Tampa
Tampa slipped two points in the ratings, done in mainly by our new "coolness" category. In almost every other category, however, Tampa improved. The sole exception was singles ratio and that's because the city is becoming increasingly attractive to families. With good job growth and a low cost of living, not to mention a terrific climate most of the year and local pro sports teams--as well as pro baseball's grapefruit league--it's a great place to live. But when you throw in plenty of local golf courses, an increase in gated communities and proximity to Walt Disney World in nearby Orlando, it's easy to see why singles are losing out to duos. That's not to say that Tampa (unlike its more geriatric sister city, St. Petersburg) is a bummer for singles, especially with the recently gentrified Ybor City, a former industrial area on the city's outskirts, which was once the cigar-making capital of the U.S.. By day, singles can shop at Ybor's upscale arcade, and at night the area offers more than 60 restaurants, bars and nightclubs that draw up to 30,000 people on Friday nights. --Charles Dubow
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from 2001 : 
