Pinellas County Historical Background Pinellas County PINELLAS COUNTY HISTORICAL BACKGROUND Prepared and Published by: THE PINELLAS COUNTY PLANNING DEPARTMENT For the PINELLAS COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS Calvin D. Harris, Chairman Karen Seel, Vice-Chairman Robert S. LaSala, County Administrator Brian Smith, Planning Director Third Edition December, 2008 PREFACE & ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS he purpose of the Pinellas County Historical Background document is to provide a unified natural and cultural history T of the area that now constitutes Pinellas County. The historical background aims to serve both as an educational tool for the County’s citizens and as a support instrument in the continued implementation of the “Protecting and Restoring Pinellas County’s Natural and Cultural Heritage” agenda, as set forth in the Pinellas County Comprehensive Plan. The first two editions of this document were prepared and published by the Pinellas County Planning Department in 1986 and in 1995. The Planning Department acknowledges the assistance provided by Heritage Village in the preparation of this report. The Planning Department also wishes to thank the cities of St. Petersburg, Dunedin, and Oldsmar for their photographic contributions. TABLE OF CONTENTS Summary Significant Dates in Pinellas County History ....................................1-4 Pinellas County: A Historical Perspective People of Pinellas and What Brought Them Here..........................2-3 Major Economic Influences...............................................................2-3 From Countryside to Cities to Suburbs.............................................2-5 Facing the Challenge of Urbanization ............................................2-7 Early History: Pre-Columbian Era - 1880 Native Americans in Pinellas .............................................................3-3 The Spanish Era....................................................................................3-3 New Migration of Indians, Hispanics and Whites ...........................3-5 The First Settlers and Communities ...................................................3-7 Early Transportation Problems.........................................................3-10 Period of Transition: 1880 - 1900 The Coming of the Railroad ..............................................................4-5 Establishing the Patterns of Growth .................................................4-9 The Early Twentieth Century: 1900 - 1920 Secession from Hillsborough County................................................5-5 Growth and Development in the Early Twentieth Century..........5-7 Boom, Bust and Depression: 1920 - 1940 Oldsmar ................................................................................................6-6 Utility and Transportation Improvements.........................................6-8 The End of the Boom ........................................................................6-12 Recovery from Depression ..............................................................6-12 Development Trends ........................................................................6-14 World War II - 1970 The War Years......................................................................................7-3 Post-War Land Development............................................................7-5 Post-War Infrastructure and Service Improvements ......................7-8 Post-War Structure of the Economy ...............................................7-12 Demographic and Social Trends....................................................7-13 Continued Growth: 1970 - 1990 Development Trends ..........................................................................8-3 New Directions in Managing Growth ..............................................8-7 Improvements in Facilities and Services..........................................8-8 Public Lands & Environmental Protection.....................................8-10 Transportation Trends .......................................................................8-11 Economic Trends...............................................................................8-14 Pinellas County: 1990 - 2006 Expanding Services and Infrastructure............................................9-4 Land Use Trends ..................................................................................9-6 Public Land, Agriculture and Conservation Areas ......................9-10 Climate & Natural Resources: Confronting New Challenges....9-13 Transportation Trends .......................................................................9-14 Economic Trends...............................................................................9-16 Concluding Remarks ............................................................................10-1 Appendix: Exhibits and Charts ............................................................ A-1 Bibliography .............................................................................................B-1 SUMMARY ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Pinellas County Historical Background 1-1 ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Pinellas County Historical Background 1-2 SUMMARY Through the centuries, the Pinellas Peninsula has attracted a diverse mix of people: Tocobago Indians, Spanish explorers, pioneer farmers and fishermen, real estate speculators of the 1920s, tourists, and since World War II, a tremendous influx of retirees and working people. Dramatic growth and urbanization since the war has made Pinellas the most densely populated and intensely developed County in Florida. Initially slow to develop due to its inaccessibility, Pinellas grew rapidly following the arrival of the Orange Belt Railroad in 1887. Since that time, the County's consistent growth has been interrupted only briefly: During World War I, following the collapse of the Boom period of the 1920s, during the Great Depression, and during World War II. Among the most notable changes of the past 100 years: • Twenty-four municipalities have been created in Pinellas, ranging in population size from 78 to 249,068. • The County's population, often subject to dramatic rates of growth in the past, is now the sixth largest in Florida and the 41st in the nation. • The median age of Pinellas residents, 43 according to the 2000 census, is consistently higher than that of the state and the U.S., due to a substantial influx of retirees into Pinellas following World War II. During the 1980s and 1990s, however, the County's median age decreased by 3.8 years as large numbers of working-age people moved into Pinellas to take advantage of the County's employment opportunities. • Undeveloped and agricultural lands, which dominated the Pinellas landscape until the 1960s, have yielded to urbanization as farms and citrus groves grow scarce. As of 2004, only 5.2% of the County’s land (9,266 acres) remained vacant and agricultural land had fallen to only 625 acres or 0.3% of the County’s land area • Over the decades, the County's economy has been influenced to various degrees by such diverse industries as agriculture, tourism, retirement, service, trade and manufacturing. The past decades have seen the decline in the importance of agriculture and manufacturing, with almost 60% of total employment concentrated in services and 18% in trade. • As buildout approaches and remaining undeveloped land disappears, the County must deal with additional capacity strains to water systems, residential areas, parklands, and highways. As Pinellas takes steps to address present problems and future needs, renewed consideration must be given to the historic character and natural environment that continue to make the County a unique and desirable place to live and work. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Pinellas County Historical Background 1-3 SIGNIFICANT DATES IN PINELLAS COUNTY'S HISTORY The following list presents a selection of significant events in Pinellas County's history. Many of these events are described in greater detail within the text of this report. Others are included not only for their historical significance, but also for their general interest to Pinellas citizens. c. 200 A.D. Weeden Island culture emerges along the Gulf Coast of Florida 1000 A.D. Tocobago Indians are at their zenith in the Safety Harbor area. 1528 Spanish explorer Pánfilo de Narvaez, it is believed, lands somewhere on the Pinellas Peninsula. 1539 Hernando deSoto, it is believed, explores the Tampa Bay area. 1832 Odet Philippe establishes the first permanent white settlement on the Pinellas Peninsula in the Safety Harbor area. 1834 Hillsborough County is formed. Included within Hillsborough County's jurisdiction is the Pinellas Peninsula, then known as West Hillsborough. 1842 The federal government's Armed Occupation Act takes effect, providing 160 acres to any head of family or single man over 18 years of age who would bear arms and live on the land in a fit habitation for five years and cultivate at least five acres. This Act provided the first material impetus to white settlement of the peninsula. 1848 An intense hurricane lashes the Pinellas Peninsula, causing widespread damage and destruction. 1853 Odet “Keeter” Booth, son of Richard Booth and Melanie Philippe- Booth, born; reputed to be the first white child born