Clearwater is a city located in Pinellas
County, Florida. As of the 2000 census, the city had a
total population of 108,787. It is the county seat of Pinellas County.
Clearwater Florida Geography
Clearwater is located at 27°58'25" North, 82°45'51"
West (27.973644, -82.764271)1.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total
area of 97.7 km² (37.7 mi²). 65.5 km² (25.3 mi²)
of it is land and 32.2 km² (12.4 mi²) of it is water.
The total area is 32.98% water.
Clearwater Florida Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there are 108,787 people, 48,449 households,
and 27,422 families residing in the city. The population density
is 1,660.8/km² (4,302.1/mi²). There are 56,802 housing
units at an average density of 867.2/km² (2,246.3/mi²).
The racial makeup of the city is 83.85% White, 9.79% African American,
0.32% Native American, 1.64% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 2.48%
from other races, and 1.85% from two or more races. 8.97% of the
population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 48,449 households out of which 21.7% have children under
the age of 18 living with them, 41.7% are married couples living
together, 11.3% have a female householder with no husband present,
and 43.4% are non-families. 35.5% of all households are made up
of individuals and 15.4% have someone living alone who is 65 years
of age or older. The average household size is 2.17 and the average
family size is 2.79.
In the city the population is spread out with 19.1% under the age
of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 27.6% from 25 to 44, 23.8% from 45 to
64, and 21.5% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is
42 years. For every 100 females there are 91.8 males. For every
100 females age 18 and over, there are 88.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $36,494, and the
median income for a family is $46,228. Males have a median income
of $31,067 versus $25,066 for females. The per capita income for
the city is $22,786. 12.3% of the population and 8.4% of families
are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 18.8% of
those under the age of 18 and 7.9% of those 65 and older are living
below the poverty line.
Clearwater Florida Colleges
Clearwater Christian College (http://www.clearwater.edu/)
St. Petersburg College (http://www.spcollege.edu/)
Florida Metropolitan University (http://www.fmu.edu/)
Pinellas Technical Education Center (http://www.ptec.pinellas.k12.fl.us/)
Clearwater Florida Scientology
The worldwide "spiritual headquarters" of the Church of
Scientology is located in the city of Clearwater, Florida[1] (http://flag.org/).
Officially known in Scientology as Flag Land Base, this international
headquarters was founded in the late 1970s when an anonymous Scientology-founded
group called "United Council of Churches" purchased the
Fort Harrison Hotel for $3 million. The citizens and City Council
of Clearwater did not realize that the building's owners were actually
the Church of Scientology until after the building's purchase. Clearwater
citizens groups, headed by Mayor Gabe Cazares, rallied against Scientology
establishing a base in the city (repeatedly referring to the organization
as a cult), but Flag Land Base was established nonetheless. In the
years since its foundation, Flag Land Base has expanded as the church
has gradually purchased additional property in the downtown Clearwater
area. Its relationship with the city has repeatedly moved between
"friendly" and "hostile," as the church has
worked with the city to establish better relations; while at the
same time actively opposing the local St. Petersburg Times newspaper
and even protesting the Clearwater police department. Scientology's
largest project in Clearwater has been the construction of a huge
high-rise complex called the "Super Power Building," an
enormous structure whose highest point, when completed, will be
a huge Scientology cross that will tower over the city.
