Clearwater is a Florida city located in the County of Pinellas. It is situated northwest of St. Petersburg and nearly due west of Tampa. The Gulf of Mexico lies towards the west of Clearwater and Tampa Bay is situated to the east. Based on the Census of 2000, the city had a population of roughly 107,600. Clearwater is the county seat of Pinellas County and is the smallest of the 3 major cities located within the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater metropolitan area which is usually referred to as the Tampa Bay Area.
The Tocobagan Indian Tribe was the original people of the Clearwater Area. It was roughly the year 1835 when the first settlement of the area Fort Harrison was constructed by the US Army. It was used as an outpost during the Seminole wars. The city of Clearwater was repeatedly raided by Union gunboats during the Civil War who were in search of supplies.
The city of Clearwater is located near 2 major airports and some main highways. The Tampa International Airport and the St. Petersburg/Clearwater International Airport are conveniently nearby. The Coachman Park is one more popular place in the region and is home to numerous annual events.
The downtown part within the city of Clearwater has undergone major redevelopment through the years. A new big marina and some high rise condo buildings are among the recently developed properties. General beautification has been performed with various restaurants, amenities and new bars coming to the region. The modernized downtown has been renamed the "Cleveland Street District." The Royalty Theatre is also on the renovation plan. The downtown core is approximately 2 miles from Clearwater Beach and 6 miles from downtown Dunedin. When driving through many areas of downtown and to the other aforementioned locations specifically, there are fantastic Clearwater Memorial Causeway views and general views of the water to be enjoyed.
The spiritual head office of the Church of Scientology religion is located in Clearwater, within the state of Florida. The Church of Scientology in the city of Clearwater is also referred to as the Flag Service Organization. They have purchased a variety of properties in the region like for instance the historic Fort Harrison Hotel and the Clearwater Bank Building. These property purchases have caused controversy from local and citizens interests and political standpoints combined.
There are as many as 12,000 Scientologists living in the city of Clearwater, according to current estimates. The city likewise sees over 2,000 church members and roughly 1,200 church employees come to the city of Clearwater from outlying regions to receive religious instruction. It has been speculated that Scientology is responsible for contributing approximately $156.8 million per year to the city's economy.
Clearwater allots easy access to all of the leisure and fun attractions of nearby St. Petersburg and Tampa. The magnificent beaches in and around the city of Clearwater are absolutely worthy of taking note. The Clearwater Marine Aquarium, the Pinewood Cultural Park, The Clearwater Fine Arts Show, The Gulf Coast Museum of Art, the Clearwater Pier 60 Make A Difference Children's Fishing Tournament, The Dunedin Fine Art Center/David L. Mason Children's Art Museum, Heritage Village and the Florida Botanical Gardens are just among the special attractions to enjoy in and around the city.