Timeline of Pinellas County, Florida history
Encyclopedia
Pinellas County, Florida
Pinellas County is a county located in the state of Florida. Its county seat is Clearwater, Florida, and its largest city is St. Petersburg. This county is contained entirely within the telephone area code 727, except for some sections of Oldsmar, which have the area code 813...
history.
900–1842
- 900 – 16th century TocobagaTocobagaTocobaga was the name of a chiefdom, its chief and its principal town during the 16th century in the area of Tampa Bay. The town was at the northern end of what is now called Old Tampa Bay, an arm of Tampa Bay that extends northward between the present-day city of Tampa and Pinellas County...
live in Tampa Bay area, including Pinellas.
- 1513 – March 27 Ponce de LeonPonce de León-People:* Juan Ponce de León, a Spanish explorer of the Americas and first Governor of Puerto Rico* Juan Ponce de León y Loayza, the son of Juan Ponce de León II, and early settler of Ponce, Puerto Rico...
discovers Florida.FloridaFlorida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
.
- 1515 – 1519 Spanish explorers visit Pinellas barrier islands while trading with TocobagaTocobagaTocobaga was the name of a chiefdom, its chief and its principal town during the 16th century in the area of Tampa Bay. The town was at the northern end of what is now called Old Tampa Bay, an arm of Tampa Bay that extends northward between the present-day city of Tampa and Pinellas County...
. .
- 1528 Spanish explorer Panfilo de NarvaezPánfilo de NarváezPánfilo de Narváez was a Spanish conqueror and soldier in the Americas. He is most remembered as the leader of two expeditions, one to Mexico in 1520 to oppose Hernán Cortés, and the disastrous Narváez expedition to Florida in 1527....
is believed to have landed somewhere on the Pinellas peninsula. .
- 1539 Hernando de SotoHernando de Soto (explorer)Hernando de Soto was a Spanish explorer and conquistador who, while leading the first European expedition deep into the territory of the modern-day United States, was the first European documented to have crossed the Mississippi River....
, another Spanish explorer, is thought to have explored the Tampa Bay area. .
- 1702 – 1713 Queen Anne's WarQueen Anne's WarQueen Anne's War , as the North American theater of the War of the Spanish Succession was known in the British colonies, was the second in a series of French and Indian Wars fought between France and England, later Great Britain, in North America for control of the continent. The War of the...
. TocobagaTocobagaTocobaga was the name of a chiefdom, its chief and its principal town during the 16th century in the area of Tampa Bay. The town was at the northern end of what is now called Old Tampa Bay, an arm of Tampa Bay that extends northward between the present-day city of Tampa and Pinellas County...
virtually annihilated. English raids reach Tampa BayTampa BayTampa Bay is a large natural harbor and estuary along the Gulf of Mexico on the west central coast of Florida, comprising Hillsborough Bay, Old Tampa Bay, Middle Tampa Bay, and Lower Tampa Bay."Tampa Bay" is not the name of any municipality...
. Pinellas largely deserted. .
- 1739 – 1748 War of Jenkins' EarWar of Jenkins' EarThe War of Jenkins' Ear was a conflict between Great Britain and Spain that lasted from 1739 to 1748, with major operations largely ended by 1742. Its unusual name, coined by Thomas Carlyle in 1858, relates to Robert Jenkins, captain of a British merchant ship, who exhibited his severed ear in...
. English mapping expeditions visit Pinellas Peninsula.
- 1757 Spanish expedition renames Tampa Bay "La Bahia de San Fernando", after the Spanish king. Names entrance to Tampa Bay "La Punta de Pinal de Jimenez" (Point of Pines). .
- 1763 Under Treaty of Paris (1763)Treaty of Paris (1763)The Treaty of Paris, often called the Peace of Paris, or the Treaty of 1763, was signed on 10 February 1763, by the kingdoms of Great Britain, France and Spain, with Portugal in agreement. It ended the French and Indian War/Seven Years' War...
Spain cedes Florida to England at end of the French and Indian War.French and Indian WarThe French and Indian War is the common American name for the war between Great Britain and France in North America from 1754 to 1763. In 1756, the war erupted into the world-wide conflict known as the Seven Years' War and thus came to be regarded as the North American theater of that war...
.
