Early
settlers referred to the area as Clear Water
Harbor until 1895 when the name became Clearwaterharbor. By 1906 it was
simply Clearwater.One of those first settlers was James Parramore
McMullen who along with his six brothers and their descendants proved
to be influential in the development of Clearwater.
Pinellas
was once a part of Hillsborough County, but on January 1, 1912 it
became a separate county with Clearwater as its county seat. There was
much wrangling with the citizens of the newly formed county as much of
the population thought St. Petersburg should be the county seat and
some discussion included Tarpon Springs as well, when it was thought
the only solution would be to divide the county further. Henry B. Plant
built a railroad through the county along with several grand resort
hotels benefiting the area and added to its growth. In 1914 growth was
steady and permanent with new people coming to make their homes,
residences under construction and large new
business blocks
being built, including the first apartment
house built by L. W. Williams. Clearwater grew
steadily until
the great depression. After WW II when the soldiers who had been
trained here returned to live the population surged with large tracts
of land platted for the rising population. |