St. Petersburg: History

Railroad Line Leads to City's Founding

Like much of Florida, the Tampa Bay area had been settled by Native Americans for generations before the first white explorer arrived. The region was visited in 1513 when Ponce de Leon of Spain anchored near Mullet Bay to clean barnacles from his ships. His party was greeted with a violent reception from Timucuan tribe and de Leon retreated. Eight years later, de Leon returned, suffered an arrow wound, and again fled, this time to Cuba, where he died of his injury. A statue of de Leon stands in the city's Waterfront Park today. Seven years after de Leon's disaster, another Spanish explorer, Panfile de Narvaez, landed in St. Petersburg on Good Friday of 1528. He, too, had notoriously bad relations with Native Americans, and following some preliminary explorations, Narvaez died in a storm while leaving the region.

The first modern settler to remain in the area was John Constantine Williams of Detroit, Michigan, where his father was the first mayor. Williams, like many who would come after him, moved to Florida for his health. An asthma sufferer, Williams bought thousands of acres in St. Petersburg, but lived in Tampa until an 1887 yellow fever epidemic there drove him across the bay.

Williams transferred part of his land to Russian exile Peter Demens and in return Demens extended his Orange Belt Railroad from Sanford, Florida, west to Tarpon Springs and then south along the Gulf coast to Williams's settlement. As part of the deal, Williams agreed to let the railway man name the settlement. Demens called it St. Petersburg after his Russian birthplace. When the railroad made its first run in 1888, the population of St. Petersburg numbered 30 people. Even with the new rail line, the population reached only 273 people two years later. Williams, who died in 1892, the same year St. Petersburg was incorporated, built the first big resort in the city at the corner of Central Avenue and Second Street. Called The Detroit, the hotel still stands today.

Tourism soon followed. By 1909, the first direct train arrived from New York City. The next year, Lew Brown, publisher of The Independent newspaper, began his tradition of giving away that day's papers anytime the sun didn't appear—a promise that was kept until the paper closed in the 1980s. Giveaways averaged just four a year, and according to the Guinness Book of World Records, the longest stretch of sunshine was 768 days in a row.

Early Baseball Days

Professional baseball's spring training had first come to Florida as early as 1888 in Jacksonville, but it was civic boosters in St. Petersburg who made "Grapefruit League" action an institution. The city's first game was played on February 27, 1914. The hosting St. Louis Browns lost to the Chicago Cubs, who were training in Tampa and made the trip by steamboat across Tampa Bay. Al Lang, a former Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, launderer, moved to St. Petersburg in 1909 and soon became mayor. Lang, a baseball fan, enticed the Philadelphia Phillies to St. Petersburg in 1915. When Philadelphia got off to a rousing start back north for the regular season, St. Petersburg's good spring weather got much of the credit. City leaders later named their baseball stadium after Lang.

Real Estate Boom Collapses

Improved roads, increased automobile travel, and the search for warm weather helped make St. Petersburg one of the first Florida cities to live through the real estate boom of the 1920s. The city counted 14 residents in 1920 and 50,000 residents just five years later. The boom years left a legacy of landmarks built in the Mediterranean Revival style that today remain as a graceful reminder of the city's past.

But the first boom didn't last. By the Great Depression of the 1930s, all nine of the city's banks had collapsed, script was used instead of U.S. currency, and the population dropped back down to 40,000 people. Signs posted at the edge of the city warned newcomers against moving in.

On New Year's Day in 1914, commercial aviation was inaugurated in St. Petersburg, or, more precisely, in the waters just offshore. Pilot Tony Jannus flew a lone passenger (St. Petersburg's mayor), who had paid $400 for the honor, from the yacht basin in St. Petersburg to the foot of Lee Street in Tampa. The flight, on the wooden airboat "Benoist," took 23 minutes, and 3,000 spectators cheered its arrival. The St. Petersburg-Tampa Airboat Line survived for a year before interest flagged.

Foul weather has altered the area on several occasions. In 1843, four decades before the Detroiter Williams arrived, Antonio Maximo set up a fishing camp at the southernmost tip of the Pinellas peninsula. But five years later, a hurricane wiped out his holdings and Maximo disappeared. Much later, the hurricane of 1921 brought 106-mile-per-hour winds and more than 6 inches of rain in one 24-hour period, washing ships up to a half mile inland. The city's main pier was destroyed.

