Pinellas County | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
 Logo | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofFlorida | |
 Florida's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:27°54′N82°44′W / 27.90°N 82.74°W /27.90; -82.74 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Florida |
| Founded | January 1, 1912 |
| Named after | SpanishPunta Pinal ("Point of Pines") |
| Seat | Clearwater |
| Largest city | St. Petersburg |
| Area | |
• Total | 608 sq mi (1,570 km2) |
| • Land | 274 sq mi (710 km2) |
| • Water | 334 sq mi (870 km2) 55.0% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 959,107 |
• Estimate (2023[1]) | 961,596 |
| • Density | 3,500/sq mi (1,350/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional districts | 13th,14th |
| Website | www |
Pinellas County (US:/pɪˈnɛləs/,pih-NEL-əss) is located on the west central coast of the U.S. state ofFlorida.[2] As of the2020 census, the population was 959,107, making it the seventh-most populous county in the state.[3] It is also the most densely populated county in Florida, with 1,326[citation needed] residents per square kilometer. The county is part of theTampa–St. Petersburg–Clearwater Metropolitan Statistical Area.[2]Clearwater is thecounty seat.[4]St. Petersburg is the largest city in the county, as well as the largest city in Florida that is not a county seat.[2]
The first evidence of human habitation in what is now Pinellas County comes fromWeedon Island. Various stone tools dated to theMiddle Archaic Period (5000-3000 BCE) have been found on the island.[6]
When Europeans first reached the Pinellas peninsula, the Tampa Bay area was inhabited by people of theSafety Harbor culture. The Safety Harbor culture area was divided intochiefdoms.[7] One documented chiefdom in what is now Pinellas County was that of theTocobaga, who occupied a town and large temple mound, theSafety Harbor site, overlooking Safety Harbor in what is now the eponymous town ofSafety Harbor.[8]
During the early 16th centurySpanish explorers discovered and slowly began exploring Florida, including Tampa Bay. In 1528Pánfilo de Narváezlanded in Pinellas, and 10 years laterHernando de Soto isthought to have explored theTampa Bay area. By the early 18th century the Tocobaga had been virtually annihilated, having fallen victim toEuropean diseases from which they had no immunity, as well asEuropean conflicts. Later Spanish explorers named the areaPunta Pinal (Spanish for "Point of Pines" or "Piney Point"). After trading handsmultiple times between theBritish and theSpanish, Spain finallyceded Florida to the United States in 1821, and in 1823 the U.S. Army establishedFort Brooke (laterTampa).
In 1834 much of west central Florida, including the Pinellas peninsula (then known simply asWest Hillsborough), was organized asHillsborough County.[9] The very next yearOdet Philippe, a French Huguenot from Charleston, South Carolina became the first permanent, non-native resident of the peninsula when he established a plantation near the site of the Tocobaga village in Safety Harbor. It was Philippe who first introduced bothcitrus culture andcigar-making to Florida.[10][11][12]
Around the same time, the United States Army began construction ofFort Harrison, named afterWilliam Henry Harrison, as a rest post for soldiers from nearby Fort Brooke during theSecond Seminole War. The new fort was located on a bluff overlookingClear Water Harbor, which later became part of an early 20th-century residential development (now historic district) calledHarbor Oaks. University of South Florida archaeologists excavated the site in 1977 after Alfred C. Wyllie discovered an underground ammunition bunker while digging a swimming pool on his estate. Clearwater would later become the first organized community on the peninsula as well as the site of its first post office.
TheArmed Occupation Act, passed in 1842, encouraged further settlement of Pinellas, like all of Florida, by offering 160 acres (0.65 km2) to anyone who would bear arms and cultivate the land. Pioneer families like the Booths, the Coachmans, the Marstons, and the McMullens established homesteads in the area in the years following, planting more citrus groves and raising cattle. During theAmerican Civil War, many residents fought for theConfederate States of America. Brothers James and Daniel McMullen[13] were members of the ConfederateCow Cavalry, driving Florida cattle to Georgia and the Carolinas to help sustain the war effort. John W. Marston served in the 9th Florida Regiment as a part of the Appomattox Campaign. Many other residents served in other capacities. Otherwise the peninsula had virtually no significance during the war, and the war largely passed the area by.[14]
On September 27, 1848, a strong hurricane struck the West Coast of Florida. It separated the barrier island on the coast and created a waterway known today as John's Pass. John Levique, along with Joseph Silva, was the one who discovered it and named it after himself and is now a federally owned canal.[citation needed]
Tarpon Springs became West Hillsborough's first incorporated city in 1887, and in 1888 theOrange Belt Railway was extended into the southern portion of the peninsula. Railroad ownerPeter Demens named the town that grew near the railroad's terminusSt. Petersburg in honor of hishometown. The town would incorporate in 1892. Other major towns in the county incorporated during this time were Clearwater (1891),Dunedin (1899), andLargo (1905).
Construction ofFort De Soto, on Mullet Key facing the mouth of Tampa Bay, was begun in 1898 during theSpanish–American War to protect Tampa Bay from potential invading forces. The fort, a subpost ofFort Dade on adjacentEgmont Key (which lies in the mouth of Tampa Bay), was equipped with artillery and mortar batteries.[15]
Even into the early years of the 20th century, West Hillsborough had no paved roads, and transportation posed a major challenge. A trip to the county seat, across the bay in Tampa, was generally an overnight affair and the automobiles that existed on the peninsula at that time would frequently become bogged down in the muck after rainstorms. Angry at what was perceived as neglect by the county government, residents of Pinellas began a push to secede from Hillsborough. They succeeded, and on January 1, 1912, Pinellas County came into being.[16][17] The peninsula, along with a smallpart of the mainland were incorporated into the new county.
