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Clearwater, Florida

Clearwater is a city located in Pinellas County, Florida, United States, west of Tampa and north of St. Petersburg. To the west of Clearwater lies the Gulf of Mexico and to the southeast lies Tampa Bay. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 117,292.[5] Clearwater is the county seat of Pinellas County[6] and 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.

Clearwater, Florida
Clearwater City View
Location in Pinellas County and the state of Florida
Coordinates: 27°58′25″N 82°45′51″W / 27.97361°N 82.76417°W / 27.97361; -82.76417
CountryUnited States
StateFlorida
CountyPinellas
Incorporated1891
Re-IncorporatedMay 27, 1915
Government
 • MayorBrian Aungst[1]
 • City ManagerJennifer Poirrier (Temporary)
Area
 • City35.92 sq mi (93.04 km2)
 • Land26.13 sq mi (67.68 km2)
 • Water9.79 sq mi (25.36 km2)
Elevation
30 ft (9 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • City117,292
 • Density4,488.62/sq mi (1,733.06/km2)
 • Metro
2,783,243
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP Codes
33755–33769
Area code727
FIPS code12-12875[3]
GNIS feature ID0280543[4]
Websitewww.myclearwater.com
A figure skater pictured at the Clearwater Ice Arena

Clearwater Beach is part of the city of Clearwater, but is separated from it by the Intracoastal Waterway. Cleveland Street is one of the city's historic avenues, and the city includes BayCare Ballpark and Coachman Park.[7]

The Church of Scientology owns the majority of property in the Clearwater downtown core district.[8][9]

History

 
Clearwater at daybreak, as seen from Clearwater Beach

Present-day Clearwater was originally the home of the Tocobaga people. Around 1835, the United States Army began construction of Fort Harrison, named after William Henry Harrison, as an outpost during the Seminole Wars.[10] The fort was located on a bluff overlooking Clearwater Harbor, which later became part of an early 20th-century residential development called Harbor Oaks. University of South Florida archaeologists excavated the site in 1962 after Mark Wyllie discovered an underground ammunition bunker while planting a tree in his yard.[10]

The area's population grew after the Federal Armed Occupation Act of 1842 offered 160 acres (0.65 km2) to anyone who would bear arms and cultivate the land.[11] Early settlers included the Stevens, Stevenson, Sever and McMullen families, who claimed and farmed large tracts of land.[11] 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 bluff, many in the bay or harbor itself.

 
View north from Sand Key toward Clearwater Beach

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.

During the American Civil War, Union gunboats repeatedly raided the community's supplies, as most of the able-bodied men were away fighting for the Confederate Army.[10] The town began developing in the late nineteenth century, prompted by Peter Demens' completion of the first passenger railroad line into the city in 1888. Clearwater was incorporated in 1891, with James E. Crane becoming the first mayor.[12] The area's 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 in 1897.

 
Pinellas County Courthouse in Clearwater

By the early 1900s, Clearwater's population had grown to around 400, ballooning to nearly 1,000 in the winter. Clearwater's oldest existing newspaper, the Clearwater Sun, was first published on March 14, 1914.[13] Clearwater was reincorporated, this time as a city, on May 27, 1915, and was designated the county seat for Pinellas County, which broke from Hillsborough County in 1912. In 1915, a bridge was built across Clearwater Harbor, joining the city with Clearwater Beach to the west. Clearwater Beach, although located on a separate barrier island, belongs to the city of Clearwater and fronts the Gulf of Mexico. A new, much higher bridge now arcs over the bay, replacing the former drawbridge; the connecting road is part of State Road 60 and is called Clearwater Memorial Causeway.

During World War II, Clearwater became a major training base for US troops destined for Europe and the Pacific. Virtually every hotel in the area, including the Belleview Biltmore and the Fort Harrison Hotel, was used as a barracks for new recruits.[10] Vehicle traffic was 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 the highrise-dominated Sand Key, was used as a target by U.S. Army Air Corps fighter-bombers for strafing and bombing practice.

Timeline

Timeline of Clearwater, Florida

Geography

Clearwater is located at 27°58′25″N 82°45′51″W / 27.973644°N 82.764271°W / 27.973644; -82.764271.[29]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 39.2 square miles (101.6 km2), of which 25.6 square miles (66.2 km2) is land and 13.7 square miles (35.4 km2) (34.86%) is water.[30]

Downtown

Clearwater's downtown has been undergoing major redevelopment in recent years. General beautification has been done along with completion of several high-rise condos and a large marina.[31][32] New bars, restaurants, and other amenities are coming to the area, renamed the "Cleveland Street District".[33][34] Royalty Theatre is also slated to be renovated.[35][36]

Climate

Clearwater has a humid subtropical climate. Clearwater is far enough south that it lies in the broad transition zone from subtropical to tropical climates. As such, Clearwater is mostly warm to hot year round, with few nights of frost. Most of the annual rainfall comes in the wet season (June through September), when daily thundershowers erupt due to the strong solar heating. The dry season starts in October and runs through May, at which time the weather is sunny, dry, and there is little change in daily weather.[37]

Climate data for Clearwater
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 86
(30)
87
(31)
89
(32)
92
(33)
97
(36)
97
(36)
96
(36)
96
(36)
95
(35)
94
(34)
89
(32)
87
(31)
97
(36)
Average high °F (°C) 71.4
(21.9)
71.4
(21.9)
76.1
(24.5)
81.2
(27.3)
86.2
(30.1)
89.1
(31.7)
89.9
(32.2)
90.0
(32.2)
88.5
(31.4)
83.6
(28.7)
76.4
(24.7)
71.9
(22.2)
81.3
(27.4)
Daily mean °F (°C) 62.3
(16.8)
62.3
(16.8)
66.9
(19.4)
71.9
(22.2)
77.2
(25.1)
80.9
(27.2)
82.1
(27.8)
82.1
(27.8)
80.7
(27.1)
75.1
(23.9)
67.2
(19.6)
62.8
(17.1)
72.6
(22.6)
Average low °F (°C) 52.9
(11.6)
53.2
(11.8)
57.8
(14.3)
62.7
(17.1)
68.2
(20.1)
72.6
(22.6)
74.2
(23.4)
74.2
(23.4)
72.9
(22.7)
66.5
(19.2)
58.1
(14.5)
53.7
(12.1)
63.9
(17.7)
Record low °F (°C) 24
(−4)
27
(−3)
29
(−2)
41
(5)
53
(12)
60
(16)
62
(17)
65
(18)
61
(16)
45
(7)
27
(−3)
19
(−7)
19
(−7)
Average precipitation inches (cm) 2
(5.1)
3.5
(8.9)
3.5
(8.9)
2
(5.1)
2.1
(5.3)
6.2
(16)
9.5
(24)
9.5
(24)
7.2
(18)
2.8
(7.1)
1.8
(4.6)
2.5
(6.4)
52.6
(134)
Average precipitation days 7 7 6 4 6 12 15 17 12 6 6 6 104
Mean monthly sunshine hours 217 197.75 279 300 310 270 279 248 240 248 210 186 2,984.75
Percent possible sunshine 66.0 62.5 75.0 77.5 74.1 64.7 65.7 61.1 65.0 69.6 64.8 57.7 67.0
Source 1: Weatherbase[38]
Source 2: Weather Atlas[39]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1900383
19101,171205.7%
19202,427107.3%
19307,607213.4%
194010,13633.2%
195015,58153.7%
196034,653122.4%
197052,07450.3%
198085,17063.6%
199098,66915.8%
2000108,78710.3%
2010107,685−1.0%
2020117,2928.9%
Source:1900-2010[40]

