On July 25, 1884, the first edition of the West Hillsborough Times was published in Dunedin, Florida. This modest weekly would go on to become the St. Petersburg Times and later, in 2012, the Tampa Bay Times—one of Florida’s most influential newspapers.
Originally serving the rural communities of what was then western Hillsborough County, the paper moved locations several times before settling in St. Petersburg in the 1890s. Over the next century, it grew into a leading voice for journalism across the Tampa Bay region, known for its investigative reporting and local coverage.
Today, the Tampa Bay Times remains a cornerstone of Florida media—its roots tracing back to this historic debut in 1884.