Aviation history was made in St. Petersburg on January 1, 1914, whenTony Jannus made the world's first scheduled commercial airline flight with theSt. Petersburg–Tampa Airboat Line from St. Petersburg to Tampa. The popular open-air St. Petersburg concert venueJannus Live (formerly known as Jannus Landing) memorializes the flight.
The early 1920s saw the beginning of a land boom in much of Florida, including Pinellas. During this period municipalities issued a large number of bonds to keep pace with the needed infrastructure, such as roads and bridges. The travel time to Tampa was cut in half—from 43 to 19 miles (69 to 31 km)—by the opening of theGandy Bridge in 1924, along the same route Jannus' airline used. It was the longest automobile toll bridge in the world at the time.
Prohibition was unpopular in the area and the peninsula's inlets and islands were used byrum-runners bringing in liquor from Cuba. Others distilledmoonshine in the county's still plentiful woods.[18]
As was the case in much of Florida, theGreat Depression came early to Pinellas with the collapse of the real estate boom in 1926. Local economies came into severe difficulties, and by 1930, St. Petersburg defaulted on its bonds. Only after World War II would significant growth return to the area. During the war, the area's tourist industry collapsed, but thousands of recruits came to the area when the U.S. military decided to use the area for training. Area hotels became barracks. TheVinoy Park Hotel was used as an Army training school. The area's women and girls participated in the war effort as well. Hundreds of girls from the area's most prominent families formed a group called the Bomb-a-Dears, holding dances, socializing with recruits, and selling war bonds.[19] After the war many of these same soldiers remembered their wartime experience in Pinellas well, and returned as tourists or residents.
With the end of the Second World War, Pinellas would enter another period of rapid growth and development. In 1954 the original span of theSunshine Skyway Bridge was opened, replacing earlier ferry service. By 1957 Clearwater was America's fastest growing city.[20]
Tragedy struck on May 9, 1980, when the southbound span of the original Sunshine Skyway Bridge was struck by the freighterMVSummit Venture during a storm, sending over 1,200 feet (370 m) of the bridge plummeting into Tampa Bay. The collision caused seven personal vehicles and a Greyhound bus to fall 150 feet (46 m) into the water, killing 35 people.[21][22][23] The new bridge opened in 1987 and has since been listed as number 3 of the "Top 10 Bridges" in the World by theTravel Channel.[24]
The county operates a 21-acre (8.5 ha)living history museum called Heritage Village containing more than 28 historic structures, some dating back to the 19th century, where visitors can experience what life was once like in Pinellas.
Pinellas County celebrated 100 years of existence on January 1, 2012.
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 608 square miles (1,570 km2), of which 274 square miles (710 km2) is land and 334 square miles (870 km2) (55.0%) is water.[25] It is the second-smallest county in Florida by land area, larger than onlyUnion County. Pinellas forms apeninsula bounded on the west by theGulf of Mexico and on the south and east byTampa Bay. It is 38 miles (61 km) long and 15 miles (24 km) wide at its broadest point, with 587 miles (945 km) of coastline.[26]
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Elevation in the county ranges from meansea level to its highest natural point of 110 feet (34 m) near the intersection of SR 580 and Countryside Blvd. in Clearwater.[27] Due to its small size and high population, by the early 21st century Pinellas County has been mostlybuilt out, with very little developable land left available. The county has maintained a fairly large system of parks and preserves that provide residents and visitors retreat from the city and a glimpse of the peninsula's original state.
Geologically, Pinellas is underlain by a series oflimestone formations, theHawthorne limestone and theTampa limestone. The limestone is porous and stores a large quantity of water. The Hawthorne formation forms a prominent ridge down the spine of the county, from east of Dunedin, south to the Walsingham area and east towards St. Petersburg.[28]
The 35 miles of beaches and dunes which make up the county's 11barrier islands provide habitat for coastal species, serve as critical storm protection for the inland communities, and form the basis of the area's thriving tourism industry. The islands are dynamic, with wave action building some islands further up, eroding others, and forming entirely new islands over time. Though hurricanes are infrequent on this part of Florida's coast, they have had a major impact on the islands, with theHurricane of 1848 forming John's Pass between Madeira Beach and Treasure Island, ahurricane in 1921 creating Hurricane Pass and cleaving Hog Island into Honeymoon and Caladesi Islands, and 1985'sHurricane Elena sealing Dunedin Pass to join Caladesi withClearwater Beach.[29]
Between the barrier islands and the peninsula are several bodies of water, through which traverses a section of the GulfIntracoastal Waterway. From north to south they are:St. Joseph Sound between the islands and Dunedin, Clearwater Harbor between Clearwater and Clearwater Beach, and Boca Ciega Bay in the southern third of the county. Connecting Clearwater Harbor to Boca Ciega Bay is a thin, approximately 3.5-mile (5.6 km) stretch of water known as The Narrows, which runs next to the town of Indian Shores.
Extending from northeasternBoca Ciega Bay, Long Bayou separates Seminole from St. Petersburg near Bay Pines. Long Bayou once extended significantly farther up the peninsula until the northern portion was sealed off to createLake Seminole. Extending further still from Long Bayou, the Cross Bayou Canal traverses the peninsula, crossing Pinellas Park in a northeasterly direction before emptying into Tampa Bay on the northwest side ofSt. Pete–Clearwater International Airport.
Source:[30]
Boyd Hill Nature Preserve: A 245-acre (99 ha) park on the shores of Lake Maggiore in south St. Petersburg, operated by the city and featuring a nature center, bird-of-prey aviary, and over three miles of trails through a variety of ecosystems.[31]
Hillsborough County extends along the shipping channel towardsEgmont Key and into the Gulf of Mexico, separating Pinellas County from Manatee County.
