Wesley Chapel is a census-designated place (CDP) in Pasco County, Florida, United States. Wesley Chapel is considered part of the Tampa Bay Area metro. The population was 44,092 at the 2010 census. In 2003, some residents of Wesley Chapel started a movement to incorporate the community (including areas not in the official CDP). This "city," which would have been the largest and most populous in Pasco County, never materialized.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 6.1 square miles (16 km2), of which 6.1 square miles (16 km2) is land and 0.04 square miles (0.10 km2) (0.49%) is water.
Residents choose the area because of its proximity to Interstate 75 and Interstate 275, 25 miles north of Downtown Tampa, and other major locales. Adjacent to its south is the region of New Tampa, part of incorporated Tampa.
Originally called Double Branch for the area's twin creeks, the community was named for the Methodist chapel that stood on the northwest corner of SR 54 and Boyette Road. A popular nickname for the area was "Gatorville."
Since 2000, Wesley Chapel has grown rapidly. Newcomers from in and out of state have populated new luxury communities such as the Enclave at Wiregrass Apartments, Preserve at Quail Woods by Southern Crafted Homes, Citrus Trace, Saddlewood, Brooksville, Bridgeview, Watergrass, Villages of Wesley Chapel, Seven Oaks, Country Walk, Meadow Pointe, Chapel Pines, Bridgewater, Northwood, Saddlebrook and Lexington Oaks. Several townhome developments have been built, Saddle Creek and Santa Fe. A new retirement community is planned by Del Webb.
The area has two middle schools and two high schools, half of which are brand new. Two of three planned malls have now opened, including the Shops at Wiregrass and a big box mall called The Grove on the northern perimeter. Wiregrass is known for its well-reviewed cafes. Development plans for Cypress Creek Town Center are underway. Two new schools have been built, Dr. John Long Middle School and Wiregrass Ranch High School (which was built to relieve overcrowding at Wesley Chapel High School). The newest of the two high Schools and middle schools is located in a community called Meadow Pointe.
Wesley Chapel has been a major catalyst in the rapid growth of Pasco County, 38th fastest-growing county in the nation. and retains much in the way of wildlife. Also as of July 2007, a new county park opened at the southwest corner of Boyette and Overpass roads.State Road 56 is currently slated to extend east from its current terminus at Bruce B. Downs Boulevard to a terminus at US 301 in Zephyrhills, of which the first phase has begun March 2008. Wesley Chapel was also listed as one of the "8 boomtowns of 2008" by the Gadberry Group's annual list. Wesley Chapel has a new hospital called Florida Hospital at Wesley Chapel, and Pasco-Hernando State College's latest campus, Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch.
courtesy of wikipedia