Between 2014 and 2018, there were 46,667 households with an average household size of 2.4.[41] In 2019, the city's population was spread out, with 18.7% under the age of 18, 59.4% between the age of 18 and 64, and 21.9% who were 65 years of age or older.[41]

Between 2014 and 2018, the median income for a household in the city was $47,070, and the median income for a family was $46,228.[41] 15.9% of the population fell below the poverty line.[41]

Languages

As of 2000, speakers of English as their first language were 84.43% of residents, Spanish as a mother tongue was 8.55%, Greek accounted for 1.15%, French made up 1.00% of speakers, German at 0.97%, and Italian speakers comprised 0.85% of the population.[42]

Economy

Clearwater's economy employs nearly 50,400 people. Major employers include Morton Plant Hospital, Tech Data, and Honeywell.[43] Employment in Clearwater grew 1.84% from 2015 to 2016 with 50,345 people in the workforce.[44] The most common job groups include Service, Sales & Office, Science, and Business. As of 2020, the median household income for Clearwater was $50,335, which is below the average for both the United States as well as the state of Florida.[44]

Art and culture

 
Clearwater Beach, looking south from Pier 60
 
Pier 60 in Clearwater Beach, April 2013

In 2012, the city was listed among the 10 best places to retire in the U.S. by CBS Money Watch.[45]

Tourism

Clearwater Public Art and Design Program

The Clearwater Public Art and Design Program,[46] adopted by City Council in 2005, is funded through a 1% allocation on all city capital improvement projects valued at more than $500,000. The program commissions an average of 2–3 new projects per year.

Capitol and Royalty Theatre

Pre-Capitol Theatre, a bandstand stood at 405 Cleveland Street in Downtown Clearwater, where the community gathered to listen to music.[47] The names of locals serving in World War I were etched on the wall of the adjacent Clearwater Sun building; this "Panel of Honor" was obscured when the original Capitol Theatre was built but uncovered when the newspaper building was torn down in 2013.[48]

The Capitol Theatre opened March 21, 1921. It was built by Senator-elect John Stansel Taylor. The theater's architect was Lester Avery and the contractor was John D. Phillipoff.[49] Avery is known for his architecture in Miami. Philipoff also built the Coachman Building (1916), the Donald Roebling Estate in Belleair (added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979),[50] the old Pinellas County Courthouse (added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1992),[50] other historical homes which have been saved,[51] and did work at the Belleview Hotel.[52]

Groundbreaking was December 6, 1920.[53] The "New Capitol Theatre" was damaged in a storm on October 26, 1921 (so it had been completed).[54] A theatre organ was installed in 1922, to accompany silent films with music. The organ was made and installed by the Robert Morton Organ Company.

Donald Roebling was a frequent patron, having his own double seat installed at the theatre.[55]

The theatre was managed by various movie companies (EJ Sparks, Paramount, ABC-Southeastern Theatres, and Plitt Southern) and played the most recent movies of the day. The theatre also offered vaudeville on Friday nights in the 1930s. Headliners included Sally Rand, Fred Stone and his daughter, and Lum and Abner (of radio).[55] The theatre was renovated in 1962.[56] The Morton theatre organ was most likely removed during this renovation. When Plitt Southern did not renew their contract in 1979, Bill Neville and Jerry Strain tried to save the theatre with film classics and reduced prices. However, the theatre closed its doors on October 28, 1980.

Royalty Theater Company signed leases with the Taylor family in February 1981 when it then became known as the Royalty Theater (Clearwater, Florida). The building was renovated with Ron Winter of Winter Associates as the contractor[57] and Scott Musheff as the architect.[58]

During the renovations, Bill Neville's murdered body was found in the balcony.[59]

The theatre remained in the Taylor family estate until it was sold in 1996. In July 2008 the building went into foreclosure.[60]

In January 2009, the City of Clearwater and Ruth Eckerd Hall joined forces to purchase the theatre (renamed Capitol Theatre) as well as the neighboring Pat Lokey building as part of a renovation and revitalization of the historic Capitol Theater.[61] Fowler Associates Architects, Inc. was selected for the renovation of the Capitol Theatre.[62] The $10 million renovation and expansion began in 2012 and was completed in 2013.[47] In 2019, a $2.5 million donation renamed the building the Nancy and David Bilheimer Capitol Theatre.[48]

Clearwater Public Library System

In 1911, the city of Clearwater witnessed a vast population increase as well as acquiring telephones, electricity, paved streets and an ice factory. It is during this time that the Clearwater Library Association opened a subscription library on the second floor of the local People's Bank. Its popularity and support led to the request of $10,000 from the Carnegie Foundation to build a public library. The building was designed by Tampa architect F.J. Kennard. In its first year, the library had over 1,277 visitors and 2,792 books borrowed. As a vacation town, the library provided free access to materials for all residents and winter visitors.[63]

During the Depression, the Clearwater Public Library faced many of the same threats seen at other libraries seen throughout the United States. This includes increased patron usage and dwindling budget. In the 1940s, the Clearwater library increased its staff from three assistants to five assistants. The library's collection also grew from 18,047 to over 100,000. To account for this increase, the Librarian and Board President Traver Bayly made an appeal to the City Commission for additional space.[63]