Several natural communities exist within the county, including areas of freshwater wetlands (dominated bybald cypresses and ferns), coastalmangrove swamps, sporadichardwood hammocks (dominated bylaurel oaks andlive oaks,cabbage palms, andsouthern magnolias), low-lying, poorly drained pineflatwoods (dominated bylongleaf pines andsaw palmettos), and well-drained, upland sandhills (dominated by longleaf pines andturkey oaks) and sand pine scrub (dominated bysand pines, saw palmettos, and various oaks). Offshore ecosystems include the Tampa Bayestuary and numerous gulfseagrass beds. The county also maintains severalartificial reefs.
Numerous bird species can be sighted in Pinellas, either as permanent residents or during the winter migration, including wading birds likegreat blue herons,egrets,white ibises androseate spoonbills, aquatic birds likebrown pelicans,white pelicans, andcormorants, numerous species ofshorebirds, and very-common birds likeseagulls andpasserines like theblue jay,mockingbird, andcrow.Ospreys are a commonly seenbird-of-prey, with other birds of prey liketurkey vultures,red tailed hawks,great horned owls,screech owls,barn owls, andbald eagles, among others, seen as well.
Gopher tortoises are found in many areas, the burrows they dig making them akeystone species.Coyotes, though often associated with the American West, are native-to and can be found in Pinellas.White-tailed deer,wild turkeys,bobcats,otters, andalligators can be found in the county as well.
Sea turtles nest on the shores or Pinellas' barrier islands and have been threatened by development. Offshore,dolphins,sharks, andmanatees are numerous as well, while closer inshorestingrays are a common sight, leading those in-the-know to do the "stingray shuffle" (shuffling up the sand to scare nearby stingrays off) when entering gulf waters. Species of fish commonly caught in the waters surrounding the county includespotted seatrout,red drum or redfish,snook,pompano,sheepshead,Spanish mackerel,grouper,mullet,flounder,kingfish, andtarpon.
Like much of Florida, Pinellas County is home to several invasive species that propagate easily outside their (and their natural predators') native range. Examples of commonly seen invasives includeBrazilian pepper,water hyacinth,Australian pine,melaleuca andair potato. These species are considered serious pests, and varying methods have been tried to eradicate them. Examples of invasive animals include thewild boar, which poses significant health and agricultural problems in Florida and can sometimes be found in Pinellas, and themonk parakeet, small flocks of which can sometimes be seen in flight or building nests on electrical poles or telecommunications towers.[32] There is also a large flock of feralpeacocks residing in St. Petersburg's Jungle Terrace, Jungle Prada and Disston Heights neighborhoods.[33]
Pinellas gained some national attention as the home of theMystery Monkey of Tampa Bay, a non-native, feralrhesus macaque that had been on the loose for approximately three years in the south of the county. No one was sure where the monkey came from, and aFacebook page set up for the monkey had over 84,000likes (as of October 2012). The monkey was the subject of a sketch on the March 11, 2010, episode ofthe Colbert Report. As of February 2012, the monkey had apparently taken up semi-permanent residence behind a family's home at an undisclosed location in St. Petersburg, according to theTampa Bay Times.[34] Efforts to capture the monkey were reignited after it reportedly bit a woman living near where it had taken up residence, and the monkey was captured in late October 2012 and eventually was sent to live at Dade City's Wild Things, a 22-acre (8.9 ha) zoo north of Tampa.
Pinellas, like the rest of the Tampa Bay area, has ahumid subtropical climate, resulting in warm, humid summers with frequent thunderstorms, and drier winters. Pinellas County's geographic position- lying on a peninsula betweenTampa Bay and theGulf of Mexico introduces large amounts of humidity into the atmosphere and serves to moderate temperatures. The geography of the peninsula also causes some variance in the county's average temperatures. St. Petersburg, further south on the peninsula, tends to have warmer daily average lows (by about 3 degrees) than areas such as Dunedin and Palm Harbor further north, though daily highs are very close. The north of the county also has fewer overall days of rain, but higher total annual precipitation when measured in inches, the county's south being prone to shorter, more frequent thunderstorms especially in the late summer.
Freezing temperatures occur only every 2–3 years, with freezing precipitation occurringextremely rarely. Springs are usually short, mild, and dry, with occasional late-season cold fronts. Summertime weather is very consistent, with highs in the low 90s °F (around 32 °C), lows in the mid-70s °F (around 24 °C), accompanied by high humidity and an almost daily chance of afternoon thundershowers. The area experiences significant rainfall during its summer months (approximately May through October), with nearly two-thirds of annual precipitation falling between the months of June and September. The area is occasionally affected by tropical storms and hurricanes, but has not suffered a direct hitsince 1921. Fall, like spring, is usually mild and dry, with the hurricane season extending through November and sometimes affecting the area.
Many portions of south Pinellas, especially near the bay and gulf, have tropical microclimates. Tropical trees such as coconut palms and royal palms and fruit trees like mangoes grow very well in these microclimates.
