Hillsborough County is located on the Gulf Coast of Florida. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,229,226, making it the fourth-most populous county in Florida. Its county seat and largest city is Tampa. Hillsborough County has 1,048 square miles of land and 24 square miles of inland water area for a total of 1,072 square miles.

Hillsborough County was created on January 25, 1834 from Alachua and Monroe counties. It was named for Wills Hill, the Earl of Hillsborough and British Secretary of State for the Colonies from 1768–1772. On New Year's Day in 1914 the St. Petersburg-Tampa Airboat Line initiated the first scheduled commercial airline service in history, from St Petersburg to Tampa.

Residential areas of Hillsborough include: Plant City, Tamps, Temple Terrace, Apollo Beach, Balm, Bloomingdale, Boyette, Brandon, Carrollwood, Cheval, Citrus Park, Clair-Mel, Dover, East Lake, Egypt Lake-Leto, FishHawk, Gibsonton, Keystone, Lake Magdalene, Lutz, Mango, Northdale, Orient Park, Palm River, Pebble Creek, Progress Village, Riverview, Ruskin, Seffner, Sun City Center, Thonotosassa, Town 'n' Country, University, Valrico, Westchase, and Wimauma.

Area attractions in Hillsborough County include: The Beaches, Theme Parks, Major League Sporting Events, Gasparilla Parade of the Pirates, Tampa Museum of Art, Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI), Busch Gardens, Lowry Park Zoo, The Florida Aquarium, Port of Tampa, International Plaza and Bay Street, Shopping, Nightlife, Straz Center for Performing Arts, The Tampa Theatre, Tamp Bay History Center, Waterfront Dining, Ethnic Foods, and much more!

Parks in Hillsborough include: Egmont Key National Wildlife Refuge, Alafia River Corridor Preserve, Alafia River North Prong Reserve, Alafia Scrub Preserve, Alderman's Ford Regional Park, Alexander Park, Apollo Beach Nature Preserve, Balm Boyette Scrub Preserve, Bell Creek Preserve, and Lithia Springs Regional Park.

Hillsborough County is home to nearly 100 golf courses including the world class Innisbrook Golf Course, and Saddlebrook Resort.

Hillsborough County offers some remarkable wildlife and eco-tourism opportunities. Lettuce Lake Park has 240 acres of wilderness with hiking, picnic areas and an educational center leading to a cypress swamp teaming with wildlife.

Living in the Tampa Bay area is all about the water. Whether you are on a paddleboard, canoe, kayak, jet ski, sail boat, pleasure boat or charter fishing boat, you will enjoy getting wet.

Port Tampa Bay offers cruises to anywhere in the world on such cruise lines as Royal Caribbean, Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America, and Norwegian Cruise Line.

Hillsborough County is home to the University of Tampa, the University of South Florida, and Hillsborough Community College.