History of Clearwater Florida: The Heart of Pinellas County

Clearwater is the oldest permanent settlement in the county. An Indian trading post and a military base in the early 20th century all contributed to the city’s growth and importance. Today, Clearwater is one of the largest coastal cities in Florida. It’s the county’s commercial hub and home to over 250,000 people. The city has a history that goes back more than 400 years, and this timeline will give you a glimpse of that history.

Clearwater Florida Timeline

1574 - Juan Ortiz explores and names the Gulf of Mexico, then calls it the “Sea to the South.”  1605 - French explorer Jacques Le Moyne, Sieur d’Isle-Francais, sails down the gulf and names it the “Sea of Florida.”  1608 - Captain Henry Jacobs claims the gulf for England, naming it the “Gulf of Florida.”  1773 - The British set the southern boundary of their territory at the 32nd parallel, then the northern border at the latitude of Tampa Bay.  1812 - The British cede Florida to the United States, and the United States Congress sets the northern boundary of the country at the 42nd parallel.

Pre-European-American History of Clearwater

In the early 16th century, Spanish explorers explored the Gulf Coast. They mapped out the Gulf of Mexico north to the “sea to the south.” The explorers called the gulf the “Gulf of Florida.” The French explorer Jacques Le Moyne, Sieur d’Isle-Francais, sailed down the gulf and named it the “Sea of Florida.” The British explorer Henry Adams claimed the gulf for England, naming it the “Gulf of Florida.” The Spanish call explorers who chart the Gulf of Mexico the “marineros.” The British called marineros “guides.”

Spanish Colonial Clearwater

In the early 17th century, the Spanish established Santa Maria de Galve, a trading post at what is now St. Petersburg on the east coast of Florida. In 1668, the Spanish built Fort San Carlos at the mouth of Tampa Bay. The fort controlled traffic up the coast and protected Spain’s claim to the Gulf Coast of Florida. From the Spanish Gulf Coast, Spanish ships sailed to the Mexican silver mines of Mexico City. Other ships sailed south along the coast looking for shipwrecks. The Spanish loved to salvage ships and trade goods. Salt from the Gulf Coast and sand from the coast made up the Spanish “treasure ships.”

Fort Harrison and the World’s Largest Bottle Launcher

In the late 19th century, the U.S. Army had an interest in building a coastal fort in Tampa. The Army found the perfect spot on Tampa Bay, but Congress rejected the Army’s request for $300,000 to build the fort. That’s when Major Cyrus W. Stilwell of the Engineer Corps came up with a unique proposal. He promised $50,000 to build the largest bottle launcher in the world. Stilwell got the help of King Brewery in St. Paul, Minnesota. King Brewery’s engineers came up with a design to launch bottles up Tampa Bay on a 100-foot-high tower. In 1890, the Army awarded a $25,000 contract to build the launcher. Construction of the King Bottle Tower started in September 1890 and finished in October. The launch successfully launched the first bottle on December 24, 1890. The King Bottle Tower stood on the shore of Tampa Bay for nearly a century. Then, in August 1978, Hurricane DON forced the Army Corps of Engineers to demolish the tower.

World War II and the Birth of Electronics

In World War II, the Clearwater area’s population more than doubled from 15,351 to 36,760 people. More people flooded Clearwater and the rest of Pinellas County for work in the booming defense industry. The first electronic device invented in Clearwater was the Wartime Violator (Wartimer). The Wartimer was a device designed to protect ships from enemy torpedoes. The Wartimer used a radar sensor. The sensor detected incoming torpedoes and intruders. The Clearwater company built the Wartimer in 1949, but the company shut down in 1967. A second company, Clearwater Electronics in Clearwater, built a very different machine. The Clearwater Electronic Switchboard was used to route military communications. Clearwater Electronics was the sole supplier of the switchboard at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa.

The 1950s: A New Twist on Clearwater

Pinellas County was founded in 1950. The first county commissioners were appointed to clear obstacles, remove debris, and improve drainage. One of the first tasks was to remove the Clearwater Water Plant and its pumping station, located below the King Bottle Tower. This project cost $250,000 and took eight years to complete. The Clearwater Water Plant destroyed the King Bottle Tower in 1978, and the King Bottle Tower in 1981.

Modern Clearwater Today

Clearwater boasted the world’s largest convention center, the Tampa Bay Times Forum, but it was plagued by poor acoustics and other issues. Then, the city faced a $54 million debt. To fix the venue, Clearwater voters approved a new tax in 2011. The renovations cost $120 million, and the city started the process to file for bankruptcy. The city started the process to file for bankruptcy in 2013. Clearwater emerged from bankruptcy in 2015.

Clearwater Florida Afternoon Tour: BONUS!

Today, you can join a Clearwater walking tour. These tours offer a more intimate look at the city and a more interactive experience. The Clearwater walking tours give you a chance to explore the city’s history and meet your tour guide. One of the best Clearwater walking tours is the Afternoon Afterlife Tour. This tour explores the city’s nightlife, from Tampa’s music scene to Clearwater’s bars. You can visit the city’s best bars and restaurants, see live music, and meet your tour guide. You can also join a Clearwater walking tour on the Golden Gulf Coast Tour. This tour explores the Gulf Coast’s natural and cultural history. Visit the beach, explore historical markers, and see the city’s best sights.

Point Of Interest #1 The Landings, 1875 Airport Dr, Clearwater, FL 33765

Point Of Interest #2 Culver's, 2008 Gulf to Bay Blvd, Clearwater, FL 33765

Point Of Interest #3 Pollo Tropical, 2140 Gulf to Bay Blvd, Clearwater, FL 33765

Written Driving Directions From The Mold Girl of Clearwater To One Specific POI In This Geo Grid Area

Start:974 Park St #318

Clearwater, FL 33756, USA

Take S Prospect Ave to Chestnut St

2 min (0.4 mi)

Head west on Park St toward S Prospect Ave

 Restricted usage road

305 ft

Turn left onto S Prospect Ave

0.3 mi

Follow Court St and Gulf to Bay Blvd to S Main Ave

6 min (2.8 mi)

Turn left onto Chestnut St

0.1 mi

Continue onto Court St

1.0 mi

Continue onto Gulf to Bay Blvd

 Pass by Amscot - The Money Superstore (on the right in 0.9 mi)

1.7 mi

Continue on S Main Ave to your destination

44 s (495 ft)

Turn left onto S Main Ave

308 ft

Turn left

72 ft

Turn left

 Destination will be on the right

115 ft

End:Pollo Tropical

2140 Gulf to Bay Blvd, Clearwater, FL 33765, United States