| Climate data for St. Petersburg, Florida | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 69.3 (20.7) | 70.7 (21.5) | 75.2 (24.0) | 80 (27) | 85.8 (29.9) | 89.2 (31.8) | 90.2 (32.3) | 89.9 (32.2) | 88.2 (31.2) | 83 (28) | 76.6 (24.8) | 71.1 (21.7) | 80.8 (27.1) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 54 (12) | 55.2 (12.9) | 59.7 (15.4) | 64.6 (18.1) | 70.8 (21.6) | 75.2 (24.0) | 76.6 (24.8) | 76.8 (24.9) | 75.8 (24.3) | 70 (21) | 62.9 (17.2) | 56.3 (13.5) | 66.5 (19.2) |
| Average rainfall inches (mm) | 2.76 (70) | 2.87 (73) | 3.29 (84) | 1.92 (49) | 2.80 (71) | 6.09 (155) | 6.72 (171) | 8.26 (210) | 7.59 (193) | 2.64 (67) | 2.04 (52) | 2.60 (66) | 49.58 (1,259) |
| Average rainy days | 6.3 | 6.1 | 6.1 | 4.2 | 5 | 10.3 | 13.5 | 14.2 | 12 | 5.9 | 5 | 5.5 | 94.1 |
| Source: NOAA[35] | |||||||||||||
| Climate data for Dunedin, Florida | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 69 (21) | 72 (22) | 75 (24) | 80 (27) | 85 (29) | 89 (32) | 90 (32) | 90 (32) | 88 (31) | 83 (28) | 77 (25) | 71 (22) | 80.75 (27.08) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 50 (10) | 53 (12) | 57 (14) | 62 (17) | 68 (20) | 73 (23) | 75 (24) | 75 (24) | 72 (22) | 66 (19) | 59 (15) | 53 (12) | 63.58 (17.54) |
| Average rainfall inches (mm) | 2.99 (76) | 3.05 (77) | 3.81 (97) | 2.37 (60) | 2.02 (51) | 6.69 (170) | 8.09 (205) | 8.32 (211) | 6.99 (178) | 3.31 (84) | 2.15 (55) | 2.95 (75) | 52.74 (1,340) |
| Average rainy days | 4.3 | 3.9 | 4.5 | 3.4 | 3.6 | 9.6 | 11 | 11.6 | 8.3 | 4.1 | 3.2 | 3.6 | 71.1 |
| Source: Weather Channel[36] | |||||||||||||
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1920 | 28,265 | — | |
| 1930 | 62,149 | 119.9% | |
| 1940 | 91,852 | 47.8% | |
| 1950 | 159,249 | 73.4% | |
| 1960 | 374,665 | 135.3% | |
| 1970 | 522,329 | 39.4% | |
| 1980 | 728,531 | 39.5% | |
| 1990 | 851,659 | 16.9% | |
| 2000 | 921,482 | 8.2% | |
| 2010 | 916,542 | −0.5% | |
| 2020 | 959,107 | 4.6% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 961,596 | [37] | 0.3% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[38] 1790–1960[39] 1900–1990[40] 1990–2000[41] 2010–2021[42] 2022[43] | |||
The following is a list of all cities, towns, andcensus-designated places in Pinellas County, Florida.
Source: 2010 Florida Census of Population and Housing[44]
| Name | Type | 2010 census |
|---|---|---|
| St. Petersburg | City | 244,769 |
| Clearwater | City | 107,685 |
| Largo | City | 77,648 |
| Palm Harbor | CDP | 57,439 |
| Pinellas Park | City | 49,079 |
| Dunedin | City | 35,962 |
| East Lake | CDP | 30,962 |
| Tarpon Springs | City | 23,484 |
| Lealman | CDP | 19,879 |
| Seminole | City | 17,233 |
| Safety Harbor | City | 16,884 |
| West Lealman | CDP | 15,651 |
| Oldsmar | City | 13,591 |
| Gulfport | City | 12,029 |
| Bardmoor | CDP | 9,732 |
| St. Pete Beach | City | 9,346 |
| Treasure Island | City | 6,705 |
| South Highpoint | CDP | 5,195 |
| Kenneth City | Town | 4,980 |
| South Pasadena | City | 4,964 |
| Madeira Beach | City | 4,263 |
| Indian Rocks Beach | City | 4,113 |
| Belleair | Town | 3,869 |
| Tierra Verde | CDP | 3,721 |
| Feather Sound | CDP | 3,420 |
| Bay Pines | CDP | 2,931 |
| Harbor Bluffs | CDP | 2,860 |
| Ridgecrest | CDP | 2,558 |
| Greenbriar | CDP | 2,502 |
| Redington Shores | Town | 2,121 |
| Belleair Bluffs | City | 2,031 |
| Bear Creek | CDP | 1,948 |
| Belleair Beach | City | 1,560 |
| Redington Beach | Town | 1,427 |
| Indian Shores | Town | 1,420 |
| North Redington Beach | Town | 1,417 |
| Belleair Shore | Town | 109 |
| Race | Pop 2010[47] | Pop 2020[48] | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White (NH) | 704,786 | 684,463 | 76.9% | 71.36% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 91,922 | 91,431 | 10.03% | 9.53% |
| Native American orAlaska Native (NH) | 2,066 | 1,942 | 0.23% | 0.2% |
| Asian (NH) | 26,749 | 33,700 | 2.92% | 3.51% |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 724 | 797 | 0.08% | 0.08% |
| Some Other Race (NH) | 1,802 | 4,835 | 0.2% | 0.5% |
| Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) | 15,252 | 39,500 | 1.66% | 4.12% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 73,241 | 102,439 | 7.99% | 10.68% |
| Total | 916,542 | 959,107 |
As of the2020 United States census, there were 959,107 people, 413,239 households, and 232,884 families residing in the county.
