Located on the Gulf coast of Florida, the area now known as Pinellas has a rich and colorful history. In this book, historian John A. Bethell explores the people, places, and events that shaped the region, from the arrival of Spanish explorers in the 16th century to the development of the modern communities that make up Pinellas County today. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.