- 1783 Treaty of Paris (1783)Treaty of Paris (1783)The Treaty of Paris, signed on September 3, 1783, ended the American Revolutionary War between Great Britain on the one hand and the United States of America and its allies on the other. The other combatant nations, France, Spain and the Dutch Republic had separate agreements; for details of...
ends American Revolutionary WarAmerican Revolutionary WarThe American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
. England cedes Florida to Spain.SpainSpain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
.
- 1817 – 1818 First Seminole War. .
- 1821 Spain cedes Florida to United States.United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
- 1823 U S Army establishes Fort BrookeFort BrookeFort Brooke was a historical military post situated on the east bank of the Hillsborough River in present-day Tampa, Florida. The Tampa Convention Center currently stands at the site.-Fort Brooke as a military outpost:...
(later to become Tampa, Florida.Tampa, FloridaTampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
) .
- 1834 Hillsborough CountyHillsborough County, FloridaAs of the census of 2000, there were 998,948 people, 391,357 households, and 255,164 families residing in the county. The population density was 951 people per square mile . There were 425,962 housing units at an average density of 405 per square mile...
is formed, including Pinellas peninsula as West Hillsborough. .
- 1835 Odet Phillippe homesteads at or near former site of TocobagaTocobagaTocobaga was the name of a chiefdom, its chief and its principal town during the 16th century in the area of Tampa Bay. The town was at the northern end of what is now called Old Tampa Bay, an arm of Tampa Bay that extends northward between the present-day city of Tampa and Pinellas County...
village in present day Safety Harbor. .
- 1841 Fort Harrison opens on Clear Water Harbor as rest and recreation post for soldiers from Fort BrookeFort BrookeFort Brooke was a historical military post situated on the east bank of the Hillsborough River in present-day Tampa, Florida. The Tampa Convention Center currently stands at the site.-Fort Brooke as a military outpost:...
. .
- 1835 – 1842 Second Seminole War.
- 1842 Armed Occupation Act provides for land grants in unsettled parts of Florida..
1843 – 1906
- 1843 Antonio Maximo Hernandez settles on what is now Maximo point in St. Petersburg. .
- 1848 Egmont Key lighthouse is built only to be destroyed later that year by the Great GaleGreat Gale of 1848The Great Gale of 1848, also known as the Tampa Bay hurricane of 1848 and originally as the Great Gale of '48, was a tropical cyclone that struck Florida in September 1848. It affected the Tampa Bay Area September 23–25, 1848. It crossed the Florida Peninsula to cause damage on the east coast on or...
, which flooded much of Pinellas. .
- 1855 Public school opens on land donated by John Taylor on site of present Clearwater High School. .
- 1859 Clear Water Harbor (later Clearwater, FloridaClearwater, FloridaClearwater is a city located in Pinellas County, Florida, US, nearly due west of Tampa and northwest of St. Petersburg. In the west of Clearwater lies the Gulf of Mexico and in the east lies Tampa Bay. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 108,787. It is the county seat of...
) becomes first community on Pinellas. The first post office in Pinellas established there. .
- 1861 – 1865 American Civil War.American Civil WarThe American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
- 1868 Anna Germain and John Donaldson are the first African-Americans to settle in lower Pinellas. . Road opens from Yellow Bluff (Ozona, Florida) to Tampa. .
- 1869 Organized hunting parties strive to eradicate black bears and Florida panthers that threaten Pinellas cattle industry. .
- 1876 “Pinellas Village” obtains first post office in what is now St. Petersburg. .
- 1884 Disston City (future GulfportGulfport, FloridaGulfport is a city in Pinellas County, Florida and a suburb of St. Petersburg. The population of Gulfport was 12,527 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau was 12,740. Gulfport is part of the Tampa-St...
) plat filed. .
- 1885 Pinellas's healthsome climate extolled at American Medical Society convention in New Orleans.New Orleans, LouisianaNew Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
.
- 1886 First house on Passe-a-Grille Island built. .
- 1887 Tarpon SpringsTarpon Springs, FloridaTarpon Springs is a city in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. The population was 21,003 at the 2000 census. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2004 estimates, the city had a population of 22,554....
became the first incorporated city on the peninsula. The Orange Belt Railroad arrives bringing growth to Pinellas. .
