Largo, Florida, United States

🇺🇸 Largo is the third largest city in Pinellas County, Florida, United States, as well as the fourth largest in the Tampa Bay area. Largo was first incorporated in 1905. In 1913, it became the first municipality in Pinellas County to adopt a council-manager government. It switched back and forth between "town" and "city" a few times, 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. From 1905 to 2010, Largo grew in area from 9⁄16 of a square mile (1.5 km²) to about 19 square miles (48 km²), and in population from about 300 people to more than 70,000. Largo began as a rural farming community and became the third largest city in Florida's most densely populated county. Largo has been named a National Arbor Day Tree City for 32 years in a row.

History The native inhabitants of the Largo area were the Tocobaga Indians. They are 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. In the 18th century, the Tocobaga had been virtually destroyed after years of exposure to European diseases, Spanish settlement efforts and warfare between Spain and England. The Largo area, like the rest of Pinellas County, was largely deserted. In 1763, Spain transferred sovereignty of Florida to the United Kingdom. In 1783, Florida fell to Spanish sovereignty once again until it was transferred to the United States in 1821. By 1845, a surveyor recorded the location of Lake Tolulu, apparently south of present-day East Bay Drive and roughly where the Largo Central Park Nature Preserve is today.

Later homesteaders to the Largo area included the families of James and Daniel McMullen, around 1852. The McMullens and other settlers raised cattle, grew citrus and vegetables and fished. During the Civil War, many Largo area residents fought for the Confederate States of America. James and Daniel McMullen were members of the "Cow Cavalry" driving Florida cattle to Georgia and the Carolinas to help sustain the war effort. Other area residents served on blockade runners. Still others left the area to serve in the Confederacy's armies. After the war, Largo area residents returned to farming, ranching, and raising citrus. The Orange Belt Railway reached the area in 1888. By this time Lake Tolulu had been renamed Lake Largo, and residents of the community west of the lake adopted the name "Largo".

Incorporation to Great Depression The Town of Largo was incorporated in 1905. Lake Largo was drained in 1916 to make way for growth and development. Between 1910 and 1930, Largo's population increased by about 500%. Then and for decades afterwards, Largo's economy was based on agriculture—citrus groves, cattle ranches, and hog farms, as well as turpentine stills and sawmills. Largo is best remembered as "Citrus City", from the time it was a citrus packing, canning and shipping center.

The Great Depression was difficult for Largo, which lacked the financial resources to meet its obligations. Largo reverted to its 1913 boundaries and charter, after which the population dropped by approximately 30%. The debt incurred from the issuance of bonds in the late 1920s was not paid off until after World War II.

Rapid growth The years after World War II saw rapid growth as people began moving into the area and Largo annexed surrounding lands. During the nuclear arms race, electronics companies like General Electric and Honeywell boosted the economy. The population increased to about 5,000 in 1960, to about 20,000 in 1970, and to about 70,000 in 2005. Largo's original area was 9⁄16 of a square mile (1.5 km²). By 1982, Largo had grown to about 13 square miles (34 km²) and to about 19 square miles (48 km²) by 2010. The groves, farms, ranches and forests have mostly given way to homes and shopping centres and light industry. The increased population resulted in a need for increased city services. All departments saw rapid growth and improvements in quality, especially under the leadership of the late Mayor Thom Feaster. In 1995, Largo Central Park opened on the site of the old Pinellas County Fairgrounds. It is the setting for the Largo Central Park Performing Arts Center and the Largo Public Library.

In the 2006 commission elections, Largo achieved two milestones furthering its former motto of "City of Progress". Democrat Patricia Gerard became the city's first female mayor. She narrowly defeated incumbent mayor Robert E. Jackson in a bitterly contested race. (Dr. Jackson had been the longest-serving elected Democrat in Pinellas County.) The voters' choice between these two candidates decided the major issue of the election: that the city would not revert to a mayor-dominated process of governance in lieu of the continuing role for the seven-member commission acting as non-partisans—that is, deliberating independently and equally with the mayor and deciding democratically the political issues of the city.