U.S. Census Bureau 2010 Ethnic/Race Demographics:[49][50]
In 2010, 6.5% of the population considered themselves to be of onlyAmerican ancestry (regardless of race or ethnicity.)[49]
There were 415,876 households, out of which 19.89% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.33% weremarried couples living together, 11.86% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.67% were non-families. 35.42% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.14% (4.53% male and 10.61% female) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.16 and the average family size was 2.79.[50][53]
The age distribution is 17.8% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 23.0% from 25 to 44, 30.8% from 45 to 64, and 21.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46.3 years. For every 100 females there were 92.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.8 males.[53]
The median income for a household in the county was $45,258, and the median income for a family was $58,335. Males had a median income of $41,537 versus $35,003 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $28,742. About 8.1% of families and 12.1% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 17.7% of those under age 18 and 9.0% of those aged 65 or over.[54]
In 2010, 11.2% of the county's population wasforeign born, with 50.3% beingnaturalized American citizens. Of foreign-born residents, 33.6% were born inEurope, 32.1% were born inLatin America, 20.9% born inAsia, 9.8% inNorth America, 3.0% born inAfrica, and 0.6% were born inOceania.[49]
As of 2000, there were 921,482 people, 414,968 households, and 243,171 families residing in the county. Thepopulation density was 1,271/km2 (3,292/sq mi), making it the most densely populated county in Florida. There were 481,573 housing units at an average density of 1,720 per square mile (660/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 85.85%White (82.8% wereNon-Hispanic White,)[55] 8.96%Black orAfrican American, 0.30%Native American, 2.06%Asian, 0.05%Pacific Islander, 1.14% fromother races, and 1.64% from two or more races. 4.64% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race.
There were 414,968 households, out of which 22.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.80% weremarried couples living together, 10.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.40% were non-families. 34.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.17 and the average family size was 2.77.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 19.30% under the age of 18, 6.40% from 18 to 24, 27.30% from 25 to 44, 24.50% from 45 to 64, and 22.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 91.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.80 males.
In 2000, 87.8% of persons age 25 or above were high school graduates, slightly above Florida's average of 84.9% for Florida. 26.7% of persons age 25 or above held a bachelor's degree or higher, also slightly higher than Florida's rate of 25.6%.[56]
The median income for a household in the county was $37,111, and the median income for a family was $46,925. Males had a median income of $32,264 versus $26,281 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $23,497. About 6.70% of families and 10.00% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 13.90% of those under age 18 and 8.20% of those age 65 or over.
In 2000, as Florida's 6th and the nation's 53rdmost populous county, Pinellas has a population greater than that of the individual states ofWyoming,Montana,Delaware,South Dakota,Alaska,North Dakota, andVermont, as well as theDistrict of Columbia. With apopulation density (as of the2000 census) of 3292 inhabitants/mi2, Pinellas County is by far the most densely populated county in the state, more than double that ofBroward County, the next most densely populated.[57]
As of 2010, 87.17% of all residents spokeEnglish as theirfirst language, while 5.56% spokeSpanish, 0.78%Vietnamese, 0.70%French, 0.65%Greek, 0.56%German, and 0.52% of the population spokeSerbo-Croatian as theirmother language.[58] In total, 12.83% of the population spoke languages other than English as theirprimary language.[58]
TheBoard of County Commissioners governs all unincorporated areas of the county under thestate's constitution, with the power to adopt ordinances, approve the county budget, set millages, and provide services. The county'smunicipalities, while governing their own affairs, may call upon the county for specialized services.[59] Thecounty administrator, appointed by and reporting to the Board, oversees most of the day-to-day operations of the county.[60]
As of 2025, The members of the Board are as follows:[61]
The county's government website won a "Sunny Award" fromSunshine Review in 2010 for its proactive disclosure of government data.[62]
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1912 | 87 | 6.14% | 853 | 60.16% | 478 | 33.71% |
| 1916 | 555 | 22.86% | 1,503 | 61.90% | 370 | 15.24% |
| 1920 | 2,529 | 43.46% | 2,848 | 48.94% | 442 | 7.60% |
| 1924 | 2,872 | 47.53% | 2,633 | 43.57% | 538 | 8.90% |
| 1928 | 10,545 | 74.52% | 3,439 | 24.30% | 167 | 1.18% |
| 1932 | 7,024 | 42.07% | 9,670 | 57.93% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1936 | 8,183 | 40.40% | 12,072 | 59.60% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1940 | 13,327 | 41.30% | 18,941 | 58.70% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1944 | 14,340 | 42.28% | 19,574 | 57.72% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1948 | 24,900 | 55.92% | 15,724 | 35.32% | 3,900 | 8.76% |
| 1952 | 55,691 | 71.35% | 22,365 | 28.65% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 74,314 | 72.55% | 28,113 | 27.45% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 101,779 | 63.68% | 58,054 | 36.32% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1964 | 80,414 | 44.98% | 98,381 | 55.02% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1968 | 109,235 | 51.71% | 68,209 | 32.29% | 33,814 | 16.01% |
| 1972 | 179,541 | 69.83% | 77,197 | 30.02% | 378 | 0.15% |
| 1976 | 150,003 | 50.75% | 141,879 | 48.00% | 3,687 | 1.25% |
| 1980 | 185,728 | 53.83% | 138,428 | 40.12% | 20,847 | 6.04% |
| 1984 | 240,612 | 65.16% | 128,574 | 34.82% | 63 | 0.02% |
| 1988 | 211,049 | 57.76% | 152,420 | 41.72% | 1,901 | 0.52% |
| 1992 | 159,121 | 37.63% | 160,528 | 37.96% | 103,202 | 24.41% |
