New Port Richey, Florida facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
New Port Richey, Florida
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Photo of Main Street & US-19 showcasing the Historic Downtown New Port Richey sign.
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Location in Pasco County and the state of Florida
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| Country |  United States of America |
| State |  Florida |
| County | Pasco |
| Government | |
| • Type | Council-Manager |
| 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)
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| • 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
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| Area code(s) | 727 |
| FIPS code | 12-48500 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0287669 |
| Website | City of New Port Richey |
New Port Richey is a city in Pasco County, Florida, USA. It's a suburban city, meaning it's a smaller town near a bigger city. New Port Richey is part of the larger Tampa Bay area. In 2020, about 16,728 people lived there.
Contents
History of New Port Richey
By 1914, the area around Orange Lake was known as "New Port Richey." The older part of the town was called "Old Port Richey." In 1915, a separate post office opened for the southern part of Port Richey. This post office was named New Port Richey, making the name official. Gerben DeVries was the first postmaster. The city grew quickly after George Sims bought the Port Richey Land Company. He built his home in New Port Richey in 1916.
The first Chasco Fiesta was held in 1922. This event helped raise money for the local library. The festival was brought back in 1947 and has happened every year since then. It includes a big street parade and a boat parade on different Saturdays.
In 1924, New Port Richey officially became a city. The first mayor was Dr. Elroy M. Avery. He was a teacher, historian, and writer who moved to New Port Richey in 1919 after he retired from Cleveland.
The city council's first action was to accept Enchantment Park as a gift from George Sims. The park was then renamed Sims Park. The main attractions of the city were the park, the Pithlachascotee River, and Orange Lake.
In the mid-1920s, New Port Richey hoped to become a winter home for Hollywood stars. Thomas Meighan, a famous silent movie actor, built a large home on the river in 1928. He spent his winters there and hoped to make movies in New Port Richey. Gene Sarazen, a top golfer in the 1920s, also built a home in the city. He even invented the modern sand wedge in a garage in New Port Richey. Other Hollywood figures like Ed Wynn visited the city. Songwriter Irving Berlin and bandleader Paul Whiteman also planned to build homes there. In 1926, a new theater named for Thomas Meighan opened. In 1927, the Hacienda Hotel, a fancy 55-room Spanish-style hotel, was finished. Moon Lake Gardens and Dude Ranch, which had a private animal preserve of 7,000 acres, opened in the 1930s.
The end of the 1920s Florida land boom stopped New Port Richey's dream of being a celebrity hotspot. The Great Depression also hit the town very hard. By 1938, the town lost its passenger train connection. This was a big problem before Interstates and jet airplanes existed.
Starting in the late 1960s, western Pasco County began to grow very fast. However, the population of New Port Richey itself didn't increase much. This is because the city's area is quite small. Most of the new people in western Pasco County live in areas outside the city limits. Pasco–Hernando State College started offering classes in New Port Richey in 1972. They finished building a campus there in 1976. The Gulf View Square shopping mall opened in 1980. In 1995, New Port Richey became a sister city with Cavalaire-sur-Mer in France. Cavalaire Square in downtown was named to honor this friendship. In 2004, President George W. Bush visited Sims Park to speak to his supporters.
Geography and Location
According to the United States Census Bureau, New Port Richey covers about 4.6 square miles (11.9 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 4.5 square miles (11.8 square kilometers), is land. A small part, about 0.1 square miles (0.13 square kilometers), is water.
The Pithlachascotee River flows through the downtown area. It then continues on its way to the Gulf of Mexico.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 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 | |||
| Race | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
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| White (NH) | 12,289 | 12,447 | 82.42% | 74.41% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 387 | 731 | 2.60% | 4.37% |
| Native American or Alaska Native (NH) | 54 | 62 | 0.36% | 0.37% |
| Asian (NH) | 211 | 234 | 1.42% | 1.40% |
| Pacific Islander or Native 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 the 2020 United States census, there were 16,728 people living in New Port Richey. There were 7,595 households and 4,145 families.
Economy and Jobs
Major Employers in New Port Richey
Here are some of the top employers in New Port Richey, based on a 2021 report:
| # | Employer | # of Employees |
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| 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 |
Arts and Culture
- New Port Richey Public Library
- West Pasco Historical Society Museum and Library: This museum is located in a historic schoolhouse.
Parks and Recreation
New Port Richey has many parks and places for fun activities:
- Cotee River Park
- Frances Avenue Park
- Grand Boulevard Park
- James E. Grey Preserve
- Jasmin Park
- Meadow Dog Park
- Peace Hall
- Recreation and Aquatics Center
- Sims Park and Orange Lake
- Sims Park Boat Ramp
Education in New Port Richey
Public schools in New Port Richey are managed by Pasco County Schools.
Elementary Schools
- Achieve Center at Richey
- Anclote Elementary School
- Calusa Elementary School
- Cotee River Elementary School
- Cypress Elementary School
- Deer Park Elementary School
- James M. Marlowe Elementary School
- Longleaf Elementary School
- Moon Lake Elementary School
- Odessa Elementary School
- Richey Elementary School
- Schrader Elementary School
- Seven Springs Elementary School
- Trinity Elementary School
- Trinity Oaks Elementary School
Middle Schools
- Bayonet Point Middle School
- Gulf Middle School
- River Ridge Middle School
- Seven Springs Middle School
High Schools
- Gulf High School
- Wendell Krinn Technical High School
- River Ridge High School
Charter Schools
- Athenian Academy of Technology and The Arts
- Learning Lodge Academy
- Pepin Academies, Pasco
- Plato Academy Trinity Charter School
Colleges and Universities
- Pasco–Hernando State College
- Marchman Technical College
- Keiser University (a smaller campus)
City Services and Safety
Public Safety
The New Port Richey Fire Department has two fire stations in the city. Pasco County Fire Rescue handles all emergency medical services. The New Port Richey Police Department has 46 police officers and 26 civilian employees. They also have several part-time officers.
Notable People from New Port Richey
- Chris Trousdale (1985–2020), an actor and singer
- Joshua Colley, an actor and singer
- R. C. Enerson, a racing driver
- Leon Orr, a former American football player
- Josiah Queen, an American Contemporary Christian Musician
See also
In Spanish: New Port Richey para niños
