Port Richey is a small Gulf-coast city in Pasco County, set along the Pithlachascotee River where fishing boats and waterfront views define the pace of life.
Port Richey traces its roots to 1883, when Aaron M. Richey arrived from Missouri and settled near the mouth of the Pithlachascotee River, often shortened to the Cotee River. He opened a post office in his home in 1884, and the little port that grew around it took his name.
The waterfront district stretches along the Gulf of Mexico both north and south of the river, and boating and fishing have shaped the community since its earliest days.
It is easy to confuse Port Richey with its neighbor, New Port Richey, but they are two separate cities. New Port Richey, the newer community upriver, was incorporated in 1924. In response, the residents of the original Port Richey chose to incorporate their own city the following year, in 1925.
That decision permanently set the two apart. The name Port Richey is actually the older of the two, and today each city has its own government even though they sit side by side.
Port Richey remains a small city with a distinctly nautical feel. Its riverfront and Gulf access make it a favorite base for anglers, boaters, and people who simply love the water.
Waterfront restaurants, marinas, and easy access to the coastal islands and flats give Port Richey a relaxed, old-Florida atmosphere that many residents and visitors treasure.
Sitting on Florida's Nature Coast, Port Richey serves as a launching point for exploring the shallow bays, seagrass flats, and coastal islands just offshore. Local waters are known for redfish, snook, and trout, drawing anglers who prize the area's quiet, uncrowded fishing grounds.
The nearby waterfront also comes alive with community events, live music, and seafood spots overlooking the river, where boats come and go with the tide. For a small city, Port Richey packs in a lot of coastal character, blending everyday small-town life with the natural beauty of the Gulf just beyond its docks.
Port Richey 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 Port Richey, 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 Port Richey 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.