Clearwater, Florida

Clearwater is a city located in Pinellas County, Florida, USA, nearly due west of Tampa and northwest of St. Petersburg. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 108,787; however, according to the 2005 U.S. Census Bureau's estimates, the city's population fell slightly to 108,687.^[3] It is the county seat of Pinellas County.^[4] Clearwater 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. The four-county area is home to roughly 2.7 million residents, making it the second largest metropolitan statistical area (MSA) in the state, and the third largest in the Southeastern United States.

History

Present-day Clearwater was originally the home of the Tocobaga people. Around 1835, the United States Army began construction of Fort Harrison as an outpost during the Seminole wars. The fort was located on a bluff overlooking Clearwater Harbor in an area known today as Harbor Oaks. University of South Florida archeologists excavated the site in 1977 after Alfred C. Wyllie discovered an underground ammunition bunker while digging a swimming pool on his estate.

The area's population grew in 1842, after the Federal Armed Occupation Act of 1842 offered 160 acres to anyone who would bear arms and cultivate the land. Early settlers included the Stevens, Stevenson 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 bayfront, many in the bay itself, which were the reason for the crystal clear water found there.

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. The first US Post Office for Pinellas County was built on the site of the present Turner Street Dock Park, circa 1859.

During the American Civil War, Union gunboats repeatedly raided the city's supplies as most of the able-bodied men were away fighting for the Confederate States of America army. The city began booming in late nineteenth century, prompted by Peter Demens building the first passenger railroad line into the city 1888. Clearwater was incorporated as a town in 1891 and James E. Crane became the town's first mayor.^[5] The town's reputation as a tourist destination grew in popularity when Plant built the Belleview Biltmore in 1897.

By the early 1900s, Clearwater's population had grown to around 400, ballooning to nearly 1,000 in the winter. Clearwater was reincorporated, this time as a city, on May 27, 1915, and made the county seat for Pinellas County, which broke from Hillsborough County in 1912. Also in 1915, a bridge was built across Clearwater Harbor, joining the city with modern-day Clearwater Beach. Remnants of the original bridge still remain as boating hazards in the harbor's shallows.

During World War II, Clearwater became a major training base for U.S. troops destined for Europe and the Pacific. Virtually every hotel in the area, including the historic Belleview Biltmore and Fort Harrison Hotel, became luxury barracks for new recruits. Vehicle traffic 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 Sand Key, was used as a target for US Army Air Corps fighter-bombers for strafing and bombing practice.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 97.7 km² (37.7 mi²). 65.5 km² (25.3 mi²) of it is land and 32.2 km² (12.4 mi²) of it (32.98%) is water.

Demographics

As of the census^[1] of 2000, there were 108,787 people, 48,449 households, and 27,422 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,660.8/km² (4,302.1/mi²). There were 56,802 housing units at an average density of 867.2/km² (2,246.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 83.85% White, 9.79% African American, 0.32% Native American, 1.64% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 2.48% from other races, and 1.85% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.97% of the population.^[8]^[9]

There were 48,449 households out of which 21.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.7% were married couples living together, 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.4% were non-families. 35.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.17 and the average family size was 2.79.

In the city the population was spread out with 19.1% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 27.6% from 25 to 44, 23.8% from 45 to 64, and 21.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 91.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $36,494, and the median income for a family was $46,228. Males had a median income of $31,067 versus $25,066 for females. The per capita income for the city was $22,786. About 8.4% of families and 12.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.8% of those under age 18 and 7.9% of those age 65 or over.

Government

The City of Clearwater is administered by a Council-Manager form of government, and the City Manager serves as the Chief Executive and Administrative Officer of the City.

The Clearwater City Council comprises the Mayor and four Council members each of whom serves a three year term. The Council is responsible for setting policies and making decisions on local government issues including tax rates, annexations, property code variances and large contract awards. The Council strives to maintain Clearwater's reputation as an innovative leader in the delivery of municipal services while developing programs, practices, policies and procedures that work within a conservative budget and strives to achieve a high level of citizen satisfaction.

The City Manager and City Council are supported by the various City Departments, each of which provides valuable public services to the successful operation and improvement of the City of Clearwater, its residents, businesses, and visitors.

Annual events

Transportation

Air

Public transportation

The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) bus service is currently Clearwater's only form of public transit. The service offers 39 local routes, two express routes, and an exclusive beach trolley that runs north and south along Pinellas County's barrier islands. An abundance these routes can be found passing through or ending in Clearwater. Fares are presently $1.50 per bus trip, and $2.50 for a single one-way trip on an express bus.

One of PSTA's major transfer centers, Park Street Terminal, is located in Downtown Clearwater at the corner of Park Street and South Garden Avenue.

Major roads

The major street arterial system in Clearwater is essentially an east-west, north-south oriented grid pattern. Gulf to Bay Boulevard is the east-west backbone of the city, ending at Clearwater Beach on its west end and progressing over the Courtney Campbell Causeway on its east end en route to Tampa. Sunset Point Road, Drew Street, Lakeview Road, and Belleair Road are the other heavily traveled east-west arterials in Clearwater. Major north-south routes include U.S. Route 19 Alternate, Myrtle Avenue, Missouri Avenue, Highland Avenue, Keene Road, Hercules Avenue, Belcher Road, and McMullen-Booth Road.

