The Hillsborough Divorce that Created Pinellas County

By Joe Marzo

The Great Gulf Divide: How Pinellas Broke Away from Hillsborough in 1912

In the early years of the 20th century, the people of the Pinellas Peninsula were done waiting.

Surrounded by water on three sides and connected to the mainland only by a narrow strip of land, the peninsula’s geographic isolation from the Hillsborough County seat in Tampa had long been more than just an inconvenience. It was a barrier to government services, infrastructure funding, school investment, and civic attention. The tax dollars of Pinellas residents flowed across Tampa Bay, but little seemed to come back in return.

And so, in 1912, they took matters into their own hands.

The fight for independence from Hillsborough wasn’t a spontaneous uprising—it was a long-simmering movement rooted in frustration, bolstered by ambition, and carried forward by a coalition of civic leaders, business owners, and community organizers. The result would reshape the region’s political boundaries forever and give birth to a new Florida county with its own identity, economy, and voice.

Forgotten on the Fringe

For decades, residents of the peninsula were effectively cut off. Traveling to Tampa—the center of county governance—meant either navigating miles of rough inland roads or taking a steamer across the bay. The people of Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Tarpon Springs, and the surrounding towns had little practical access to the courts, county commissioners, or county-funded services.

This wasn’t just a logistical headache; it was a democratic problem. Pinellas residents paid into Hillsborough’s coffers like everyone else, yet their roads were crumbling, their schools under-resourced, and their petitions often unanswered.

As the population grew and prosperity increased—spurred by the expansion of the Orange Belt Railway, a blossoming citrus industry, and booming real estate opportunities—the question on many minds turned from complaint to solution: Why not create our own county?

A Grassroots Movement Grows

By the early 1910s, the push for separation had coalesced into a serious movement. Newspapers like the St. Petersburg Times, under editor J.A. Armistead, amplified the peninsula’s grievances and lobbied for local control. Public meetings were held. Petitions circulated. The movement’s arguments were both practical and persuasive: localized governance would allow the people of the peninsula to directly manage their schools, courts, roads, and finances.

Among the many citizens who helped organize the movement was Granville W. Noblitt, a well-respected surveyor and civic planner. Though not a firebrand, Noblitt played an important behind-the-scenes role, helping with technical planning, lobbying, and communication. His contributions, along with those of many others, helped lend structure and credibility to the cause. This wasn’t just a protest. It was a campaign—carefully organized and legally grounded. And in 1911, it reached Tallahassee.

The Legislative Battle

A bill to create a new “Pinellas County” was introduced in the Florida Legislature. It proposed carving out the peninsula from Hillsborough and allowing its residents to govern themselves. Supporters of the bill argued that the peninsula had a distinct geographic identity, a growing tax base, and a population large enough to justify self-rule.

Tampa’s leadership wasn’t thrilled. Losing Pinellas would mean losing tax revenue and a slice of its regional dominance. Opponents of the bill argued it would weaken Hillsborough County and create unnecessary government duplication.

Despite the resistance, the bill passed—thanks in no small part to the tireless work of the Pinellas delegation and a wave of support from residents and local leaders. But there was a condition: a referendum would be required. The people themselves would have to decide.

The Vote That Changed Everything

On November 5, 1912, voters across the Pinellas Peninsula cast their ballots. The result was overwhelming: nearly 2-to-1 in favor of separation.

Just weeks later, on January 1, 1912, Pinellas County officially came into being. Clearwater was named the county seat, and almost overnight, the political map of Florida’s west coast changed.

The new county government quickly got to work. Roads were improved. Schools received more funding. Civic buildings were constructed. Freed from Tampa’s political gravity, Pinellas began charting its own path.

A Legacy That Still Shapes the Region

The creation of Pinellas County was more than a redrawing of borders. It was an assertion of identity. The name itself—“Pinellas,” derived from the Spanish Punta Piñal or “point of pines”—reflected the peninsula’s unique geography and character.

Over the next century, Pinellas would grow into one of Florida’s most populous and economically vital counties. St. Petersburg blossomed into a major city, a magnet for tourism, arts, and industry. Clearwater thrived as a governmental and commercial hub. And while the rivalry between Tampa and St. Pete remains lighthearted today, it has its roots in that dramatic political break.

Sources:

• Robert Kerstein, Pinellas: A Brief History

• Raymond Arsenault, St. Petersburg and the Florida Dream, 1888–1950

• Florida State Archives, 1911–1912 legislative records

• Tampa Bay Times historical archives

• Pinellas County Historical Society materials