Misplaced Pages

#166833

77-755: Ruth Eckerd Hall is a 73,000-square-foot (6,800 m) performing arts venue, located in Clearwater, Florida , in the Tampa Bay area and is part of the Richard B. Baumgardner Center for the Performing Arts. The concert hall is named after Ruth Eckerd, the wife of businessman Jack Eckerd , and is a regular performance venue for the Florida Orchestra . Its 2,180-seat auditorium features continental seating , with no center aisle. In 1977,

154-451: A stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Clearwater, Florida Clearwater is a city and the county seat of 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. It is the smallest of

231-533: A "paramilitary operation by a terrorist group". The Church of Scientology targeted Cazares, attempting to entrap him in a sex scandal. 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. Clearwater has city partnerships with the following cities: Hillsborough County, Florida Hillsborough County

308-484: A 2.56% from two or more races. 17.99% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. The county was the thirty-second most populous county in the nation. Of the 391,357 households, 31.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.70% were married couples living together, 13.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.80% were not families. Roughly 26.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.10% had someone living alone who

385-548: A bandstand stood at 405 Cleveland Street in Downtown Clearwater, where the community gathered to listen to music. 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. The Capitol Theatre opened March 21, 1921. It

462-406: 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

539-944: A family was $ 59,886. Males had a median income of $ 43,125 versus $ 35,184 for females. The per capita income for the county was $ 27,062. About 10.7% of families and 14.2% of the population were below the poverty line , including 19.9% of those under age 18 and 9.6% of those aged 65 or over. In 2010, 15.1% of the county's population was foreign born , with 44.5% being naturalized American citizens . Of foreign-born residents, 67.5% were born in Latin America , 16.7% born in Asia , 9.2% were born in Europe , 3.2% born in Africa , 3.1% in North America , and 0.3% were born in Oceania . As of

616-651: 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. 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 . The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) bus service

693-587: A household in the county was $ 40,663, and for a family was $ 48,223. Males had a median income of $ 34,111 versus $ 26,962 for females. The per capita income for the county was $ 21,812. About 9.10% of families and 12.50% of the population were below the poverty line , including 17.20% of those under age 18 and 10.00% of those age 65 or over. Source: U.S. Census As of 2010, 74.59% of the population spoke only English at home, 19.52% spoke Spanish , 0.56% French Creole (mainly Haitian Creole ), and 0.51% spoke Vietnamese as their mother language . In total, 25.41% of

770-582: Is Tampa . Hillsborough County is part of the Tampa– St. Petersburg – Clearwater Metropolitan Statistical Area . Hillsborough County was created on January 25, 1834, from Alachua and Monroe Counties, during the U.S. territorial period (1822–1845). The new county was named for Wills Hill , the Earl of Hillsborough , who served as British Secretary of State for the Colonies from 1768 to 1772. The County

847-498: Is around 888 square miles (2,300 km ), more than 84% of the total land area. Municipalities account for 163 square miles (420 km ). The modern boundaries of the county place it midway along the west coast of Florida. A narrow portion of Hillsborough County to the south, consisting almost exclusively of water, extends west to the Gulf of Mexico roughly along the Tampa Port Shipping Channel. This has

SECTION 10

#1732786890167

924-597: 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 . The city was formerly served by Amtrak at Clearwater station . The Church of Scientology 's "spiritual headquarters" are located in downtown Clearwater. The Church refers to Clearwater as its "Flag Land Base". The Church of Scientology owns several historical landmark buildings including

1001-605: Is located in the west-central portion of the U.S. state of Florida . In the 2020 census, the population was 1,459,762, making it the fourth-most populous county in Florida and the most populous county outside the Miami metropolitan area . A 2021 estimate has the population of Hillsborough County at 1,512,070 people with a yearly growth rate of 1.34%, which itself is greater than the populations of 12 states according to their 2019 population estimates. Its county seat and largest city

1078-545: Is part of the Pinellas Public Library Cooperative which seeks to provide patrons with access to information and programs to benefit the community. 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

