Safety Harbor, Florida
City
City of Safety Harbor
Safety Harbor City Hall
Safety Harbor City Hall
Official seal of Safety Harbor, Florida
Seal
Motto: 
Home of the Mineral Springs
Safety Harbor, Florida is located in Florida
Safety Harbor, Florida
Safety Harbor, Florida
Safety Harbor, Florida is located in the United States
Safety Harbor, Florida
Safety Harbor, Florida
Coordinates: 28°0.3′N 82°41.7′W / 28.0050°N 82.6950°W / 28.0050; -82.6950
CountryUnited States of America
StateFlorida
CountyPinellas
Settled1823
Incorporated1917
Government
 • MayorJoe Ayoub
Area
[1]
 • Total5.10 sq mi (13.21 km2)
 • Land4.92 sq mi (12.75 km2)
 • Water0.18 sq mi (0.46 km2)
Elevation
20 ft (6 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total17,072
 • Estimate 
(2021)[2]
16,987
 • Density3,467.10/sq mi (1,338.66/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
34695
Area code727
FIPS code12-62425[3]
GNIS feature ID0290124[4]
Websitewww.cityofsafetyharbor.com

Safety Harbor is a city on the west shore of Tampa Bay in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. It was settled in 1823 and incorporated in 1917. The population was 17,072 at the 2020 census.

History

The area has been inhabited since the Stone Age. In June 2008, a 6,000-year-old spearhead was found at Marshall Street Park.[5] The inhabitants of the area at the time of Spanish exploration were the Tocobaga people, who lived in villages around Tampa Bay. The adaptation of this culture relied on wild resources. Safety Harbor sites have yielded pottery, and artifacts of copper, shell, and stone. The Tocobaga were known for constructing various ceremonial and communal mounds to bury the dead. Most of these mounds were destroyed in the early 1900s due to development. However, one of these ceremonial mounds is still visible in Safety Harbor's Phillippe Park (see photo). Shells found in these mounds were used to pave city streets.

In 1528 Spanish explorer Pánfilo de Narváez landed in the area, followed by Hernando de Soto in 1539. Safety Harbor (formerly known as Worth's Harbor and Green's Springs) was first homesteaded by Count Odet Philippe, a French nobleman who is credited with introducing the grapefruit to Florida in 1823. The name Safety Harbor originated from the early 18th century, when pirates were a substantial influence in the area. Once ships reached this area of the bay, all threats from pirates were gone, and it was commonly referred to as a "Safe Harbor".

Springs

Safety Harbor is the home of the historic Espiritu Santo Springs, or "Springs of the Holy Spirit", a natural mineral spring. Its waters were given this name in 1539 by the Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto, who was supposedly searching for the mythical "Fountain of Youth". Prior to the Spanish exploration of Florida, the Tocobaga and Timuquan tribes are believed to have fished and bathed in the spring's waters.

In the 20th century, Espiritu Santo water was bottled and sold commercially, and later a health spa and hotel were built over the springs. The Safety Harbor Resort and Spa, as it is now known, continues to be a prominent visitor attraction in Pinellas County. In 1964, the site was designated a Historical Landmark by the U.S. Department of the Interior and, in 1997, a Florida Heritage Landmark.

Geography

The city is located on the west side of Safety Harbor, a waterway connected to Tampa Bay.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.1 square miles (13 km2), of which 4.9 square miles (13 km2) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km2) (2.57%) is water.

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1920429—
193076578.3%
1940694−9.3%
195089428.8%
19601,78799.9%
19703,10373.6%
19806,461108.2%
199015,124134.1%
200017,20313.7%
201016,884−1.9%
202017,0721.1%
2021 (est.)16,987[2]−0.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
Tocobaga Indian Mound in Philippe Park

2010 and 2020 census

Safety Harbor racial composition
(Hispanics excluded from racial categories)
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
Race Pop 2010[7] Pop 2020[8] % 2010 % 2020
White (NH) 14,406 13,651 85.32% 79.96%
Black or African American (NH) 742 606 4.39% 3.55%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH) 22 31 0.13% 0.18%
Asian (NH) 435 486 2.58% 2.85%
Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian (NH) 6 3 0.04% 0.02%
Some other race (NH) 33 60 0.20% 0.35%
Two or more races/Multiracial (NH) 266 737 1.58% 4.32%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 974 1,498 5.77% 8.77%
Total 16,884 17,072

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 17,072 people, 6,903 households, and 4,781 families residing in the city.[9]

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 16,884 people, 7,073 households, and 4,750 families residing in the city.[10]

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there are 17,203 people, 7,084 households, and 4,845 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,498.3 inhabitants per square mile (1,350.7/km2). There were 7,483 housing units at an average density of 1,521.7 per square mile (587.5/km2). The racial makeup of the city is 92.23% White, 4.14% African American, 0.24% Native American, 1.68% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.44% from other races, and 1.21% from two or more races. 3.65% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

As of 2000, there were 7,084 households, out of which 28.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.3% were married couples living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.6% were non-families. 25.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.85.

In 2000, the age distribution of the population is 21.8% under the age of 18, 4.9% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 27.4% from 45 to 64, and 17.3% age 65 or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.1 males.

In 2000, the median income for a household in the city was $51,378, and the median income for a family was $59,911. Males had a median income of $41,883 versus $31,165 for females. The per capita income for the city was $28,632. About 3.6% of families and 5.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.1% of those under age 18 and 8.3% of those age 65 or over.

Arts and culture

Safety Harbor Public Library is part of the Pinellas Public Library Cooperative. Founded in 1938, the original location was at the Community House.[11][12]

Government

Safety Harbor is governed by an elected Mayor and City Commission. City governmental departments are administered by a City Manager, who is appointed by the City Commission.

Education

Safety Harbor Middle School

There are two public schools within the city: Safety Harbor Elementary School for grades one to five, and Safety Harbor Middle School for grades 6 to 8.[13]

Infrastructure

The CSX railroad branch line from Tampa to St. Petersburg bisects Safety Harbor. Passenger trains last used the line in 1984.

Notable people

References

  1. ↑ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 31, 2021.
  2. 1 2 "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. July 1, 2021. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
  3. ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  4. ↑ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  5. ↑ "Schulte, Eileen. "Ancient artifact found." St. Petersburg Times. July 16, 2008. Online. July 19, 2008". Archived from the original on October 24, 2008. Retrieved July 7, 2017.
  6. ↑ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  7. ↑ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Safety Harbor city, Florida". United States Census Bureau.
  8. ↑ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Safety Harbor city, Florida". United States Census Bureau.
  9. ↑ "S1101 HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES - 2020: Safety Harbor city, Florida". United States Census Bureau.
  10. ↑ "S1101 HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES - 2010: Safety Harbor city, Florida". United States Census Bureau.
  11. ↑ "Safety Harbor Library". Safety Harbor Web Design. 2021. Retrieved November 28, 2021.
  12. ↑ "Safety Harbor Public Library". PPLC. 2021. Retrieved November 28, 2021.
  13. ↑ "Quick Facts" (PDF). Safety Harbor Middle School. 2007–2008. Retrieved October 27, 2007.
  14. ↑ Rosenfield, Jeffrey (February 8, 2013). "Grammy Winner Taffy Nivert Settles In Safety Harbor". Safety Harbor Patch. Retrieved April 30, 2016.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.