Dunedin, Florida
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Dunedin, Florida | |
| Location in Pinellas County and the state of Florida | |
| Coordinates: | |
|---|---|
| Country | Image:Flag of the United States.svg United States |
| State | Image:Flag of Florida.svg Florida |
| County | Pinellas |
| Area | |
| - Total | 28.2 sq mi (73.1 km²) |
| - Land | 10.4 sq mi (26.9 km²) |
| - Water | 17.8 sq mi (46.2 km²) |
| Elevation | 30 ft (9 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| - Total | 35,691 |
| - Density | 1,265.6/sq mi (488.2/km²) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| - Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP codes | 34697-34698 |
| Area code(s) | 727 |
| FIPS code | 12-18575GR2 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0281860GR3 |
The quaint, but thriving downtown business district has become a model for many other west-central Florida cities. It is striking in comparison to neighbouring Florida communities for its absence of commercial signage and corporate franchise restaurants and retail stores. The Pinellas Trail, a 39-mile long bicycle and pedestrian trail that traverses all of Pinellas County, bisects downtown Dunedin. Bicyclists are a common sight in the business district.
Since 1977, Dunedin is the spring training home of the Toronto Blue Jays, as well as the class-A Minor League Dunedin Blue Jays of the Florida State League. Knology Park is situated a few blocks south of downtown on Douglas Avenue, besides the Dunedin Public Library, and a block east of the Gulf of Mexico and Edgewater Drive. Dunedin is one of the smallest communities used by Major League spring training teams, Knology Park was built as a replacement to Grant Field, the Blue Jays' first spring training ball park.
Until early 2005, Dunedin was the home of Nielsen Media Research's production operations.
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[edit] Geography
Dunedin is located at (28.025395, -82.775348).GR1
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 73.1 km² (28.2 mi²). 26.9 km² (10.4 mi²) of it is land and 46.2 km² (17.8 mi²) of it (63.20%) is water.
Dunedin borders Clearwater, Florida to the south, and Palm Harbor, Florida to the north.
[edit] Demographics
As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 35,691 people, 17,258 households, and 9,543 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,327.6/km² (3,438.1/mi²). There were 19,952 housing units at an average density of 742.1/km² (1,922.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.88% White, 2.00% African American, 0.22% Native American, 1.11% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.64% from other races, and 1.11% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.34% of the population.
There were 17,258 households out of which 18.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.9% were married couples living together, 8.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.7% were non-families. 37.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 20.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.01 and the average family size was 2.63.
In the city the population was spread out with 15.6% under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 24.5% from 25 to 44, 24.6% from 45 to 64, and 29.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 48 years. For every 100 females there were 84.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $34,813, and the median income for a family was $47,620. Males had a median income of $31,876 versus $27,072 for females. The per capita income for the city was $23,460. About 4.8% of families and 8.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.8% of those under age 18 and 7.5% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Education
Within the city limits of Dunedin, there are 3 public elementary schools (Dunedin, Garrison-Jones, San Jose), 1 public middle school (Dunedin Highland), and 1 public high school (Dunedin). There are 2 charter schools (Athenian Academy and Academie Davinci) and two private schools (Anchor Academy and Dunedin Academy) and one Catholic school, Our Lady of Lourdes.
Until July 2006, Dunedin was also the home of the main campus of Schiller International University.
86.6% of the city's 36,000 have a high school Diploma, 22.4% bachelor's degree or higher, 7.1% graduate degree.
[edit] History & traditions
Sister city to Stirling, Scotland, Dunedin has maintained and embraced its Scottish roots, and evidence of this heritage can be seen everywhere. Once a year, Scottish clans descend upon the city for the Dunedin Highland Games. The sound of bagpipes is commonly heard throughout the city. Both Dunedin High School and Dunedin Middle School have pipe and drum marching bands. The high school's band is known as the Scottish Highlander Band and adult members make up the City of Dunedin Pipe and Drum Corps. In addition to the Highlander Games, Dunedin hosts many other annual festivals. The most popular among these is Dunedin's Mardi Gras celebration, during which by thousands of visitors descend on the small town.
