Clearwater is a sunny Gulf-coast city known for its powdery white sand, its lively pier, and one very famous dolphin.
Long before it was a city, the Clearwater area was home to the Tocobaga people, who lived along the bluffs overlooking the water. In the 1830s, the U.S. Army built Fort Harrison here as an outpost during the Seminole Wars, and a small settlement slowly grew up around it.
The town really began to take shape in the late 1800s. When Peter Demens completed the first passenger railroad line into the area in 1888, new residents and visitors started arriving, and the community around the clear waters of the bay kept growing from there.
Clearwater was first incorporated as a town in 1891, and it was reincorporated as a city on May 27, 1915. When Pinellas County separated from Hillsborough County in 1912, Clearwater was chosen as the county seat, and it remains the center of county government today.
Sitting on a peninsula west of Tampa and north of St. Petersburg, Clearwater has grown into one of Tampa Bay's largest cities while keeping its easygoing, beach-town character.
Clearwater Beach is the city's crown jewel, regularly ranked among the best beaches in the country for its soft white sand and calm Gulf water. Each evening, crowds gather at Pier 60 for the Sunsets at Pier 60 festival, where street performers, artists, and vendors celebrate the sunset.
The city is also home to the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, a rescue and rehabilitation center that became famous as the home of Winter the dolphin, whose story inspired the movie "Dolphin Tale." Visitors come to learn about the aquarium's work rescuing and releasing sea turtles, dolphins, and other marine life.
Beyond the beach and the aquarium, Clearwater offers a full waterfront lifestyle. The Clearwater Memorial Causeway connects the mainland to the barrier island, carrying walkers, cyclists, and drivers over the bay to the sand. Marinas and charter boats make it easy to head out for fishing, dolphin-watching, or a sunset cruise.
Downtown Clearwater, set on a bluff above the water, has seen new parks, gathering spaces, and a revitalized waterfront in recent years. Together with its warm climate and welcoming feel, these amenities make Clearwater a place where both residents and visitors can slow down and enjoy the Gulf.
Clearwater is part of the Responders First service area. If you serve — or have served — as a police officer, deputy, firefighter, paramedic, EMT, corrections officer, or in the military, and you live or work in or around Clearwater, you and your immediate family are eligible for our free five-day wellness program and year-round counseling. Our core therapy, Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), can bring measurable results in as few as 1–5 sessions. No diagnosis, department referral, or paperwork is required, and your participation is never shared with your employer or agency.
Yes. Every service — the free five-day wellness program, year-round one-on-one counseling, and the Saturday peer-to-peer group — is 100% free and confidential for first responders, veterans, active-duty military, and their families in Clearwater and the surrounding area. You are never billed or asked for insurance.
No. You do not need a diagnosis, a referral, or any paperwork from your department to take part. If you serve or have served — or you love someone who does — you are eligible.
No. Responders First operates independently of any department, agency, or branch. Your participation — and anything discussed during the program — is never shared with your employer, chain of command, or insurer.
Every service is free and strictly confidential. No diagnosis, referral, or paperwork required — a brief phone call is all it takes to start.