In May 1911, the Florida Association purchased 12,800 acres in western Hillsborough County and created Pinellas Farms.  An area in Section 29 of the Pinellas Farms subdivision was platted as Pinellas Park.  In October 1914, Pinellas Park applied to the State of Florida for a charter.  One was granted and adopted in May 1915, thereby incorporating the township of Pinellas Park.  Governor Park Trammell appointed Harold Brennan as mayor until the town could have their first election.  The first Town Council meeting was held October 17, 1914, and P.J. McDevitt was elected as the first Mayor.  He served for three years and was succeeded by James Shoecraft, who not only served as Mayor of Pinellas Park for 35 years, but also served as a County Commissioner for many years. 

The primary industry of the town in the early 20th century was agriculture: fruits, vegetables, flowers and sugar cane.  The town prospered and the population grew to about 2,000 persons in 1925.  By 1935, The Great Depression was being felt in Pinellas Park, and as in many small towns, its residents sought employment elsewhere.  Between 1935 and 1969, the small agricultural community of Pinellas Park grew in response to commercial development along its major roadways and growth of the City of St. Petersburg to the south.  Growth of the City continued and was facilitated by its prime location and abundance of industrial property. 

The Colony House was the scene of the first church services and although it served as a Community Church, the first services conducted were by Presbyterians.  At a very early date they built the first Presbyterian Church close to 60th Street.  The first Catholic Church in Pinellas County was located on the south side of Park Boulevard.  The first Methodist Church in town, disbanded after about five years, was located on 77th Avenue near 58th Street.

As the farms began to develop they put into use a steam tractor to which 6, 8 or 10 wagons were attached.  This tractor allowed for a great deal of mobility in gathering sugar cane from various farms to take to the mill.  Soon after, a narrow gauge railroad was built to bring in the cane. 

A number of lovely houses were built in Pinellas Park.  Among them were those of: P.J. McDevitt, the Misses German, Louis Bender, Dr. Wyman and James Shoecraft.  The first Post Office was established in 1910 and "Doc" Vogel was postmaster.  It was located in the hardware store across the tracks from the Railroad Station.  In 1912 the first school was built.  It was a one room, one story building that sat across from the present City Hall.  This one room housed grades one through eight.  In 1915 a four room brick building was built.

Civic responsibility was assumed in the form of the first fire truck for the community in 1912.  The two-wheeled chemical tank was housed on 50th Street across from the sugar mill and was manned by a crew of volunteers.  Volunteer fire fighter Frank Miller had the only team of horses in town.  The fire alarm was sounded by ringing a bell that was mounted in a belfry over the Fire House.  The volunteers answered the fire alarm call by charging to the Fire House with a fire bell on their horses.

The Royal Palm Hotel, located on 60th Street and 77th Avenue, was the second building built in Pinellas Park and was owned by the Reese family.  It is the oldest building in town. 

The City's population grew from 11,000 persons in 1960 to 40,000 persons by 1985 -- a 264% increase in population compared to a County growth rate of 114% in the same period of time.  As a result of voluntary annexations, the size of Pinellas Park has grown from 7.41 square miles in 1950 to 15.5 square miles in 2003.  Today, located within Pinellas Park's city limits are over 3,300 businesses and over 47,572 residents. 

For more History of Pinellas Park visit the Pinellas Park Historical Society.