Lithia, FL Properties | Susan Camus

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Lithia is an unincorporated community in southeastern Hillsborough County, Florida, set along the Alafia River east of Tampa between Riverview and Brandon. Long a landscape of ranch and farm land, Lithia's modern identity is defined by FishHawk Ranch, a roughly 3,800-acre master-planned community that began taking shape in the early 2000s and now anchors much of the area's housing, schools, and community life. The broader Lithia area counts close to 32,000 residents, the large majority of them families drawn by highly rated public schools, extensive trails and lakes, and a setting that keeps open countryside close at hand. The community stretches along the FishHawk Boulevard and Lithia Pinecrest Road corridors, which connect the neighborhoods to Riverview and Brandon and, beyond them, to the wider Tampa Bay region. FishHawk Ranch itself was designed as a lifestyle-oriented community, with an emphasis on outdoor recreation, family activities, and schools within or near the neighborhood. Multiple distinct sub-communities give the area a layered, varied residential feel rather than a single uniform subdivision. Life in Lithia leans heavily toward the outdoors. Alafia River State Park, a regional destination for mountain biking, sits within the community and offers miles of hilly, forested trails alongside the river's south prong. That combination of a top-rated school cluster, purpose-built recreation, and a relatively short drive to Tampa's job centers has made Lithia one of the most sought-after family communities in Hillsborough County. Residents who work in Tampa, Brandon, or Riverview generally commute by car along US-301 and the surrounding state and county roads.

Population 32,000

County Hillsborough

Active Listings 240

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Frequently Asked Questions

What county is Lithia, Florida in?

Lithia is located in Hillsborough County, Florida, in the southeastern part of the county east of Tampa. The county seat is Tampa, and Hillsborough County has an estimated population of more than 1.5 million residents across the greater Tampa Bay area.

Is Lithia an incorporated city?

No, Lithia is an unincorporated community within Hillsborough County. It is often treated as a census-designated place and is commonly associated with the Fish Hawk area, so it is governed at the county level rather than by its own municipal government.

What is FishHawk Ranch?

FishHawk Ranch is a roughly 3,800-acre master-planned community in Lithia that has been developed since the early 2000s. It is organized into multiple sub-communities built around lakes, parks, and trails, and it anchors much of the area's housing, schools, and community amenities.

What school district serves Lithia?

Lithia is served by Hillsborough County Public Schools. Schools in and around the community include Bevis Elementary, Stowers Elementary, FishHawk Creek Elementary, Pinecrest Elementary, Randall Middle, Barrington Middle, and Newsome High School, with Bevis Elementary frequently noted among the area's top-rated schools.

How far is Lithia from downtown Tampa?

Lithia is roughly 25 miles east of downtown Tampa, and the drive typically takes about 30 to 45 minutes depending on traffic. Most residents commute by car along FishHawk Boulevard, Lithia Pinecrest Road, and US-301 toward Riverview, Brandon, and the wider interstate network.

City Guide

About Lithia

Real Estate & Housing

Housing in Lithia is dominated by FishHawk Ranch, a master-planned community spanning roughly 3,800 acres of former ranch land and developed since the early 2000s. The community is organized into multiple sub-communities, each with its own character, lot sizes, and mix of builders, and was designed around lakes, conservation areas, and trail systems rather than a uniform grid. Homes skew toward single-family, family-oriented floor plans with community amenities such as pools, parks, and recreation facilities. Outside the master-planned core, Lithia retains older exurban and rural holdings, including larger-lot properties along Lithia Pinecrest Road and the surrounding county roads, offering a broader range of home types and a more open, semi-rural feel.

Neighborhoods

FishHawk Ranch is the defining neighborhood of Lithia, a large planned community built in phases around a network of parks, lakes, and trails, with its own collection of sub-communities that vary in style and setting. Much of the surrounding area is commonly referred to as Fish Hawk, reflecting the community's reach beyond the original development. To the west and north, Lithia blends toward the more established residential corridors of Riverview and Brandon, while the eastern and southern edges remain more rural, with acreage properties and older farm and ranch land. This gives homebuyers a spectrum from amenity-rich planned neighborhoods to quieter, larger-lot settings all within a few miles of one another.

Lifestyle in Lithia

Lithia is a family-centered community where recreation and schooling anchor daily life. The design of FishHawk Ranch, with its lakes, trails, parks, and community events, encourages an active, outdoors-oriented routine, and the presence of Alafia River State Park makes mountain biking, hiking, and equestrian riding part of the local culture. Weekends often revolve around the park's trail systems, neighborhood pools and playgrounds, and youth sports. As a commuter suburb, the pace is quieter than Tampa's urban core, but residents retain easy access to the shopping, dining, and entertainment of Brandon and Riverview, making Lithia a comfortable balance of suburban convenience and open space.

Schools & Education

Lithia is served by Hillsborough County Public Schools, one of the largest districts in Florida. Several schools are located within FishHawk Ranch or within a mile of the community, including Bevis Elementary, Stowers Elementary, FishHawk Creek Elementary, and Pinecrest Elementary, along with Randall Middle, Barrington Middle, and Newsome High School. Bevis Elementary in particular is frequently cited among the area's top-rated schools, and the cluster of schools in and around FishHawk Ranch is a primary reason families choose the community. Private and preschool options are also available in the surrounding Fish Hawk and Riverview area.

Getting Around

Lithia sits east of Tampa and is reached primarily by car along the FishHawk Boulevard and Lithia Pinecrest Road corridors, with US-301 serving as a key alternative route toward Riverview and Brandon and on toward the region's interstate network. Commutes to downtown Tampa typically run about 30 to 45 minutes depending on traffic, and the broader area's mean travel time to work is roughly 37 minutes. Public transportation is provided through Hillsborough Area Regional Transit, connecting Lithia to the wider county, though most residents rely on personal vehicles. The community's location keeps Brandon's retail and employment centers within a short drive.

Parks & Recreation

Alafia River State Park is Lithia's signature outdoor asset, a regional destination known for its mountain-biking trail system of more than 20 miles, ranging from beginner-friendly routes to advanced climbs and technical features. The park also offers hiking and equestrian trails through forests and flatwoods, along with lakes, camping, and canoeing and fishing along the South Prong of the Alafia River. Within FishHawk Ranch, a network of community parks, playgrounds, and multi-use trails provides everyday recreation close to home. The combination of a major state park and purpose-built community trails makes outdoor access one of Lithia's defining features.

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