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Clearwater, Florida
City of Clearwater
Old Pinellas County Courthouse
Old Pinellas County Courthouse
Official seal of Clearwater, Florida
Seal
Location in Pinellas County and the state of Florida
Location in Pinellas County and the state of Florida
Country United States
State Florida
County Pinellas
Incorporated 1891
Re-Incorporated May 27, 1915
Area
 • City 35.92 sq mi (93.04 km2)
 • Land 26.13 sq mi (67.68 km2)
 • Water 9.79 sq mi (25.36 km2)
Elevation
30 ft (9 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • City 117,292
 • Density 4,488.62/sq mi (1,733.06/km2)
 • Metro
2,783,243
Time zone UTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP Codes
33755–33769
Area code(s) 727
FIPS code 12-12875
GNIS feature ID 0280543
Nal iceskater121815 16448181 8col
A figure skater pictured at the Clearwater Ice Arena

Clearwater is a city located in Pinellas County, Florida, United States, northwest of Tampa and St. Petersburg. To the west of Clearwater lies the Gulf of Mexico and to the southeast lies Tampa Bay. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 107,685. Clearwater is the county seat of Pinellas County and is the smallest of the three principal cities in the Tampa–St. Petersburg–Clearwater metropolitan area, most commonly referred to as the Tampa Bay Area.

Cleveland Street is one of the city's historic avenues, and the city includes BayCare Ballpark and Coachman Park. The city is separated by the Intracoastal Waterway from Clearwater Beach.

Clearwater is the home of Clearwater Marine Aquarium.

The global headquarters of the Church of Scientology is located in Clearwater.

History

Clearwater AtDaybreak
Clearwater at daybreak, as seen from Clearwater Beach

Present-day Clearwater was originally the home of the Tocobaga people. Around 1835, the United States Army began construction of Fort Harrison, named after William Henry Harrison, as an outpost during the Seminole Wars. The fort was located on a bluff overlooking Clearwater Harbor, which later became part of an early 20th-century residential development called Harbor Oaks. University of South Florida archaeologists excavated the site in 1962 after Mark Wyllie discovered an under ground ammunition bunker while planting a tree in his yard.

The area's population grew after the Federal Armed Occupation Act of 1842 offered 160 acres (0.65 km2) to anyone who would bear arms and cultivate the land. Early settlers included the Stevens, Stevenson, Sever and McMullen families, who claimed and farmed large tracts of land. Prior to 1906, the area was known as Clear Water Harbor. The name "Clear Water" is thought to have come from a fresh water spring flowing from near where the City Hall building is located today. There were many other freshwater springs that dotted the bluff, many in the bay or harbor itself.

Sandkey
View north from Sand Key toward Clearwater Beach

Originally part of Hillsborough County, the first road joining Clearwater and Tampa was built in 1849, which dramatically reduced the prior day-long commute between the cities.

During the American Civil War, Union gunboats repeatedly raided the community's supplies, as most of the able-bodied men were away fighting for the Confederate Army. The town began developing in the late nineteenth century, prompted by Peter Demens' completion of the first passenger railroad line into the city in 1888. Clearwater was incorporated in 1891, with James E. Crane becoming the first mayor. The area's popularity as a vacation destination grew after railroad magnate Henry B. Plant built a sprawling Victorian resort hotel named Belleview Biltmore just south of Clearwater in 1897.

Clearwater, Florida Courthouse pmr01
Pinellas County Courthouse in Clearwater

By the early 1900s, Clearwater's population had grown to around 400, ballooning to nearly 1,000 in the winter. Clearwater's oldest existing newspaper, the Clearwater Sun, was first published on March 14, 1914. Clearwater was reincorporated, this time as a city, on May 27, 1915, and was designated the county seat for Pinellas County, which broke from Hillsborough County in 1912. In 1915, a bridge was built across Clearwater Harbor, joining the city with Clearwater Beach to the west. Clearwater Beach, although located on a separate barrier island, belongs to the city of Clearwater and fronts the Gulf of Mexico. A new, much higher bridge now arcs over the bay, replacing the former drawbridge; the connecting road is part of State Road 60 and is called Clearwater Memorial Causeway.

