Timeline of Pinellas County, Florida history

history.

900 - 1842

* 900 - 16th century Tocobaga live in Tampa Bay area, including Pinellas.

* 1513 - March 27 Ponce de Leon discovers Florida. .
* 1539 Hernando de Soto, another Spanish explorer, is thought to have explored the Tampa Bay area. .
* 1763 Under Treaty of Paris (1763) Spain cedes Florida to England at end of the French and Indian War. .
* 1821 Spain cedes Florida to United States. .
* 1835 Odet Phillippe homesteads at or near former site of Tocobaga village .
* 1835 - 1842 Second Seminole War.
* 1842 Armed Occupation Act provides for land grants in unsettled parts of Florida..

* 1855 Public school opens on land donated by John Taylor on site of present Clearwater High School. . Road opens from Yellow Bluff (Ozona, Florida) to Tampa. .

* 1884 Disston City (future Gulfport) plat filed. .

* 1887 Tarpon Springs became the first incorporated city on the peninsula. The Orange Belt Railroad arrives bringing growth to Pinellas. .

* 1892 St. Petersburg incorporates. .

* 1895 St. Petersburg prohibits cows with bells from wandering within town limits. . St. Petersburg Electric Light and Power Company, the future Florida Power Corporation, is chartered. .

* 1905 St. Petersburg Reading Room and Library Association founded. .

* 1910 Gulfport, Florida incorporated. .
* 1913 Pinellas Park incorporated. . Oldsmar, Florida incorporated. .
* 1921 Real estate boom period begins Pinellas. Severe hurricane causes significant destruc­tion throughout Pinellas County. Creates Hurricane Pass between what are now Caladesi and Honeymoon islands. .

* 1924 The Gandy Bridge opens, halving the distance between St. Petersburg and Tampa. The bridge was the longest automobile toll bridge in the world. . Northern watchdog groups warn of impending collapse of Florida real estate market. .

* 1927 American Legion Hospital for Crippled Children is founded. .

* 1929 The Great Depression begins.

*1930 City of St. Petersburg defaults on its bonds. .

* 1942 Military begins sending personnel to Pinellas for training.. Redington Beach incorporated. .

* 1949 Indian Shores incorporated. .

* 1954 Sunshine Skyway Bridge's first span opens linking Pinellas County with Manatee County. .

* 1957 Clearwater is the fastest growing U.S. City. .

* 1964 Pinellas becomes the first county in Florida to adopt Commission- Administrator form of government. .

* 1968 St. Petersburg Symphony Orchestra merges with Tampa Philharmonic to become Florida Gulf Coast Orchestra .

* 1970 The Central Pinellas Transit Authority provides public transportation to areas north of St. Peters­burg. .

* 1973 Community services and facilities are outpaced by a tremendous surge of new growth and development during the early 1970's. .
* 1975 Church of Scientology purchases Fort Harrison Hotel. . Corrine Freeman becomes St. Petersburg's first woman mayor. . County voters approve Home Rule Charter. .

* 1984 Amtrak discontinues passenger train service in Pinellas. .

* 1985 Severe drought results in watering restrictions. .

* 1998 Devil Rays open in Thunder Dome, 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)

References

* [http://www.geckomedia.com/largoFiles/agendas/agenda1547.pdf Annexation, May 23, 2006 Largo City Council work session agenda.]

* Baker, Rick. "Mangroves to Major League: a Timeline of St. Petersburg, Florida." St. Petersburg. Southern Heritage Press. 2000.

* [http://www.abfla.com/parks/EgmontKey/egmontkey.html Egmont Key State Park] June 16, 2006.

* "Deal ends annexation suit." "St. Petersburg Times. Mar 26, 2006.

* Largo Bicentennial Book Committee. (LBBC1979)"Largo, then till . . . ." [http://www.largohistory.org/ Largo Area Historical Society] . 1979.

* Lindberg, Anne. [http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/sptimes/access/1126893571.html?dids=1126893571:1126893571&FMT=FT&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Sep+13%2C+2006&author=ANNE+LINDBERG&pub=St.+Petersburg+Times&edition=&startpage=1.B&desc=Ruling+may+rekindle+turf+wars Ruling may rekindle turf wars] (HTML) "Saint Petersburg Times." Retrieved on 2006-9-14.

* Olds, Arthur. "It's No Bull." Boot Ranch Publishing. New Port Richey, Florida. 1992

* Pinellas County Planning Department as staff for the Pinellas County Planning Council. (PCPD) "Pinellas County Historical Background". No city. No date.

* Straub, W. L. "History of Pinellas County". (Straub) The Record Company. St. Augustine, Florida. 1929.

* [http://www.tbnweekly.com/special_section/hurricane_guide/content_articles/hurr_2004-season-summary.txt|(TBNHG) Tampa Bay Newspapers Hurricane Guide. 2004 Hurricane season summary. June *, 2006.]