1155-568: The Belleview Hotel . Groundbreaking was December 6, 1920. The "New Capitol Theatre" was damaged in a storm on October 26, 1921 (so it had been completed). 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. The theatre

1232-509: The C. W. Bill Young Regional Reservoir and Lithia Springs , one of the largest natural springs in Florida. As of the 2020 United States census , there were 1,459,762 people, 539,919 households, and 338,683 families residing in the county. U.S. Census Bureau 2010 Ethnic/Race Demographics: In 2010, 6.0% of the Hillsborough's population considered themselves to be of only American ancestry (regardless of race or ethnicity.) Of

1309-621: 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

1386-520: The St. Petersburg-Tampa Airboat Line initiated the first scheduled commercial airline service in the world, from St. Petersburg to Tampa. According to the U.S. Census Bureau , the county has a total area of 1,266 square miles (3,280 km ), of which 1,020 square miles (2,600 km ) are land and 246 square miles (640 km ) (19.4%) are covered by water. About 158.27 miles (254.71 km) of shoreline are on Tampa Bay. The county's unincorporated area

1463-537: The United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 39.2 square miles (101.6 km ), of which 25.6 square miles (66.2 km ) is land and 13.7 square miles (35.4 km ) (34.86%) is water. 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. New bars, restaurants, and other amenities are coming to

1540-688: The Washington Post's list of the 2000 most challenging schools in America. The Tampa Public Library opened in 1917. The following notable libraries are part of the Hillsborough County Public Library Cooperative: Several agencies provide law enforcement to the residents of Hillsborough County. They are all accredited and fully certified law enforcement agencies by the FDLE. The HCSO is

1617-538: The population spoke a language other than English as their primary language . According to the Secretary of State's office, Democrats are a plurality of registered voters in Hillsborough County. Hillsborough County tends to lean Democratic , having not been won by a Republican presidential candidate from 2004 until 2024. For the last quarter-century, it has been a powerful swing county in one of

SECTION 20

#1732786890167

1694-530: 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 . Gabe Cazares , who was the mayor of Clearwater at the time, went so far as to call it "the occupation of Clearwater" and later characterized it as

1771-401: The 536,092 households, 29.74% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.25% were married couples living together, 14.76% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.69% were not families. About 27.12% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.96% (2.35% male and 5.61% female) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size

1848-703: The American family movie series Dolphin Tale . 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 . 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

1925-632: The City Commission for additional space. 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

2002-639: 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. During

2079-631: 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

2156-629: The Kapok Tree Corporation donated 38 acres (150,000 m) to the City of Clearwater with the stipulation that a performing arts center be built on the property. The bequest mandated that the construction begin within two years, and in 1979 a ground breaking ceremony was held. At its inception, a group of dedicated volunteers in the community stepped forward to organize the effort and obtain the necessary resources for its completion. Among these leaders, Jack and Ruth Eckerd were instrumental in

2233-586: 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. It opened in 1982. The City of Clearwater contains five pools: Ross Norton, North Greenwood, Morningside, the Long Center, and Clearwater Beach. Swim lessons are offered throughout the year to patrons, and

2310-410: 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 old City Hall building was located. There were many other freshwater springs that dotted the bluff, many in the bay or harbor itself. Originally part of Hillsborough County , the first road joining Clearwater and Tampa was built in 1849, which dramatically reduced

2387-459: The area, renamed the "Cleveland Street District". Royalty Theatre is also slated to be renovated. 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

Ruth Eckerd Hall - Misplaced Pages Continue

2464-435: The average annual employment in Hillsborough County was 563,292. The percentages of total employment by industry were: In 2011, sales of all agricultural commodities produced in Hillsborough County were over $ 832,410,300. The largest crop by value was strawberries at over $ 388 million. Values of various crops included: Hillsborough County Public Schools operate the public schools in the county. Hillsborough County has

2541-533: 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. Vehicle traffic

2618-925: The board, and the administrative staff are responsible for the implementation of these policies. The board also serves as the Environmental Protection Commission. Individual board members serve on various other boards, authorities, and commissions such as the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority, Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council, Tampa Bay Water, Aviation Authority, Expressway Authority, Sports Authority, Port Authority, Arts Council of Hillsborough County, Children's Board, Metropolitan Planning Organization, and Council of Governments. Hillsborough County's discretionary sales tax rate increased from 1% to 2.5% in January 2019. When combined with

