| For aging baby boomers, the decision on where to | | | | the real estate boom crashed during The Great |
| retire is made difficult by so many beautiful North | | | | Depression. But, St. Petersburg recovered, with the |
| American venues. Historically, many have chosen to | | | | help of large Public Works Administration projects in |
| buy Florida property, particularly in the Tampa, | | | | the 1930s, bringing $10 million in new investment. St. |
| Clearwater, and St. Petersburg Florida marketplace | | | | Petersburg's City Hall was built with New Deal federal |
| because of the warm climate, beautiful beaches, | | | | funds in 1939. |
| friendly people, fine health care, no personal income | | | | The city experienced phenomenal growth throughout |
| tax and a variety of other reasons. | | | | the 1940s. St. Pete was home to the U.S. Coast Guard |
| Yes, the City of St. Petersburg has experienced | | | | Station on Bayboro Harbor as a training base for |
| periods of glory, disrepair and now, revitalization. In 1875, | | | | World War II troops. Anti-submarine air patrols were |
| Detroit resident General John Williams purchased 2,500 | | | | made over the Gulf of Mexico during WWII. The War |
| acres of land on Tampa Bay. The General had visions | | | | Department later selected St. Petersburg as a major |
| of a grand and vibrant city with elegant parks and | | | | training center for the Army Air Corps. More than |
| broad streets, which today are the trademark of St. | | | | 100,000 pilots and trainees occupied every hotel in the |
| Petersburg's cityscape. | | | | city. As a result, the population grew fast and created |
| Within a dozen years, the Russian aristocrat Peter | | | | a housing shortage with families of military men looking |
| Demens brought the Orange Belt Railway to St. | | | | for a place to live. Post war, many of the soldiers |
| Petersburg. The first train arrived on June 8, 1888. | | | | stationed in the Tampa Bay area returned to live with |
| Shortly thereafter Demens named the city after his | | | | their families or to visit as tourists until their retirement. |
| birthplace, St. Petersburg, Russia. | | | | The 1950s and 60s were notable for the wide spread |
| Florida's love affair with baseball soon brought | | | | use of air conditioning, which resulted in a considerable |
| professional baseball's spring training to St. Petersburg, | | | | amount of housing for retirees. Mirroring national trends, |
| Florida in 1914. Al Lang, the city's former mayor, | | | | the Central Plaza and Tyrone Gardens shopping |
| convinced Branch Rickey to move his St. Louis | | | | centers attracted local businesses to relocate from |
| Browns to the Sunshine City for spring training. | | | | the downtown area. The population grew beyond |
| The state's first big growth boom in the 1920's resulted | | | | 200,000. As the automobile became the prime mode |
| in an invasion of tourists arriving by auto, railroad, and | | | | of transport, streetcar tracks were removed to make |
| yacht. The Gandy Bridge opened in 1924, reducing | | | | way for better roads. The 1960s experienced building |
| travel time to Tampa by more than half and positioning | | | | of the municipal marina, the main library, the Bayfront |
| St. Petersburg to become Pinellas County's largest city. | | | | Center and the Museum of Fine Arts. |
| The 1920s also brought beautiful architecture to | | | | St. Petersburg's quest for a Major League Baseball |
| downtown St. Petersburg and adjoining neighborhoods. | | | | franchise began in the 1970s. It was not until 20 years |
| The city's architecture reflected a Mediterranean | | | | later that the arrival of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in |
| Revival motif. Snell Isle, a 275 acre subdivision was the | | | | 1998 saw the team move their permanent home to |
| result of Perry Snell's love of the Tampa Bay area. | | | | downtown's Tropicana Field. |
| Snell Isle owes its existence to Snell first visiting St. | | | | Today, the downtown core is experiencing a period |
| Petersburg on his wedding trip in 1898. Upon returning | | | | revitalization with municipal projects that include retail |
| the following year, his first purchase was the | | | | shops, restaurants, and movie theaters. More than 900 |
| waterfront property located at First Street and Fourth | | | | community events bring millions of people each year to |
| Avenue North, now known as North Shore Park. | | | | experience yacht races, triathlons, baseball, basketball, |
| St. Petersburg's makeover is evident in several | | | | cycling, cultural exhibits, motor racing and music. Seven |
| Mediterranean Revival buildings including The Vinoy | | | | museums in the downtown district attract tourists. A |
| Hotel, the Princess Martha, the Snell Arcade, and the | | | | state university, 10 marine institutes and more than two |
| Jungle Country Club Hotel. Others can be seen in the | | | | dozen galleries attest to the city's commitment to |
| Spanish castles and homes along Coffee Pot Bayou | | | | education and health care. Much movement into the |
| and in the Jungle Prada neighborhood. | | | | historic neighborhoods continues as residents invest in |
| St. Petersburg continued to have strong tourist years | | | | their communities with a great source of pride. |
| through the 20s. Like many other areas of the state, | | | | |