During World War II, Clearwater became a major training base for US troops destined for Europe and the Pacific. Virtually every hotel in the area, including the Belleview Biltmore and the Fort Harrison Hotel, was used as a barracks for new recruits. Vehicle traffic was regularly stopped for companies of soldiers marching through downtown, and nighttime blackouts to confuse potential enemy bombers were common practice. The remote and isolated Dan's Island, now the highrise-dominated Sand Key, was used as a target by U.S. Army Air Corps fighter-bombers for strafing and bombing practice.

Geography

Clearwater is located at 27°58′25″N 82°45′51″W / 27.973644°N 82.764271°W / 27.973644; -82.764271.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 39.2 square miles (101.6 km2), of which 25.6 square miles (66.2 km2) is land and 13.7 square miles (35.4 km2) (34.86%) is water.

Downtown

Clearwater's downtown has been undergoing major redevelopment in recent years. General beautification has been done along with completion of several high-rise condos and a large marina. New bars, restaurants and other amenities are coming to the area, renamed the "Cleveland Street District". Royalty Theatre is also slated to be renovated. Another feature is Coachman Park which hosts events throughout the year. The downtown core is approximately 2 miles (3 km) from Clearwater Beach and 6 miles (10 km) from downtown Dunedin. The drive to both places, and many parts of downtown itself, feature views of the water and the Clearwater Memorial Causeway.

Climate

Clearwater, in common with the majority of the South, has a humid subtropical climate

Climate data for Clearwater
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 86
(30)
87
(31)
89
(32)
92
(33)
97
(36)
97
(36)
96
(36)
96
(36)
95
(35)
94
(34)
89
(32)
87
(31)
97
(36)
Average high °F (°C) 71.4
(21.9)
71.4
(21.9)
76.1
(24.5)
81.2
(27.3)
86.2
(30.1)
89.1
(31.7)
89.9
(32.2)
90
(32)
88.5
(31.4)
83.6
(28.7)
76.4
(24.7)
71.9
(22.2)
81.3
(27.4)
Daily mean °F (°C) 62.3
(16.8)
62.3
(16.8)
66.9
(19.4)
71.9
(22.2)
77.2
(25.1)
80.9
(27.2)
82.1
(27.8)
82.1
(27.8)
80.7
(27.1)
75.1
(23.9)
67.2
(19.6)
62.8
(17.1)
72.6
(22.6)
Average low °F (°C) 52.9
(11.6)
53.2
(11.8)
57.8
(14.3)
62.7
(17.1)
68.2
(20.1)
72.6
(22.6)
74.2
(23.4)
74.2
(23.4)
72.9
(22.7)
66.5
(19.2)
58.1
(14.5)
53.7
(12.1)
63.9
(17.7)
Record low °F (°C) 24
(−4)
27
(−3)
29
(−2)
41
(5)
53
(12)
60
(16)
62
(17)
65
(18)
61
(16)
45
(7)
27
(−3)
19
(−7)
19
(−7)
Average precipitation inches (cm) 2
(5.1)
3.5
(8.9)
3.5
(8.9)
2
(5.1)
2.1
(5.3)
6.2
(16)
9.5
(24)
9.5
(24)
7.2
(18)
2.8
(7.1)
1.8
(4.6)
2.5
(6.4)
52.6
(134)
Source: Weatherbase

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1900 383
1910 1,171 205.7%
1920 2,427 107.3%
1930 7,607 213.4%
1940 10,136 33.2%
1950 15,581 53.7%
1960 34,653 122.4%
1970 52,074 50.3%
1980 85,170 63.6%
1990 98,669 15.8%
2000 108,787 10.3%
2010 107,685 −1.0%
2020 117,292 8.9%
Source:1900-2010


Between 2014 and 2018, there were 46,667 households with an average household size of 2.4. In 2019, the city's population was spread out, with 18.7% under the age of 18, 59.4% between the age of 18 and 64, and 21.9% who were 65 years of age or older.

Between 2014 and 2018, the median income for a household in the city was $47,070, and the median income for a family was $46,228. 15.9% of the population fell below the poverty line.

Languages

As of 2000, speakers of English as their first language were 84.43% of residents, Spanish as a mother tongue was 8.55%, Greek accounted for 1.15%, French made up 1.00% of speakers, German at 0.97%, and Italian speakers comprised 0.85% of the population.

Art and culture

Clearwater Beach, looking south from Pier 60
Pier 60 in Clearwater Beach, April 2013

In 2012, the city was listed among the 10 best places to retire in the U.S. by CBS Money Watch.

