Safety Harbor is a small community in between Tampa Florida and Clearwater Beach FL. ( MAP) located at 28°0′17″N 82°41′43″W/28.00472°N 82.69528°W (28.004654, -82.695320). According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 13.1 km² (5.1 mi²). 12.7 km² (4.9 mi²) of it is land and 0.3 km² (0.1 mi²) of it (2.57%) is water.
Safety Harbor's tree-lined streets and quaint, "small-town" appearance are unusual in heavily-urbanized Pinellas County which attract many visitors lookin for that cozy, hometown feeling. Although the CSX railroad branch line from Tampa to St. Petersburg bisects Safety Harbor, passenger trains last used the line in 1984.
Demographics As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 17,203 people, 7,084 households, and 4,845 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,350.0/km² (3,498.3/mi²). There were 7,483 housing units at an average density of 587.2/km² (1,521.7/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 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. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.65% of the population.
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.
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.
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.
Early 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. The inhabitants of the area at the time of Spanish exploration were the Tocobaga Indians, who lived in villages around Tampa Bay. They were known for constructing various ceremonial and communal mounds, one of which is still visible in Safety Harbor's Phillippe Park (see photo). In 1528 Spanish explorer Panfilo de Narvaez landed in the area followed by Hernando De Soto in 1539. Safety Harbor(formerly known as Worth's Harbor) was first homesteaded by Count Odet Philippe, a Frenchman who is credited with introducing the grapefruit to Florida in 1823.
Safety Harbor is also 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 Timucuan Indian tribes are believed to have fished and bathed in the spring's waters.
In the twentieth 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. The freshwater spring, which boiled-up on the fringe of Tampa Bay, no longer exists due to urban water-table pressures and saltwater intrusion, but the Safety Harbor Resort has a long history as a therapeutic spa. As National Historic Landmark, it differs from other spas in having natural mineral springs. Indian shell mound builders settled here as long ago as 2,000 years, probably attracted by the waters which flow from five springs on the property. Not until Dr. Salem Baranoff purchased it in 1944, however, did Safety Harbor take on the mantle of "health spa" by combining the therapeutic waters with body and skin treatments and overnight accommodations. See Safety Harbor HIstory. In 1964, the site was designated a Historical Landmark by the U.S. Department of the Interior and, in 1997, a Florida Heritage Landmark.
Schools There are two public schools within the city: Safety Harbor Elementary for grades 1–5 and Safety Harbor Middle School (Home of the Seahawks) for grades 6–8. The middle school was rebuilt in 2004 and now has five buildings surrounding a central courtyard, with adjacent sports fields and a regulation track field. As a joint project between the city of Safety Harbor and the school, the field and track facilities are open to the community. As of 2007, Safety Harbor Middle School has an enrollment of 1,370 students.
Safety Harbor Middle also has an award winning MEGSSS (Mathematics Educaton for Gifted Secondary School Students) and an IMAST ( Integrating Math and Science through Technology) program.
The nearest school for grades 9–12 is Countryside High School in Clearwater
SAFETY HARBOR FL LINKS OF INTEREST
City of Safety Harbor, FL
Safety Harbor Museum of Regional Histoy
Philippe Park
Safety Harbor Public Library
Safety Harbor Chamber of Commerce
Safety Harbor Merchants
Safety Harbor Residential Communities
Safety Harbor Resort and Spa
Safety Harbor Tennis Club
Safety Harbor Churches
Historical Timeline of Events for Safety Harbor
Safety Harbor Schools
Safety Harbor Real Estate for Sale
