CLEARWATER, FL
Welcome back to our series as we explore the various cities within Pinellas County. This week is all about the county seat, Clearwater.
The original inhabitants of the area were the Tocobaga Indians. These Indians lived in villages around Tampa Bay. Evidence of their existence is now found in the communal and ceremonial mounds that have been excavated in the area. While the biggest are found in neighboring Safety Harbor, they have been seen in the entire area.
Spanish explorers were next. They were attracted to the area by the natural mineral springs. In 1528 Panfilo de Narvaez, a Spanish explorer, landed in the area.
Around 1835 the US Army built Fort Harrison to be used as an outpost during the Seminole Wars. It was located on a bluff overlooking Clearwater Harbor. It later became part of a development called Harbor Oaks.
During the American Civil War, Union gunboats repeatedly raided the cities supplies. Most here fought for the Confederate Army. The city of Clearwater was incorporated on May 27, 1915 and its popularity as a vacation destination grew after railroad magnate Henry B. Plant built a sprawling Victorian resort hotel named Belleview Biltmore just south of Clearwater.
The library was built in 1916 with a grant from Andrew Carnegie. In that same year, the city built the first wooden bridge to Clearwater Beach, opening it up for development.
Here are a few noteworthy years, helping in the growth of Clearwater.
1918 – Pinellas County Courthouse was built.
1926 – Fort Harrison Hotel was re-built.
1976 – Church of Scientology headquartered in Clearwater.
2005 – Clearwater Memorial Causeway opens.
Going forward we’ll highlight the cities in alphabetical order, so next up is Belleair on February 10th.
Stay tuned!