Dunedin, Florida
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| Dunedin, Florida | |
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| Coordinates: | |
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  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 | 12-18575[1] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0281860[2] |
| Website: www.dunedingov.com | |
Dunedin (pronounced /dəˈniːdɪn/) is a city in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. The name comes from the Scots Gaelic Dùn Èideann meaning Edinburgh. The population was 35,691 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 36,632.[1]. Dunedin is home to several beautiful beaches, including Dunedin Causeway, Honeymoon Island, and Caladesi Island State Park, which is consistently rated among the best beaches in the world. Dunedin is one of the few open waterfront communities from Sarasota to Cedar Key where buildings do not completely obscure the view; a 1-mile stretch of Edgewater Drive (also known as Alternate US 19) south of downtown offers views of St. Joseph Sound, Clearwater Beach, and Caladesi Island.
The quaint, but thriving downtown business district has become a model for many other west-central Florida cities. It is striking in comparison to neighboring 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. There is also some nightlife in the downtown area.[2] [3]
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. Dunedin is one of the smallest communities used by Major League spring training teams. Knology Park is situated a few blocks south of downtown on Douglas Avenue. It is adjacent to the Dunedin Public Library, and a block east of St. Joseph Sound (which is separated from the Gulf of Mexico by a series of barrier islands, including Caladesi and Honeymoon Islands) and Edgewater Drive. 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), which is the approximate geographic center of the city. The middle of downtown (intersection of Main Street and Douglas Avenue) is located at (28.0118, -82.7879).[3]
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 is bordered by Clearwater, Florida to the south and east, and by Palm Harbor, Florida (an unincorporated community of Pinellas County) to the north.
[edit] Demographics
As of the census[1] 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
Scottish families originally settled the City of Dunedin in 1899. Two Scotsmen, J.O. Douglas and James Sumerville named the settlement Dunedin, the original name of Edinburgh, their hometown in Scotland.
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 ten departments and the annual budget.
Currently, the Dunedin City Commission is made up of Mayor Robert Hackworth, Vice Mayor Julie Ward-Bujalski, Commissioner Deborah Kynes, Commissioner Dave Eggers, and Commissioner Julie Scales. The City Manager is Rob Dispirito.
The City of Dunedin Government is made up of ten departments with various divisions and sections. The departments are Administration, Human Resources, Information Services, Public Works, Leisure Services, Fire, Library, Community Service, Economical Development and Finance.
The City of Dunedin also boasts an extensive Volunteer Services section, 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.
- Dunedin has played host to the wealthy Markham family from Austria since 1997.
[edit] Gallery
 Dunedin City Hall |
 Dunedin High School |
 Dunedin Marina |
 Dunedin Causeway looking west. Honeymoon Island is on the viewer's right. |
 Knology Park hosts a Toronto Blue Jays Spring Training game |
 Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd on Edgewater Drive |
 Sign Welcoming visitors to Dunedin on Edgewater Drive |
 Band shell in the park in downtown Dunedin |
[edit] References
- ^ a b American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ US Board on Geographic Names. United States Geological Survey (2007-10-25). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
[edit] External links
- Dunedin, Florida is at coordinates Coordinates:
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