2695-437: The census of 2000, 998,948 people, 391,357 households, and 255,164 families resided in the county. The population density was 951 inhabitants per square mile (367/km ). The 425,962 housing units averaged 405 per square mile (156/km ). The racial makeup of the county was 75.17% White (63.3% Non-Hispanic White ), 14.96% Black or African American, 0.39% Native American, 2.20% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 4.66% from other races, and

2772-427: 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." By 2024, the count was up to 210 parcels purchased since 2017, including the office tower where city government offices were located, and leaving only seven remaining commercial property owners who are not associated with Scientology or government. Beginning in

2849-560: The charter. These amendments must be presented to voters for approval. One amendment was approved in November 2002, adding the position of County Internal Performance Auditor to the government structure. This position reports directly to the County Commission. The current administrator is Bonnie M. Wise, who took office on July 1, 2020, replacing Mike Merrill, who had served as administrator since 2010. Wise previously served as

2926-453: The county administrator, appointed by county commissioners and charged by the charter to faithfully implement the powers of the board. The charter provides for a county attorney, to be hired by the county administrator with the advice and consent of the county commissioners. The charter contains a provision for a charter review board appointed by County Commissioners every five years to conduct a study of county government and propose amendments to

3003-402: The county and the welfare of its residents. These five countywide elected positions have specific responsibilities under the county charter: Under a charter ordinance that went into effect May 1985, county commissioners are directed to perform legislative functions of government by developing policy for the management of Hillsborough County. The county administrator, a professional appointed by

3080-486: The county in his 2010, 2016 and 2022 senatorial campaigns and Republican Governor Ron Desantis won it in his 2022 gubernatorial campaign after the county supported Democrats for the previous three gubernatorial elections since 2010. In 2008 , Barack Obama won the county by seven points, the first Democrat to capture the county since Bill Clinton 's re-election victory in 1996. Obama won Hillsborough again in 2012 over Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney by roughly

3157-456: The county's deputy administrator and Tampa's chief financial officer. Of the seven members of the Board of County Commissioners for Hillsborough County, four are elected from single-member districts, and three are elected county-wide. The board approves the county's operating and capital budgets and the county's capital-improvement program. It may take action on any programs for the improvement of

Ruth Eckerd Hall - Misplaced Pages Continue

3234-522: The county. They, along with the Hillsborough County Public Schools Security Service officers, are known as school resource officers. Generally, deputies are assigned to schools outside of the incorporated cities and HCPSSS officers are assigned to schools within city limits. For extended services, other local agencies may be called in for support. Most crossing guards are employed in a unsworn capacity by

3311-400: The education department of Ruth Eckerd Hall serves nearly 100,000 students and adults annually. The commitment of the Board of Directors of both organizations and the management staff is to continue to present the finest performing arts and provide educational opportunities in the performing arts to all segments of the community. This article about a building or structure in Florida is

3388-551: The effect of keeping Hillsborough County from being technically landlocked. The central portion of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge is in Hillsborough County. So is Egmont Key , at the entrance to Tampa Bay ; this narrow strip of land separates Pinellas County from Manatee County. The northernmost tip of a spoil island just west of Port Manatee also lies in Hillsborough County. Hillsborough is home to Alafia River State Park and Hillsborough River state parks, and to

3465-499: The eighth-largest school district in the United States consisting of 206 schools (133 elementary schools, 42 middle schools, two K-8 schools, 27 traditional high schools, and four career centers, with 73 additional schools including charter, ESE, etc.). In 2013, 12 of Hillsborough County's 27 public high schools were ranked in Newsweek 's list of America's Best High Schools. In 2012 and 2013, all 27 public high schools were included on

3542-438: The first mayor. 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. 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. Clearwater

