Timeline of St. Petersburg, Florida facts for kids

The following is a timeline of the history of the city of St. Petersburg in Pinellas County, Florida, United States.

Late 19th century

Quick facts for kids History of Florida
The seal of Florida reflects the state's Native American ancestry
Historical Periods
Pre-history	until 1497
Spanish Rule	1513–1763
British Rule	1763–1783
Spanish Rule	1783–1821
U.S. Territorial Period	1822–1845
Statehood	1845–present
Major Events
American Revolutionary War	1775–1783
War of 1812	1811–1814
First Seminole War	1817–1818
Capitol moved to Tallahassee	1824
Second Seminole War	1835–1842
Constitutional convention	1838
Third Seminole War	1855–1858
Ordinance of Secession	1861
Civil War	1861–1865
3rd Constitution	1865
Reconstruction	1865–1868
4th Constitution	1868
5th Constitution	1885
Great Migration	1910–1930
Land Boom	1925–1929
6th Constitution	1968
Gore v. Harris 2000 Presidential Election	2000
Timeline
v t e

• 1875 – John C. Williams purchases land.
• 1884 – The St. Petersburg Times was established.
• 1888
  • Peter Demens brings railroad into St. Petersburg.
  • The first hotel is built, named the Detroit Hotel.
• 1892
  • Town of St. Petersburg incorporated.
  • David Moffett becomes first mayor of St. Petersburg.
• 1897 – Electrical service established.
• 1899
  • Orange Belt Railway constructs the Railroad Pier.
  • Henry W. Hibbs introduces major fishing business.
• 1900 – Population: 1,575

20th century

• 1903 – City of St. Petersburg incorporated.
• 1904 – Trolley services enter St. Petersburg by F. A. Davis.
• 1906
  • The Electric Pier is built, replacing the Railroad Pier.
  • Shipping channel dredging begins.
• 1910 – Population: 4,127
• 1913 – The Municipal Pier is built, replacing the Electric Pier.
• 1914
  • St. Louis Browns invited to use St. Petersburg for spring training at Coffee Pot Park.
  • The St. Petersburg-Tampa Airboat Line perform the first commercial flight with a Benoist XIV flying boat.
• 1915 – Mirror Lake Library opens.
• 1916 – Al Lang becomes mayor.

St. Petersburg–Tampa Airboat Line

A Benoist XIV was used for flights.

• 

  First takeoff run, January 1, 1914.
• 

  Airplane over Tampa Bay in 1914

• 1920 – Population: 14,237
• 1921
  • St. Petersburg Museum of History is founded.
  • 1921 Tampa Bay hurricane.
• 1924
  • The United States Coast Guard opens base.
  • Gandy Bridge opens.
• 1925 – The Vinoy Park Hotel is built.
• 1926 – Millions Dollar Pier is constructed, replacing the Municipal Pier.
• 1928 – WSUN radio begins broadcasting.
• 1930 – Population: 40,425
• 1940 – Population: 60,812
• 1942 – St. Petersburg used a training facility for the Army Air Force.
• 1947 – Original Al Lang Stadium is built.
• 1950 – Population: 96,738
• 1953 – WSUN-TV (television) begins broadcasting.
• 1954 – The original Sunshine Skyway Bridge opens.
• 1960
  • Population: 181,298.
  • Howard Frankland Bridge is constructed.
• 1965
  • Museum of Fine Arts is established.
  • Bayfront Center is constructed.
• 1968 – Roman Catholic Diocese of Saint Petersburg established.
• 1970 – Population: 216,159.
• 1973 – The St. Petersburg Pier is built.
• 1976 – Al Lang Stadium is rebuilt.
• 1980
  • Population: 238,647.
  • The south bound span of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge collapses due to the MV Summit Venture striking a pier.
• 1982 – Salvador Dalí Museum is established.
• 1987 – The new Sunshine Skyway Bridge is constructed.
• 1990
  • Population: 238,629.
  • Tropicana Field is constructed.
  • One Progress Plaza is constructed.
• 1992 – Florida Holocaust Museum is established.
• 1993
  • Original Sunshine Skyway Bridge is demolished.
  • Mazzaro Italian Market opened
• 1998 – Tampa Bay Rays established as Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
• 2000 – Population: 248,232

St. Petersburg, Florida: Museum of History. The St. Petersburg Museum of History (SPMOH) is a history museum located in St. Petersburg, Florida, dedicated to covering the area's history. As of 2020, the museum's director is Rui Farias

Museum of Fine Arts St. Petersburg

21st century

• 2001 – Rick Baker becomes mayor.
• 2003
  • Wikimedia Foundation established.
  • First ever St. Pete Pride celebration and declaration of June being Pride month
• 2004 – Bayfront Center is demolished.
• 2009 – Signature Place is constructed.
• 2010
  • Population: 244,769
  • Bill Foster becomes mayor.
• 2011 – Salvador Dalí Museum is established in current building.
• 2014 – Rick Kriseman becomes mayor.
• 2015
  • The St. Petersburg Pier is demolished.
  • The History Council of St. Petersburg is formed.
• 2017 – Rick Kriseman is re-elected as mayor.
• 2020 – St. Pete Pier opens.