Introducing Safety Harbor:
- Located In: Pinellas County
- Population: 17,479 (Source: Pinellas County)
- Community Type: Residential and business
- Size: 4.9 square miles
- Zip Codes: 34695
- Government: Commission and city manager/mayor and four commissioners elected for three-year staggered terms.
History of Safety Harbor:
When Spanish explorers first surveyed the area that is now Safety Harbor, Tocobaga Indians lived in villages along the Tampa Bay shoreline. The area’s earliest inhabitants date back to the Stone Age, as evidenced by a 6,000-year-old spearhead found in 2008 at Marshall Street Park.
Odet Philippe, a Frenchman credited with introducing grapefruit to Florida in 1823, was the area’s first homesteader.
Safety Harbor was formally incorporated as a city in 1917 with a population of 200 persons.
Things To Do In Safety Harbor:
Safety Harbor hosts a variety of special events and community activities, including the Third Friday Music Series, Movies in the Park, the annual Bloom ’N Garden Festival as well as annual wine and seafood festivals.
Philippe Park, a 122-acre Pinellas County run recreation area, is a popular destination among our residents and visitors.
The Safety Harbor Museum of Regional History houses a number of exhibits detailing the area’s heritage.
Dining In Safety Harbor:
- Brady’s Backyard BBQ, 122 Third Ave. N.
- Green Springs Bistro, 156 Fourth Ave. N.
- Panos Kouzina, 3101 State Road 580, No. G
- Taste Safety Harbor, 500 Main St., No. E
- Whistle Stop Grill, 915 Main St.
What Makes Safety Harbor Special:
Home to more than 17,000 people, Safety Harbor’s motto is “the citizen is our priority.” The city has endeavored to maintain its small town charm while protecting its environmentally sensitive lands and preserving its heritage.
Investing in its historic downtown business district, the city has established it as a community focal point and center for cultural activities that draw visitors from municipalities throughout Pinellas. Several annual festivals take place right on Main Street.
Set on Tampa Bay, scenic waterfront views may be enjoyed from the City Marina, South Bayshore Linear Park and Philippe Park.
Safety Harbor also is the site of Espiritu Santa Springs, a natural mineral spring discovered by Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto in 1539. In the early 1900s, water from springs was bottled and sold as having special healing powers. In the 1940s, Dr. Salem Baranoff purchased the property and transformed it into Safety Harbor Spa, a health spa and hotel. Today, the Safety Harbor Spa and Resort remains a favorite destination.