Wesley Chapel, FL

Wesley Chapel is a city located in Pasco County, Florida, United States. The population was 36,527 at the 2010 census. Wesley Chapel is a suburb of Tampa and is part of the Tampa-St. Petersburg- Clearwater metropolitan area.

The city was founded in 1926 by Wesley Chapel Land Company as an agricultural community on land donated by Rufus King and his wife, Lillian. The company named the town after the Methodist minister John Wesley, who had preached in England before coming to America in 1738 and founding Methodism's first major religious movement. The company subdivided the land into lots and offered them for sale to farmers and businessmen from throughout Florida.

The first businesses to open were a general store, a gas station, a hotel, and a restaurant called "The Blue Goose". In 1927 the town had its own post office with Rufus King as postmaster. By 1930 there were enough residents to form a government with Mayor A.C. Hargrave as mayor and Aldermen Jerald Wirth (later State Senator), Harold Gentry (later State Representative), Olin Fenton (later State Senator), George Pritchett (later Circuit Judge), Harry Burdette (later Circuit Judge), Roy Davenport (later Mayor of Tampa) and Cletus Koehler serving on the council.

In 1932 Wesley Chapel annexed portions of neighboring communities including Dunedin Heights, Hillsborough Acres, Pinellas Park West Addition and Seminole Heights which increased its population to 3200 people making it one of Pasco County's largest townships at that time . In 1936 construction began on what would become Florida State Road 54 which bisected Wesley Chapel from east to west passing through what are now downtown areas including Main Street Plaza Shopping Center where Sears now stands; US 19/92 split off from SR 54 just north of downtown; while SR 54 passed through what are now University Towne Center near Busch Gardens Tampa Bay; finally intersecting with Interstate 275 just south of Clearwater International Airport . This massive road project stimulated growth throughout Wesley Chapel resulting in new businesses opening such as banks, restaurants, motels etc.; many moving into newly constructed buildings such as The Plaza at Main Street Plaza Shopping Center which opened in 1938; while others relocated from older buildings such as The Blue Goose Restaurant which moved into its current location on North Dale Mabry Highway just north of downtown .

In 1941 Wesley Chapel became an incorporated city after voters approved an amendment to the Pasco County charter providing for municipal government . That same year Mayor Roy Davenport appointed Drayton McLane Jr., son-in-law of Jerald Wirth , as City Manager who served until 1978 when he was elected Mayor himself ; he served until his death in 1994 . During McLane's tenure numerous civic improvements were made including construction of City Hall on North Dale Mabry Highway ; installation of streetlights throughout the city ; establishment of zoning regulations ; establishment of police department ; creation of parks including Dunedin Park , Seminole Park East , Greenacres Park , Heritage Square Park , Lakeview Terrace Park , Memorial Gardens Park among others ; development agreements were reached with Hillsborough Community College District for construction or expansionof several campuses including Dunedin Campus; Hillsborough Community College opened its doors for classes for the first time at Heritage Square Park on September 2nd 1952 ; while Clearwater Junior College moved from its original location on South Harrison Avenue next door to Stetson University where it remained until 1990 when it moved onto its present campus located at 1000 Gulf Boulevard next door to Clearpark Mall . In addition during McLane's tenure various other civic organizations were formed such as Rotary Club; Lions Club; Kiwanis Club among others all playing important roles in helping make Wesley Chapel what it is today . On November 8th 1978 Drayton McLane was elected Governor Of Florida becoming only the second mayor ever elected Governor Of A U S state after Frank Murphy who served Massachusetts from 1933-1935