St. Petersburg

Here in St. Petersburg, we love our pets! In St. Petersburg, pets prevail as the kings and queens of our hearts. Our Pinellas County city is one of Florida’s largest cities and is part of the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater metropolitan area. The humid subtropical climate in the city is very similar to that of a tropical savanna, and it does become a bit rainy between June and September.

You will find plenty of activities in St. Pete, especially because the city experiences sunshine the vast majority of the year. Downtown, you will find plenty of artistic ventures, including the Mahaffey Theater complex, many art galleries, Haslam’s Bookstore, Jannus Live, and Palladium Theatre. You should also make a point of visiting the Salvador Dali Museum. Why not stop in to watch a Tampa Bay Rays game while you’re here?

St. Petersburg is part of a metropolitan area, so it is considered relatively urban. Downtown St. Petersburg offers several high rises that contain large offices. In the area, you will find plenty of fun opportunities. They include the annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade held each January, which includes an exciting drumline. In March, you can enjoy the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, and June brings in the St. Pete Pride weekend. November through December, you will find plenty of holiday events.

The economic structure of St. Petersburg is based in key industries like retail, professional services, and healthcare. The city’s largest employers include Publix Super Markets, St. Anthony’s Hospital, Home Shopping Network, Raymond James, and Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital.

St. Petersburg has a rich history as well. It was officially founded in 1888 by landowner John C. Williams and railroad professional Peter Demens. Demens named the land after the city with the same name in Russia. It also happened to be his hometown. Before its official founding, the region had been explored by Spanish expeditions.

Several notable people have come from or made a home in St. Petersburg. They include filmmaker Chris Fuller, author Dennis Lehane, vlogger Hank Green, actor Angela Bassett, jazz musician Al Downing, beat generation figure Jack Kerouac, and Holocaust survivor and writer Elie Wiesel. Additionally, several films have been shot in the city. They include Once Upon a Time in America, Cocoon, and Ocean’s Eleven.

The population of St. Petersburg is about 263,255. The metropolitan area hosts about 2.8 million people. The population has grown significantly over the years, starting with just 270 people in 1890.