Lutz, Florida Explained

Official Name:Lutz, Florida
Nickname:"Cactus Hat"
Settlement Type:Unincorporated Community
Mapsize:250x200px
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:Florida
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:Hillsborough, Pasco
Unit Pref:Imperial
Area Footnotes:[1]
Area Total Km2:69.51
Area Land Km2:63.27
Area Water Km2:6.24
Area Total Sq Mi:26.84
Area Land Sq Mi:24.43
Area Water Sq Mi:2.41
Population As Of:2020
Population Total:23707
Population Density Km2:374.70
Population Density Sq Mi:970.48
Timezone:Eastern (EST)
Utc Offset:-5
Timezone Dst:EDT
Utc Offset Dst:-4
Coordinates:28.1394°N -82.4619°W
Elevation M:21
Elevation Ft:69
Postal Code Type:ZIP code(s)
Postal Code:33548, 33549, 33558, 33559
Area Code:813
Blank Name:FIPS code
Blank Info:12-41775[2]
Blank1 Name:GNIS feature ID
Blank1 Info:0286224[3]

Lutz is an unincorporated community in Hillsborough County and Pasco County, Florida, United States, north of Tampa. While there is a census-designated area of Lutz, the community itself extends beyond those boundaries into other census-designated areas.

History

Lutz began with the construction of a small train depot on the Tampa Northern Railroad. The area surrounding the depot officially became known as "Lutz" when the U.S. Postal Service authorized a post office. The community was named for W. P. Lutz, who was credited with bringing the railroad to town.[4]

As people moved to the rural community from Tampa, the Lutz area continued to grow until it no longer depended on the "Lutz Junction", which was demolished in the late 1960s.

In 2000, a replica of the depot was rebuilt in the approximate location, which is now at the intersection of Lutz-Lake Fern Road and U.S. Highway 41. The post office's structure is still in the same place today, although it is now an art gallery. A public library is located behind the train depot replica. This area is known as "Beautiful Downtown Lutz" and had a song written about it in 1981.[5]

Part of the movie Edward Scissorhands was filmed on Tinsmith Circle in the neighborhood of Carpenter's Run in north Lutz in Pasco County. In the credits the town is named in the "Thank you" section.[6]

Geography

Lutz is located in northwestern Hillsborough County and southern Pasco County at 28.1394°N -82.4619°W (28.139428, -82.462028).[7] It is bordered to the east by a region of Tampa known as New Tampa, to the south by the Lake Magdalene and University unincorporated communities, and to the west by unincorporated Keystone, all in Hillsborough County. To the north, Lutz is bordered by Land o' Lakes and Wesley Chapel in Pasco County.

Interstate 275 runs through the east side of Lutz, joining its parent highway Interstate 75 in the northeast corner of the community. U.S. Route 41 runs through the center of Lutz, and Florida State Road 597 forms part of the western border. Downtown Tampa is to the south.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the Lutz CDP has a total area of 70.2km2, of which 63.8km2 are land and 6.4km2, or 9.06%, are water.[8]

ZIP codes

ZIP codes which serve Lutz and the surrounding areas are 33548, 33549, 33558 and 33559. These ZIP codes extend north past the Hillsborough County line to State Road 54 in unincorporated southern Pasco County. That area is also called Lutz, and often referred to as "Pasco Lutz" by residents and newspapers.[9]

Demographics

As of the 2020 census,[10] the Lutz CDP had a population of 23,707 with 8,584 households.

By age, the population was split as follows: 4.7% of the population were under 5 years old, 23.1% were under 18 years old, and 18.7% were 65 years and older. 50.3% of the population were female.

77.6% were white, 5.4% were black or African American, 0.1% were American Indian and Alaska Native, 6.3% were Asian, 9.3% were two or more races, and 14.4% were Hispanic or Latino.

There were 1,700 veterans living in the CDP and 10.2% of the population were Foreign born persons.

97.0% of the households had a computer and 94.9% of the households had a broadband internet subscription.

Of the population aged 25 years or older, 97.0% had a high school diploma or higher and 49.5% of that same population had a Bachelor's degree or higher.

Of the population under 65 years old, 6.6% lived with a disability and 7.7% of that same population did not have health insurance.

The median household income was $91,875 with a per capita income of $46,908. 3.8% of the population lived below the poverty threshold.

Schools

Lutz is served by Hillsborough & Pasco County Public Schools through the following:

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files. United States Census Bureau. October 31, 2021.
  2. Web site: U.S. Census website. United States Census Bureau. 2008-01-31.
  3. Web site: US Board on Geographic Names. 2008-01-31. United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25.
  4. News: Sinkhole phenomenon puts Lutz on the map. The Evening Independent. May 10, 1986. 7 June 2015. Davis, Miller. 11A.
  5. Web site: 1981 Song About Lutz, Florida Still Talked About Today . 2023-04-29 . www.baynews9.com . en.
  6. Web site: In The 80s - Eighties Movie Locations That Really Exist. www.inthe80s.com.
  7. Web site: US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990. United States Census Bureau. 2011-04-23. 2011-02-12.
  8. Web site: Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Lutz CDP, Florida. U.S. Census Bureau. American Factfinder. May 4, 2017.
  9. News: New Wal-Mart opens Nov. 4. 27 May 2012. Lutz Community News. 4 November 2009. https://archive.today/20120709104023/http://cnewspubs.com/wp/?p=864. 9 July 2012. dead.
  10. Web site: QuickFacts Lutz CDP, Florida . 20 June 2022 . United States Census Bureau.