 1990 the population reached 13,912.
Homeowners Association meetings are held on the second Tuesday of each month at the Bloomingdale Community Offices at 3509 Bell Shoals Rd. at 6:30 p.m. and are open to all Bloomingdale residents. The current HOA president is George T. May IV. The Bloomingdale HOA (BHA) is a member of the Greater Brandon Chamber of Commerce and Brandon Roundtable Charities.
The BHA launched its community Website, www.bloomingdalegazette.com, in January 2000. Residents can visit the Website for news, information, event listings for the community as well as to sign up on the confidential e-mail list to receive news alerts. BHA is also on Facebook at facebook.com/BloomingdaleHoa. For more information, residents can call 681-2051 or e-mail blooming dale.homeowners@gmail.com.