Modern Development Extends to Gulf Beaches

Despite these weather-related problems, development continued. Ten major hotels were built in the first half of the 1920s. More important, bridges were extended to the Gulf beaches, which are separated from St. Petersburg proper by the Intracoastal Waterway. Then, in late 1924, the Gandy Bridge, connecting St. Petersburg to Tampa, was opened, eliminating dependence on unreliable ferry schedules or what could be a day-long train ride around Tampa Bay to the city of Tampa. When tourist-dependent St. Petersburg suffered because of gas rationing during World War II, the U.S. Air Corps filled the void by stationing many of its troops in the area's big hotels. The resorts returned to civilian use after the war. During the post-war years, a second bridge spanning Tampa Bay was added, and the Sunshine Skyway linking St. Petersburg to communities to the south was built.

In the 1960s the city moved to shift its image from a retirement haven to a prime spot for investment and business growth. Besides tourism, the fields of health care, manufacturing, high technology, marine sciences, and electronics were emerging to lead St. Petersburg into its future.

Following two nights of civil disturbances in October-November 1996, St. Petersburg united as a community and vowed to change the way it does business in the inner city by creating jobs, improving education, increasing property values, and reducing crime. In 2000 the National League of Cities awarded the city's efforts with its top award for promoting cultural diversity. Today's St. Petersburg thrives on its popularity with tourists and its flourishing economy.

Historical Information: St. Petersburg Museum of History, 335 N. 2nd Ave., St. Petersburg, FL 33701; telephone (727)894-1052; email info@stpetemuseumofhistory.org

St. Petersburg: Education and Research

Elementary and Secondary Schools

Pinellas Public Schools is a county-wide system comprised of traditional public schools as well as several types of specialty schools. Seven fundamental elementary and middle schools emphasize parental involvement, daily homework assignments, and strict discipline. Magnet schools are special schools with programs geared toward academically and artistically talented students. Career academies offer high school instruction in academic subjects based on such industries or occupations as veterinary science, automobiles, architecture, and business technology. The district also has five charter schools, one in the city of St. Petersburg, that operate under a contractual agreement with the local school board.

The following is a summary of data regarding Pinellas County public schools as of the 2004–2005 school year.

Total enrollment: more than 113,000

Number of facilities

elementary schools: 88

junior high/middle schools: 28

senior high schools: 22

other: 6 exceptional schools; 6 adult schools

Student/teacher ratio: 29:1

Teacher salaries

minimum: $31,100

maximum: $55,900

Funding per pupil: $5,895

More than one hundred private and parochial schools serve the county.

Public Schools Information: Pinellas County Schools, 301 4th St. SW, Largo, FL 33770; telephone (727)586-1818

Colleges and Universities

Eckerd College, Florida's only private national liberal arts college, offers work-study and overseas programs and bachelor's degrees. The highly regarded Stetson University College of Law, known as Florida's first law school, maintains its campus in St. Petersburg. The University of South Florida (USF), with a campus in St. Petersburg, is known for the Knight Oceanographic Research Center and its programs in marine science, accounting, management information science, medicine, and psychology. The St. Petersburg College, formerly the state's oldest 2-year college, is now a 4-year college enrolling 28,000 students, and is one of the nation's leaders in number of associate degrees awarded. St. Petersburg is also home to the Poynter Institute for Media Studies, a journalism school that also owns the Times Publishing Company, publisher of the St. Petersburg Times.

Libraries and Research Centers

The St. Petersburg Public Library System contains nearly a half million general subject titles, plus special collections of Florida history, genealogy, more than one thousand periodical subscriptions, and back issues of local newspapers. In addition to the Main Library, there are 5 branches throughout the city, and the resources of 14 municipalities participating in the Pinellas Public Library Cooperative are available to residents. Special libraries and collections include the St. Petersburg Museum of History archives and the Florida State Department of Natural Resources marine research library. The University of South Florida (USF) is home to the Knight Oceanographic Research Center, which is a collaborative effort of Florida public and private universities and conducts research in such fields as ocean currents, endangered species, beach erosion, water quality, tourism, and shipping. The U.S. Center for Coastal Geology and Regional Studies is located on the USF campus. The Tampa Bay Research Institute, which studies viruses and molecular genetics, is also located in the city.

