Gibsonton, Florida

Gibsonton, Florida
CDP
Location in Hillsborough County and the state of Florida
Coordinates: 27°50′16″N 82°22′27″W / 27.83778°N 82.37417°W / 27.83778; -82.37417Coordinates: 27°50′16″N 82°22′27″W / 27.83778°N 82.37417°W / 27.83778; -82.37417
Country	United States
State	Florida
County	Hillsborough
Area
• Total	13.7 sq mi (35.5 km2)
• Land	12.9 sq mi (33.3 km2)
• Water	0.8 sq mi (2.2 km2)
Elevation	7 ft (2 m)
Population (2010)
• Total	14,234
• Density	1,000/sq mi (400/km2)
Time zone	Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
• Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code	33534
Area code(s)	813
FIPS code	12-25900[1]
GNIS feature ID	0283060[2]

Gibsonton is an unincorporated census-designated place in Hillsborough County, Florida, United States. U.S. Route 41 currently runs through the center of the community. The population was 14,234 at the 2010 census.^[3]

Gibsonton was famous as a sideshow wintering town, where various people in the carnival business would spend the off season placing it near the winter home for Ringling Brothers Circus at Tampa, Sarasota and Venice in various times . It was home to Percilla the Monkey girl, the Anatomical Wonder, and the Lobster Boy. Siamese twin sisters ran a fruit stand here. At one time, it was the only post office with a counter for dwarves. Aside from the agreeable winter climate, Gibsonton offered unique circus zoning laws that allowed residents to keep elephants and circus trailers on their front lawns.

Geography

Gibsonton is located at 27°50′16″N 82°22′27″W / 27.83778°N 82.37417°W / 27.83778; -82.37417 (27.837894, -82.374070)^[4].

According to the United States Census Bureau, the community has a total area of 13.7 square miles (35 km²), of which 12.9 square miles (33 km²) is land and 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²), or 6.14%, is water.

Demographics

As of the census^[1] of 2000, there were 8,752 people, 3,112 households, and 2,193 families residing in the community. The population density was 681.0 people per square mile (263.0/km²). There were 3,468 housing units at an average density of 269.9/sq mi (104.2/km²). The racial makeup of the community was 88.69% White, 1.36% African American, 0.94% Native American, 0.72% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 6.67% from other races, and 1.59% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 18.01% of the population.

There were 3,112 households out of which 36.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.9% were married couples living together, 14.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.5% were non-families. 20.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.80 and the average family size was 3.18.

In the community the population was spread out with 29.7% under the age of 18, 9.8% from 18 to 24, 30.7% from 25 to 44, 21.0% from 45 to 64, and 8.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 106.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 105.0 males.

The median income for a household in the community was $34,000, and the median income for a family was $36,067. Males had a median income of $27,457 versus $21,826 for females. The per capita income for the community was $15,695. About 16.0% of families and 18.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.8% of those under age 18 and 11.7% of those age 65 or over.

Carnivals and the International Independent Showmen's Association, Inc. and Museum

Gibsonton is the location of the International Independent Showmen's Association, Inc ("Gibtown Showmen's Club") a non profit private organization made up of people in the outdoor amusement industry. The original club building opened in 1966 and has expanded to be the largest Showmen's Association in the United States.^[6] There are over 4500 members from all over the United States and several foreign countries. Gibsonton is also the home of the largest trade show in the carnival industry. At the trades show exhibits include rides, food supplies and equipment, concession trailers, electrical supplies, insurance companies, novelty items, plush toys, and jewelry.^[7]

Gibtown's International Independent Showmen’s Museum houses on two floors a wide assortment of antique equipment, historic printed materials and detailed exhibits that tell the carnival story – most of it donated by practicing carnies.^[8] Carnival items from across the country reflecting nearly a century of carnival experiences have been donated. "There's one of the first Ferris Wheels in the country, which will be assembled upright inside the museum. There's also one of burlesque performer Gypsy Rose Lee's slinky black beaded costumes, which turned many a head back in the day.And don't forget the outfit worn by the "Viking Giant" himself, Johann K. Peturson. He was nearly 8 feet tall and weighed 425 pounds." The museum will also feature photos of carnival setups throughout the years. Visitors will also be able to walk through carnie trailers, which open to transform from a dull-looking compartment into brightly lit and ornate facades.^[9]

Famous residents

• Colonel Casper Balsam (1904-1968), circus midget who portrayed a Munchkin in The Wizard of Oz.
• Grady Stiles, freak show performer known as "Lobster Boy"
• Al Tomaini

Media

• The town was the setting for the acclaimed 1995 X-Files episode "Humbug", which was nevertheless filmed in Vancouver, Canada. The episode is about sideshow performers but does not star any of the town's actual residents.
• The town figured prominently in the Dean Koontz book Twilight Eyes which featured a character who sought refuge in the circus community and came back to "Gibtown" with them as the traveling season drew to a close
• The town was the title character in the fictional first person lyric of "Gibsonton," released on The Babylon Minstrels' self-titled CD in 1992. The song was written by the group's co-founder, Julian Raymond.
• Gibsonton is the "inspiration" for a novel called Kaleidoscope by Darrell Wimberly, who has written other novels and non-fiction set in west Florida.
• Gibsonton was the setting for the July 17, 2011, episode of the Florida-based A&E crime drama The Glades. The episode, titled "Gibtown," revolved around a murder in a town known as a haven for retired circus performers, and referenced former residents such as "Percy the Monkey Boy," "The Human Blockhead," "Al Thornquist the 8 1/2 Foot Giant," and the "Bertram Siamese Twins."

References

External links

• Video Tour and Historic Documentary of Gibtown

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