| 1996 | 152,155 | 40.44% | 184,748 | 49.10% | 39,369 | 10.46% |
| 2000 | 184,849 | 46.38% | 200,657 | 50.35% | 13,020 | 3.27% |
| 2004 | 225,686 | 49.56% | 225,460 | 49.51% | 4,211 | 0.92% |
| 2008 | 210,066 | 45.16% | 248,299 | 53.38% | 6,787 | 1.46% |
| 2012 | 213,258 | 46.45% | 239,104 | 52.08% | 6,750 | 1.47% |
| 2016 | 239,201 | 48.08% | 233,701 | 46.98% | 24,583 | 4.94% |
| 2020 | 276,209 | 49.22% | 277,450 | 49.44% | 7,502 | 1.34% |
| 2024 | 269,472 | 51.89% | 242,452 | 46.68% | 7,416 | 1.43% |
In national politics, Pinellas County, was one of the first areas of Florida to break from theSolid South and electRepublicans to public office. Riding on the coattails ofHerbert Hoover's victory in the1928 election,Albert R. Welsh was elected to theFlorida Senate andKenneth W. Kerr to theFlorida House of Representatives.[64][65] In that same election, Gladstone R. Beattie, became the Pinellas County Sheriff and first Republican sheriff in Florida since Reconstruction, and Harry R. Hewitt became the Pinellas County Judge and the first Republican county judge in Florida.[66] In 1951, Pinellas was the first county to send a majority-Republican delegation to theFlorida House of Representatives in the twentieth-century.[65]
From 1948 to 1988, it went Republican in every presidential election exceptLyndon Johnson's 44-state landslide of 1964. However, for the last quarter-century, as part of theI-4 Corridor stretching from Tampa Bay toOrlando, Florida, it has been a powerful swing county in one of the nation's most criticalswing states. Voter registration is almost tied, with Republicans having a small plurality of registered voters. It is closely divided between predominantlyliberal St. Petersburg and its predominantly suburban andconservative north and beaches. Due in part to the more populated southern portion around St. Petersburg, it has supported a Democrat for president in all but three elections since 1992. The brand of Republicanism in Pinellas County has traditionally been a moderate one, so the county has become friendlier to Democrats as a result of the national GOP having shifted right.[67]
In 2000,Al Gore became the first Democrat to win a majority of the county's vote since 1964, and only the second sinceFranklin D. Roosevelt. In 2004, Pinellas County swung the other way when George W. Bush carried the county by a narrowplurality of 49.56% (225,686 votes), withJohn Kerry following closely behind with 49.51% (225,460 votes)—a margin of just 226 votes. In the2012 Presidential Election,Barack Obama won Pinellas with 52% of the vote (239,104 votes) toMitt Romney's 46.5% (213,258 votes), slightly narrower than Obama's2008 election results in Pinellas of 53% (248,299 votes) toJohn McCain's 45% (210,066 votes).[68] Republican victories in the county sinceBush in 1988 have been narrow pluralities. The exception to this is Donald Trump in 2024, who won the county with nearly 52% of the vote.
The county is considered abellwether politically.[69]
In the2012 U.S. Senate election, Pinellas voters helped re-electU.S. SenatorBill Nelson over challengerConnie Mack IV with 59% of the vote, greater than his statewide average of 55%. In the2010 U.S. Senate election, Pinellas was one of only four Florida counties won by outgoing Republican GovernorCharlie Crist, a St. Petersburg native, who won 42% of Pinellas voters running as anIndependent in a three-way race with Republican nominee (and eventual winner)Marco Rubio and former Democratic U.S. RepresentativeKendrick Meek, who won 37% and 16.8% of the Pinellas vote, respectively. Statewide, Rubio won almost 49% of the vote to Crist's 29.7% and Meek's 20%[70] in a highly polarized election that would witness Crist depart from the Republican Party and eventually become a Democrat.[71]
In theHouse of Representatives, most of Pinellas is represented byRepublicanAnna Paulina Luna of the13th district. Most of the city of St. Petersburg, including the most Democratic parts of Pinellas, is represented byDemocratKathy Castor of the14th district, which spans the Tampa Bay. The way this map has been drawn has been considered an example of a pro-Republicangerrymander, given the previous Democratic lean of the 13th.[72]
Instate politics, portions of Pinellas are represented in theFlorida Senate byDemocratic State SenatorDarryl Rouson (District 16) andRepublican State SenatorsNick DiCeglie (District 18) andEd Hooper (District 21). In theFlorida House parts of the county are represented by Republicans Adam Anderson (District 57-Palm Harbor,Tarpon Springs),Kimberly Berfield (District 58-Clearwater),Berny Jacques (District 59-Largo), andLinda Chaney (District 59), as well as DemocratLindsay Cross (District 60- Pinellas Park). Portions of St. Pete are also included in District 62, represented byMichele Rayner-Goolsby.
Voter registration data is as of April 2025.
| Party | Number of Voters | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | 236,269 | 36.61% | |
| Democratic | 203,666 | 31.56% | |
| Other | 181,999 | 28.2% | |
| Total | 645,309 | 100% | |
| Source:[73] | |||
The entire county is served by thePinellas County School District.[74] The current superintendent is Kevin Hendrick. The district, the nation's 24th largest, comprises 143 schools, including 72 elementary schools, 18 middle schools, two K–8 schools, 17 high schools, and 35 additional facilities including ESE, adult ed, career/technical, andcharters. The district also operates the K–12 Pinellas Virtual School (PVS). Among the many notablemagnet programs in the district are threeInternational Baccalaureate (IB) programs, atSt. Petersburg High School,Palm Harbor University High School, andLargo High School,Project Lead the Way's (PLTW) engineering program atEast Lake High School, theCenter for Advanced Technologies (CAT) atLakewood High School, thePinellas County Center for the Arts (PCCA) atGibbs High School, four middle school Centers forGifted Studies, at Thurgood Marshall Fundamental, Morgan Fitzgerald, John Hopkins and Dunedin Highland Middle Schools, and Florida's only Fundamental High School, atOsceola High School.
The county is also home to many private schools, includingAdmiral Farragut Academy,Canterbury School,Calvary Christian,Clearwater Central Catholic,Keswick Christian School,Shorecrest Preparatory School, Indian Rocks Christian School[75] andSt. Petersburg Catholic High School, among others.