3619-635: The largest local law enforcement agency in Hillsborough County. Headquartered in the Ybor City District of Tampa, it is responsible for law enforcement services in the unincorporated areas of the county. The county is divided into four districts, each containing multiple sectors identified with a letter (example: H – hotel sector, G – golf sector). The districts and sectors are cut to exclude areas covered by other local agencies. The school district uses two agencies for security. The sheriff's office employs deputies assigned to various schools throughout

3696-410: The loser only in 1992 and 2016. The southern portion of the county, around Tampa, is powerfully Democratic, while the northern and eastern portions are heavily Republican. On the statewide level, the county also tends to lean Democratic with Democrats Bill Nelson for senator and Andrew Gillum for governor both winning the county in the 2018 elections. However, Republican senator Marco Rubio did win

3773-697: The majority of property in the Clearwater downtown core district. 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 . 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

3850-517: 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. In 2012, the city was listed among the 10 best places to retire in the U.S. by CBS Money Watch. The Clearwater Public Art and Design Program, 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. Pre-Capitol Theatre,

3927-409: The median income for a household in the city was $ 47,070, and the median income for a family was $ 46,228. 15.9% of the population fell below the poverty line. As of the 2010 United States census , there were 107,685 people, 46,264 households, and 26,317 families residing in the city. As of 2000, speakers of English as their first language were 84.43% of residents, Spanish as a mother tongue

SECTION 50

#1732786890167

4004-426: The nation's most important swing states. It is part of the politically important I-4 Corridor between Tampa Bay and Orlando , an area that historically decides most elections in Florida. Hillsborough was considered a bellwether county, voting for the statewide winner in every presidential election from 1964–2012. It has also voted for the winner of the presidency in every election since 1928 except twice, voting for

4081-463: The only jails in the county, other than juvenile detention facilities, the work release center, or holding cells located at multiple police stations and sheriff offices, all local agencies transport persons being arrested to one of the county jails. The sheriff's office also provides security and protective services at the county courthouses in Tampa. With a majority of transportation of inmates to and from

4158-554: 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. 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. The Clearwater City Council comprises the mayor and four council members, each of whom serves

4235-580: 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 . 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

4312-531: The project's success. The main auditorium is named in Mrs. Eckerd's honor. The center's main name recognizes Richard B. Baumgardner, the founder of the Kapok Tree Corporation. The facility is a Frank Lloyd Wright inspired building with Taliesin Associated Architects , led by William Wesley Peters doing the design work. Construction cost $ 14.5 million with $ 9 million donated by the private sector and

4389-694: The remaining $ 5.5 million provided in the form of a mortgage. The Hall was dedicated and opened on October 15, 1983. Created to own, manage and maintain the land and the facility, Ruth Eckerd Hall, Inc. is a non-profit presenting organization, while the Ruth Eckerd Hall Foundation, Inc. obtains funding for debt retirement and the ongoing operation of the center. Each year, over 350,000 adult and young audience members visit Ruth Eckerd Hall for performances ranging from world-renowned classical artists and dance companies to Broadway musicals and pop stars. Through its many arts education programs,

4466-602: The same margin. In 2016 , Donald Trump became the first Republican since Calvin Coolidge in 1924 to win a presidential election without carrying the county. Donald Trump broke the Democratic streak in the county in 2024, when he carried the county by a narrow majority. This reflects the general trend in Florida towards the Republican Party in recent elections. A home rule charter for Hillsborough County

4543-483: The sheriff's office. Plant City maintains its own police department and is the third-largest police agency in terms of sworn officers following HCSO and TPD. The agency provides law-enforcement services to the residents of Plant City and occasionally provides backup to HCSO, answering calls close to their jurisdiction. The TPD is the second-largest agency in the county. They serve the cities of Tampa, New Tampa, Port of Tampa, and other areas surrounding. With these being

4620-555: The site in 1962 after Mark Wyllie discovered an underground ammunition bunker while planting a tree in his yard. The area's population grew after the Federal Armed Occupation Act of 1842 offered 160 acres (0.65 km ) to anyone who would bear arms and cultivate the land. Early settlers included the Stevens, Stevenson, Sever and McMullen families, who claimed and farmed large tracts of land. Prior to 1906,

