As a rural community northwest of Tampa, this area of Hillsborough County had welcomed enough residents to receive its first post office in 1888, followed by a scattering of schools and churches—most notably the United Brethren Church
(now Lake Magdalene United Methodist), started in 1895 by Reverend Isaac W. Bearss, whose family line still maintains several acres of citrus groves in the region, butted up against the busy east-west, North Tampa corridor that bears the family name.[4][5] The rustic qualities of Lake Magdalene remained until the 1990s when residential construction in Tampa pushed northward. By 1990 almost 16,000 people lived in Lake Magdalene,[4] and according to the 2000 census, its population had nearly doubled to 28,755.[6]
Lake Magdalene is surrounded by, and takes its name from, a 206-acre (0.83 km2) freshwater lake.[7] The lake's name may come from the moniker of a Native American woman, Magdalena, who interpreted the language for a Spanish expedition into Florida in 1549,[4] or the name may have resulted from the 1882 marriage in the community of John Parrish and Mary Magdalene Yates, daughter of Jonah Yates, first mayor of Plant City.[7]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the community has a total area of 11.6 square miles (30.1 km2), of which 10.2 square miles (26.5 km2) are land and 1.4 square miles (3.6 km2), or 12.11%, are water. There are at least 11 named lakes in the CDP, the largest of which is Lake Magdalene near the center of the community.
ZIP codes that serve Lake Magdalene are 33612, 33613 and 33618.
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 30,742 people, 12,404 households, and 8,011 families residing in the CDP.[11]
As of the 2010 United States census, there were 28,509 people, 12,263 households, and 7,509 families residing in the CDP.[12]
2000 census
As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 28,755 people, 12,085 households, and 7,722 families residing in the community. The population density was 2,718.9 inhabitants per square mile (1,049.8/km2). There were 12,938 housing units at an average density of 1,223.3 per square mile (472.3/km2). The racial makeup of the community was 86.65% White, 5.91% African American, 0.35% Native American, 2.33% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 2.64% from other races, and 2.09% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 13.51% of the population.
As of 2000, there were 12,085 households, out of which 28.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.5% were married couples living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.1% were non-families. 28.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.93.
In 2000, in the community the population was spread out, with 22.5% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 29.9% from 25 to 44, 26.8% from 45 to 64, and 13.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.7 males.
In 2000, the median income for a household in the community was $43,259, and the median income for a family was $54,276. Males had a median income of $39,556 versus $30,398 for females. The per capita income for the community was $26,685. About 5.6% of families and 7.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.6% of those under age 18 and 8.1% of those age 65 or over.
