The city is located on a peninsula jutting intoBoca Ciega Bay, bordered byBear Creek to the east andSt. Petersburg's Pasadena neighborhood to the north. The city also includes several islands; these include Pasadena Isle, Deadman's Key, Sun Island, and Cat Island. All are inhabited except for Cat Island.
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.1 square miles (3.0 km2), of which 0.7 square mile (1.8 km2) is land and 0.5 square mile (1.2 km2) (40.87%) is water.
As of thecensus of 2000, there were 5,778 people, 3,660 households, and 1,423 families residing in the city. Thepopulation density was 3,280.7 people/km2 (8,497 people/sq mi). There were 4,555 housing units at an average density of 2,586.3 units/km2 (6,698 units/sq mi). The racial makeup of the city was 98.37%White, 0.21%African American, 0.03%Native American, 0.73%Asian, 0.02%Pacific Islander, 0.21% fromother races, and 0.43% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 1.54% of the population.
In 2000, there were 3,660 households out of which 2.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 34.2% weremarried couples living together, 3.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 61.1% were non-families. 56.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 42.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.50 and the average family size was 2.16.
In 2000, in the city the population was spread out with 2.9% under the age of 18, 1.5% from 18 to 24, 9.7% from 25 to 44, 22.8% from 45 to 64, and 63.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 71 years. For every 100 females there were 63.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 62.6 males.
In 2000, the median income for a household in the city was $28,160, and the median income for a family was $39,646. Males had a median income of $27,092 versus $26,125 for females. Theper capita income for the city was $26,420. About 6.4% of families and 8.6% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 14.5% of those under age 18 and 7.1% of those age 65 or over.
The city was incorporated on July 1, 1955.[1] The South Pasadena City Commission is the elected legislative body of the city government. Legislative authority is divided among five commissioners, and one is appointed mayor every four years.
As of 2023, the current mayor is Arthur Penny, serving from 2022 to 2026, and the other city commissioners are Thomas Reid, Gail Neidinger, Ben Thomas, and Lynda Thompson.[12]
Public education is provided byPinellas County Schools. No schools are located within South Pasadena's city limits, but nearby schools include Gulf Beaches Elementary Magnet School, St. John Vianney Catholic School (private), Pasadena Fundamental Elementary, Thurgood Marshall Middle School, andBoca Ciega High School. Additionally, a private K-12 boarding school, Admiral Farragut, operates nearby.