Pinellas facts for kids
Pinellas is a peninsula located on the west coast of Florida. It's like a finger of land pointing into the Gulf of Mexico. This area forms the western edge of Tampa Bay and makes up most of Pinellas County. A city called Pinellas Park is also found here.
Pinellas is surrounded by water and other counties. To the north, it touches Pasco County, Florida. To the northeast, it borders Hillsborough County. Tampa Bay is to its east and south. On the west, you'll find the Intracoastal Waterway and the beautiful Gulf of Mexico. Pinellas connects to Manatee County in the south by the amazing Sunshine Skyway Bridge. It also links to Hillsborough County in the east using bridges like the Courtney Campbell Causeway, the Howard Frankland Bridge, and the Gandy Bridge.
Contents
About Pinellas
Where Does the Name Come From?
The name "Pinellas" has a cool history! It comes from a Spanish phrase, La Punta de Pinal de Jimenez. This means "Jimenez's Point of Pines." Spanish explorers gave this name to the entrance of Tampa Bay way back in 1757.
Early Settlers and Their Legacy
Some of the first people to settle in this area were Antonio Maximo Hernandez, the McMullen family, and Odet Philippe. Maximo Point is a place named after Maximo's fishing camp. You can still find descendants of the McMullen family living in the area today. Philippe Park, a park in Pinellas County, and Philippe Parkway are both named after Odet Philippe.
Pinellas: A Busy Place
Today, Pinellas is a very developed area with many cities and towns. But a long time ago, it was famous for its amazing wildlife. Animals like the American black bear, the Florida panther, and many types of birds lived here.
Pinellas County is actually the most crowded county in all of Florida. It has more people living in it than entire states like Wyoming, Montana, Delaware, South Dakota, Alaska, North Dakota, or Vermont. It even has more people than the District of Columbia! This means a lot of people live close together in Pinellas.
See also
In Spanish: Península de Pinellas para niños
