Pinellas County

County of western-central Florida, USA, bounded to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, and to the east and south by Tampa Bay; area 725 sq km/280 sq mi; population (1990) 851,700. It mainly consists of the Pinellas Peninsula and the barrier islands off its western shore. Clearwater is the county seat, and its largest city is St Petersburg, which occupies its heavily-populated southern tip. Other significant municipalities include Tarpon Springs, Largo, and Safety Harbor. Economic life revolves mainly around tourism and the retirement community, and there are business centres in the south. Other activities include citrus and dairy farming, fishing, and sponge fishing.