Clearwater

Understand

Clearwater used to be the home of the Tocobaga American Indian people. Around 1835, the United States Army began construction of Fort 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. The name "Clear Water" is thought to have come from a fresh water spring flowing from near where the City Hall building is located today. There were many other freshwater springs that dotted the bluff, many in the bay or harbor.

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 the completion of the first passenger railroad line into the city in 1888. 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.

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. The remote and isolated Dan's Island, now the highrise-dominated Sand Key, was used as a target by U.S. Army Air Corps fighter-bombers for strafing and bombing practice.

In 1975, the Church of Scientology, which describes itself as a religious organization, established its world headquarters in Clearwater. As of 2017, it has bought at least 22 buildings in the downtown area for offices, temporary housing, teaching facilities, and a library. It has 2,500 employees, and claims to have 10,000 members living permanently in the area. The organization plans to buy most of the remainder of the inner city to establish a retail district managed by the organization.

Clearwater Beach, located on a separate barrier island, is part of the city of Clearwater and fronts the Gulf of Mexico. The connecting road is part of State Road 60 and is called Clearwater Memorial Causeway.

Get in

By plane

Go St. Pete–Clearwater International Airport (PIE)

A joint civil-military airport and home to the largest and busiest U.S. Coast Guard Air Station in the United States. It has limited international services. The bulk of the domestic services are provided by Allegiant Air serving destinations in the eastern half of the country and now a route to Arizona. Air Canada; Air Transat; Allegiant Airlines; American Airlines; Delta Air Lines; Frontier Airlines, (operated by Republic Airlines); JetBlue Airlines; Locair; SeaCoast Airlines; Southwest Airlines; SunWing Airlines; and Vision Airlines.

MapsWebsite☆ Want to go

• Tampa International Airport (TPA), is about 30 minutes away by road.

By bus

Bus services are available. The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority's (PSTA) services include two express routes that travel to Tampa.

By train

Nearby Tampa is served by Amtrak via its daily Silver Star train between New York City and Miami. A Thruway connecting bus is available and arrives at an Amtrak bus stop, located midway between Clearwater and St. Petersburg at 5251 110th Ave N.

Get around

• Suncoast Beach Trolley: Explore the unique beach communities from Clearwater Beach to Pass-A-Grille. Trolley does not stop in Kenneth City, Belleair Beach and Belleair Shore. The Suncoast Beach Trolley runs every 20 - 30 minutes daily from 5:05AM to 10:10PM, including holidays, with service until midnight on Friday and Saturday. Look for special trolley bus stop signs located frequently along the route. In addition to the route along the beaches, connector routes run between the coast and downtown Saint Petersburg. All trolleys are wheelchair accessible, and they have bike racks. A special permit may be required to use the bike rack. The bus and trolley fare is $2.25 per ride (2017), or ride all day with a $5 Unlimited Daily GO Card. GO Cards are available onboard the trolleys, buses, or at various locations countywide. The fare boxes are equipped to handle $1, $5 and $10 bills but do not give change.

Go next

Tarpon Springs — North on 19. Greektown USA. Great Greek food and atmosphere. Try Hellas which is much less pricey then Pappas.