Public Library Information: St. Petersburg Public Library System, 280 5th St. N., St. Petersburg, FL 33701; telephone (727)893-7736

St. Petersburg: Population Profile

Metropolitan Area Residents

1980: 1,614,000

1990: 2,067,959

2000: 2,395,997

Percent change, 1990–2000: 15.8%

U.S. rank in 1980: 22nd

U.S. rank in 1990: 21st

U.S. rank in 2000: 20th

City Residents

1980: 238,647

1990: 240,318

2000: 248,232

2003 estimate: 247,610

Percent change, 1990–2000: 3.2%

U.S. rank in 1980: 58th

U.S. rank in 1990: 65th (State rank: 4th)

U.S. rank in 2000: 79th (State rank: 4th)

Density: 4,163.1 people per square mile (based on 2000 land area)

Racial and ethnic characteristics (2000)

White: 177,133

Black or African American: 55,502

American Indian and Alaska Native: 769

Asian: 6,640

Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander: 130

Hispanic or Latino (may be of any race): 10,502

Other: 2,661

Percent of residents born in state: 36% (2000)

Age characteristics (2000)

Population under 5 years old: 14,123

Population 5 to 9 years old: 15,337

Population 10 to 14 years old: 15,382

Population 15 to 19 years old: 14,127

Population 20 to 24 years old: 13,677

Population 25 to 34 years old: 34,152

Population 35 to 44 years old: 40,887

Population 45 to 54 years old: 34,617

Population 55 to 59 years old: 12,269

Population 60 to 64 years old: 10,488

Population 65 to 74 years old: 20,202

Population 75 to 84 years old: 15,958

Population 85 years and older: 7,013

Median age: 39.3 years

Births (Pinellas County, 2003)

Total number: 9,225

Deaths (Pinellas County, 2003)

Total number: 12,049 (of which, 72 were infants under the age of 1 year)

Money income (1999)

Per capita income: $21,107

Median household income: $34,597

Total households: 109,608

Number of households with income of . . .

less than $10,000: 12,090

$10,000 to $14,999: 8,536

$15,000 to $24,999: 17,685

$25,000 to $34,999: 17,032

$35,000 to $49,999: 18,978

$50,000 to $74,999: 18,489

$75,000 to $99,999: 8,458

$100,000 to $149,999: 5,183

$150,000 to $199,999: 1,430

$200,000 or more: 1,727

Percent of families below poverty level: 9.2% (39.7% of which were female householder families with related children under 5 years old)

2002 FBI Crime Index Total: 20,914

St. Petersburg: Communications

Newspapers and Magazines

The Pulitzer Prize-winning St. Petersburg Times, a morning paper, is frequently ranked as one of the top ten newspapers in the country. Pinellas County also has its own edition of the Tampa Tribune. Florida Trend magazine, a monthly publication circulated statewide, focuses on business and finance in the state.

Television and Radio

Two television stations broadcast from St. Petersburg, an independent station and the CBS affiliate. Six other stations operate from Tampa and Clearwater, including network affiliates, two public stations, and the nationwide Home Shopping Network. Cable television is available to residential subscribers. Four FM and four AM radio stations are based in St. Petersburg, with other stations serving the area from Tampa, Clearwater, and Sarasota.

Media Information: St. Petersburg Times, 490 First Ave. S., St. Petersburg, FL 33701; telephone (727)893-8111. Tampa Tribune, (Pinellas Edition), PO Box 191, Tampa, FL 33601; telephone (813)259-7711

St. Petersburg Online

City of St. Petersburg home page. Available www.ci.saint-petersburg.fl.us or www.stpete.org

Economic Development Department, City of St. Petersburg. Available http://stpeteshines.stpete.org

Pinellas County Schools. Available www.pinellas.k12.fl.us

St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce. Available www.stpete.com

St. Petersburg/Clearwater Area Convention & Visitors Bureau. Available www.floridasbeach.com

St. Petersburg Museum of History. Available www.stpetemuseumofhistory.org

St. Petersburg Public Library System. Available http://st-petersburg-library.org

St. Petersburg Times. Available www.sptimes.com

Tampa Tribune. Available www.tampatrib.com

Selected Bibliography

Arsenault, Raymond, St. Petersburg and the Florida Dream, 1888–1950 (Norfolk: University Press of Florida, 1996)

Ayers, R. Wayne, St. Petersburg: The Sunshine City (Mount Pleasant, SC: Arcadia Publishing, 2001)

Rooks, Sandra W., St. Petersburg Florida (Black America Series) (Mount Pleasant, SC: Arcadia Publishing, 2003)

St. Petersburg

The City in Brief

Founded: 1887 (incorporated 1893)

Head Official: Mayor Rick Baker (since 2001)

City Population

1980: 238,647

1990: 240,318

2000: 248,232

2003 estimate: 247,610

Percent change, 1990–2000: 3.2%

U.S. rank in 1980: 58th

U.S. rank in 1990: 65th (State rank: 4th)

U.S. rank in 2000: 79th (State rank: 4th)