- 1888 St. Petersburg, FloridaSt. Petersburg, FloridaSt. Petersburg is a city in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. It is known as a vacation destination for both American and foreign tourists. As of 2008, the population estimate by the U.S. Census Bureau is 245,314, making St...
platted, named in honor of St. Petersburg, Russia the hometown of Orange Belt Railroad owner Peter DemensPeter DemensPeter Demens born Pyotr Alexeyevitch Dementyev is one of the founders of the U.S. city of Saint Petersburg, Florida.-Early life:Peter Demens was born to a wealthy family in the Tver Oblast of Russia. Demens was a well educated aristocrat who was also liberal-minded. "Demens' father had left him...
. Railroad reaches St. Petersburg. .
- 1890 Tampa Bay Ice Company begins operations, greatly aiding the local fishing industry. .
- 1892 St. Petersburg incorporates. .
- 1893 St. Petersburg’s first bank organized. .
- 1894 Hillsborough Times moves from Clearwater to St. Petersburg and is renamed The St. Petersburg Times. .
- 1895 St. Petersburg prohibits cows with bells from wandering within town limits. . Henry B. PlantHenry B. PlantHenry Bradley Plant , was involved with many transportation projects, mostly railroads, in the U.S. state of Florida. Eventually he owned the Plant System of railroads which became part of the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad...
buys Orange Belt Railroad. .
- 1897 Henry Plant opens Belleview Biltmore. . St. Petersburg Electric Light and Power Company, the future Florida Power CorporationFlorida Power CorporationFlorida Power Corporation was the generation, transmission, and distribution sector of Florida Progress Corporation. The company distributed power over much of central and north Florida. Today the company operates as Progress Energy Florida....
, is chartered. .
- 1898 Construction begins on Fort DeSoto. St. Petersburg High SchoolSt. Petersburg High SchoolSt. Petersburg High School, founded in 1898, is a secondary school located in St. Petersburg, Florida. The school's current building, a historic landmark, was built in 1926 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. The school was billed as the nation's first million dollar...
is founded. .
- 1899 Dunedin incorporated.
- 1900 First land-based hotel built on St. Petersburg’s gulf beaches. .
- 1905 St. Petersburg Reading Room and Library Association founded. . Town of LargoLargo, FloridaLargo is the third largest city in Pinellas County, Florida, USA and is part of the Tampa Bay Area. Centrally located, it is the crossroads of the county. As of the 2000 census, the City had a total population of 69,371. As of 2004, the population estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau was...
incorporated, becoming the first municipality in Pinellas County to adopt a Council-Manager government.Council-manager governmentThe council–manager government form is one of two predominant forms of municipal government in the United States; the other common form of local government is the mayor-council government form, which characteristically occurs in large cities...
.
- 1906 Fort Dade constructed on Egmont Key. (Egmont)
1907 – 1945
- 1907 Pinellas "Declaration of Independence" marks major milestone on the road to creating Pinellas County. .
- 1910 Gulfport, FloridaGulfport, FloridaGulfport is a city in Pinellas County, Florida and a suburb of St. Petersburg. The population of Gulfport was 12,527 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau was 12,740. Gulfport is part of the Tampa-St...
incorporated. .
- 1910 Tampa and Gulf Coast Railroad extended to Tarpon Springs.
- 1911 St. Petersburg’s first high school is built. .
- 1912 Pinellas County officially separates from Hillsborough County. .
- 1913 Pinellas Park incorporated. .
- 1914 Aviation history was made in St. Petersburg as Tony Jannus made the world's first scheduled airline flight with the St. Petersburg-Tampa Airboat LineSt. Petersburg-Tampa Airboat LineThe St. Petersburg-Tampa Airboat Line was the first scheduled airline using a winged aircraft.The airline provided service between St. Petersburg, Florida and neighboring Tampa.-Overview:...
from St. Petersburg to Tampa. .
- 1914 Tampa and Gulf Coast Railroad extended to St. Petersburg. First SAL train arrives September 22.
- 1916 Morton F. Plant, son of Henry B. Plant, gives $100,000 toward creation of Clearwater’s first hospital, which still bears his nameMorton Plant HospitalMorton Plant Hospital is a 687 bed hospital at 300 Pinellas Street in Clearwater, Florida. Morton Plant is community-based and provides services in more than fifty specialty areas. This hospital is part of the greater...
. . Oldsmar, FloridaOldsmar, FloridaOldsmar is a city in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. The population was 11,910 at the 2000 census. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates the population to be 13,401 as of 2008....
incorporated. .
- 1917 No fence law illegalizes cattle roaming free. .
- 1918 Cattle stampede in St. Petersburg. .