Pinellas County is home several institutions of higher learning, includingEckerd College, theUniversity of South Florida St. Petersburg,Nova Southeastern University, the multi-campusSt. Petersburg College, theStetson University College of Law in Gulfport, and the main campus ofSchiller International University inLargo,[76] after previously being located inDunedin.[77]
The Pinellas Public Library Cooperative (PPLC) has 14 member libraries:[78][79]
The Pinellas Public Library Cooperative was established by referendum in March 1989 to serve the unincorporated areas of Pinellas County. The original Interlocal Agreement, which described the legal basis, leadership and operations of the Cooperative, was signed by sixteen cities, the taxing district of Palm Harbor, and the County in 1989. In 1994, the City of Clearwater applied for and became a member of the Cooperative, which made all existing public libraries in the county members of the first countywide public library cooperative in Florida.[80] The Pinellas Talking Book Library is administered through the Pinellas Public Library Cooperative. It serves county residents who are unable to read standard print material due to visual, physical or learning disabilities whether permanent or temporary. It provides free access to recorded, Braille, and Large print materials as well as a collection of descriptive videos. These materials are sent to members through postage free mail.[81]
Part of the Pinellas Public Library Cooperative's efforts to reach out to underserved communities, is coordinating with the Juvenile Wellness Board, which hosts a Summer Book Bus Program.[82] Under this program, mobile book buses go to each of the PPLC libraries and other community locations, giving away free books during the summers to encourage reading proficiency among children from beginner to the third grade.[83] Each summer on average more than 12,000 books are given away to children in Pinellas County through this program.[84]
 | This section needs to beupdated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(March 2017) |
Agriculture was the single most important industry in Pinellas until the early 20th century, with much of the best land devoted to citrus production. Cattle ranching was another major industry. In 1885 the American Medical Society declared the Pinellas peninsula the "healthiest spot on earth",[85] which helped spur the growth of the tourist industry.
Anchored by the urban markets of Clearwater and St. Petersburg, Pinellas has the second largest base of manufacturing employment in Florida.
Pinellas has diverse, yet symbiotic, industry clusters, including aviation/aerospace, defense/national security, medical technologies, business and financial services, and information technology.
Fortune 500 technology manufacturersJabil Circuit andTech Data and a Fortune 500 financial companyRaymond James Financial are headquartered in theGateway area in and adjacent to Pinellas. Other large companies includeHSN,Nielsen, andValpak.
Service industries such as healthcare, business services and education account for more than 200,000 jobs in the county, generating almost $19 billion in revenue. Other major sectors include retail, with close to 100,000 employees in jobs such as food service, bars, and retail sales generating $12 billion for the local economy in 2010, and industries related to finance, insurance and real estate with approximately 44,000 workers generating $8.5 billion in sales.
TheFlorida Orchestra splits its performances between Ruth Eckerd Hall, the Mahaffey Theater, and theStraz Center for the Performing Arts in Tampa. Clearwater Jazz Holiday held every October in Coachman Park in downtown Clearwater; in its 32nd year.
Long established communities, particularlyOld Northeast in St. Petersburg,Pass-a-Grille in St. Pete Beach,Harbor Oaks in Clearwater, andold Tarpon Springs contain notable historic architecture.
The area has embraced farmer's markets, with St. Petersburg's Saturday Morning Market drawing large crowds, and other markets located weekly in several other parts of the county also seeing a growth in popularity.
Downtowns in St. Petersburg and Dunedin, and many of the beaches, especially Clearwater Beach, all attract a vibrant nightlife.
In addition to theabove-mentioned Heritage Village in Largo, a number of small local history museums operate within the county: theSt. Petersburg Museum of History on the downtown St. Petersburg waterfront, theGulf Beaches Historical Museum in Pass-a-Grille, theDunedin History Museum in Dunedin, thePalm Harbor Museum in Palm Harbor, and theHistoric Depot Museum in Tarpon Springs all provide visitors a glimpse of the area's history.
Twobotanical gardens are located within the county: theFlorida Botanical Gardens, a part of the Pinewood Cultural Park in Largo, andSunken Gardens, a former tourist attraction located in and now run by the City of St. Petersburg.
Indian Shores is home to theSuncoast Seabird Sanctuary, currently the largest non-profit wild bird hospital in the United States and considered one of the top avian rehabilitation centers in the world. A variety of species can be found at the sanctuary, which is open 365 days a year and is free to the public.
On Clearwater Beach is theClearwater Marine Aquarium, a non-profit dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and release of injured marine animals and public education. CMA's best-known permanent resident, is Winter, a bottlenose dolphin who was rescued in December 2005 after having her tail caught in a crab trap. Her injuries caused the loss of her tail; CMA successfully fitted Winter with a prosthetic tail which brought worldwide attention to the facility. Winter was the subject of the 2011 filmDolphin Tale, shot partially on location at CMA.
On the south end ofAnclote Key, off of Tarpon Springs, is theAnclote Key Light, a lighthouse built in 1887. The light is Pinellas County's only functioning lighthouse, andone of only two in the Tampa Bay area. The light was deactivated in 1984, but by 2003 had been restored and as of 2013 continues to be in use. The island formsAnclote Key Preserve State Park and is accessible only by private boat.
Dunedin is home to theDunedin Brewery, Florida's oldestmicrobrewery.
The Tampa Bay area is home to three major professional sports teams and a number of minor-league and college teams. Regardless of the specific city where they play their games, all of the professional teams claim "Tampa Bay" in their name to signify that they represent the entire area.
Professionally,baseball'sTampa Bay Rays play atTropicana Field in St. Petersburg, whilefootball'sTampa Bay Buccaneers andhockey'sTampa Bay Lightning both play in nearbyTampa.
