New Port Richey, Florida | |
|---|---|
| City of New Port Richey | |
 Photo of Main Street & US-19 showcasing the Historic Downtown New Port Richey sign. | |
 Location inPasco County and the state ofFlorida | |
| Coordinates:28°14′56″N82°43′4″W / 28.24889°N 82.71778°W /28.24889; -82.71778 | |
| Country |  United States of America |
| State |  Florida |
| County | Pasco |
| Government | |
| • Type | Council-Manager |
| • Mayor | Chopper Davis[1] |
| • Deputy Mayor | Kelly Mothershead |
| • Council Members | Peter Altman, Matt Murphy, and Bertrell Butler IV |
| • City Manager | Debbie L. Manns |
| • City Clerk | Judy Meyers |
| Area | |
• Total | 4.61 sq mi (11.93 km2) |
| • Land | 4.55 sq mi (11.80 km2) |
| • Water | 0.05 sq mi (0.13 km2) |
| Elevation | 16 ft (5 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 16,728 |
| • Density | 3,672.45/sq mi (1,417.82/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP codes | 34652-34656 |
| Area code | 727 |
| FIPS code | 12-48500[3] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0287669[4] |
| Website | City of New Port Richey |
New Port Richey is a city inPasco County,Florida,United States. It is a suburban city included in theTampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was counted at 16,728 in the 2020 census.
By 1914 the area around Orange Lake was being called "New Port Richey" and the older part of Port Richey was called "Old Port Richey." In 1915 a separate post office was established for the residents of the southern part ofPort Richey. The post office was named New Port Richey, and the name became official. The first postmaster was Gerben DeVries. The growth of the city came about after George Sims purchased the Port Richey Land Company. He built a home in New Port Richey in 1916.
The first Chasco Fiesta was held in 1922 to raise money for the local library. The event was revived in 1947 and has been held annually since then. It includes a large street parade and a boat parade on successive Saturdays.
In 1924 New Port Richey was incorporated. The first mayor was Dr.Elroy M. Avery, an educator, historian, and prolific author who came to New Port Richey fromCleveland after he retired in 1919.[5]
The first act of the city council was to accept Enchantment Park as a gift from George Sims. The park was renamed Sims Park. The main attractions of the city were the park, thePithlachascotee River, and Orange Lake.
In the mid-1920s the city hoped to become a winter home for Hollywood stars. In fact,Thomas Meighan, a leading actor in silent movies, built a large home on the river in 1928 and spent the winters there. He hoped to make movies in New Port Richey.Gene Sarazen, one of the top golfers in the 1920s, also built a home in New Port Richey. He invented the modernsand wedge in a garage in New Port Richey. Other Hollywood figures such asEd Wynn visited New Port Richey. SongwriterIrving Berlin and bandleaderPaul Whiteman made down payments on property, but did not build homes. In 1926, a newtheater named for Thomas Meighan opened, and in 1927, theHacienda Hotel, a 55-room Spanish-style luxury hotel, was completed. Moon Lake Gardens and Dude Ranch, which featured a private game preserve of 7,000 acres, opened in the 1930s.
The end of the 1920sFlorida land boom ended the aspirations of New Port Richey to become a haven for Hollywood celebrities, and theGreat Depression had a devastating effect on the town. By 1938 the town had lost its Tarpon Springs Branch passenger train connection to theSeaboard Air Line Railway network, a significant loss in the era beforeInterstates and jet airplanes.[6][7]
Beginning in the late 1960s, western Pasco County began a decades-long period of rapid population growth, although the population of New Port Richey has not increased much because of the small area which makes up the city. Most of the population of western Pasco County is in unincorporated areas.Pasco-Hernando State College began offering classes in New Port Richey in 1972, and completed construction of a campus in 1976.Gulf View Square shopping mall opened in 1980. In 1995, New Port Richey became sister cities withCavalaire-sur-Mer on the French Riviera. Cavalaire Square in downtown was named in honor of that relationship.[8] In 2004 PresidentGeorge W. Bush, campaigning for re-election, spoke to supporters in Sims Park.
New Port Richey is located at28°14′56″N82°43′04″W / 28.248918°N 82.717685°W /28.248918; -82.717685.[9]
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.6 square miles (12 km2), of which 4.5 square miles (12 km2) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km2) (1.53%) is water.
ThePithlachascotee River flows through the downtown area on its way to theGulf of Mexico.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1930 | 758 | — | |
| 1940 | 920 | 21.4% | |
| 1950 | 1,512 | 64.3% | |
| 1960 | 3,520 | 132.8% | |
| 1970 | 6,098 | 73.2% | |
| 1980 | 11,196 | 83.6% | |
| 1990 | 14,044 | 25.4% | |
| 2000 | 16,117 | 14.8% | |
| 2010 | 14,911 | −7.5% | |
| 2020 | 16,728 | 12.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[10] | |||
| Race | Pop 2010[11] | Pop 2020[12] | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White (NH) | 12,289 | 12,447 | 82.42% | 74.41% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 387 | 731 | 2.60% | 4.37% |
| Native American orAlaska Native (NH) | 54 | 62 | 0.36% | 0.37% |
| Asian (NH) | 211 | 234 | 1.42% | 1.40% |
| Pacific Islander orNative Hawaiian (NH) | 3 | 13 | 0.02% | 0.08% |
| Some other race (NH) | 20 | 70 | 0.13% | 0.42% |
| Two or more races/Multiracial (NH) | 276 | 731 | 1.85% | 4.37% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 1,671 | 2,440 | 11.21% | 14.59% |
| Total | 14,911 | 16,728 |
As of the2020 United States census, there were 16,728 people, 7,595 households, and 4,145 families residing in the city.[13]
As of the2010 United States census, there were 14,911 people, 7,030 households, and 3,624 families residing in the city.[14]
New Port Richey Has 6 Elementary Schools, 3 Middle Schools, 4 High Schools, and 2 Colleges.
Elementary:
Middle:
High:
Colleges:
A satellite campus of Fort Lauderdale-basedKeiser University is also located in the city.[15]
Starting in the 2025-2026 school year, Calusa Elementary and the Chasco Elementary and Middle schools will be merged into Chasco K-8.
The New Port Richey Fire Department providesfire protection services within the city. The department has 2 Fire stations located within the city.[17]Pasco County Fire Rescue covers allemergency medical services. The New Port Richey Police Department is the responsiblelaw enforcement agency within the city, the agency has 46 sworn officers, 26 civilian employees, and several part-time officers.[18]
According to New Port Richey's (2021) Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,[19] the top employers in the city were:
| # | Employer | # of Employees |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Bay Hospital/Morton Plant | 806 |
| 2 | Baycare Behavioral Health, Inc. | 332 |
| 3 | Madison Pointe Rehab & Health | 186 |
| 4 | Orchard Ridge Nursing Center | 156 |
| 5 | Med-Fleet Systems, Inc. | 152 |
| 6 | Cracker Barrel | 121 |
| 7 | Publix Supermarket #1020 (Southgate) | 136 |
| 8 | Heather Hills Nursing Home | 119 |
| 9 | Applicant Insight, Inc. | 118 |
Municipalities and communities ofPasco County, Florida,United States | ||
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| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Ghost towns | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
| International | |
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| National | |
| Geographic | |