- 1921 Real estate boom period begins Pinellas. Severe hurricane causes significant destruction throughout Pinellas County. Creates Hurricane Pass between what are now CaladesiCaladesi Island State ParkCaladesi Island State Park is a Florida State Park located on Caladesi Island, across St. Joseph Sound from Dunedin, Florida and north of Clearwater Beach. Honeymoon Island and neighboring Caladesi Island were originally part of a large barrier island that split in half during a major hurricane in...
and Honeymoon islandsHoneymoon Island State ParkHoneymoon Island State Park is a Florida State Park located on Honeymoon Island, a barrier island across St. Joseph's Sound from Palm Harbor, Ozona, and Crystal Beach. The park is in land area with submerged and of beach. It lies at the western end of Causeway Boulevard, which becomes Curlew...
. . Fort's Dade and DeSotoFort De Soto ParkFort De Soto Park is located just outside the city of St. Petersburg, Florida. This park, operated by Pinellas County, is made up from five offshore keys, or islands lying to the city's south-southwest: Madelaine Key, St. Jean Key, St. Christopher Key, Bonne Fortune Key and the main island, Mullet...
deactivated. .
- 1923 County passes bond issue to build roads and bridges. .
- 1924 The Gandy BridgeGandy BridgeGandy Bridge is the southernmost bridge spanning Old Tampa Bay from St. Petersburg, Florida to Tampa, Florida. Almost three miles long, it is one of three bridges connecting Hillsborough County and Pinellas County; the others being the Howard Frankland Bridge and the Courtney Campbell...
opens, halving the distance between St. Petersburg and Tampa. The bridge was the longest automobile toll bridge in the world. .
- 1925 Palm Harbor named. . St. Petersburg Kennel Club begins greyhound racing at what will become Derby Lane. . Northern watchdog groups warn of impending collapse of Florida real estate market. .
- 1926. Real estate boom ends, severely stressing local economy. . Bee Line Ferry begins service between Pinellas and Manatee Counties. .
- 1927 American Legion Hospital for Crippled Children is founded. .
- 1928 County Commission deputizes Impounding Masters to keep cattle inside county pasture. . R. E. OldsRansom E. OldsRansom Eli Olds was a pioneer of the American automotive industry, for whom both the Oldsmobile and REO brands were named. He claimed to have built his first steam car as early as 1894, and his first gasoline powered car in 1896...
sells holdings in Oldsmar and buys Fort Harrison Hotel. .
- 1929 The Great DepressionGreat DepressionThe Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
begins.
- 1930 City of St. Petersburg defaults on its bonds. .
- 1934 The Davis (Courtney Campbell) Causeway connects Clearwater more directly with Tampa.
- 1938 Treasure IslandTreasure Island, FloridaTreasure Island is a city in Pinellas County, Florida, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 7,450. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2004 estimates, the city had a population of 7,521.-Geography:...
incorporated. .
- 1941 World War II begins; population growth in Pinellas slows dramatically. .
- 1942 Military begins sending personnel to Pinellas for training..
- 1943 St. Pete BeachSt. Pete Beach, FloridaSt. Pete Beach is a coastal city in Pinellas County, Florida, United States famous for its status as a tourist destination. St. Pete Beach was formed from the Towns of Pass-a-Grille, Don CeSar, Belle Vista, St. Petersburg Beach and unincorporated Pinellas County. At the time of its incorporation...
incorporated. .
- 1945 World War II ended; Pinellas enters a period of rapid growth and development. . Redington BeachRedington Beach, FloridaRedington Beach is a town in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. The population was 1,539 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau is 1,534.-Geography:Redington Beach is located at ....
incorporated. .
1946 – present
- 1946 Population boom begins as ex military personnel return as visitors or as residents. .
- 1947 Madeira BeachMadeira Beach, FloridaMadeira Beach is a city in Pinellas County, Florida, United States bordered on the west by the Gulf of Mexico and on the east by St. Petersburg. As of 2004, the population estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau is 4,492. Those living in this small Florida city are within minutes of the beach if they...
incorporated. .
- 1949 Indian ShoresIndian Shores, FloridaIndian Shores is a town in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. The town is a beach-front community situated on a barrier island west of Seminole, Florida. The population was 1,705 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau is 1,792....
incorporated. .
- 1951 St. Petersburg Symphony Orchestra performs first concert. .
- 1953 North Redington BeachNorth Redington Beach, FloridaNorth Redington Beach is a town in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. The population was 1,474 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau is 1,526.-Geography:North Redington Beach is located at ....
incorporated. 184. WSUN-TV becomes the first TV station to serve Pinellas. .
