Pinellas County, Florida

Alexander Hotel Anclote Key Lighthouse Andrews Memorial Chapel Arcade Hotel Arfaras, N. G., Sponge Packing House Bay Pines Veterans Administration Home and Hospital Historic District Blatchley, Willis S., House Boone House Casa Coe da Sol Casa De Muchas Flores Central High School Civitan Beach House Cleveland Street Post Office Cycadia Cemetery Dennis Hotel Domestic Science and Manual Training School Don Ce Sar Hotel Douglas, J. O., House Downtown St. Petersburg Historic District DUCHESS (Sponge Hooking Boat) Dunedin Isles Golf Club Golf Course First Methodist Church of St. Petersburg Fort Desoto Batteries GEORGE N. CRETEKOS (Sponge Diving Boat) Green-Richman Arcade Gulfport Casino Harbor Oaks Residential District Henry, James, House House at 827 Mandalay Avenue Huggins-Stengel Field Ingleside Johnson, Louis, Building Kenwood Historic District Kress, S.H., and Company Building McKeage, John & Florence, House Meres, E. R., Sponge Packing House Mount Olive African Methodist Episcopal Church N.K. SYMI (Sponge Diving Boat) North Shore Historic District Old Belleair Town Hall Pass-a-Grille Historic District Pass-A-Grille Historic District (Boundary Increase) Pinellas County Courthouse, Old Potter House Roebling, Donald, Estate Rose Hill Cemetery Roser Park Historic District Rothman, Maurice and Thelma, House Round Lake Historic District Safety Harbor Site Safford House Sanitary Public Market Snell Arcade South Ward School ST. NICHOLAS III (Sponge Diving Boat) ST. NICHOLAS VI (Sponge Diving Boat) St. Petersburg Lawn Bowling Club St. Petersburg Public Library St. Petersburg Woman's Club Studebaker Building Sunset Hotel Tarpon Springs City Hall, Old Tarpon Springs Greektown Historic District Tarpon Springs High School, Old Tarpon Springs Historic District U.S. Post Office Veillard House Vinoy Park Hotel Williams, John C., House

12-inch Seacoast Mortar: Model 1890-M1 Al Lang Memorial Stadium for Little League Baseball Bahia Espiritu Santo Mission Bayflite 3 Crew Brigadier General Thaddeus Kosciuszko Clearwater Athletic Field Clearwater Post Office Craig Park War Memorial Dedicated to the Memory of Dr. Willis Stanley Blatchley Demens Landing Dr. Willis S. Blatchley House Dunedin Isles Golf Club Dunedin's African-American Community Endangered Espiritu Santo Church Espiritu Santo Springs First Mass in Florida First Public School First Settlement and Post Office First United Methodist Church Fort De Soto Batteries and Military Post Fort De Soto Quartermaster Storehouse Museum Gandy Bridge Gulf Shore Park Gulfport Casino Harbor Oaks Historic District Historic Andrews Memorial Chapel Jack Russell Memorial Stadium John C. Williams Jungle Prada Site Lynching in America / The Lynching of John Evans Lynching of John Evans Magnolia Drive Dock McMullen Log Cabin Miranda Home Oasis Park Odet Philippe Orange Belt Railway Station Our Heroes of the World War Ozona Village Hall Panfilo de Narvaez Peter Demens Philippe Park Pinellas County Veterans Memorial Pioneer Park Pioneering Pinellas Park Purple Heart Memorial Rattlesnake Curve Rheba Sutton White Chapel Rose Cemetery S. H. Kress and Co. Building Safety Harbor Historical Event: Peace Treaty Between the Tocobaga and the Calusa Safety Harbor Historical Site: 135 4th Avenue North Safety Harbor Historical Site: 136 4th Ave. N. Safety Harbor: "The 1908 Gingerbread House" Safety Harbor Historical Site: Baranoff Oak Tree Safety Harbor Historical Site: First Dedicated Library Safety Harbor Historical Site: First Town Hall Safety Harbor Historical Site: Lover's Oak Safety Harbor Historical Site: Native American Burial Mound Safety Harbor Historical Site: Presbyterian Church Safety Harbor Historical Site: Safety Harbor Herald Safety Harbor Historical Site: Safety Harbor Log Cabin Safety Harbor Historical Site: Safety Harbor School Safety Harbor Historical Site: St. James Hotel Safety Harbor Historical Site: The Hotel Frances Safety Harbor Historical Site: Tucker Mansion Safety Harbor Site Site of the Blue Heron Hotel and Faith Mission Soreno Hotel South Ward School Site Spanish American War Memorial Spanish-American War Cannons from Egmont Key St. Bartholomew's Church St. Ignatius of Antioch Church St. Mary, Our Lady of Grace Church St. Paul Catholic Church St. Petersburg Central Yacht Basin Stetson University College of Law Tarpon Springs Historic District Tarpon Springs Sponge Industry The American's Creed / In Grateful Remembrance The Dunedin LVT, Landing Vehicle Tracked The History of Princess Hirrihigua The Old Pinellas County Courthouse The Seminole Bridge The United States Veterans Memorial The World's First Scheduled Airline Tierra Verde Mound Training Area of the U.S. Marine Corps Amphibian Tractor (Alligator) Votes For Women Wall Springs Park History World Record World's First Regularly Scheduled Commercial Airline Zephaniah Phillips' Homestead Site "Pass-A-Grille" “The Baranoff Oak”
Pinellas County, located on the western coast of Florida, has a rich history dating back thousands of years. The area was originally inhabited by various Native American tribes, such as the Tocobaga and the Safety Harbor culture, who relied on the region's bountiful natural resources for sustenance and trade.

