Largo

Largo is the third largest city in Pinellas County, Florida, as well as the fourth largest in the Tampa Bay area. As of the 2020 Census, the city had a population of 82,500, up from 69,371 in 2000. Largo is a sister city to Tosayamada, Kchi, Japan, and has been named a National Arbor Day Tree City for 32 years in a row. The native inhabitants of the Largo area were the Tocobaga Indians, also known as the Safety Harbor culture from their archeological remains near present-day Safety Harbor. The Spanish came to Florida in the 16th century, and the area was largely deserted by the end of the 19th century. The town was first incorporated in 1905, and became a city again in 1974. It was an exporter of agricultural products until the 1960s population growth began to transform it into a bedroom community. The city's original area was 916 square mile (1.5 km²) to about 19 square miles (48 km²), and in population from about 300 people to more than 70,000. It saw rapid growth after World War II as people began moving into the area and Largo annexed surrounding lands. The population increased to about 5,000 in 1960, to about 20,000in 1970, and to about 70,00 in 2005. By 1982, Largo had grown to about about about 13 square miles/16th of a square mile. The groves, ranches and forests have mostly given way to homes and light industry.

History

Largo is the primary city name, but also Belleair Blf, Belleair Bluffs are acceptable city names or spellings. The official name is City of Largo. The native inhabitants of the Largo area were the Tocobaga Indians. Largo's economy was based on agriculturecitrus groves, cattle ranches, and hog farms, as well as turpentine stills and sawmills. The Town of Largo was incorporated in 1905. The population increased to about 5,000 in 1960, to about 20,00 in 1970, and to about 70,000 by 2005. In 1995, Largo Central Park opened on the site of the old Pinellas County Fairgrounds. In 2006, Democrat Patricia Gerard became the city's first female mayor. On August 24, 2009, the iconic Largo Clock Tower, which was constructed shortly after completion, was demolished because of the tower's decay and because a landmark was not an uplifting sight at a busy intersection. The clock tower was replaced with a small garden area in order to incorporate the Central Park area into Largo. The city is now a non-partisan, democratically-elected city commission acting independently and equally deciding democratically the political issues of the city. The mayor-dominated commission is deliberating with the mayor and other members of the council. The current mayor is Rodney J. Woods, a former commissioner of African-American descent, who was elected in a landslide against a former county commissioner. In 2010, the city had grown to about 19 square miles (48 km²) Largo is best remembered as "Citrus City", from the time it was a citrus packing, canning and shipping center.

Geography

Largo is located at 27°5430N 82°4640W (27.908355, 82.777791). It is centrally located in Pinellas County, touching the Intracoastal Waterway to the southwest and Tampa Bay to the northeast. Largo is dotted with a number of lakes, the largest of which is Taylor Lake at 53 acres (210,000 m2). Allen's Creek drains northeast Largo, flowing into Tampa Bay. McKay Creek flows through southwest Largo into the IntRacoastAL Waterway. The McKay Creek basin is prone to flooding. In 2010, Largo's total area was 18.6 square miles (48.1 km²), of which 17.6 sq mi (45.6 km²) was land and 0.97 sq mi or 5.22 km² was water. As of 2004, there were 651 acres (2.6km²) of park lands in the City of Largo. The city's record low is 22 °F (6 °C), recorded on December 13, 1962. Its record high is 100 °C (38 °C) recorded on July 5, 1995. In the winter, temperatures are warmer on the Pinells Peninsula than on mainland Florida. Winters are generally drier than the rest of the year. Most of the rainfall comes in the summer, when the sea breeze carries moisture from the Gulf inland. The unincorporated community of Ridgecrest forms a large enclave between western and central Largo and the city of Clearwater.

Demographics

As of the census of 2010, there were 77, 648 people, 38,022 households, and 19,573 families residing in the city. There were 46,859 housing units at an average density of 2,984.6 per square mile (1,152.4/km²) The racial makeup of the city was 86.3% White, 5.6% African American, 0.3%. Native American, 2.7% Asian, 0,2% Pacific Islander, 2,6% from other races, and 2.4% from two or more races. 9.0% of the population is Hispanic or Latino of any race. The median income for a household in theCity was $32,217, and the median income. for a family was $41,523. The per capita income for the city is $20,848. About 6.0%. of families and 9.1% of. the population were below the poverty line, including 12.0. of those under age 18 and 8.6%. of those age 65 or over. The average household size was 1.99 and the average family size was 2.59. The. median age was 48.2 years. For every 100 females, there. were 87.0 males. For each 100 females age 18. and over, there was 83.9 males. The city has a population of 69,371 people, 34,041 homes, and 18,382 families.

