Church of Scientology Presents: History of Clearwater

The many responses to Freedom magazine (published by the Church of Scientology) from local Clearwater residents show that our readers are interested in Clearwater and want to know more about it. Many residents expressed an interest in the colorful history of our city. Thus, Freedom magazine printed a multi-part series on the history of Clearwater, covering the discovery of what became known as Clear Water Harbor by early settlers through World War II. Because of the overwhelmingly popularity of that series, we are reprinting it in full on these web sites.


	Pinellas County Thrives in the 1920s

The boom was over in 1927. The Depression was two years away. But before that, Clearwater and other Pinellas cities had a heap of growing and living to do.

Commenting on the difference between the boom years and the Great Depression years, pioneer Floridian and longtime Pinellas County resident Jay Starkey wrote: “I remember the national crash (or whatever one wants to call it) of the year 1929. ... If you were not grown and living in South Florida during the mid-20s and the depression of the early 30s... you will not believe there could be such contrast in style of living.”
From Starkey’s description of the mid-1920s boom, it is easy to understand why he says that anyone who did not experience the transition to the 1930s would be unlikely to believe his account of the way it was.

Part One: The Beginnings Part Two: The Healthiest Spot on Earth Part Three: Clearwater Roars into the 1900s Part Four: The Good Old Days Part Five: The Gala Decade Part Six: Boom Days!	Part Seven: Hard Times Part Eight: The Road Back Part Nine: The Tides Of War Part Ten: Clearwater Pitches in Part Eleven: Local Citizens Welcomed Troops Bound for Combat
Supplement: Why Clearwater?