- 1954 Sunshine Skyway BridgeSunshine Skyway BridgeThe Bob Graham Sunshine Skyway Bridge is a bridge spanning Tampa Bay, Florida, with a cable-stayed main span, and a total length of 21,877 feet . It is part of I-275 and US 19 , connecting St. Petersburg in Pinellas County and Terra Ceia in Manatee County, Florida, passing through Hillsborough...
's first span opens linking Pinellas County with Manatee County. .
- 1955 Gulf Coast Highway (U. S. Highway 19U.S. Route 19 in FloridaU.S. Route 19 in Florida runs along Florida's west coast from an interchange with U.S. Route 41 in Memphis, Florida, south of Tampa, and continues to the Georgia border north of Monticello, Florida....
) opens to St. Petersburg providing a direct route from Pinellas County to Tallahassee, Florida. .
- 1956 Redington ShoresRedington Shores, FloridaRedington Shores is a town in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. The population was 2,338 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau is 2,031.-Geography:Redington Shores is located at ....
and Indian Rocks BeachIndian Rocks Beach, FloridaIndian Rocks Beach is a city in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. The population was 5,072 at the 2000 census. As of 2007, the population estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau is 5,167.-Geography:...
incorporated. .
- 1957 Clearwater is the fastest growing U.S. City. .
- 1960 The Howard Frankland BridgeHoward Frankland BridgeThe W. Howard Frankland Bridge is the central bridge spanning Old Tampa Bay from St. Petersburg, Florida to Tampa, Florida. It is one of three bridges connecting Hillsborough County and Pinellas County; the others being Gandy Bridge and Courtney Campbell Causeway...
provides third link across Tampa Bay. .
- 1963 Seaboard Air LineSeaboard Air Line RailroadThe Seaboard Air Line Railroad , which styled itself "The Route of Courteous Service," was an American railroad whose corporate existence extended from April 14, 1900, until July 1, 1967, when it merged with the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad, its longtime rival, to form the Seaboard Coast Line...
and Atlantic Coast LineAtlantic Coast Line RailroadThe Atlantic Coast Line Railroad was an American railroad that existed between 1900 and 1967, when it merged with the Seaboard Air Line Railroad, its long-time rival, to form the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad...
railroads gain approval to merge to become the Seaboard Coastline Railroad in 1967. .
- 1964 Pinellas becomes the first county in Florida to adopt Commission- Administrator form of government. .
- 1965 St. Petersburg Fine Arts Museum opens. .
- 1967 American Legion Hospital for Crippled Children is renamed All Children's HospitalAll Children's HospitalAll Children's Hospital is a Pediatric hospital located in St. Petersburg, FloridaIt is the only freestanding children’s hospital on the state's Gulf coast. It has consistently ranked among America’s top 25 children’s hospitals in comparative studies done by Child Magazine, which rated All...
. .
- 1968 St. Petersburg Symphony Orchestra merges with Tampa Philharmonic to become Florida Gulf Coast Orchestra .
- 1969 Boca Ciega Bay becomes Florida's first aquatic preserve. C Bette Winbrish (?) becomes first African_American elected to the St. Petersburg City Council. .
- 1970 The Central Pinellas Transit Authority provides public transportation to areas north of St. Petersburg. .
- 1971 Amtrak takes over railroad passenger service from the Seaboard Coast Line.
- 1971 A second span of the Sunshine Skyway BridgeSunshine Skyway BridgeThe Bob Graham Sunshine Skyway Bridge is a bridge spanning Tampa Bay, Florida, with a cable-stayed main span, and a total length of 21,877 feet . It is part of I-275 and US 19 , connecting St. Petersburg in Pinellas County and Terra Ceia in Manatee County, Florida, passing through Hillsborough...
is opened. .
- 1972 Judge James Sanderlin becomes the first African-American elected to county-wide office. .
- 1973 Community services and facilities are outpaced by a tremendous surge of new growth and development during the early 1970s. .
- 1974 Comprehensive Land Use Plan is the first formal countywide attempt to manage growth in Pinellas County. . 200 acre (0.809372 km²) of Egmont KeyEgmont Key State ParkEgmont Key State Park is a Florida State Park located on Egmont Key, at the mouth of Tampa Bay, in the state of Florida, United States. It lies southwest of Fort DeSoto Park. It can only be reached by boat or ferry. The Egmont Key Lighthouse and the ruins of Fort Dade, a Spanish-American War era...
set aside as national wildlife refuge. .