Also, the city elected its first commissioner of African-American descent, Rodney J. Woods, in a landslide against a former commissioner.

On August 24, 2009, the iconic Largo Clock Tower, which was constructed shortly after completion of Largo Central Park, was demolished. City officials made the decision because of the tower's decay and because a deteriorating landmark at a busy intersection was not an uplifting and memorable sight. The area surrounding the clock tower was replaced with a small garden area in order to incorporate the area into Largo Central Park.

Geography Largo is centrally located in Pinellas County, touching the Intracoastal Waterway to the south-west and Tampa Bay to the northeast. Clearwater is Largo's neighbor to the north. To the north-west are the towns of Belleair and Belleair Bluffs. The city of Pinellas Park lies south of eastern Largo. Seminole lies south of western Largo. The unincorporated community of Ridgecrest forms a large enclave between western and central Largo. A number of county enclaves pepper the City of Largo.

In 2010, Largo's total area was 18.6 square miles (48.1 km²), of which 17.6 square miles (45.6 km²) was land and 0.97 square miles (2.5 km²), or 5.22%, was water. As of 2004, there were 651 acres (2.6 km²) of park lands. The city's lowest elevation is sea level. At its highest, the city's elevation is about 69 feet (21 m). 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 north-east Largo, flowing into Tampa Bay. McKay Creek flows through south-west Largo into the Intracoastal Waterway. The McKay Creek basin is prone to flooding.

Economy The decline of agriculture with population growth beginning in the 1960s largely transformed Largo into a bedroom community. Electronics, though important, could not fill the gap left by agriculture. Other light manufacturers fill various niches. The vast majority of jobs in Largo are in services and in retail sales.

The healthcare industry continues to grow to meet the needs of an aging population. Hospitals are among the area's strongest employers. Largo Medical Center, owned by the Hospital Corporation of America (HCA), was established in 1978; it consists of two separate campuses: its original campus near downtown Largo, and the former Sun Coast Hospital on Indian Rocks Road, which was renamed Largo Medical Center-Indian Rocks Campus after its acquisition by HCA.

At one time Largo was the headquarters of Eckerd Corporation.

Economy: Top employers According to the city's 2018 Community Development Division, the top employers in the city include: 1 Pinellas County Sheriffs Office; 2 Tech Data; 3 Largo Medical Center; 4 Florida Suncoast Hospice; 5 City of Largo; 6 SCC Soft Computer Inc; 7 Palms of Largo; 8 Publix Supermarkets Inc; 9 Pinellas County Schools Administration Building; 10 Diagnostic Clinic Medical Group.

Public library 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. In 1977, a new library was erected on 5 acres (2 ha) of donated land. Following an expansion in 1989, the library held 250,000 items. Largo Public Library's current building was built in 2005.

Education Pinellas County Schools operates the city's public K–12 schools. The school district's administrative headquarters are located in Largo. Largo high school students attend Largo High School. The school mascot is the razorback boar, and the school athletic teams are called the Packers because of the influence of the citrus-packing industry on the town, most notably the packing plant of Senator John Taylor.

Largo middle school students attend Largo Middle School.

The main campus of Schiller International University is in Largo.

St. Patrick Catholic School has a campus on Trotter Road in Largo, providing a private education for grades Pre-K–8. Other private schools in the city include Veritas Academy.

Transport Largo is served by two international airports, Tampa International Airport and St. Petersburg–Clearwater International Airport. St. Petersburg–Clearwater Airport is located about 6 miles (9.7 km) east of downtown. Tampa International Airport is located about 20 miles (32 km) east of downtown on the other side of Tampa Bay. The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority provides bus service throughout Pinellas County and express service to Tampa. 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–south through Largo. A grid of county roads connects Largo with its neighbors.