4697-470: The state of Florida's 6%, the rate is 8.5%, the highest in Florida. The rate includes two surcharges approved by voter referendum in November 2018, 1% for transportation and 1/2% for schools. It is only collected on the first $ 5000 of any large purchase. In the early 20th century, Hillsborough's economy was predominantly based on cigar-making and agriculture. In 2012, Hillsborough had the second-largest agricultural output among Florida's counties. As of 2010,

SECTION 60

#1732786890167

4774-540: 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. As of the 2020 United States census , there were 117,292 people, 48,211 households, and 27,233 families residing in the city. 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. Between 2014 and 2018,

4851-611: 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 and Scott Musheff as the architect. During the renovations, Bill Neville's murdered body

4928-523: The three principal cities in the Tampa–St. Petersburg–Clearwater metropolitan area, most commonly referred to as the Tampa Bay area . 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. The Church of Scientology owns

5005-418: Was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.11. The age distribution was 23.9% under the age of 18, 10.5% from 18 to 24, 28.3% from 25 to 44, 25.4% from 45 to 64, and 11.8% were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36.1 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.1 males. The median income for a household in the county was $ 49,536, and for

5082-430: Was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.07. The age distribution was: 25.30% under the age of 18, 9.30% from 18 to 24, 31.70% from 25 to 44, 21.70% from 45 to 64, and 12.00% were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 95.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.70 males. The median income for

5159-477: Was 8.55%, Greek accounted for 1.16%, French made up 1.00% of speakers, German at 0.97%, and Italian speakers comprised 0.85% of the population. Clearwater's economy employs nearly 50,400 people. Major employers include Morton Plant Hospital , Tech Data , and Honeywell . Employment in Clearwater grew 1.84% from 2015 to 2016 with 50,345 people in the workforce. The most common job groups include Service, Sales & Office, Science, and Business. As of 2020,

5236-525: Was approved by voters in a county-wide referendum held in September 1983, and the first county commissioners elected under this new charter took office on May 28, 1985. The charter divides the power of county government between legislative and executive branches. The Board of County Commissioners, which composes the legislative branch, sets overall policy by means of ordinances, resolutions, and motions. The executive powers of county government are vested in

5313-767: Was built by Senator-elect John Stansel Taylor . The theater's architect was Lester Avery and the contractor was John D. Phillipoff. 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), the old Pinellas County Courthouse (added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1992), other historical homes which have been saved, and did work at

5390-403: Was created through efforts by Augustus Steele. The county's 1834 area was much larger and included eight other present-day counties: Charlotte County , DeSoto , Hardee , Manatee , Pasco , Pinellas , Polk , and Sarasota . The last significant change in Hillsborough County's borders was the separation of its western section to create Pinellas County in 1911. On New Year's Day in 1914,

5467-444: Was found in the balcony. The theatre remained in the Taylor family estate until it was sold in 1996. In July 2008, the building went into foreclosure. 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 . Fowler Associates Architects, Inc.

5544-599: Was made possible by the Greater Clearwater Public Library Foundation, Inc. which formed in 1984. 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. The Clearwater Public Library System is a contributor to the Pinellas Memory Project. This system of libraries

5621-532: 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). The theatre was renovated in 1962. 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

5698-482: Was regularly stopped for companies of soldiers marching through downtown, and nighttime blackouts to confuse potential enemy bombers were common practice. Pre-development Sand Key was used as a target by U.S. Army Air Corps fighter-bombers for strafing and bombing practice. The approximate coordinate for the City of Clearwater is located at 27°58′25″N 82°45′51″W  /  27.973644°N 82.764271°W  / 27.973644; -82.764271 . According to

5775-488: 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

5852-669: Was renovated in 1984. The new Main library was rebuilt beginning in 2000. It opened in May 2004. 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

5929-537: Was selected for the renovation of the Capitol Theatre. The $ 10 million renovation and expansion began in 2012 and was completed in 2013. In 2019, a $ 2.5 million donation renamed the building the Nancy and David Bilheimer Capitol Theatre. 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

#166833