As a result of segregation, the Clearwater Public Library was for White patrons only from its founding in 1911 to the mid-twentieth century. In 1950, the City Commission agreed to the building of the North Greenwood library. Designed by Architect Eugene Beach, the new library allowed access for the city's African American population to many information sources. This library was renovated in 1984. The new Main library was rebuilt beginning in 2000. It opened in May 2004.[63]

As the population continued to increase throughout the late twentieth century, the library system continued to grow. The Clearwater Public Library System now includes five libraries: Clearwater Main, Countryside, North Greenwood, Beach, and East. In recent years, the Clearwater Public Library System has become increasingly digital, providing patrons with access to computers, online databases, and an online library catalog. This was made possible by the Greater Clearwater Public Library Foundation, Inc. which formed in 1984.[63] As a part of the library's Centennial Celebration, a project is commencing to add makerspaces to the libraries. The Main library's makerspace is the "Studios at Main" and targets creative arts making.[64]

The Clearwater Public Library System is a contributor to the Pinellas Memory Project.[63][65] This system of libraries is part of the Pinellas Public Library Cooperative which seeks to provide patrons with access to information and programs to benefit the community.[66]

Clearwater Marine Aquarium

The Clearwater Marine Aquarium is a small non-profit aquarium. Opening in 1972 on Clearwater Beach, the aquarium is most famous for Winter the dolphin. Rescued as a calf in 2005, Winter was one of the first dolphins to have been fitted with a prosthetic tail after losing it due to entanglement in a crab trap. The aquarium is also home to other dolphins, otters, pelicans, nurse sharks, and turtles among several species of fish and other marine life. CMA also assists in animal strandings and other emergencies regarding sea life. Animals that have stranded are rehabilitated, and if possible, released back into the wild once they have made a full recovery. It has been featured as the main setting of the American family movie series Dolphin Tale.[67]

Sports

BayCare Ballpark in Clearwater is the spring training home of Major League Baseball's Philadelphia Phillies, as well as their Low-A affiliate, the Clearwater Threshers.[68]

Parks and recreation

Moccasin Lake Nature Park is a 51-acre nature preserve (21 ha) with a 5-acre lake (2.0 ha) owned and operated by the city. The preserve also features the Moccasin Lake Environmental Education Center, which offers environmental education classes, programs and camps. The Center features live rehabilitated birds of prey, reptiles, amphibians and aquatic wildlife.[69] It opened in 1982. The City of Clearwater contains five pools: Ross Norton, North Greenwood, Morningside, the Long Center, and Clearwater Beach.[70] Swim lessons are offered throughout the year to patrons, and the pools have both a recreation summer pool league and the Clearwater Aquatics Team. These pools have participated in the World's Largest Swim Lesson.

Government

 
Clearwater City Hall looking up and east from the foot of the bluff toward the rear of the building

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.[71]

The Clearwater City Council comprises the mayor and four council members, each of whom serves a four-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 city manager and city council are supported by the various city departments.[citation needed]

Education

Transportation

Airport

Tampa International Airport serves Clearwater and the rest of the Tampa Bay Area as the primary means of air travel. St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport has also seen its usage increase. The city owns Clearwater Air Park.[72]

Public transportation

The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) bus service is currently Pinellas County's only general public transit. The service offers approximately 35 local routes, two express routes which cross Tampa Bay to the east, and a beach trolley that runs north and south along the county's roughly 25-mile-long (40 km) chain of barrier islands.[73]

Notable people

Church of Scientology

 
The Church of Scientology's Clearwater headquarters, the Super Power Building

The Church of Scientology's "spiritual headquarters" are located in downtown Clearwater. The Church refers to Clearwater as its "Flag Land Base".[9][99]

The Church of Scientology owns several historical landmark buildings including the Fort Harrison Hotel and the Clearwater Bank Building. As of 2019, Scientology had purchased so much property in downtown Clearwater that it owned most of the commercial buildings in the downtown core, many of which remained vacant. According to an investigation by the Tampa Bay Times, "The [Church of Scientology], its members and companies they control now own 185 properties that cover 101 acres in the center of downtown. Half the properties were bought since January 2017. ...Seventy-three percent of the property is [now] tax-exempt for religious purposes."[8]

Beginning in the 1970s under the code-name Project Normandy, the Church of Scientology began targeting Clearwater in order to "establish area control" of the city and county. The operations were exposed in a Pulitzer Prize winning series of articles in the Clearwater Sun.[100] Gabe Cazares, who was the mayor of Clearwater at the time, went so far as to call it "the occupation of Clearwater"[101] and later characterized it as a "paramilitary operation by a terrorist group".[102] The Church of Scientology targeted Cazares, attempting to entrap him in a sex scandal.[103][104] Scientology also staged a phony hit-and-run accident with Cazares in an attempt to discredit him. Cazares and his wife sued the Church of Scientology for $1.5 million. The church settled with Cazares in 1986.[105]

Sister cities

Clearwater has city partnerships with the following cities:

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Bibliography

  • St. Petersburg, Clearwater, and Vicinity (Tarpon Springs, Dunedin, Gulfport, Largo and Pass-A-Grille) City Directory. R.L. Polk & Co. 1914.
  • "Clearwater". Florida State Gazetteer and Business Directory. R. L. Polk & Co. 1918.
  • Clearwater (Pinellas County, Fla.) City Directory. R.L. Polk & Co. 1937.  
  • Federal Writers’ Project (1939). "Clearwater". Florida: a Guide to the Southernmost State. American Guide Series. New York: Oxford University Press. pp. 424–425. ISBN 9781623760090 – via Google Books.
  • Clearwater, Dunedin and Largo (Pinellas County, Fla.) City Directory. R.L. Polk & Co. 1965.  
    • 1973 ed.
  • Hampton Dunn. Yesterday's Clearwater. Miami: E.A. Seeman Publishing, 1973.
  • Lisa Coleman (2002). Clearwater. Images of America. Charleston, South Carolina: Arcadia. ISBN 9780738514437.
  • Sandra W. Rooks; Randolph Lightfoot (2002). Clearwater, Florida. Black America. Arcadia. ISBN 978-0-7385-1473-4.
  • Robert Farley (July 18, 2004), "Scientology's Town", St. Petersburg Times
  • Paul T. Hellmann (2006). "Florida: Clearwater". Historical Gazetteer of the United States. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 1-135-94859-3.