U.S. Route 19 is by far the city's most heavily traveled route, some parts of it carrying nearly 100,000 vehicles per day. It is a limited-access freeway for a majority of its length in Clearwater, with an exception being the portion between Druid Road and Haines Bayshore Road. Plans are being developed to upgrade this piece to freeway standards, however.^[11]

Art and culture

Scientology

The worldwide "spiritual headquarters" of the Church of Scientology is located in the city of Clearwater, Florida. Officially known in Scientology as Flag Land Base, this international headquarters was founded in the late 1970s when an anonymous Scientology-founded group called "United Churches of Florida" purchased the Fort Harrison Hotel for $3 million. The citizens and City Council of Clearwater did not realize that the building's owners were actually the Church of Scientology until after the building's purchase. Clearwater citizens groups, headed by Mayor Gabe Cazares, rallied against Scientology establishing a base in the city (repeatedly referring to the organization as a cult), but Flag Land Base was established nonetheless.^[30] In response, the Church smeared him with false sex allegations and a faked hit and run incident.^[31] Concerns were further raised when it was revealed the purchases had been part of Project Normandy, a plan to take over the city by infiltrating government offices and media centers,^[32]^[33] which came out as part of investigations into the Guardian's Office dirty-tricks campaigns known as Operation Snow White.

In the years since its foundation, Flag Land Base has expanded as the church has gradually purchased additional property in the downtown Clearwater area. Scientology's largest project in Clearwater has been the construction of a huge high-rise complex called the "Super Power Building", an enormous structure whose highest point, when completed, will be a huge Scientology cross that will tower over the city. Its relationship with the city has not always been smooth (such as the 1997 protest against Chief Klein and the Clearwater Police Department).^[34]

Colleges

Famous current and former residents

Sister cities

References

^ ^a ^b "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey (2007-10-25). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
^ http://www.census.gov/popest/cities/tables/SUB-EST2005-04-12.csv
^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
^ Clearwater Roars Into the 1900s- Freedom Magazine Presents The History of Clearwater Part III
^ "US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990". United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
^ United States Census Bureau
^ http://www.sptimes.com/2004/webspecials04/francisco/english/story1.shtml
^ Northpinellas: Fiesta is on, but dancers in limbo
^ Ironman 70.3 - IRONMAN.com
^ "2007 Annual Average Daily Traffic Report". Florida Department of Transportation. Retrieved on 2008-07-08.
^ www.clearwaterartsfoundation.org/PublicArt.asp
^ St. Petersburg Times, (State Edition), January 8, 2007, pg. 2
^ http://virtual-explorations.org/other_buildings.htm
^ Ivan Phillipoff, Contractor (obituary), St. Petersburg Times. 1985, March 19. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=gOUMAAAAIBAJ&sjid=E2YDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6742,4944752&dq=theatre+clearwater+phillipoff
^ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Roebling_Estate
^ http://www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/fl/Pinellas/state.html
^ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Pinellas_County_Courthouse
^ http://www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/fl/Pinellas/state.html
^ "Old Homes May Find Place In History," St. Petersburg Times. 1975 June 16. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=8egNAAAAIBAJ&sjid=pXkDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4696,491932&dq=henry+plant+clearwater+phillipoff
^ Personals. The Evening Independent. 1923, December 26. (scroll down/right page) http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=G6kLAAAAIBAJ&sjid=xlQDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4203,3652567&dq=john-phillipoff
^ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belleview_Hotel
^ "Invitation", The Evening Independent. 1920, Dec 7. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=JYILAAAAIBAJ&sjid=x1MDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3873,3738850&dq=theatre+clearwater+taylor
^ "Clearwater Swept By Fury of Storm," St. Petersburg Times. 1921, October 27. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=4rYKAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Bk0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=3876,1860580&dq=capitol+theater+clearwater+damage+storm
^ "Old Days: Movie Houses Were King," St. Petersburg Times. 1981, April 8. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=mRgMAAAAIBAJ&sjid=iVoDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6286,8176267&dq=clearwater+capitol+movie+houses+were
^ Old Days: Movie Houses Were King," St. Petersburg Times. 1981, April 8. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=mRgMAAAAIBAJ&sjid=iVoDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6286,8176267&dq=clearwater+capitol+hamilton
^ "Two More Shops Open Along Cleveland Street", St. Petersburg Times, 1962, Oct 9. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=-tAOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=flIDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3037,4021303&dq=capitol+theater+clearwater
^ "Royalty Can Start Renovating New Home Now That Papers Are Signed," St. Petersburg Times, 1981, September 30. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=N_oNAAAAIBAJ&sjid=GXsDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7011,6907944&dq=clearwater+royalty
^ "Royalty Theatre Off To Good Start At Capitol With Oliver," St. Petersburg Times, 1981, December 3. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=hvoNAAAAIBAJ&sjid=QXsDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5602,2478432&dq=scott+musheff+theater+clearwater
^ St. Pete Times Special Report on Scientology
^ Northpinellas: For the disadvantaged and against Scientology
^ Charles L. Stafford; Bette Orsini (1980-01-09). "Scientology: An in-depth profile of a new force in Clearwater", St. Petersburg Times.
^ Leiby, Richard (1979-11-03). "Scientologists plot city takeover", Clearwater Sun.
^ Northpinellas: Chief Klein's balance isn't an act
^ CATALANELLO, REBECCA. "Knievel, rapper eye mediation". St. Petersburg Times. July 11, 2007.
^ Carmichael bio
^ Tampabay: Hulk's house off market
^ Farley, Robert. "Manse with celebrity ties hits market." St. Petersburg Times. North Pinellas section, page 1. October 10, 2002. Online. August 9, 2008.

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