Two MLB teams come to Pinellas forspring training: thePhiladelphia Phillies play atBayCare Ballpark inClearwater while theToronto Blue Jays play atTD Ballpark inDunedin. Additionally,Minor League Baseball affiliates of those teams play at their spring training ballparks; theClearwater Threshers play at BayCare Ballpark and theDunedin Blue Jays play at TD Ballpark.
TheTampa Bay Rowdies of theUSL Championship play atAl Lang Stadium in St. Petersburg
TheHonda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg is held every spring on the downtown St. Petersburg waterfront.
The PGA Tour plays its Valspar Championship annually in March on the Copperhead Course at the Innisbrook Golf Resort in Palm Harbor.
Other popular fishing locations include Pier 60 on Clearwater Beach and the Gulf and Bay Piers at Fort De Soto Park, as well as countless spots along the bridges and passes of the area, among many others.
Pinellas County's coastal geography, with a long system ofbarrier islands on the Gulf and small-to-largemangrove islands dotting the waters on all sides, provides for an extensive series ofblueways that are enjoyed by kayakers of all ability levels.[90] The county also maintains a series ofartificial reefs in the Gulf which are popular spots for fishing andscuba diving[91]
The county's two largest freshwater lakes,Lake Tarpon (accessible through Chestnut and Anderson parks) andLake Seminole (accessible through Lake Seminole Park), are popular for water skiing, jet-skiing, and sailing, as well as for fishing and kayaking.
Both the North Beach ofFort De Soto Park (2005) andCaladesi Island (2008) have been named byDr. Beach as America's Top Beach.[92]
Pinellas County, as a part of the Tampa Bay area (the nation's 14th largest television market[93]), is served by fourteen localbroadcast television stations, as well as a variety ofcable-only local stations. More than 70FM andAM stations compete for listenership in what is the nation's 19th largest radio market.[94]
Major daily newspapers serving Pinellas are theTampa Bay Times, known as theSt. Petersburg Times from 1884 to 2011 and first in circulation and readership, andThe Tampa Tribune. TheTimes also distributes a free daily (Monday-Friday) tabloid calledtbt* in the most heavily populated areas of the county.Creative Loafing Tampa is the mainalternative weekly.
I-175 / SR 594
I-275 /SR 93
I-375 /SR 592
US 19
US 19 Alt. /SR 595
US 92
SR 60
SR 580
SR 586
SR 590
SR 679
SR 682
SR 686
SR 687
SR 688
SR 689
SR 693
SR 694
SR 699
| This section needs to beupdated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(February 2024) |
TheCSX railroad company operates theClearwater Subdivision in Pinellas County, made up of segments of branch lines of the formerAtlantic Coast Line Railroad and theSeaboard Air Line Railroad. Beginning in Tampa, the line has daily freight rail traffic through Oldsmar, Safety Harbor, Clearwater, Largo, Pinellas Park, and into St. Petersburg. Regularly scheduled passenger rail services in Pinellas County ended on February 1, 1984, whenAmtrak discontinued its rail operations in the county, and the last passenger rail service in the county of any kind, a series of special excursion runs betweenTarpon Springs andDunedin, occurred on March 8, 1987.[95] CSX owned the last remaining trackage in downtown St. Petersburg until March 2008 when it, along with the remaining trackage south of Central Avenue and east of34th Street South, began to be dismantled.[96] That right-of-way, as well as the right-of-way of several other former CSX railroad lines in the county beginning in the 1990s, was converted into a section of thePinellas Trail.
As of 2012, proposals were being developed[97] by community leaders for a light rail system which would connect the regional core cities of Clearwater, St. Petersburg, and Tampa. The proposal, which has won the backing of the Clearwater and St. Petersburg City Councils[98] would rely on a 1% sales tax and would have to go before voters for approval.
ThePinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) operates 205 buses and trolleys servicing 37 routes across the county, with major stops at all commercial centers. Along the Gulf Beaches, PTSA operates the Suncoast Beach Trolley. PTSA also offers two express routes to downtown Tampa via the Howard Frankland and Gandy Bridges, connecting with Tampa'sHartLine, and connects with Pasco'sPCPT in Tarpon Springs to continue service in that county. The system's two main bus terminals are located in downtown Clearwater and downtown St. Petersburg. During fiscal year 2005–06, PSTA transported 11,400,484 passengers.[99] Additionally, the city of St. Pete operates a rapid bus service, theSunRunner, from downtown St. Pete toSt. Pete Beach.[100]
Source:[101]
| Pinellas County Sheriff's Office | |
|---|---|
 Patch of the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office | |
| Abbreviation | PCSO |
| Agency overview | |
| Formed | 1912; 113 years ago (1912) |
| Jurisdictional structure | |
| General nature | |
| Operational structure | |
| Headquarters | Largo, Florida |
| Agency executive |
|
| Website | |
| Pinellas County Sheriff's Office | |
ThePinellas County Sheriff's Office (PCSO) was founded in 1912 at the founding of the county. The Sheriff's Office absorbed the County Patrol in 1960.[citation needed] As of 2022[update] the sheriff isBob Gualtieri.[103]
The office provides law enforcement services to unincorporated areas of the county and these municipalities contract with the sheriff's office to be their primary law enforcement provider:
Many cities in the county have their own city police departments:[104]
There are several hospitals in Pinellas and the surrounding counties.
Movies filmed or set in Pinellas County include:
Pinellas County is 38 miles long, and 15 miles at it's [sic] broadest point, for a total of 280 square miles. 587 miles of coastline.
Places adjacent to Pinellas County, Florida | ||||||||||||||||
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Municipalities and communities ofPinellas County, Florida,United States | ||
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| Cities |  | |
| Towns | ||
| CDPs | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| International | |
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| National | |
| Geographic | |
| Other | |