- 1975 Church of ScientologyScientologyScientology is a body of beliefs and related practices created by science fiction and fantasy author L. Ron Hubbard , starting in 1952, as a successor to his earlier self-help system, Dianetics...
purchases Fort Harrison Hotel. .
- 1976 The Pinellas County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) replaces the Pinellas County Transportation Authority as a countywide transportation planning organization. .
- 1977 Pinellas County's Heritage Park opens an exhibit of historically significant Pinellas County structures. . Corrine Freeman becomes St. Petersburg's first woman mayor. .
- 1978 Egmont Key named to the national register of Historic Places. .
- 1980 Portions of the southbound span of the Sunshine Skyway BridgeSunshine Skyway BridgeThe Bob Graham Sunshine Skyway Bridge is a bridge spanning Tampa Bay, Florida, with a cable-stayed main span, and a total length of 21,877 feet . It is part of I-275 and US 19 , connecting St. Petersburg in Pinellas County and Terra Ceia in Manatee County, Florida, passing through Hillsborough...
collapse after being hit by the freighter SS Summit VentureSS Summit VentureThe M/V Summit Venture is a bulk carrier built in 1976, in Nagasaki, Japan. She is 579.8 feet long, beam of 85.5 feet, and displacement of 19,734 tons. She would cruise at 13.5 knots at 100% power and 10.9 knots at 50% power.-1980 incident:...
. . County voters approve Home Rule Charter. .
- 1982 Salvador Dali MuseumSalvador Dalí MuseumThe Salvador Dalí Museum in St. Petersburg, Florida, United States, houses the largest collection outside Europe of the works of the artist Salvador Dalí and is located on the Downtown St. Petersburg waterfront.-History:...
opens in St. Petersburg. .
- 1983 Pinellas County opens its new Resource Recovery Plant. .
- 1984 AmtrakAmtrakThe National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
discontinues passenger train service in Pinellas. . Countywide bus service is implemented in Pinellas County with the absorption of the St. Petersburg Municipal Transit System into the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority. . Florida Gulf Coast orchestra becomes The Florida OrchestraThe Florida OrchestraThe Florida Orchestra is a performing arts company located in Tampa Bay, Florida. It is one of the leading professional symphony orchestras in Florida, and one of the best regional orchestras in America....
. .
- 1985 Severe droughtDroughtA drought is an extended period of months or years when a region notes a deficiency in its water supply. Generally, this occurs when a region receives consistently below average precipitation. It can have a substantial impact on the ecosystem and agriculture of the affected region...
results in watering restrictions. . A four-cent local option gas tax is passed by the Board of County Commissioners. Hurricane ElenaHurricane ElenaHurricane Elena was a category 3 major hurricane that produced heavy damage along the Gulf Coast of the United States in August and September of the 1985 Atlantic hurricane season. The fifth tropical storm, fourth hurricane, and first major hurricane of the season, Elena developed near Cuba from a...
threatens Florida. .
- 1990 First segment of Pinellas Trail opens between Dunedin and Seminole. Former SCL railroad right of way had been purchased in 1983.
- 1993 "No Name Storm"1993 North American storm complexThe Storm of the Century, also known as the ’93 Superstorm, or the Blizzard of 1993, was a large cyclonic storm that occurred on March 12–13, 1993, on the East Coast of North America. It is unique for its intensity, massive size and wide-reaching effect...
causes $500 million dollars in damage. .
- 1998 Devil Rays open in Thunder DomeTropicana FieldTropicana Field is a domed stadium in St. Petersburg, Florida, which has been the home of Major League Baseball's Tampa Bay Rays since the team's inaugural season in 1998, when they were the Devil Rays. It has also served as the host stadium for the Beef 'O' Brady's Bowl, an NCAA-sanctioned college...
, renamed Tropicana Field. Calvin Harris becomes first African American County Commissioner. .
- 2000 Charter amendment adopted to end annexation wars among municipalities and county. (Annexation).
- 2004 Four hurricanes narrowly miss Pinellas County, causing minor damage. (TBNHG).
- 2006 Litigation dance between Largo and Pinellas County continues. (Deal) Court rules Pinellas County acted wrongly in limiting the annexation authority of municipalities. (Lindberg)