External links

  • City of Clearwater official website
  • Clearwater Beach Tourism website with live webcams
  •   Clearwater travel guide from Wikivoyage
  • "(Clearwater)". Florida Memory. Florida Department of State, Division of Library and Information Services.
  • Items related to Clearwater, Florida, various dates (via Digital Public Library of America)

clearwater, florida, clearwater, city, located, pinellas, county, florida, united, states, west, tampa, north, petersburg, west, clearwater, lies, gulf, mexico, southeast, lies, tampa, 2020, census, city, population, clearwater, county, seat, pinellas, county,. Clearwater is a city located in Pinellas County Florida United States west of Tampa and north of St Petersburg To the west of Clearwater lies the Gulf of Mexico and to the southeast lies Tampa Bay As of the 2020 census the city had a population of 117 292 5 Clearwater is the county seat of Pinellas County 6 and 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 Clearwater FloridaCityClearwater City ViewSealLocation in Pinellas County and the state of FloridaCoordinates 27 58 25 N 82 45 51 W 27 97361 N 82 76417 W 27 97361 82 76417CountryUnited StatesStateFloridaCountyPinellasIncorporated1891Re IncorporatedMay 27 1915Government MayorBrian Aungst 1 City ManagerJennifer Poirrier Temporary Area 2 City35 92 sq mi 93 04 km2 Land26 13 sq mi 67 68 km2 Water9 79 sq mi 25 36 km2 Elevation30 ft 9 m Population 2020 City117 292 Density4 488 62 sq mi 1 733 06 km2 Metro2 783 243Time zoneUTC 5 Eastern EST Summer DST UTC 4 EDT ZIP Codes33755 33769Area code727FIPS code12 12875 3 GNIS feature ID0280543 4 Websitewww wbr myclearwater wbr comA figure skater pictured at the Clearwater Ice ArenaClearwater Beach is part of the city of Clearwater but is separated from it by the Intracoastal Waterway Cleveland Street is one of the city s historic avenues and the city includes BayCare Ballpark and Coachman Park 7 The Church of Scientology owns the majority of property in the Clearwater downtown core district 8 9 Contents 1 History 1 1 Timeline 2 Geography 2 1 Downtown 2 2 Climate 3 Demographics 3 1 Languages 4 Economy 5 Art and culture 5 1 Tourism 5 1 1 Clearwater Public Art and Design Program 5 1 2 Capitol and Royalty Theatre 5 1 3 Clearwater Public Library System 5 1 4 Clearwater Marine Aquarium 6 Sports 7 Parks and recreation 8 Government 9 Education 10 Transportation 10 1 Airport 10 2 Public transportation 11 Notable people 12 Church of Scientology 13 Sister cities 14 References 15 Bibliography 16 External linksHistory Edit Clearwater at daybreak as seen from Clearwater BeachPresent day Clearwater was originally the home of the Tocobaga people Around 1835 the United States Army began construction of Fort Harrison named after William Henry Harrison as an outpost during the Seminole Wars 10 The fort was located on a bluff overlooking Clearwater Harbor which later became part of an early 20th century residential development called Harbor Oaks University of South Florida archaeologists excavated the site in 1962 after Mark Wyllie discovered an underground ammunition bunker while planting a tree in his yard 10 The area s population grew after the Federal Armed Occupation Act of 1842 offered 160 acres 0 65 km2 to anyone who would bear arms and cultivate the land 11 Early settlers included the Stevens Stevenson Sever and McMullen families who claimed and farmed large tracts of land 11 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 bluff many in the bay or harbor itself View north from Sand Key toward Clearwater BeachOriginally 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 During the American Civil War Union gunboats repeatedly raided the community s supplies as most of the able bodied men were away fighting for the Confederate Army 10 The town began developing in the late nineteenth century prompted by Peter Demens completion of the first passenger railroad line into the city in 1888 Clearwater was incorporated in 1891 with James E Crane becoming the first mayor 12 The area s 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 in 1897 Pinellas County Courthouse in ClearwaterBy the early 1900s Clearwater s population had grown to around 400 ballooning to nearly 1 000 in the winter Clearwater s oldest existing newspaper the Clearwater Sun was first published on March 14 1914 13 Clearwater was reincorporated this time as a city on May 27 1915 and was designated the county seat for Pinellas County which broke from Hillsborough County in 1912 In 1915 a bridge was built across Clearwater Harbor joining the city with Clearwater Beach to the west Clearwater Beach although located on a separate barrier island belongs to the city of Clearwater and fronts the Gulf of Mexico A new much higher bridge now arcs over the bay replacing the former drawbridge the connecting road is part of State Road 60 and is called Clearwater Memorial Causeway During World War II Clearwater became a major training base for US troops destined for Europe and the Pacific Virtually every hotel in the area including the Belleview Biltmore and the Fort Harrison Hotel was used as a barracks for new recruits 10 Vehicle traffic was 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 the highrise dominated Sand Key was used as a target by U S Army Air Corps fighter bombers for strafing and bombing practice Timeline Edit Timeline of Clearwater Florida1888 Settlement of Clear Water Harbor founded 14 Narrow gauge railroad begins operating 14 1891 Town of Clear Water Harbor incorporated 14 1894 Orange Belt Railroad begins operating 14 1897 Belleview Hotel in business in nearby Belleair 15 1900 Population 343 16 1905 Population 610 16 1906 Clear Water Harbor renamed Clearwater 14 1911 Clearwater Yacht Club formed 1912 Clearwater designated seat of newly created Pinellas County 15 1914 Clearwater Evening Sun newspaper begins publication 17 Tampa and Gulf Coast Railroad begins operating 14 1915 City of Clearwater incorporated 18 1916 Public library and bridge to Clearwater Beach built 15 1918 Pinellas County Courthouse built 14 1920 Population 2 427 1921 Capitol Theatre in business 19 1923 Peace Memorial Church built 20 1926 Fort Harrison Hotel rebuilt 1930 Population 7 607 1948 WTAN radio begins broadcasting 21 1950 Population 15 581 1953 Palm Drive In cinema in business 19 1959 WAZE radio begins broadcasting 21 1970 Population 52 074 1972 Marine Science Center established 14 1976 Church of Scientology headquartered in Clearwater 22 Countryside Six cinema in business 19 1978 May 4 Tornado occurs 14 1980 Population 85 170 1984 Regional Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority formed 1998 City website online approximate date 23 24 2004 Clearwater Public Library new building opens 2005 Clearwater Memorial Causeway opens 2010 Population 107 685 25 26 2012 George Cretekos becomes mayor 2013 Church of Scientology s