Metropolitan Area Population

1980: 1,614,000

1990: 2,067,959

2000: 2,395,997

Percent change, 1990–2000: 15.8%

U.S. rank in 1980: 22nd

U.S. rank in 1990: 21st

U.S. rank in 2000: 20th

Area: 60 square miles (2000)

Elevation: Ranges from sea level to 60 feet above sea level

Average Annual Temperature: 73.1° F

Average Annual Precipitation: 44.77 inches

Major Economic Sectors: tourism, financial services, manufacturing, medical technology, information technology, marine sciences

Unemployment rate: 3.5% (December 2004)

Per Capita Income: $21,107 (1999)

2002 FBI Crime Index Total: 20,914

Major Colleges and Universities: University of South Florida, St. Petersburg College, Eckerd College, Stetson University College of Law

Daily Newspapers: St. Petersburg Times; Tampa Tribune, Pinellas Edition

St. Petersburg: Transportation

Approaching the City

The St. Petersburg/Clearwater International Airport, close to the beaches, carries approximately one million commercial passengers each year. The Albert Whitted Airport, situated on the waterfront in downtown St. Petersburg, serves corporate aircraft, private pilots, and helicopters. Most visitors arrive at the larger Tampa International Airport, a 30- to 45-minute drive away. CSX Corp. provides rail service to St. Petersburg, and the Port of Tampa accommodates international cruise ships.

Most drivers to St. Petersburg pass through Tampa and over Tampa Bay. Interstate 275, which runs through the city, connects to both interstates 4 and 75 in Tampa. U.S. 19 connects St. Petersburg to the rest of Pinellas County to the north. The Sunshine Skyway bridge, at the terminus of Interstate 275, spans the mouth of Tampa Bay to join St. Petersburg with Manatee County, including the cities of Sarasota and Bradenton to the south.

Traveling in the City

St. Petersburg is laid out in an easy-to-navigate grid pattern with streets running north to south and avenues running east to west. Interstate 275 and U.S. 19 are the two major northsouth arteries. Central Avenue cuts through downtown and runs out to the beaches on the Gulf coast. Public bus transportation is operated by Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority. Sightseers may use Gray Line Sightseeing Tours and First Class Coach Company.

St. Petersburg: Convention Facilities

The St. Petersburg area offers 5 large halls totaling nearly 300,000 square feet of convention space. They are Tropicana Field (St. Petersburg's largest venue), Bayfront Center and Mahaffey Theater, Harborview Center and Ruth Eckerd Hall (both in Clearwater), and The Coliseum (a historic 1924 setting). St. Petersburg's resort hotels, both large and small, can handle conventions, meetings, and other events, with five housing a large amount of meeting space; St. Petersburg Bayfront Hilton and the Renaissance Vinoy Resort have the largest single meeting rooms, measuring 7,221 and 6,724 square feet, respectively. Unusual settings for meetings and receptions include beaches, museums, and cruise ships.

Convention Information: St. Petersburg/Clearwater Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, 14450 46th St., Ste. 108, Clearwater, FL 33762; telephone (727)464-7200; toll-free 877-352-3224; fax (727)464-7222; email info@floridas beach.com

St. Petersburg: Health Care

The hospital industry is one of Pinellas County's largest employers. The city of St. Petersburg has seven major hospitals, including Bayfront Medical Center and St. Anthony's. St. Anthony's Hospital, located downtown, is one of only two facilities in the nation with a vascular rehabilitation program. Both Bayfront and All Children's hospitals are teaching centers affiliated with the University of South Florida (USF) in Tampa; together they operate a joint cardiac surgical program. USF and All Children's jointly operate a pediatric medical research facility, which seeks to solve the mysteries of illnesses in children. Palms of Pasadena Hospital, known for its Continent Ostomy Center, also specializes in treating infertility. Other major medical centers include Edward White Hospital, Northside Hospital and Heart Institute, St. Petersburg General, Vencor Hospital, and the Veterans Administration Medical Center at Bay Pines.

St. Petersburg: Municipal Government

St. Petersburg has a strong mayor form of government, which combines a mayor with an eight-member elected council. The mayor and council members serve four-year terms. The mayor is responsible for the day-to-day affairs of the city, while the council looks after city policy, city budget, and mayoral appointments of other city officials.

Head Official: Mayor Rick Baker (since 2001; current term expires 2006)

Total Number of City Employees: 3,628 (2003)

City Information: City of St. Petersburg, 175 5th St. N., PO Box 2842, St. Petersburg, FL 33731; telephone (727)893-7171; email council@stpete.org