Thonotosassa is a census-designated place (CDP) in Hillsborough County, Florida, United States. The population was 15,238 at the 2020 census, up from 13,014 at the 2010 census.
History
thumb|A black bear at Nature's Classroom; October 2013
The name "Thonotosassa" comes from the Seminole-Creek words ' "flint" and ' "some", meaning the place was a source of valuable flint. Following the establishment of Fort Brooke in 1824 in what is now Tampa, a military road that ran northwest of Lake Thonotosassa was built between Fort Brooke and Fort King in Ocala. This road became known as the Fort King Road, which today is crossed in several locations by U.S. Route 301. Nevertheless, the presence of a Native American (probably Seminole, Creek or Mikasuki) village largely discouraged settlers from moving into the area. Following the hostilities of the Second Seminole War and with the adoption the Armed Occupation Act of 1842 American settlers began moving into the region.
In 1893, the Tampa and Thonotosassa Railroad opened a route between the two growing communities. This line today no longer extends into Thonotosassa, its northern tracks having been removed along with the town depot by the 1980s, but its southern portion remains a busy industrial spur, joining with the CSX main line at Neve Wye.
Among other areas for recreation for the youth is the Morris Bridge Road area and its Nature's Classroom.
Geography
Thonotosassa is located in northeastern Hillsborough County. It is bordered to the southwest by East Lake-Orient Park, and to the south by Mango and Seffner. The unincorporated community of Antioch is on the eastern edge of the CDP.
The Hillsborough River forms the northern edge of the CDP, Interstate 4 forms the southern edge, and Interstate 75 forms the western edge. I-4 leads east to Lakeland and west to downtown Tampa, while I-75 leads north to Ocala and south to Bradenton. U.S. Route 301 travels through the northern part of Thonotosassa, leading northeast to Zephyrhills and south to Riverview.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of , of which are land and , or 6.51%, are water.
There were 5,575 households in Thonotosassa, of which 29.7% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 45.7% were married-couple households, 20.5% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 24.5% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 23.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
! Race !! Number !! Percent
|-
| White || 9,484 || 62.2%
|-
| Black or African American || 2,508 || 16.5%
|-
| American Indian and Alaska Native || 128 || 0.8%
|-
| Asian || 562 || 3.7%
|-
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander || 6 || 0.0%
|-
| Some other race || 940 || 6.2%
|-
| Two or more races || 1,610 || 10.6%
|-
| Hispanic or Latino (of any race) || 2,648 || 17.4%
|}
2000 census
As of the 2000 census