Super Power Building dedicated 2017 Charlie Crist becomes U S representative for Florida s 13th congressional district 27 2018 The shooting of Markeis McGlockton receives national attention and triggers a debate regarding stand your ground laws 28 Geography EditClearwater is located at 27 58 25 N 82 45 51 W 27 973644 N 82 764271 W 27 973644 82 764271 29 According to the United States Census Bureau the city has a total area of 39 2 square miles 101 6 km2 of which 25 6 square miles 66 2 km2 is land and 13 7 square miles 35 4 km2 34 86 is water 30 Downtown Edit This section needs to be updated Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information May 2023 Clearwater s downtown has been undergoing major redevelopment in recent years General beautification has been done along with completion of several high rise condos and a large marina 31 32 New bars restaurants and other amenities are coming to the area renamed the Cleveland Street District 33 34 Royalty Theatre is also slated to be renovated 35 36 Climate Edit Clearwater has a humid subtropical climate Clearwater is far enough south that it lies in the broad transition zone from subtropical to tropical climates As such Clearwater is mostly warm to hot year round with few nights of frost Most of the annual rainfall comes in the wet season June through September when daily thundershowers erupt due to the strong solar heating The dry season starts in October and runs through May at which time the weather is sunny dry and there is little change in daily weather 37 Climate data for ClearwaterMonth Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec YearRecord high F C 86 30 87 31 89 32 92 33 97 36 97 36 96 36 96 36 95 35 94 34 89 32 87 31 97 36 Average high F C 71 4 21 9 71 4 21 9 76 1 24 5 81 2 27 3 86 2 30 1 89 1 31 7 89 9 32 2 90 0 32 2 88 5 31 4 83 6 28 7 76 4 24 7 71 9 22 2 81 3 27 4 Daily mean F C 62 3 16 8 62 3 16 8 66 9 19 4 71 9 22 2 77 2 25 1 80 9 27 2 82 1 27 8 82 1 27 8 80 7 27 1 75 1 23 9 67 2 19 6 62 8 17 1 72 6 22 6 Average low F C 52 9 11 6 53 2 11 8 57 8 14 3 62 7 17 1 68 2 20 1 72 6 22 6 74 2 23 4 74 2 23 4 72 9 22 7 66 5 19 2 58 1 14 5 53 7 12 1 63 9 17 7 Record low F C 24 4 27 3 29 2 41 5 53 12 60 16 62 17 65 18 61 16 45 7 27 3 19 7 19 7 Average precipitation inches cm 2 5 1 3 5 8 9 3 5 8 9 2 5 1 2 1 5 3 6 2 16 9 5 24 9 5 24 7 2 18 2 8 7 1 1 8 4 6 2 5 6 4 52 6 134 Average precipitation days 7 7 6 4 6 12 15 17 12 6 6 6 104Mean monthly sunshine hours 217 197 75 279 300 310 270 279 248 240 248 210 186 2 984 75Percent possible sunshine 66 0 62 5 75 0 77 5 74 1 64 7 65 7 61 1 65 0 69 6 64 8 57 7 67 0Source 1 Weatherbase 38 Source 2 Weather Atlas 39 Demographics EditHistorical population CensusPop Note 1900383 19101 171205 7 19202 427107 3 19307 607213 4 194010 13633 2 195015 58153 7 196034 653122 4 197052 07450 3 198085 17063 6 199098 66915 8 2000108 78710 3 2010107 685 1 0 2020117 2928 9 Source 1900 2010 40 Between 2014 and 2018 there were 46 667 households with an average household size of 2 4 41 In 2019 the city s population was spread out with 18 7 under the age of 18 59 4 between the age of 18 and 64 and 21 9 who were 65 years of age or older 41 Between 2014 and 2018 the median income for a household in the city was 47 070 and the median income for a family was 46 228 41 15 9 of the population fell below the poverty line 41 Languages Edit As of 2000 speakers of English as their first language were 84 43 of residents Spanish as a mother tongue was 8 55 Greek accounted for 1 15 French made up 1 00 of speakers German at 0 97 and Italian speakers comprised 0 85 of the population 42 Economy EditClearwater s economy employs nearly 50 400 people Major employers include Morton Plant Hospital Tech Data and Honeywell 43 Employment in Clearwater grew 1 84 from 2015 to 2016 with 50 345 people in the workforce 44 The most common job groups include Service Sales amp Office Science and Business As of 2020 the median household income for Clearwater was 50 335 which is below the average for both the United States as well as the state of Florida 44 Art and culture Edit Clearwater Beach looking south from Pier 60 Pier 60 in Clearwater Beach April 2013 In 2012 the city was listed among the 10 best places to retire in the U S by CBS Money Watch 45 Tourism Edit Clearwater Public Art and Design Program Edit The Clearwater Public Art and Design Program 46 adopted by City Council in 2005 is funded through a 1 allocation on all city capital improvement projects valued at more than 500 000 The program commissions an average of 2 3 new projects per year Capitol and Royalty Theatre Edit Pre Capitol Theatre a bandstand stood at 405 Cleveland Street in Downtown Clearwater where the community gathered to listen to music 47 The names of locals serving in World War I were etched on the wall of the adjacent Clearwater Sun building this Panel of Honor was obscured when the original Capitol Theatre was built but uncovered when the newspaper building was torn down in 2013 48 The Capitol Theatre opened March 21 1921 It was built by Senator elect John Stansel Taylor The theater s architect was Lester Avery and the contractor was John D Phillipoff 49 Avery is known for his architecture in Miami Philipoff also built the Coachman Building 1916 the Donald Roebling Estate in Belleair added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979 50 the old Pinellas County Courthouse added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1992 50 other historical homes which have been saved 51 and did work at the Belleview Hotel 52 Groundbreaking was December 6 1920 53 The New Capitol Theatre was damaged in a storm on October 26 1921 so it had been completed 54 A theatre organ was installed in 1922 to accompany silent films with music The organ was made and installed by the Robert Morton Organ Company Donald Roebling was a frequent patron having his own double seat installed at the theatre 55 The theatre was managed by various movie companies EJ Sparks Paramount ABC Southeastern Theatres and Plitt Southern and played the most recent movies of the day The theatre also offered vaudeville on Friday nights in the 1930s Headliners included Sally Rand Fred Stone and his daughter and Lum and Abner of radio 55 The theatre was renovated in 1962 56 The Morton theatre organ was most likely removed during this renovation When Plitt Southern did not renew their contract in 1979 Bill Neville and Jerry Strain tried to save the theatre with film classics and reduced prices However the theatre closed its doors on October 28 1980 Royalty Theater Company signed leases with the Taylor family in February 1981 when it then became known as the Royalty Theater Clearwater Florida The building was renovated with Ron Winter of Winter Associates as the contractor 57 and Scott Musheff as the architect 58 During the renovations Bill Neville s murdered body was found in the balcony 