Egypt Lake-Leto, Florida, is a vibrant census-designated place (CDP) in an unincorporated part of Hillsborough County, situated just north of Tampa International Airport. The CDP is part of the Tampa Bay area.
Map of Hillsborough County, Florida
The Early Days and Naming of Egypt Lake
Egypt Lake-Leto was established as a CDP in 1970. The community evolved from pioneering agricultural roots, intertwined with the early settlers and the Egypt Temple Shriners. The Shriners played a significant role, lending their name to Egypt Lake, which they used as a resort.
Native American fishermen occupied the region until the sixteenth century, when Spanish explorers sailed into the area looking for gold. The United States purchased the region from Spain in 1821, but the area remained sparsely populated and was mostly used by citrus growers. Until the 1940's, the lake was home to only a few residents and two public beaches.
The beaches and a dance pavilion made it a popular destination for visitors from Tampa until World War II when the United States Army used the lake as training grounds.
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Location and Demographics
Egypt Lake-Leto is located in northwestern Hillsborough County. Egypt Lake is located at 28 degrees north, 82.5 degrees west. Situated just north of Tampa International Airport, Egypt Lake offers residents a laidback suburban vibe within minutes of numerous area attractions.
In 2020, the population was split by age with 5.6% under 5 years old, 16.5% under 18 years old, and 12.4% 65 years or older. As of 2020, there were 1,065 veterans living in the CDP and 44.8% of the population were foreign born persons.
Housing and Economy
In 2020, the owner-occupied housing rate was 45.0%. The median value of owner-occupied housing units was $212,400. The median monthly owner costs with a mortgage was $1,302 and without a mortgage was $427. The median gross rent was $1,126.
95.7% of households had a computer and 92.6% had a broadband Internet subscription. 80.3% of the population 25 years and older were high school graduates or higher and 21.4% of that same population had a Bachelor's degree or higher. The median household income was $48,240 and the per capita income was $25,425.
Evolution of Carrollwood and its Connection to Egypt Lake-Leto
Carrollwood is one of Tampa’s most iconic suburbs. Though the community’s story often starts in the 1950s, it is actually quite a bit older than that. Lake Carroll appears, unnamed, on maps of Hillsborough County dating to the 1870s. The earliest references to the lake - found in Tampa newspapers - date to the 1880s. It is likely that the lake was named by a pioneer resident from Maryland for Charles Carroll, a wealthy Maryland landowner, Revolutionary-era figure and a signer of the Declaration of Independence.
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Though the lake was only 8 miles north of Tampa’s city hall, it could have been in another time zone during the early part of the 20th century. Tampa’s road network ended at Sulphur Springs, as did the streetcar. Only a couple roads led north out of town - Florida Avenue out of downtown and Armenia Avenue out of West Tampa. Finally by the 1920s, Tampa’s growth began reaching nearer and nearer to the lake. The Sulphur Springs neighborhood continued developing, and a new subdivision called Forest Hills (also known as the North Side Subdivision) put residents even closer to Lake Carroll.
The city of Tampa expanded its city limits up to and through Lake Carroll in 1925, which put the lake squarely in the sights of real estate developers. In the spring of 1925, a group of Tampa businessmen bought a 90-acre tract that had previously been used as a Boy Scout Camp for $20,000. That same day they sold it to a group of out-of-state investors for $30,000. The development was marketed as both an opportunity for investment and a place to live. As it turned out, the homes that were built were largely used as vacation homes for Tampa residents. While some people had beachfront vacation homes, it was much more popular to have a second home out in the country - preferably on a lake.
The arrangement remained largely unchanged until the late 1950s, when the county began extending Dale Mabry Highway from its terminus at Hillsborough Avenue north to Pasco County. The Dale Mabry Extension, as it was called, passed just to the west of Lake Carroll. Much had changed since the 1920s, and key among those changes were the quality of the area’s roads and the quantity of automobiles on those roads.
