| Situated along the shores of the Little Manatee River in unincorporated Hillsborough County along the eastern shores of Tampa Bay, Ruskin is one of the few remaining communities in the greater Tampa Bay region to retain its small town lifestyle and ambience despite the increasing number of new homes, condos and vacation rentals under construction. Established in 1906, the community of Ruskin used to be home to many of the migrant agricultural workers staffing the numerous orange groves and citrus farms once found throughout the area. Today Ruskin attracts urban professionals and those seeking a slower paced lifestyle than that of what city living offers. Although the advent of urbanization can be recognized in certain areas of Ruskin, the town retains its charm and quaintness, in part due to its efforts at preserving its natural surroundings, rural beauty and heritage. The community celebrates its agricultural heritage with the annual Ruskin Tomato & Heritage Festival. Tractor shows, historical exhibits, crafts, games, prizes, country and bluegrass acts, gardening seminars and fried green tomatoes are but a smattering of the fun to be had at the annual event. The Little Manatee River flows through the heart of Ruskin and provides area residents a diverse selection of recreational opportunities including fishing, boating and more. In addition, the river is known for its outstanding canoeing and kayaking. The Little Manatee River Canoe Trail is part of Florida's Statewide System of Greenways and Trails. Alligators, otters, turtles and a variety of bird species are but a few of the sites the river provides visitors. It is along the river where one finds old Florida southern hospitality and charm mixing with progress and population growth. Upriver one finds a variety of habitat such as wetland swamps, sand pine scrubs and hardwood forests. Downriver, the banks once teemed with trailer parks but as developers and real estate investors continue their quest for prime waterfront property in the state of Florida, many of the trailer parks are disappearing, yielding to newer homes and development projects such as planned communities. Condos, waterfront vacation rentals and cottages are beginning to dot the shoreline of the tranquil Little Manatee River. Developers aren't the only ones reaping rewards in Ruskin. Families are increasingly finding Ruskin a pleasant alternative in which to live and raise a family compared to some of the nearby beach communities. Ruskin provides less crowds, lower crime rates, cheaper real estate, lower taxes and a rural atmosphere. A mere 25 miles from Tampa, the community is close enough to what the city offers yet far enough away from the crowds and bustle to provide a soothing place to live or vacation. These are but a few reasons why Ruskin's excellent location makes it the perfect place to purchase a condominium, vacation rental or investment property in Florida. Locating the perfect condo, vacation rental or investment property is easy with the assistance of CondoCompany.com. CondoCompany.com is the Internet's foremost location source for your future real estate purchase, whether for pleasure or business. |