Annual events

  • Imagine International Film Festival
  • Sea-Blues Seafood and Blues Festival (late February)
  • Fun N Sun Festival (April - May)
  • Clearwater Celebrates America (July 4)
  • Clearwater Jazz Holiday (October)
  • Clearwater Greek Festival (October)
  • Hispanic Heritage Festival (October)
  • Foster Grant Ironman World Championship 70.3 (November 2006 – 2010)
  • Superboat International Championship

Tourism

Clearwater Public Art and Design Program

The Clearwater Public Art and Design Program, adopted by City Council in 2005, is funded through a 1% allocation on all city capital improvement projects valued at more than $500,000. The program commissions an average of 2-3 new projects per year.

Capitol and Royalty Theatre

The Capitol Theatre opened March 21, 1921. It was built by Senator-elect John Stansel Taylor. The theater's architect was Lester Avery and the contractor was John D. Phillipoff. Avery is known for his architecture in Miami. Philipoff also built the Coachman Building (1916), the Donald Roebling Estate in Belleair (added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979), the old Pinellas County Courthouse (added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1992), other historical homes which have been saved, and did work at the Belleview Hotel.

Groundbreaking was December 6, 1920. The "New Capitol Theatre" was damaged in a storm on October 26, 1921 (so it had been completed). A Robert Morton Wicks Opus 415 organ was installed in 1922.

Donald Roebling was a frequent patron, having his own double seat installed at the theatre.

The theatre was managed by various movie companies (EJ Sparks, Paramount, ABC-Southeastern Theatres, and Plitt Southern) and played the most recent movies of the day. The theatre also offered vaudeville on Friday nights in the 1930s. Headliners included Sally Rand, Fred Stone and his daughter, and Lum and Abner (of radio). The theatre was renovated in 1962. The Robert Morton Wicks Opus 415 was most likely removed during this renovation. When Plitt Southern did not renew their contract in 1979, Bill Neville and Jerry Strain tried to save the theatre with film classics and reduced prices. However, the theatre closed its doors on October 28, 1980.

Royalty Theater Company signed leases with the Taylor family in February 1981 when it then became known as the Royalty Theater (Clearwater, Florida). The building was renovated with Ron Winter of Winter Associates as the contractor and Scott Musheff as the architect.

The theatre remained in the Taylor family estate until it was sold in 1996. In July 2008 the building went into foreclosure.

In January 2009, the City of Clearwater and Ruth Eckerd Hall joined forces to purchase the theater (renamed Capitol Theater) as well as the neighboring Pat Lokey building. They plan to renovate and revitalize the historic Capitol Theater.

Clearwater Public Library System

In 1911, the city of Clearwater witnessed a vast population increase as well as acquiring telephones, electricity, paved streets, and an ice factory. It is during this time that the Clearwater Library Association opened a subscription library on the second floor of the local People's Bank. Its popularity and support led to the request of $10,000 from the Carnegie Foundation to build a public library. Support for the building of cultural institutions, the library in particular, had the strong backing of the Clearwater community. A January 8, 1914 editorial in the Clearwater News illustrates the sentiment of the local community towards its new library: "Support the Library...One of the finest assets a town can possibly have is a good library...None will help make for a successful and happy community in the future as a good library. Already started is a collection of books, which could be made to serve as a nucleus for a larger and free public library - one owned by the town...(It is) a matter of civic pride. A public library, free to all the home people, ministering to their special wants and needs, is no longer considered a luxury, it is fast becoming a necessity to all progressive communities, and Clearwater should not be behind her sister towns; it can and should become a leader." This request was approved. The city of Clearwater only had to provide a location and continued maintenance for this facility. In May 1915, a referendum was approved by City Ordinance 154 to provide for the creation and maintenance of a public library. The city of Clearwater's Mayor and Town Council approved "Clearwater Public Library" and accepted the donation. The building was designed by Tampa architect F.J. Kennard. In its first year, the library had over 1,277 visitors and 2,792 books borrowed. As a vacation town, the library provided free access to materials for all residents and winter visitors.

During the Depression, the Clearwater Public Library faced many of the same threats seen at other libraries seen throughout the United States. This includes increased patron usage and dwindling budget.

