St. Petersburg, the "Sunshine City," is a vibrant waterfront city in Pinellas County known for its sunny weather, thriving arts scene, and easy access to the Gulf beaches.
St. Petersburg owes its start to two men: John C. Williams, who bought a large stretch of waterfront land in the 1870s, and Peter Demens, whose railroad reached the area in the 1880s. As the story goes, the two flipped a coin to decide who would name the new town. Demens won and named it after St. Petersburg, Russia.
The settlement was first incorporated as a town in 1892, and it was reincorporated as a city in 1903, when only a few hundred people lived there.
St. Petersburg's famous nickname dates to 1908, when a local newspaper promised to give away free copies on any day the sun failed to shine. It rarely had to pay up. The city even holds a Guinness World Record for the most consecutive sunny days.
That reliable sunshine, combined with miles of nearby Gulf beaches, helped turn St. Petersburg into a beloved destination and a growing city on the Pinellas peninsula.
St. Petersburg is known today as a City of the Arts. Its downtown waterfront is lined with parks, piers, museums, and marinas, offering wide-open views of Tampa Bay.
One of its best-known attractions is the Salvador Dalí Museum, which opened in its striking current building in 2011 and holds one of the largest collections of the artist's work outside Europe. Colorful murals, galleries, and a lively dining scene round out the city's creative reputation.
Just across the peninsula, St. Petersburg offers quick access to some of the finest beaches in the country, with soft sand and calm Gulf water. Closer to downtown, the St. Pete Pier reaches out into the bay with parks, playgrounds, dining, and sweeping views of the water.
The city's mix of sunshine, sandy shores, green waterfront parks, and a walkable, art-filled downtown has made it a favorite place both to visit and to call home. Whether by the sea or in the heart of the city, there is always something to see and do in the Sunshine City.
St. Petersburg 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 St. Petersburg, 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 St. Petersburg 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.