Economy

The decline of agriculture with population growth beginning in the 1960s largely transformed Largo into a bedroom community. The health care industry continues to grow to meet the needs of an aging population. Largo Medical Center, owned by the Hospital Corporation of America (HCA), was established in 1978. At one time Largo was the headquarters of Eckerd Corporation. According to the city's 2018 Community Development Division, the top employers in the city are: Largo Hospital, Largo Clinic, and Largo Memorial Hospital. The vast majority of jobs in Largo are in services and in retail sales. The city is home to the U.S. Coast Guard, which has a presence in the town of Largo, Florida, as well as the Largo Airport, which is located on the Florida Turnpike. The Largo Police Department is based in the downtown Largo area of the city and has a Largo substation. The town has a population of about 2,000 people, with a population growth rate of about 1.7% per year. The average household income is about $50,000, and the city has a unemployment rate of 1.8%. The city's economy is based on manufacturing and services, with light manufacturers making up the majority of its economy. The majority of the jobs are in the retail sales and services industries. The largest employer is Largo Hospitals, which was founded in 1978 and is owned by HCA. It has two campuses: its original campus near downtown and the former Sun Coast Hospital on Indian Rocks Road.

Arts and culture

The Largo Public Library opened in 1916 in the basement of the Town Hall, with a collection of about 560 books. In 1968, a new location was opened to house 14,000 titles, and in 1977 a new library was erected on 5 acres (2.0 ha) of donated land. Following an expansion in 1989, the library held 250,000 items. The current building was built in 2005. The library is located in the town of Largo, Florida, on the Florida Panhandle. It is home to the Largo Museum of Art, which was founded in 1881. The Largo Library is open to the public every day, and has a free Wi-Fi connection. It also has a museum of art, which opened in 1883. The museum's current building is located on the North Shore, near the town's downtown area, and was opened in 1968. It has an exhibition space that holds more than 2,000 pieces of art. The public can also visit the library's website to see other works of art and culture. The Library's website is also available on the Internet. It can be accessed by clicking on the following links: http://www.largolibrary.org/images/Largo-Library-Images.html, http://largo-library-images.com/Images/largo/images.jpg, and http:// www. largo- library-images/ largo.com.html. Largo-Libraries-Images/ Largo/Images.jpg.

Government

The City of Largo is governed by a City Commission of seven people elected at large to staggered, four-year terms. The mayor acts as a member and presiding officer of the Commission. The Commission's role encompasses the setting of city policy, exercising those duties imposed by the charter and law. The City Manager is appointed by and answerable to the City Commission as a whole. A supermajority of commissioners is required to terminate the City Manager. It is the only city in Florida where a majority of commissioners must vote to terminate a City Manager in order for him to be removed from his position. The Administration Department includes the City manager's Office, the City Attorney's Office and the City Clerk's Office. It also includes the Communications and Marketing Office, and the Office of Management and Budget. It provides municipal services to Largo. It was founded in 1883. It has been the seat of the City Council since 1881. The current City Commission was formed in 1994. It consists of seven members elected at-large to staggered four year terms. It includes the mayor, City Manager, City Clerk, City Attorney, Assistant City Manager and City Clerk. The Mayor is elected for a term of four years, up to a maximum of seven years. It began with a three-year term in 1995. It expanded to four years in 2000. It now has a six-yearterm. It will have a seven-year maximum term in 2015. It opened in 2010. It became the first city in the state to have a mayor and City Manager on the same body.

Education

Pinellas County Schools operates primary and secondary schools. Largo's high school is Largo High, and its mascot is the razorback boar. Schiller International University's main campus is in Largo. St. Patricks Catholic School provides a private education for grades Pre-K8th grade. Other private schools in the city include Veritas Academy and Veritas Preparatory School. The city is home to the U.S. Navy's 7th Coast Guard Ship, the USS Largo, and the Largo Air Force Base, which was built in the 1950s. The Largo Police Department is based in the town of Largo and serves as the city's police chief. The town's nickname is the Packers because of the influence of the citrus packing industry on the town, most notably, the packing plant of Senator John Taylor. It is also known as the gateway to the Gulf of Mexico, which is located in the east of the city. It has a population of about 3,000 people, about half of whom live in the central part of the town. It also has a reputation for being a good place to get a good night's sleep because of its proximity to the coast. It was the site of the World War II-era Battle of the Bulge, which took place in the 1940s and 1950s, and is now known as one of the most dangerous places in the United States. It's also home to a number of military bases, including the U States Air Force base, the Air Force Academy and the Naval Postgraduate School.