59 The theatre remained in the Taylor family estate until it was sold in 1996 In July 2008 the building went into foreclosure 60 In January 2009 the City of Clearwater and Ruth Eckerd Hall joined forces to purchase the theatre renamed Capitol Theatre as well as the neighboring Pat Lokey building as part of a renovation and revitalization of the historic Capitol Theater 61 Fowler Associates Architects Inc was selected for the renovation of the Capitol Theatre 62 The 10 million renovation and expansion began in 2012 and was completed in 2013 47 In 2019 a 2 5 million donation renamed the building the Nancy and David Bilheimer Capitol Theatre 48 Clearwater Public Library System Edit In 1911 the city of Clearwater witnessed a vast population increase as well as acquiring telephones electricity paved streets and an ice factory It is during this time that the Clearwater Library Association opened a subscription library on the second floor of the local People s Bank Its popularity and support led to the request of 10 000 from the Carnegie Foundation to build a public library The building was designed by Tampa architect F J Kennard In its first year the library had over 1 277 visitors and 2 792 books borrowed As a vacation town the library provided free access to materials for all residents and winter visitors 63 During the Depression the Clearwater Public Library faced many of the same threats seen at other libraries seen throughout the United States This includes increased patron usage and dwindling budget In the 1940s the Clearwater library increased its staff from three assistants to five assistants The library s collection also grew from 18 047 to over 100 000 To account for this increase the Librarian and Board President Traver Bayly made an appeal to the City Commission for additional space 63 As a result of segregation the Clearwater Public Library was for White patrons only from its founding in 1911 to the mid twentieth century In 1950 the City Commission agreed to the building of the North Greenwood library Designed by Architect Eugene Beach the new library allowed access for the city s African American population to many information sources This library was renovated in 1984 The new Main library was rebuilt beginning in 2000 It opened in May 2004 63 As the population continued to increase throughout the late twentieth century the library system continued to grow The Clearwater Public Library System now includes five libraries Clearwater Main Countryside North Greenwood Beach and East In recent years the Clearwater Public Library System has become increasingly digital providing patrons with access to computers online databases and an online library catalog This was made possible by the Greater Clearwater Public Library Foundation Inc which formed in 1984 63 As a part of the library s Centennial Celebration a project is commencing to add makerspaces to the libraries The Main library s makerspace is the Studios at Main and targets creative arts making 64 The Clearwater Public Library System is a contributor to the Pinellas Memory Project 63 65 This system of libraries is part of the Pinellas Public Library Cooperative which seeks to provide patrons with access to information and programs to benefit the community 66 Clearwater Marine Aquarium Edit The Clearwater Marine Aquarium is a small non profit aquarium Opening in 1972 on Clearwater Beach the aquarium is most famous for Winter the dolphin Rescued as a calf in 2005 Winter was one of the first dolphins to have been fitted with a prosthetic tail after losing it due to entanglement in a crab trap The aquarium is also home to other dolphins otters pelicans nurse sharks and turtles among several species of fish and other marine life CMA also assists in animal strandings and other emergencies regarding sea life Animals that have stranded are rehabilitated and if possible released back into the wild once they have made a full recovery It has been featured as the main setting of the American family movie series Dolphin Tale 67 Sports EditBayCare Ballpark in Clearwater is the spring training home of Major League Baseball s Philadelphia Phillies as well as their Low A affiliate the Clearwater Threshers 68 Parks and recreation EditMoccasin Lake Nature Park is a 51 acre nature preserve 21 ha with a 5 acre lake 2 0 ha owned and operated by the city The preserve also features the Moccasin Lake Environmental Education Center which offers environmental education classes programs and camps The Center features live rehabilitated birds of prey reptiles amphibians and aquatic wildlife 69 It opened in 1982 The City of Clearwater contains five pools Ross Norton North Greenwood Morningside the Long Center and Clearwater Beach 70 Swim lessons are offered throughout the year to patrons and the pools have both a recreation summer pool league and the Clearwater Aquatics Team These pools have participated in the World s Largest Swim Lesson Government Edit Clearwater City Hall looking up and east from the foot of the bluff toward the rear of the buildingThe 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 71 The Clearwater City Council comprises the mayor and four council members each of whom serves a four 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 city manager and city council are supported by the various city departments citation needed Education EditSt Petersburg College Everest University Clearwater High School Clearwater Central Catholic High School Ultimate Medical Academy Clearwater Academy International Clearwater Christian College Nova Southeastern UniversityTransportation EditAirport Edit Tampa International Airport serves Clearwater and the rest of the Tampa Bay Area as the primary means of air travel St Petersburg Clearwater International Airport has also seen its usage increase The city owns Clearwater Air Park 72 Public transportation Edit The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority PSTA bus service is currently Pinellas County s only general public transit The service offers approximately 35 local routes two express routes which cross Tampa Bay to the east and a beach trolley that runs north and south along the county s roughly 25 mile long 40 km chain of barrier islands 73 Notable people EditKirstie Alley television and film actress 74 Austin Aries professional wrestler 75 Sara Blakely founder of Spanx Inc 76 and a minority owner of the Atlanta Hawks Donald Byrd born 1949 modern dance choreographer 77 Ricky Carmichael supercross motocross racer 78 Ken Climo professional disc golfer 12 time PDGA Professional Open World Champion and three time PDGA Professional Masters World Champion 79 Carter W Clarke U S Army General who oversaw the Venona project and much of the post war investigation into the intelligence failure that lead to the Pearl Harbor Attack spent his retirement in Clearwater Chick Corea jazz pianist 