St. Pete Beach, Florida facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
St. Pete Beach, Florida
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| City of St. Pete Beach | |
St. Pete Beach city hall in 2022
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| Motto(s):
The Sunset Capital of Florida
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Location in Pinellas County and the state of Florida
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Florida |
| County | Pinellas |
| Incorporated (City of St. Petersburg Beach) |
1957 |
| Incorporated (City of St. Pete Beach) |
March 9, 1994 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Commission–Manager |
| Area | |
| • Total | 6.96 sq mi (18.04 km2) |
| • Land | 2.13 sq mi (5.51 km2) |
| • Water | 4.84 sq mi (12.53 km2) |
| Elevation | 6 ft (2 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 8,879 |
| • Density | 4,176.39/sq mi (1,612.32/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP Code |
33706
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| Area code(s) | 727 |
| Sales Tax | 7% |
| Property Tax | 3.1500 City (17.0318 Total) |
St. Pete Beach (formerly called St. Petersburg Beach) is a coastal city in Pinellas County, Florida. Known as a tourist destination, St. Pete Beach was formed from the towns of Pass-a-Grille, Belle Vista, St. Petersburg Beach, and unincorporated Pinellas County. It is part of the Tampa Bay area. The population was 8,879 at the 2020 census.
St. Pete Beach's downtown is centered on Corey Avenue. This district contains bars, restaurants and shopping and retail outlets. The Pass-a-Grille Historic District and the historic Don CeSar beach resort are located at the southern end of the beach. In 2021, TripAdvisor named St. Pete Beach the number one beach in the US, and the number five best beach in the entire world.
Contents
History
The town of St. Pete Beach was consolidated from the municipalities of Pass-a-Grille, Don CeSar Place, Belle Vista, and St. Petersburg Beach in a 1957 referendum, in which consolidation only won by a margin of 5 votes. At the time of its incorporation in 1957, its name was St. Petersburg Beach. On March 9, 1994, locals voted to officially change the name to the shorter version of St. Pete Beach, to distinguish it from the city of St. Petersburg a few miles to the east.
Geography
St. Pete Beach is located at 27°43′29″N 82°44′31″W / 27.72472°N 82.74194°W (27.724587, –82.741850). According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 19.9 square miles (52 km2), of which 2.2 square miles (5.7 km2) is land and 17.6 square miles (46 km2) (88.68%) is water.
St. Pete Beach occupies the entire space of Long Key, a barrier island at the east central edge of the Gulf of Mexico. Three bridges lead into the city, connecting it to Treasure Island, South Pasadena and the Bayway Isles area of St. Petersburg. St. Pete Beach is located about 20 miles (32 km) south of Clearwater Beach.
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1950 | 722 | — | |
| 1960 | 6,268 | 768.1% | |
| 1970 | 8,024 | 28.0% | |
| 1980 | 9,354 | 16.6% | |
| 1990 | 9,200 | −1.6% | |
| 2000 | 9,929 | 7.9% | |
| 2010 | 9,346 | −5.9% | |
| 2020 | 8,879 | −5.0% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
2010 and 2020 census
| Race | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White (NH) | 8,643 | 7,958 | 92.48% | 89.63% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 64 | 55 | 0.68% | 0.62% |
| Native American or Alaska Native (NH) | 23 | 13 | 0.25% | 0.15% |
| Asian (NH) | 106 | 118 | 1.13% | 1.33% |
| Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian (NH) | 3 | 6 | 0.03% | 0.07% |
| Some other race (NH) | 14 | 21 | 0.15% | 0.24% |
| Two or more races/Multiracial (NH) | 81 | 266 | 0.87% | 3.00% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 412 | 442 | 4.41% | 4.98% |
| Total | 9,346 | 8,879 |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 8,879 people, 4,933 households, and 2,938 families residing in the city.
As of the 2010 United States census, there were 9,346 people, 4,844 households, and 2,512 families residing in the city.
Education
Residents are zoned to Pinellas County Schools, specifically the schools of Azalea Elementary School, Madeira Beach Middle School, and Boca Ciega High School.
In 1915 Sunshine Elementary School opened in Pass-a-Grille. Gulf Beaches Elementary opened in 1950. The Tampa Bay Times said that Gulf Beaches "quickly absorbed most of the kids from Sunshine". Sunshine Elementary School closed on June 6, 1975. The Gulf Beaches School absorbed the traditions of the Sunshine school, including the fish broil fundraiser.
On January 14, 2009, the Pinellas County school board voted 7–0 to close several schools, including Gulf Beaches Elementary School. When the school was in operation, it had annual fish broils. Linda Chaney, the commissioner of St. Pete Beach, and Mary Maloof, the mayor of Treasure Island, had asked the school board not to close Gulf Beaches. The Gulf Beaches campus, which is located on 4.7-acre (1.9 ha) of land in St. Pete Beach, had been closed after the school board faced budget cuts. In addition the year-round population of children had decreased. In 2014, the Pinellas County School Board announced Gulf Beaches would be reopened for the 2014–2015 school year as a technology magnet school.
Library
The St. Pete Beach Public Library is the public library that serves the city of St. Pete Beach and the greater Pinellas area. The library was founded in 1951 by the St. Petersburg Beach Community Club inside their clubhouse with “450 books on two shelves”. The library grew to include “200 adult and 200 children’s books” from the Florida State Library Extension Service.
In 1957 it became a municipal library when the city of St. Pete Beach was incorporated allowing the St. Petersburg Beach Community Club to turn operations over to the city. In 1968 the Friends of the St. Pete Beach Public Library was formed raising over $26,000 for a new library building.
On July 7, 1969 the St. Pete Beach Library opened an 8,200 square foot building by architect Glenn Q. Johnson at 365 73rd Avenue. The building was partially refurbished in 1995, and underwent a major renovation in 2020–2021. A member of the Pinellas Public Library Cooperative since 1989, the library was temporarily relocated to 7470 Gulf Boulevard during the renovation. On March 26, 2021 the St. Pete Beach Library reopened after a $2.6 million restoration and renovation.
Tourism
St. Pete Beach is a seaside tourist destination.
The Don CeSar is a renowned historical hotel, opened in 1928, located on the Gulf shore in St. Pete Beach.
Notable people
- Chuck Hiller, baseball player
See also
In Spanish: St. Pete Beach para niños