In addition, the company built an office, a shopping center, a recreation center and a community beach. The company also launched a neighborhood newsletter, garden club and women’s club. All of this was situated around curved streets that did not conform to the normal grid pattern seen in older neighborhoods. The design and amenities led to Carrollwood being named U. S. Subdivision of the Year in 1961 by the National Association of Home Builders.
Other developers soon saw Jetton’s success and created new subdivisions along other parts of the lake. Interestingly, there were sections of the lake that were open to the public. Even though roads were better and cars were more numerous, it was still difficult to get away to the beach on the Gulf Coast. As the city grew and buildable land became less available, these bathing beaches eventually gave way to development.
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Larger lots, too, gave way to townhomes and condominiums in places like Carrollwood Village, which SunState developed in the mid-1960s on 1,900 acres of land on the west side of Dale Mabry. As the suburbs crept farther and farther away from the city center, places like Carrollwood did not feel quite as removed. This had both positive and negative consequences. The positives were that the conveniences of city life, like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations and professional services, were closer at hand. The downside was traffic and congestion.
Today, most of the vacation homes from the 1920s-era Lake Carroll Estates are gone, and Original Carrollwood would qualify to become a historic district. Older Tampans would scoff at such a notion; to them, Carrollwood is that new place out in the woods.
Community and Lifestyle
Spanning 6.2 sq mi, the community centers on the 59‑acre Egypt Lake-renowned for bass fishing, kayaking, and scenic waterfront trails. Residents enjoy family‑friendly green spaces like Rex Barcelo Park, access to top Hillsborough County schools, and a quick commute to Downtown Tampa’s dining and entertainment.
Situated just north of Tampa International Airport, Egypt Lake offers residents a laidback suburban vibe within minutes of numerous area attractions. In addition to convenient strip malls and plazas, Egypt Lake residents enjoy quick access to Tampa Bay staples such as ZooTampa at Lowry Park, Al Lopez Field, Raymond James Stadium, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, Adventure Island, and the University of South Florida.
Increased development of the area as a residential suburb began in the 1970s. With no museums in the immediate neighborhood, residents drive about 15 minutes to get to the Tampa Museum of Art. In Egypt Lake-Leto, you’re never very far from a Cuban sandwich, Colombian arepas, or a steaming bowl of Vietnamese pho. Many tiny Latin American and Asian restaurants dot the neighborhood, along with a few American and Italian eateries. After the sun goes down, choose from several sports bars and small taverns. Look to Armenia Avenue for a variety of restaurants and pubs.
North Dale Mabry Highway cuts through the middle of the neighborhood, affording residents short commute times. As of November 2025, the average apartment rent in Egypt Lake is $1,223 for a studio, $1,261 for one bedroom, $1,357 for two bedrooms, and $1,779 for three bedrooms. You might be able to get out and walk when living in this area.
Golden Phoenix Seafood Restaurant specializes in Chinese cuisine made with local seafood. Try the Szechwan shrimp for a spicy treat. Regulars come for the more than 40 dim sum offerings, available any time of the day. Dine in the pleasant and spacious dining room, or carry out. Saigon Deli serves up authentic Vietnamese-style food at reasonable prices. Guests rave about the Bahn Mi loaded with pork and veggies and the comfort-in-a-bowl chicken pho. Accompany your meal with a refreshing boba drink.
Hang out at the popular neighborhood watering hole The Front Porch Bar and Grill. Built in 1898, the Front Porch boasts of a resident ghost. Regulars come for the live music on Friday nights and karaoke several other nights during the week.
The community of Egypt Lake-Leto depends on cars; more than 90 percent of the workforce travels to work in an automobile. Highways 589 and 93 connect the neighborhood to the expressway system. No public parking garages or lots operate in the neighborhood. Restaurants and businesses usually provide free parking on site. There is also free curb-side parking for most local businesses.