In the 1940s, the Clearwater library increased its staff from just three assistants to five assistants. The library's collection also grew from 18,047 to over 100,000. To account for this great increase, the Librarian and Board President Traver Bayly made an appeal to the City Commission for additional space. This appeal was approved and the library extended to include a drive-through, museum, and increased collections.

As a result of segregation, the Clearwater Public Library was for white patrons only from its founding in 1911 to the mid-twentieth century. In 1950, the City Commission agreed to the building of the North Greenwood library. Designed by Architect Eugene Beach, the new library access to many information sources to the city's African Americans population. This library was renovated in 1984. Clearwater Main library was rebuilt in 2000.

As the population continued to increase throughout the late twentieth century, the library system continued to grow. The Clearwater Public Library System now includes five libraries: Clearwater Main, Countryside, North Greenwood, Beach, and East. In recent years, the Clearwater Public Library System has become increasingly digital providing patrons with access to computers, online databases, and an online library catalog. This was made possible by the Greater Clearwater Public Library Foundation, Inc. which formed in 1984. Currently, as a part of the library's Centennial Celebration, a project is commencing to add makerspaces to the libraries. The Main library's makerspace is the "Studio's at Main" and targets creative arts making.

The Clearwater Public Library System is a contributor to the Pinellas Memory Project.

Jenifer Obermaier is the current director of the Clearwater Public Library System. This system of libraries is part of the Pinellas Public Library Cooperative which seeks to provide all patrons with access to information and programs to benefit the community.

Parks and recreation

Moccasin Lake Nature Park is a 51-acre nature preserve with a 5-acre lake that is owned and operated by the city. The preserve also features the Moccasin Lake Environmental Education Center, which offers environmental education classes, programs and camps. The Center features live rehabilitated birds of prey, reptiles, amphibians and aquatic wildlife. It opened in 1982. The City of Clearwater contains five pools: Ross Norton, North Greenwood, Morningside, the Longcenter, and Clearwater Beach. Swim lessons are offered throughout the year to patrons, and the pools have both a recreation summer pool league and the Clearwater Aquatics Team. These pools have participated in the World's Largest Swim Lesson.

Transportation

Airport

Tampa International Airport serves Clearwater and the rest of the Tampa Bay Area as the primary means of air travel. St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport has also seen its usage increase. The city owns Clearwater Air Park.

Public transportation

The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) bus service is currently Pinellas County's only general public transit. The service offers approximately 35 local routes, two express routes which cross Tampa Bay to the east, and a beach trolley that runs north and south along the county's roughly 25-mile-long (40 km) chain of barrier islands.

Scientology

Scientology Clearwater headquarters
Church of Scientology Clearwater headquarters, the Super Power Building

Beginning in the 1970s under the code-name Project Normandy, Scientology began targeting Clearwater in order to "establish area control" of the city and county. The operations were exposed in a Pulitzer Prize winning series of articles in the Clearwater Sun.

Gabe Cazares, who was the mayor of Clearwater at the time, went so far as to call it "the occupation of Clearwater" and later characterized it as a "paramilitary operation by a terrorist group." The Church of Scientology targeted Cazares, attempting to entrap him. Cazares and his wife sued the Church of Scientology for $1.5 million. The church settled with Cazares in 1986.

The Church of Scientology's headquarters are located in downtown Clearwater. The Church refers to Clearwater as their "Flag Land Base."

Sister cities

Clearwater has city partnerships with the following cities:



Economy

Clearwater's economy employs nearly 50,400 people. Major employers include Morton Plant Hospital, Tech Data, and Honeywell. Employment in Clearwater grew 1.84% from 2015 to 2016 with 50,345 people in the workforce. The most common job groups include Service, Sales & Office, Science, and Business. The median household income for Clearwater is $44,569, which is below the average for both the United States as well as the state of Florida.

Sports

BayCare Ballpark in Clearwater is the spring training home of Major League Baseball's Philadelphia Phillies, as well as their Low-A affiliate, the Clearwater Threshers.

Education

  • St. Petersburg College
  • Everest University
  • Sunstate Academy
  • Clearwater High School
  • Clearwater Central Catholic High School
  • Ultimate Medical Academy
  • Allendale Academy
  • Delphi Academy of Florida
  • Clearwater Academy International
  • Clearwater Christian College

Notable people

See also

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