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Clearwater Florida Real Estate | How Clearwater became the Pinellas County Seat in 1912

Clearwater Florida - Home to Pinellas County Government for 95 years.

Pinellas County Government Offices in Clearwater Florida Ed Rybczynski, a well known, national Mortgage Fraud speaker, asked today what stories and tidbits do you know about your hometown that you could share.

So today I was thinking about how often we've all heard that, "all politics is local". Well this was even true here in Clearwater almost 95 years ago.

When the Tampa Bay area was originally settled Clearwater, St Petersburg & Tampa were all part of Hillsborough County.

Over time the people of now Pinellas County, known as West Hillsborough, started to feel that their tax dollars would be better spent here. Local leaders wanted more control and input on how their tax money was spent and pressure to secede from Hillsborough County grew. After years of feuding and politicking a bill finally passed and the result was that on January 1, 1912 Pinellas County was created as a separate County.

Now as I mentioned above - all politics is local and so then the leaders from St Petersburg and Clearwater each had strong ideas on why their city would be the perfect County Seat.

Well as I understand the history of events, Clearwater with it's population of about 13,000 then managed to gain control as the County Seat and not wanting to leave anything to chance they decided to secure their place as the Clearwater Fl home to many Pinellas County government offices Pinellas County seat and built a new wooden structure almost overnight at a cost of around $3,700 back in 1912.

It worked, Clearwater, FL is still home to the Pinellas County Courthouse and is the County seat today even though St Petersburg is a much larger city.

The offices are located on the corner of Ft Harrison and Court Street and Cleveland Street.

You must pass all these buildings when you enter and leave Clearwater Beach, Florida via the new High span bridge.

What Clearwater or Pinellas County Stories do you know?

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*The above information and images are Copyright © 2007 Cyndee Haydon & Jack Haydon, Clearwater Beach Real Estate Agents and may not be copied, reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed or published. All rights reserved. Plagiarism will be detected and is punishable by law. Reprinted with Tampa Bay Real Estate Resource - Sandbars to Sunsets - We Cover it all!

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Posted by Clearwater Real Estate Pinellas Florida Condos & Homes for Sale- Cyndee Haydon on 08/21/2007 12:51 PM

Comments (43)

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Originally posted at: Clearwater Florida Homes Condos Real Estate: Clearwater Florida Real Estate | How Clearwater became the Pinellas County Seat in 1912

This post has been included in Florida Information Pinellas County, FL Information Clearwater, FL Information
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43 Comments on Clearwater Florida Real Estate | How Clearwater became the Pinellas County Seat in 1912

AUG

2007

Great information, Cyndee. This should be fun.

Cyndee

I'm flattered. Thank you for this.

Missy - it's always fun to share little known info about your area - it gives such a sense of history and local belonging.

Ed, It's my pleasure - thanks for inspiring this article - it's always fun to share local trivia :-)

Cyndee great post! I need to go plump up my comment on Ed's into a full post. Ed is very inspiring!

Cyndee,

Great idea for a post - this gives me another idea. Sanford is now the county seat here but years back they could not agree on the county seat - the courthouse was placed between two towns and for years the county seat of Lee County was a zip code. I ought to write a blog about it - just need to get some more time!

Cyndee, I love learning about different places. I should go and read Ed's post.

Cyndee--Some of those little historical tidbits are what makes the city unique. Thanks for sharing a tidbit about Clearwater.

I did not know that Cyndee. I almost bought a building right next to that court house back in the mid 80s. Where abouts do you live in Clearwater? I still own a unit in Coachman Creek condos. I haven't seen it in 23 years but I guess it's still there.

Great information Cyndee on Pinellas County and the history! I feel much more informed now on the happenings in the past!

Cyndee- I love historical tidbits.. it's so much fun to know the rest of the srory

Great local post, Cyndee. It seems to me, many built on land to ensure ownwership and use. Wouldn't work with todays laws.

Ashley - I'll look forward to seeing your upcoming post - it's great to learn more about the local history.

Rita - Sounds like a great post simmering there - that is so interesting to be represented as a zip code. We have one city here, Lutz that's in 2 counties - Hillsborough and Pasco - tell me that doesn't throw people.

Mana - after you read it I'll look forward to learning something interesting about Camarillo.

Teri - it's actually inspired me to do more in the future - keep on the watch for more fun facts.

BB - you would be a very wealthy man if you'd bought that building - Ft Harrison has been totally renovated in the last 2 years - from questionable areas to valuable real estate. :-) We live near Gulf to Bay and US 19 now so it's about 2 miles from your old employer, Tio Pepes!! It's a small world!

Leah - Interesting to think of Pinellas County as West Hillsborough - which is still basically the case with "Tampa Bay" as an area that encompasses the 3 big cities and surrounding areas.

Kaye - thanks for your kind words - it does give you a more personal attachment - thanks for stopping by :-)

Paula - it's funny to imagine them working to get this building up in 1 day - just think that was more than an Extreme Home Makeover back them - wonder if they had a Ty Pennington to lead the charge?

Cyndee, You are my Pinellas County expert and I love reading about the St. Petersburg and Clearwater area in your blogs. You do a great job informing the public about the area.

Cyndee, interesting historical info on Pinellas county. Thanks for sharing.

Stephanie - thanks for your kind words - we love sharing info, I really appreciate the feedback.

Irina - thanks for stopping by to learn more about our area.

AUG

2007

Cyndee,

Great job showcasing interesting facts about your community.

Thank you Lynda - I've decided to do more in the future. :-)

Cyndee - I have not made it to Ed's post and most likely will not until tomorrow as my eyes are starting to droop - I love to read history of areas and truly enjoyed this - thanks for sharing

AUG

2007

What a super-cool post! I love "fun facts' about area's especially the ones our grandparents can share with us!

Katrina

Do you have a photo anywhere of the the building that was built overnight for the Pinellas county seat? That would be really cool too! You are the agent of choice in Clearwater Florida. You really know your stuff! Katerina

Cyndee, you and Jack are certainly the go-to folks in Clearwater. I loved learning more about your local history!

Cyndee - Great local history for consumers in Clearwater FL! You are the local expert!

Thesa - thanks for stopping by - been out sick for 24 hr so just catching up :-)

Katrina - thanks for stopping by :-)

Katerina - if you click on the link for the building you'll see the original courthouse - I didn't want to copy it without permission - check it out.

Maggie - I feel the same about Miami Redlands and all you share - especially in your "Blog that Ate Miami" :-)

Kim - appreciate your kind words - thanks!!

You are the Clearwater expert! It's nice to know what was going on 95 years ago and TODAY!! Ed is fabulous too...thank you for turning me on to HIM too!!