80 Tom Cruise actor and film producer 81 Jeremiah George former American football player Raquel Gibson model and actress and Playboy Playmate of the Month November 2005 82 Joseph W Hatchett Florida Supreme Court Justice 83 Hulk Hogan professional wrestler 84 Howard Johnson 1986 World Series Champion with the New York Mets Major League Baseball third baseman 85 Evel Knievel stuntman 86 Nigel Mansell 1992 Formula One World Champion resident during early 1990s Clark Mills creator of international Optimist dinghy first sailed in Clearwater 87 Kirstjen Nielsen former United States Secretary of Homeland Security 88 Tilian Pearson musician lyricist and vocalist for post hardcore band Dance Gavin Dance Lisa Marie Presley former resident 89 Gary Puckett singer 90 Jimmy Roselli singer pianist WWII veteran 91 Melanie Safka singer songwriter 92 Juliet Simms musician Scientologist contestant on The Voice resident from 1994 to 2006 93 94 95 Lynn D Stewart co founder of the Hooters restaurant chain 96 Elsie Thompson supercentenarian 97 Keith Thurman professional boxer 98 Church of Scientology EditSee also Flag Land Base The Church of Scientology s Clearwater headquarters the Super Power BuildingThe Church of Scientology s spiritual headquarters are located in downtown Clearwater The Church refers to Clearwater as its Flag Land Base 9 99 The Church of Scientology owns several historical landmark buildings including the Fort Harrison Hotel and the Clearwater Bank Building As of 2019 Scientology had purchased so much property in downtown Clearwater that it owned most of the commercial buildings in the downtown core many of which remained vacant According to an investigation by the Tampa Bay Times The Church of Scientology its members and companies they control now own 185 properties that cover 101 acres in the center of downtown Half the properties were bought since January 2017 Seventy three percent of the property is now tax exempt for religious purposes 8 Beginning in the 1970s under the code name Project Normandy the Church of Scientology began targeting Clearwater in order to establish area control of the city and county The operations were exposed in a Pulitzer Prize winning series of articles in the Clearwater Sun 100 Gabe Cazares who was the mayor of Clearwater at the time went so far as to call it the occupation of Clearwater 101 and later characterized it as a paramilitary operation by a terrorist group 102 The Church of Scientology targeted Cazares attempting to entrap him in a sex scandal 103 104 Scientology also staged a phony hit and run accident with Cazares in an attempt to discredit him Cazares and his wife sued the Church of Scientology for 1 5 million The church settled with Cazares in 1986 105 Sister cities EditClearwater has city partnerships with the following cities Nagano Japan 106 Kalamaria Greece 107 Wyong New South Wales Australia 108 References Edit Schreiner Mark March 27 2023 Brian Aungst Sr is named Clearwater s interim mayor WUSF 2020 U S Gazetteer Files United States Census Bureau Retrieved October 31 2021 U S Census website United States Census Bureau Retrieved January 31 2008 US Board on Geographic Names United States Geological Survey October 25 2007 Retrieved January 31 2008 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics 2010 Demographic Profile Data DP 1 Clearwater city Florida United States Census Bureau Retrieved May 4 2012 Find a County National Association of Counties Archived from the original on May 31 2011 Retrieved June 7 2011 Coachman Park Info Page Retrieved June 20 2019 a b McManus Tracey October 20 2019 How Scientology doubled its downtown Clearwater footprint in 3 years Tampa Bay Times Stockwell Tracee October 20 2019 Slideshow All the Church of Scientology s buildings in Pinellas County Tampa Bay Times a b McManus Tracey March 12 2018 A look inside Scientology s spiritual headquarters Tampa Bay Times Archived from the original on September 27 2016 Retrieved August 25 2016 a b 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Shooting Is Sparking New Debate About Florida s Stand Your Ground Law It Could Be Even Harder to Prosecute This Time Time Retrieved August 18 2018 US Gazetteer files 2010 2000 and 1990 United States Census Bureau February 12 2011 Retrieved April 23 2011 Geographic Identifiers 2010 Demographic Profile Data DP 1 Clearwater city Florida United States Census Bureau Retrieved May 4 2012 Girard Steven November 17 2008 Clearwater Develops A Downtown Identity The Tampa Tribune Archived from the original on October 4 2012 Retrieved June 18 2016 Downtown Clearwater boosters celebrate area s progress Tampa Bay Times Archived from the original on August 10 2016 Retrieved June 18 2016 Clearwater to kick off Memorial Day weekend with Fourth Friday parade festivities Tampa Bay Times Archived from the original on August 10 2016 Retrieved June 18 2016 Tony s Pizzeria amp Ristorante moving west in downtown Clearwater Tampa Bay Times Archived from the original on May 29 2016 Retrieved June 18 2016 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clearwaterartsfoundation org Archived from the original on August 22 2006 Retrieved June 18 2016 a b Clearwater s Capitol Theatre which hosted vaudeville and maybe Jesus turns 100 Tampa Bay Times Archived from the original on March 16 2021 Retrieved March 31 2021 a b Clearwater s Capitol Theatre which hosted vaudeville and maybe Jesus turns 100 Tampa Bay Times Archived from the original on March 16 2021 Retrieved March 31 2021 New Capitol Theatre Finished and Opened The Cleawater News March 24 1921 a b National Register of Historical Places FLORIDA FL Pinellas County Nationalregisterofhistoricplaces com Retrieved July 26 2012 St Petersburg Times Old homes may find a place in history news google com Retrieved June 19 2016 Personals The Evening Independent December 26 1923 The Evening Independent Invitation Accepted news google com Retrieved June 19 2016 St Petersburg Times Clearwater Sweapt By Furious Storm news google com Retrieved June 19 2016 a b Old Days Movie Houses Were King St Petersburg Times April 8 1981 St Petersburg Times Two more shops open along Cleveland street news google com Retrieved June 19 2016 Royalty Can Start Renovating New Home Now That Papers Are Signed St Petersburg Times September 30 1981 Royalty Theatre Off To Good Start At Capitol With Oliver St Petersburg Times December 3 1981 The Evening Independent Canadian Man Arrested In Theater Murder Case news google com Retrieved June 19 2016 Clearwater negotiating to buy old Royalty Theatre building Archived November 22 2008 at the Wayback Machine St Petersburg Times October 5 2008 Clearwater negotiating to buy old Royalty Theatre building Tampa Bay Times Archived from the original on March 30 2012 Retrieved June 19 2016 Renderings reveal Capitol Theatre plans TBNweekly April 3 2012 Retrieved March 31 2021 a b c d e Our