Infrastructure

Largo is served by two international airports, Tampa International Airport and St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport. State Roads 686 and 688 pass through Largo to connect with Interstate 275, which connects with I-75. US 19 and US 19 Alternate run north-to-south through the city. A grid of county roads connects Largo with its neighbors. The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority provides bus service throughout Pinella County and express service to Tampa. Largo is located on the other side of Tampa Bay from the city of Tampa. The city is home to the U.S. Navy's 7th Fleet. The Largo-St. Petersburg International Airport is located about 20 miles (32 km) east of downtown. The St. Pete-Clear water International airport is about 6 miles (9.7 km) south of downtown Largo. Largo is home of the University of Largo, a private college that offers classes in business, finance, law, and other fields. The town is also home to Largo High School, which offers classes for high school and college students in Largo and the surrounding area. The community has a population of about 2,000 people, about a third of whom live in the Largo area. It is located in the northern part of the Tampa Bay region, on the eastern side of the bay, near Tampa Bay and the Florida Turnpike. The airport is located near Largo's southern tip, about 20 minutes from Tampa Bay.

Air Quality, Water Quality, Superfund Sites & UV Index

The Air Quality index is in Largo, Pinellas County, Florida = 55.6. These Air Quality index is based on annual reports from the EPA. Higher values are better (100=best). The number of ozone alert days is used as an indicator of air quality, as are the amounts of seven pollutants including particulates, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, lead, and volatile organic chemicals. The Water Quality Index is 50. A measure of the quality of an area’s water supply as rated by the EPA. Higher values are better (100=best). The EPA has a complex method of measuring the watershed quality, using 15 indicators such as pollutants, turbidity, sediments, and toxic discharges. The Superfund Sites Index is 50. Higher is better (100=best). Based upon the number and impact of EPA Superfund pollution sites in the county, including spending on the cleanup efforts. The UV Index in Largo = 6.3 and is a measure of an area's exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays. This is most often a combination of sunny weather, altitude, and latitude. The UV Index has been defined by the WHO (www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/radiation-the-ultraviolet-(uv)-index) and is uniform worldwide.

Employed

The most recent city population of 82,485 individuals with a median age of 48.8 age the population grows by 0.12% in Largo, Pinellas County, Florida population since 2000 and are distributed over a density of 4,435.39 residents per square mile of area (1,712.52/km²). There are average 2 people per household in the 33,814 households with an average household income of $38,695 a year. The unemployment rate in Alabama is 10.80% of the available work force and has dropped -5.96% over the most recent 12-month period and the projected change in job supply over the next decade based on migration patterns, economic growth, and other factors will increase by 17.28%. The number of physicians in Largo per 100,000 population = 272.9.

Weather

The annual rainfall in Largo = 50.8 inches and the annual snowfall = 0 inches. The annual number of days with measurable precipitation (over .01 inch) = 104. The average number of days per year that are predominantly sunny = 246. 90 degrees Fahrenheit is the average daily high temperature for the month of July and 52.2 degrees Fahrenheit is the average daily low temperature for the month of January. The Comfort Index (higher=better) is 28, where higher values mean a more pleasant climate. The Comfort Index measure recognizes that humidity by itself isn't the problem. (Have you noticed nobody ever complains about the weather being 'cold and humid?) It's in the summertime that we notice the humidity the most, when it's hot and muggy. Our Comfort Index uses a combination of afternoon summer temperature and humidity to closely predict the effect that the humidity will have on people.

Median Home Cost

The percentage of housing units in Largo, Pinellas County, Florida which are owned by the occupant = 55.92%. A housing unit is a house, apartment, mobile home, or room occupied as separate living quarters. The average age of homes = 32 years with median home cost = $117,910 and home appreciation of -10.51%. This is the value of the years most recent home sales data. Its important to note that this is not the average (or arithmetic mean). The median home price is the middle value when you arrange all the sales prices of homes from lowest to highest. This is a better indicator than the average, because the median is not changed as much by a few unusually high or low values. The property tax rate of $11.27 shown here is the rate per $1,000 of home value. If for simplification for example the tax rate is $14.00 and the home value is $250,000, the property tax would be $14.00 x ($250,000/1000), or $3500. This is the 'effective' tax rate.

Study

The local school district spends $4,523 per student. There are 17.1 students for each teacher in the school, 705 students for each Librarian and 447 students for each Counselor. 6.69% of the area’s population over the age of 25 with an Associate Degree or other 2-year college degree, 10.57% with a master’s degree, Ph.D. or other advanced college degree and 5.67% with high school diplomas or high school equivalency degrees (GEDs).