[edit] Dunedin Government
The City of Dunedin currently operates under a nonpartisan commissioner-manager form of government. The commission comprises four commissioners and a mayor, who are elected by the registered voters under a staggered system.
The chief executive officer, known as the City Manager, oversees the eight departments and the annual budget.
Currently, the Dunedin City Commission is made up of Mayor Robert Hackworth, Vice Mayor Deborah Kynes, Commissioner Dave Eggers, Commissioner Julie Scales, and Commissioner Julie Ward-Bujalski. The City Manager is Rob Dispirito.
The City of Dunedin Government is made up of eight departments with various divisions and sections. The departments are Administration, Human Resources, Public Works, Leisure Services, Fire, Library, Community Service, and Finance.
The City of Dunedin also boasts an extensive Volunteer Services Division, and enables all citizens the chance to have their opinions expressed and tended to. Currently, there are 39 boards and committees that serve as advisory groups to the City Manager and the City Commission.
[edit] Recreation
The City of Dunedin boasts a large Leisure Services Department, which provides low-cost recreation programming to the City's residents. The City operates four recreation facilities, each one designed to provide resources for a specific age group.
In 2007, the City of Dunedin opened its newest and largest recreation facility, the Dunedin Community Center, at a cost of just over $10 million, mostly paid for by the "Penny For Pinellas" tax.
Other recreation facilities include the Martin Luther King, Jr. Recreation Center, the Hale Activity Center, Dunedin Nature Center, and the Highlander Pool Complex.
The City also has a large athletic base, with community soccer, baseball, hockey, and softball teams.
The City reflects the Gaelic origns of its name by playing host to a new American shinty club, Dunedin Camanachd.
[edit] Notable people from Dunedin
- Dunedin was the home of sailboat designer John G. Hanna, who designed the Tahiti ketch.
- Although no official recognition is given in Dunedin, one of Canada's most notable sports figures, Mike "Pinball" Clemons, the legendary player and coach of the CFL's Toronto Argonauts, was born and raised in Dunedin, and graduated from Dunedin High School.
- George Lowe, TV actor who is known to audiences as the voice of Space Ghost on the animated talk show Space Ghost Coast to Coast and its sequel Cartoon Planet in the 1990s..
[edit] Gallery
Dunedin, florida city hall pmr01.jpg
Dunedin City Hall |
Dunedin, Florida High School pmr01.jpg
Dunedin High School |
Dunedin marina pmr 01.jpg
Dunedin Marina |
Dunedin Causeway pmr01.jpg
Dunedin Causeway looking west. Honeymoon Island is on the viewer's right. |
Dunedin1.JPG
Knology Park hosts a Toronto Blue Jays Spring Training game |
Good shepherd pmr 01.jpg
Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd on Edgewater Drive |
DunedinWelcomeSign.jpg
Sign Welcoming visitors to Dunedin on Edgewater Drive |
DunedinBandshell.jpg
Band shell in the park in downtown Dunedin |
[edit] External links
- Dunedin, Florida is at coordinates Coordinates:
Municipalities and communities of Pinellas County, Florida | ||
|---|---|---|
| County seat: Clearwater | ||
| Cities | Belleair Beach | Belleair Bluffs | Clearwater | Dunedin | Gulfport | Indian Rocks Beach | Largo | Madeira Beach | Oldsmar | Pinellas Park | Safety Harbor | St. Pete Beach | St. Petersburg | Seminole | South Pasadena | Tarpon Springs | Treasure Island | |
| Towns | ||
| CDPs | ||
lmo:Dunedin, Florida nl:Dunedin (Florida) pt:Dunedin (Flórida) vo:Dunedin (Florida)