History A Century of Service Checking Out the History of the Clearwater Library City of Clearwater Florida Archived from the original on June 14 2016 Retrieved June 19 2016 Library Launches MakerSpaces PDF p 9 Archived from the original PDF on August 6 2016 Retrieved August 23 2016 Pinellas Memory pinellasmemory contentdm oclc org Retrieved June 19 2016 About PPLC www pplc us Archived from the original on February 10 2014 Retrieved June 19 2016 Dolphin Tale Set Clearwater Marine Aquarium Retrieved October 22 2020 Phillies Spring Training Information MLB com Retrieved October 22 2020 Moccasin Lake Nature Park An Environmental and Energy Education Center www myclearwater com Archived from the original on January 16 2004 Retrieved June 19 2016 Aquatics www myclearwater com Archived from the original on August 18 2016 Retrieved June 19 2016 Government www myclearwater com Retrieved June 19 2016 Clearwater Airpark City of Clearwater FL www myclearwater com Retrieved October 22 2020 PSTA Historical Fact Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority Archived from the original on December 22 2008 Retrieved November 27 2008 Kirstie Alley Emmy winning Cheers star and Clearwater resident dies at 71 Tampa Bay Times December 5 2022 Retrieved December 6 2022 Mooneyham Mike October 5 2013 TNA star Austin Aries more than a wrestler Post and Courier Retrieved October 22 2020 Forbes says Spanx s Sara Blakely of Clearwater is world s youngest self made female billionaire Tampa Bay Times Retrieved October 22 2020 Choreographer Comes Home Donald Byrd Says the World Opened up for Him in the Tampa Bay Area Where He First Discovered Dance by John Fleming Tampa Bay Times October 10 1999 pps 1F amp 6F accessible via Newspapers com subscription required Ricky Carmichael Biography Kidzworld Retrieved June 19 2016 Ken Climo 11 time PDGA World Champion www kenclimo com Retrieved October 22 2020 Chick Corea jazz legend and longtime Clearwater resident dies at 79 Tampa Bay Times Retrieved February 11 2021 Tom Cruise s New Florida Penthouse Near Scientology Headquarters Features Pool Garden and Kitchen Celebrity Retrieved October 22 2020 Raquel Gibson IMDb Retrieved October 22 2020 Maxwell Elissa March 15 2018 Joseph Woodrow Hatchett 1932 Retrieved October 22 2020 Hulk Hogan downsizes into 3 3 million mansion on tony stretch of Clearwater Beach Tampa Bay Times Retrieved October 22 2020 Howard Johnson Minor amp Independent Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved October 22 2020 Hillsborough Knievel rapper eye mediation www sptimes com Retrieved June 19 2016 Croson Curtis Clark Mills And The Dunedin Woodwright The boatbuilder and workshop that impacted and revolutionized sailing throughout the world Tampa Historical Retrieved October 22 2020 Secretary of Homeland Security Who Is Kirstjen Nielsen AllGov Retrieved October 22 2020 Northpinellas Manse with celebrity ties hits market www sptimes com Retrieved June 19 2016 Trust Dick June 24 2022 Gary Puckett to play Casino Ballroom this weekend in the Happy Together Tour SeacoastOnline Fox Margalit July 10 2011 Jimmy Roselli Italian American Singer Dies at 85 Published 2011 The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Retrieved October 22 2020 Woodstock singer Melanie wants a new home in Tampa Bay All she needs is the key Tampa Bay Times Retrieved October 22 2020 Juliet Simms Scientology Service Completions Truth About Scientology Statistics Project www truthaboutscientology com Belcher Walt December 27 2012 Clearwater s Juliet Simms riding wave of support since The Voice The Tampa Tribune Archived from the original on January 6 2017 Retrieved February 5 2020 Garisto Julie Clearwater rocker Juliet Simms finds her Voice Creative Loafing Tampa Bay Business Hooters founder blames ex friend www sptimes com Retrieved June 19 2016 Elsie Thompson country s oldest person dies in Clearwater Tampa Bay Times Retrieved October 22 2020 Keith Thurman Next Fight Fighter Bio Stats amp News PBC Boxing February 19 2015 Retrieved October 22 2020 Official Church of Scientology Video Religious Mecca Flag Land Base www scientology org Retrieved June 19 2016 Leiby Richard November 3 1979 Scientologists plot city takeover PDF Clearwater Sun Archived from the original PDF scan 1 9MB on February 8 2012 Retrieved January 1 2013 SECRET POWER PROJECT 3 NORMANDY Ref GO Order 261175 LRH POWER Target 3 lisatrust bogie nl December 5 1975 Archived from the original on June 10 2003 Retrieved June 18 2016 Mark Bunker November 1 2012 Scientology Gabe Cazares Interview archived from the original on November 11 2021 retrieved June 19 2016 Mayor Cazares Handling Project Archived from the original on August 12 2010 Retrieved June 18 2016 Speedy Gonzalez Archived from the original on August 5 2010 Retrieved June 18 2016 Northpinellas For the disadvantaged and against Scientology www sptimes com Retrieved June 19 2016 Sister Cities Program www clearwater fl com Archived from the original on March 27 2016 Retrieved January 21 2016 Sister Cities Kalamaria Greece www sister cities org Archived from the original on February 5 2016 Retrieved January 21 2016 Florida Sister Cities Sister Cities Association of Sarasota Archived from the original on October 17 2016 Retrieved January 21 2016 Bibliography EditSt Petersburg Clearwater and Vicinity Tarpon Springs Dunedin Gulfport Largo and Pass A Grille City Directory R L Polk amp Co 1914 Clearwater Florida State Gazetteer and Business Directory R L Polk amp Co 1918 Clearwater Pinellas County Fla City Directory R L Polk amp Co 1937 Federal Writers Project 1939 Clearwater Florida a Guide to the Southernmost State American Guide Series New York Oxford University Press pp 424 425 ISBN 9781623760090 via Google Books Clearwater Dunedin and Largo Pinellas County Fla City Directory R L Polk amp Co 1965 1973 ed Hampton Dunn Yesterday s Clearwater Miami E A Seeman Publishing 1973 Lisa Coleman 2002 Clearwater Images of America Charleston South Carolina Arcadia ISBN 9780738514437 Sandra W Rooks Randolph Lightfoot 2002 Clearwater Florida Black America Arcadia ISBN 978 0 7385 1473 4 Robert Farley July 18 2004 Scientology s Town St Petersburg Times Paul T Hellmann 2006 Florida Clearwater Historical Gazetteer of the United States Taylor amp Francis ISBN 1 135 94859 3 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Clearwater Florida City of Clearwater official website Clearwater Beach Tourism website with live webcams Clearwater travel guide from Wikivoyage Clearwater Florida Memory Florida Department of State Division of Library and Information Services Items related to Clearwater Florida various dates via Digital Public Library of America Portal Florida Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Clearwater Florida amp oldid 1169109303, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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