Timeline of St. Petersburg, Florida

The following is a timeline of the history of the city of St. Petersburg in Pinellas County, Florida, United States.

Late 19th century

 * 1875 – John C. Williams purchases land.
 * 1884 – The St. Petersburg Times was established.
 * 1888
 * Peter Demens brings railroad into St. Petersburg.
 * The first hotel is built, named the Detroit Hotel.
 * 1892
 * Town of St. Petersburg incorporated.
 * David Moffett becomes first mayor of St. Petersburg.
 * 1897 – Electrical service established.
 * 1899
 * Orange Belt Railway constructs the Railroad Pier.
 * Henry W. Hibbs introduces major fishing business.
 * 1900 – Population: 1,575

20th century

 * 1903 – City of St. Petersburg incorporated.
 * 1904 – Trolley services enter St. Petersburg by F. A. Davis.
 * 1906
 * The Electric Pier is built, replacing the Railroad Pier.
 * Shipping channel dredging begins.
 * 1910 – Population: 4,127
 * 1913 – The Municipal Pier is built, replacing the Electric Pier.
 * 1914
 * St. Louis Browns invited to use St. Petersburg for spring training at Coffee Pot Park.
 * The St. Petersburg-Tampa Airboat Line perform the first commercial flight with a Benoist XIV flying boat.
 * 1915 – Mirror Lake Library opens.
 * 1916 – Al Lang becomes mayor.

St. Petersburg–Tampa Airboat Line
A Benoist XIV was used for flights.


 * 1920 – Population: 14,237
 * 1921
 * St. Petersburg Museum of History is founded.
 * 1921 Tampa Bay hurricane.
 * 1924
 * The United States Coast Guard opens base.
 * Gandy Bridge opens.
 * 1925 – The Vinoy Park Hotel is built.
 * 1926 – Millions Dollar Pier is constructed, replacing the Municipal Pier.
 * 1928 – WSUN radio begins broadcasting.
 * 1930 – Population: 40,425
 * 1940 – Population: 60,812
 * 1942 – St. Petersburg used a training facility for the Army Air Force.
 * 1947 – Original Al Lang Stadium is built.
 * 1950 – Population: 96,738
 * 1953 – WSUN-TV (television) begins broadcasting.
 * 1954 – The original Sunshine Skyway Bridge opens.
 * 1960
 * Population: 181,298.
 * Howard Frankland Bridge is constructed.
 * 1965
 * Museum of Fine Arts is established.
 * Bayfront Center is constructed.
 * 1968 – Roman Catholic Diocese of Saint Petersburg established.
 * 1970 – Population: 216,159.
 * 1973 – The St. Petersburg Pier is built.
 * 1976 – Al Lang Stadium is rebuilt.
 * 1980
 * Population: 238,647.
 * The south bound span of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge collapses due to the MV Summit Venture striking a pier.
 * 1982 – Salvador Dalí Museum is established.
 * 1987 – The new Sunshine Skyway Bridge is constructed.
 * 1990
 * Population: 238,629.
 * Tropicana Field is constructed.
 * One Progress Plaza is constructed.
 * 1992 – Florida Holocaust Museum is established.
 * 1993
 * Original Sunshine Skyway Bridge is demolished.
 * Mazzaro Italian Market opened
 * 1998 – Tampa Bay Rays established as Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
 * 2000 – Population: 248,232



21st century

 * 2001 – Rick Baker becomes mayor.
 * 2003
 * Wikimedia Foundation established.
 * First ever St. Pete Pride celebration and declaration of June being Pride month
 * 2004 – Bayfront Center is demolished.
 * 2009 – Signature Place is constructed.
 * 2010
 * Population: 244,769
 * Bill Foster becomes mayor.
 * 2011 – Salvador Dalí Museum is established in current building.
 * 2014 – Rick Kriseman becomes mayor.
 * 2015
 * The St. Petersburg Pier is demolished.
 * The History Council of St. Petersburg is formed.
 * 2017 – Rick Kriseman is re-elected as mayor.
 * 2020 – St. Pete Pier opens.