The arrival of Spanish explorers in the 16th century brought significant changes to the area, as they claimed the land for Spain. However, it was not until the 19th century that Pinellas County began to experience significant settlement and development. The United States acquired Florida from Spain in 1821, and the region gradually attracted settlers, particularly following the U.S. Army's construction of Fort Harrison in 1849.

In the late 1800s, the area began to develop into a popular tourist destination, attracting visitors with its beautiful beaches and pleasant climate. Railroads played a crucial role in facilitating tourism and development, making it easier for people to reach the area. The town of St. Petersburg was founded in 1888 and quickly grew into a thriving city. In 1912, Pinellas County was officially established, named after the Spanish words for "pine" and "small," reflecting the region's abundance of pine trees.

Throughout the 20th century, Pinellas County continued to develop and grow. The construction of causeways and bridges connected the county to neighboring regions, further boosting tourism and economic opportunities. The county experienced significant population growth and saw the rise of industries such as tourism, healthcare, and technology. Today, Pinellas County is known for its vibrant communities, stunning beaches, and diverse cultural attractions, making it a highly desirable place to live and visit.
Brief timeline of the history of Pinellas County, Florida:

  • 1528 - Pánfilo de Narváez, a Spanish explorer, arrives in the area
  • 1834 - The United States Army establishes Fort Harrison in the vicinity
  • 1842 - The Armed Occupation Act encourages settlers to move into the area
  • 1852 - Hillsborough County is divided, creating Pinellas County
  • 1911 - The first bridge connecting the area to Tampa is built
  • 1914 - The railroad arrives, boosting economic development
  • 1915 - St. Petersburg is incorporated as a city
  • 1921 - The Sunshine Skyway Bridge is constructed over Tampa Bay
  • 1953 - The first commercial airline flight arrives at the newly opened St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport
  • 1962 - The renowned Salvador Dali Museum opens in St. Petersburg
  • 2005 - Hurricane Katrina causes significant damage to the Gulf Coast, including Pinellas County

This timeline provides a glimpse into the major events and milestones that have shaped the history of Pinellas County, Florida.

Audiobooks about the history of Florida.