In the early 20th century, Oldsmar began as a planned community with roots in the automotive industry. Today, it is a small town between downtown Tampa and Clearwater. Oldsmar is a community of convenience with waterfront living in the center of the Tampa Bay. City parks and hiking trails sit in rich marsh ecosystems on the ocean. Being only a short drive from multiple cities, this town has access to some of Florida's best schools and most exciting attractions. Despite the action happening nearby, Oldsmar has the homey atmosphere of a small town with a population of around 13,600 and events that bring the community together.
Relax and take in the sun at Mobbly Beach in Oldsmar.
Kids are excited to play in the parks of Oldsmar.
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Oldsmar parks system and the trail
“Oldsmar boasts more parks per square mile than any other city in the State of Florida, with about 40% of its land dedicated to either a park or preserve,” says Debb Vitraelli, Public Communications Supervisor of Oldsmar. “For context, the average city has less than 10%, according to the Trust for Public Land. Parks provide measurable health benefits from direct contact with nature, opportunities for physical activity and social interaction during our many events.” The Oldsmar Trail is a ten-mile nature walk beginning at the Oldsmar Sports Complex and moving down the coast through eight of the city’s ten parks. The trail includes an ambient path on a wooden bridge through Cypress Forest and quiet swamps in Moccasin Creek. R.E. Olds Park is a peaceful spot with a long wooden fishing pier, a large playground, walking trails and an outdoor amphitheater. Veterans Memorial Park has a waterfront view with outdoor exercise equipment and a pavilion. On warm days, residents can visit the Mobbly Bayou Beach Park, a small beach with sunset views.
Oldsmar has a few pickleball leagues for anybody to join.
The Oldsmar trail runs through Oldsmar, and connects with many other locations.
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Flea Market, Days and Nights and Oktoberfest
The Oldsmar Flea Market claims to be the “largest flea market in the south,” with over 280 vendors open mornings from Wednesday through Sundays. The Oldsmar Days and Nights festival is an annual event with beer gardens, live rock 'n' roll and classic car shows. Oktoberfest takes place in Oldsmar and has authentic German beer and cuisine.
Several local bands perform at Bands and Brews by the Bay in Oldsmar.
Bands and Brews by the Bay has a great car show.
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Travel between cities on Tampa Road
Tampa Road runs through the heart of town, taking traffic 11 miles west on State Street to Clearwater or 16 miles east to downtown Tampa. The Tampa International Airport is only 11 miles southeast. The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PTSA) bus system provides public transportation with stops along Tampa Road. Ferries take passengers on daily trips across the bay to islands. Boats are a popular mode of transportation as the Old Tampa Bay touches the shore.
Pinellas County Schools, top-tier education
The school district in Oldsmar is Pinellas County Schools. According to Niche, Pinellas County is the best school district in the Tampa area, with an A-minus overall Niche grade. In the top 10 of Florida's most diverse school districts, Pinellas encompasses the western peninsula, stretching down through St. Petersburg and the Gulf islands. Palm Harbor University High School is located eight miles northwest and has an overall Niche grade of A. It is rated the 2nd best high school in the county and in the top 100 best public high schools for STEM in Florida. The Primrose School of Oldsmar is an education and daycare center for infants and toddlers. Center Academy Palm Harbor has an excellent special education program for kids with distinctive learning requirements.
East Lake High School has 2,326 students in grades PK, 9-12.
Joseph L. Carwise Middle has 1,155 students in grades 6-8.
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Farmstead estates and luxurious multifamily communities
Real estate in Oldsmar dates back to the 1920s when many single-family homes were rebuilt after a hurricane. Housing styles in Oldsmar include ranch-style homes with hipped roofs, single-story craftsman builds and sprawling farmstead estates. Homes sit on generous green lots with palm trees covered in Spanish moss. Many higher-end homes have in-ground pools. Townhouses and waterfront condos are set up in luxurious communities around town. Homes in Oldsmar typically sell after only 38 days on the market compared to the national average of 42 days. Based on data from the last 12 months, homes sell at an average price of $438,730, down 6% from the average home sale price over the previous year.
Many higher-end homes have in-ground pools and sit on generous green lots with palm trees in Oldsmar.
Single-family ranch style houses are a dime a dozen in Oldsmar.
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Retail and local attractions
Residents will find a large selection of local shops, restaurants and box stores along Tampa Road. Groceries can be found at ALDI and Walmart Supercenter, both located in the shopping center off Forest Lakes Boulevard. The city is redeveloping a downtown area with shops, restaurants and residential space on an 8-acre site next to City Hall. The goal of this development is to stimulate the local economy and make the area more sustainable while maintaining its small-town charm.
Just east of Oldsmar is the Tampa Bay Downs. Established in 1926, this thoroughbred horse racing track has a poker room and a golf practice area for residents looking to try their luck. HorsePower is a nonprofit farm and animal sanctuary where kids can interact with goats and go horseback riding. Thrill seekers can venture to Empower Adventures Tampa Bay to zipline 60 feet above the or traverse an aerial obstacle course. The Tampa Bay Skating Academy offers figure skating and hockey lessons to newcomers, and it has a public ice rink.
The Aldi store in Oldsmar, offers great deals on produce for customers.
Tampa Bay Downs in Oldsmar is a world class horse track with a Derby qualifier.
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Other information
Oldsmar has a B rating from CrimeGrade, making it safer than the average city. The crime rate includes 8.2 property crimes reported per 1,000 residents during a standard year and 2.1 violent crimes reported per 1,000 residents. Violent crimes are infrequent in Oldsmar. Based on the number of crimes reported, the northern part of town is the safest. Based on a Flood Insurance Study by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), much of southern Oldsmar is subject to flood risks. The area south of Tampa Road has a 26% chance of flooding over the next 30 years. The city participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and encourages residents to do the same. Some neighborhoods have a disaster plan that meets their distinctive needs based on where they are in town, so it’s important for residents to stay informed about weather, safety precautions and the flood risk on their property. The ALERT Pinellas emergency notification will inform participating residents of severe weather and mandatory evacuations.
Jared Rutherford is the father to 4 world changers, Brayden, Jackson, Landon and Addison. In all things, he strives to be a follower of Jesus, especially in his service to the community. His path of service began at age 19 as a firefighter for Hillsborough County Fire Rescue. Jared has successfully developed and led multiple businesses including the real estate team, title company and a portfolio of investment properties and vacation rentals. As The Rutherford Group CEO, Jared functions as a visionary and broker. His knowledge of real estate pans 20 years of active practice to include mortgages and title insurance. Jared has sold almost $300 million dollars in real estate and is in the top 1% of real estate agents in the nation. Additionally, he loves to positively impact lives around the world through being a business leader for Convoy of Hope. He enjoys traveling, University of Michigan sports (Go Blue!), golfing, fishing and the beach. His short list of favorites include Christmas, sushi and watches!
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