Residents generally consider the neighborhood moderately walkable, although that will vary depending on the specific location. Many streets have sidewalks, but might not have retail within walking distance of residences. Cyclists find Egypt Lake-Leto convenient because of the infrastructure in place and the flatness of the land. A dedicated bike lane runs along Route 580, and bike users consider many streets bicycle friendly, including Pine Crest Manor Boulevard and Humphrey, Kirby and Sitka.
More than 20 taxi companies serve Lake Egypt-Leto. Download an app or call from your cell to make easy reservations. You can also catch a ride with Uber. If you prefer public transportation, Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority (HART) provides local bus transportation to the neighborhood with service to most residences and retail outlets. Route 34 runs east-west and Routes 41, 14 and 45 run north-south.
The neighborhood contains three free parks operated by the city of Tampa. Al Lopez Park sits just across 580 from the neighborhood, and includes about 130 acres of Florida wildlife and two ponds. Families gather at the imaginative playground built by the community. Kids enjoy a range of play structures including several suitable for young or disabled children. Locals also come to use the ball fields, trails and dog park.
Lowry Park nestles along the Hillsborough River next to the zoo. A trail runs beside the river through oak hammocks. The park features fishing docks and a boat launch; park visitors find plenty of scenic spots for picnics.
Just south of Leto Lake, West Park Dog Park provides a 5-acre dog park with separate areas for small and large dogs to exercise off-leash.
The cost of living in Lake Egypt-Leto runs about 6 percent less than the standard Tampa neighborhood, with housing costs particularly easy on the wallet. A monthly one-bedroom apartment rental averages at $688. Filling the gas tank sets you back about 89 percent of the average national price, and $2 gets you to downtown Tampa by bus.
Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly.
Historical Maps
Explore 29 old maps of Egypt Lake-Leto, spanning from 1921 to today. These high-resolution historic maps reveal how streets, neighborhoods, landmarks, and natural features evolved over time - perfect for genealogy, metal detecting, research, and local history exploration.
- 1921 Map of Tampa: Covers Egypt Lake-Leto, including Tampa, Brandon, and other nearby areas.
- 1943 Map of Gandy Bridge: Covers Egypt Lake-Leto, including Tampa, Saint Petersburg, and other nearby areas.
- 1944 Map of Tampa: Covers Egypt Lake-Leto, including Tampa, East Bay Farms, and other nearby areas.
- 1947 Map of Tampa: Covers Egypt Lake-Leto, including Tampa, East Bay Farms, and other nearby areas.
- 1947 Map of Gandy Bridge: Covers Egypt Lake-Leto, including Tampa, Saint Petersburg, and other nearby areas.
- 1958 Map of Plant City: Covers Egypt Lake-Leto, including Tampa, Lakeland, and other nearby areas.
- 1959 Map of Plant City: Covers Egypt Lake-Leto, including Tampa, Lakeland, and other nearby areas.
- 1959 Map of Tampa: Covers Egypt Lake-Leto, including Tampa, Saint Petersburg, and other nearby areas.
- 1960 Map of Tampa: Covers Egypt Lake-Leto, including Tampa, Saint Petersburg, and other nearby areas.
- 1964 Map of Plant City: Covers Egypt Lake-Leto, including Tampa, Lakeland, and other nearby areas.
What you can do with these maps:
- See how Egypt Lake-Leto changed over time: Compare historical maps to modern-day views to trace roads, homesites, rail lines & more.
- View detailed metadata: Each map includes creators, publishers, year, scale, and archive source.
- Overlay maps with satellite & LiDAR: Visualize the past alongside modern tools to explore terrain & human change.
- Trusted historical sources: Maps sourced from the USGS, Library of Congress, and other archives.
- Access maps your way: View online, download high-res files, or order prints for personal or research use.
Start exploring old maps of Egypt Lake-Leto to uncover forgotten places, hidden landmarks, and the deep history beneath your feet.
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