Clearwater, Florida real estate occupies a large area at the center of Pinellas County, a peninsula that juts into the Gulf of Mexico and which includes the major cities of Clearwater and St. Petersburg. Pinellas County, near the northern end of an area known as the Florida Suncoast, bills itself as “Florida’s Beach.” Anyone with a taste for the sea and the sun will find it hard to resist the white sugar-sand beaches of Pinellas County’s barrier islands on the Gulf of Mexico that cover most of the 35-mile length of the county’s western shore and the other outstanding amenities and lifestyle that the Clearwater area offers.

Whether you desire a fast or leisurely pace, Clearwater delivers the textbook Florida lifestyle. The sun, the surf and the sand define the Clearwater area. As the county seat of Pinellas County, Florida, Clearwater, Florida real estate is home to 108,687 residents (2005 U.S. Census estimate), making Clearwater No. 14 among Florida cities in population. At 309 square miles, Pinellas County is Florida’s most densely populated county with 928,032 residents, making Pinellas County, Florida’s fifth-largest county in terms of population. Clearwater’s balmy climate produces 90-degree days in summer months, but the average high in January is a comfortable 70 degrees. With the moderating influence of the gulf, freezing temperatures occur very rarely, about once per year.

Clearwater, Florida real estate has witnessed profound changes during its known history. Despite unprecedented growth in the past few decades that has transformed it from a quaint fishing village to an international tourist destination, Clearwater has a long and diverse history. From early Native American settlements, evidenced by large, ancient Indian mounds, to the arrival and influence of Spanish conquistadors in the 1500s, to the pioneering citrus farmers and railroad barons of a century ago, to present-day entrepreneurial land developers and occasional hurricanes, Clearwater has witnessed extreme changes to its landscape. The city today is an international tourist destination and the third leg of the fast-growing Tampa Bay area, along with larger cities Tampa and St. Petersburg.

Clearwater, Florida real estate is at center stage along the Pinellas coast of the Gulf of Mexico. In the past two years, two of Pinellas County’s beaches have earned national acclaim: Fort DeSoto Park, at the southern tip of Pinellas, was named America’s No. 1 beach in 2005 and Caladesi Island, immediately west of Clearwater in the Gulf of Mexico, was picked as America’s No. 2 beach in 2006. Busch Gardens in nearby Tampa lures thrill-seekers and animal lovers alike with its mix of roller coaster rides and exotic creatures.

More than 50 Pinellas County golf courses and a voluminous system of pristine public parks with tons of diverse wildlife provide countless leisure options. Water-centered activities such as fishing, boating, sailing, personal watercraft, snorkeling and scuba diving are all abundant. Elegant resorts, boutiques and entire districts of antique stores are complimented by casual surfside shops. Whether you have a taste for gourmet food at the world-class Tradewinds Resort or desire a plate of chicken wings at the original Hooters restaurant on Clearwater’s Gulf-to-Bay Boulevard, Clearwater won’t let you go hungry. An eclectic mix of both old and new communities and neighborhoods offer diversity and guarantee that anybody can find something to love in the Clearwater area.

Professional sports fans will enjoy Major League Baseball with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in neighboring St. Petersburg. The Philadelphia Phillies have conducted spring training in Clearwater since 1947 and a Phillies minor-league team, the Clearwater Threshers, play all summer at beautiful Bright House Networks Field, which opened in 2004. Over in nearby Tampa, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the NFL won the Super Bowl in 2003 and the Tampa Bay Lightning of the NHL captured the Stanley Cup in 2004, while the Tampa Bay Storm of the Arena Football League have won five league championships. With its favorable climate providing year-round recreational opportunities, Clearwater is a training ground for scores of youth athletes in dozens of sports.