Dunedin ( ) is a city in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. The name comes from Dùn Èideann, the Scottish Gaelic name for Edinburgh, the capital city of Scotland. Dunedin is part of the Tampa–St. Petersburg–Clearwater metropolitan area and is the fifth largest city in Pinellas County. The population was 36,068 as of the 2020 census.
Dunedin is home to several beaches, including Dunedin Causeway, Honeymoon Island, and Caladesi Island State Park, which is consistently rated among the best beaches in the world.https://www.tampabay.com/news/article1021783.ece tampabay.com Dunedin is one of the few open waterfront communities from Sarasota to Cedar Key where buildings do not completely obscure the view of the Intracoastal Waterway and the Gulf of Mexico beyond; a stretch of Edgewater Drive (also known as Alternate US 19) south of downtown offers views of St. Joseph Sound, Clearwater Beach, and Caladesi Island. Downtown Clearwater and Clearwater Beach are a drive south on Edgewater.
History Richard L. Garrison was the first person given a land grant in Dunedin in 1850. The settlement was originally named "Jonesboro" by George Jones, the owner of the area mercantile. Two Scotsmen, J.O. Douglas and James Somerville, later named the settlement Dunedin after applying for the first post office in northern Pinellas County. The name is taken from Scottish Gaelic Dùn Èideann, the Scottish Gaelic for Edinburgh. With a dock built to accommodate larger sailing vessels, Dunedin became an important trading center and at one time it had the largest fleet of sailing vessels in the state.
In 1899, it was incorporated as the "Town of Dunedin" mainly as a response to numerous complaints about pigs running rampant in the settlement, leading to a still-standing ban on livestock within city limits. By 1913, the town had a population of only 350. It became incorporated as the "City of Dunedin" in 1926.
Dunedin and the Roebling Alligator
During and shortly before World War II the Food Machinery Corporation (FMC) factory in Dunedin (now demolished) was the primary site for the production of the Landing Vehicle Tracked (LVT) developed by FMC Dunedin's Engineers and Donald Roebling of Clearwater from Roebling's own Alligator.William L. Davidson, Dunedin Thru the Years 1850–1978 (Charlotte, N.C.: Delmar Printing Co., 1978)
Initial training on the LVT was done at the FMC factory under the auspices of the first Amphibian Tractor School, led by Major William W. Davies. Until barracks and maintenance facilities were completed, the school and its students were housed in the Hotel Dunedin. After training, the marines from the first Amphibian Tractor School were sent to flesh out the 1st Amphibian Tractor Battalion, which has served with distinction since. In mid-1944, the marine unit in Dunedin was transferred to Camp Pendleton, California.
Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of . of it is land and of it (63.20%) is water.
Dunedin is bordered by the city of Clearwater to the south and east, the Gulf of Mexico to the west, and by Palm Harbor (a census-designated place and unincorporated community of Pinellas County) to the north.
Neighborhoods Amberlea Barrington Hills Braemoor Curlew Landings Dunedin Mobile Manor Fairway Estates Golden Acres Golden Crest Heather Ridge Lake Haven Lake Highlander New Athens City Osprey Place Piper's Glen Ranchwood Estates Spanish Acres Spanish Place Spanish Trails Spring Lakes Spring Lake South Stirling Heights Trails West Virginia Crossing Waterford Crossing Weathersfield
Climate The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild winters. According to the Köppen climate classification, the City of Dunedin has a humid subtropical climate zone (Cfa).
Demographics
Racial and ethnic composition
+Dunedin racial composition (Hispanics excluded from racial categories) (NH = Non-Hispanic)RacePop 2010Pop 2020% 2010% 2020White (NH)30,87430,45187.41%84.43%Black or African American (NH)1,0969263.10%2.57%Native American or Alaska Native (NH)74670.21%0.19%Asian (NH)5686151.61%1.71%Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian (NH)50350.14%0.10%Some other race (NH)761480.22%0.41%Two or more races/Multiracial (NH)4901,2771.39%3.54%Hispanic or Latino (any race)2,0932,5495.93%7.07%Total35,32136,068
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, Dunedin had a population of 36,068. The median age was 56.7 years. 11.4% of residents were under the age of 18 and 34.0% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 85.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 84.4 males age 18 and over.
100.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.0% lived in rural areas.
There were 18,401 households in Dunedin, of which 14.0% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 40.4% were married-couple households, 19.4% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 33.2% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 40.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 22.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 21,905 housing units, of which 16.0% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.0% and the rental vacancy rate was 9.3%.
+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census Race Number Percent White 31,116 86.3% Black or African American 968 2.7% American Indian and Alaska Native 101 0.3% Asian 622 1.7% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 36 0.1% Some other race 707 2.0% Two or more races 2,518 7.0% Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 2,549 7.1%
2020 estimates
According to 2020 estimates, there were 9,370 families residing in the city. There were 3,335 veterans living in the city. 8.4% were foreign born persons. 3.3% of the population were under 5 years old, 10.6% were under 18 years old, and 36.3% were 65 years and older. 54.3% were female persons. There were 1.95 people per household.
In 2020, the median value of owner-occupied housing units was $248,200. The median gross rent was $1,178. 92.1% of households had a computer and 84.0% had a broadband internet subscription. 94.7% of the population aged 25 years or older had a high school degree or higher. 36.3% of the population aged 25 years or older had a bachelor's degree or higher. The median household income was $55,729. The per capita income for 12 months was $39,646. 9.7% of the population lived below the poverty threshold.
2010 census
As of the 2010 United States census, there were 35,321 people, 16,431 households, and 9,257 families residing in the city.
Local government Administration The City of Dunedin currently operates under a nonpartisan commissioner-manager form of government. The commission comprises four commissioners and a mayor, who are elected by the registered voters under a staggered system.
The chief executive officer, known as the city manager, oversees the ten departments and the annual budget.
The city government is made up of ten departments with various divisions and sections. The departments are Administration, Human Resources, Information Services, Public Works, Parks & Recreation, Fire, Library, Community Services, Economical Development, Planning/Development and Finance. The Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) oversees downtown projects and the needs of downtown Dunedin merchants and tourism.
Dunedin boasts an extensive Volunteer Services section, and enables all citizens the chance to have their opinions expressed and tended to. Currently, there are 39 boards and committees that serve as advisory groups to the city manager and the City Commission.
Law enforcement and fire Dunedin Fire Department has 48 firefighters split into 16 members over three shifts. The department has 3 fire stations providing fire protection for Dunedin.
Pinellas County Sheriff Office's North District Patrol provides law enforcement for Dunedin.
Economy Dunedin previously hosted an office of Nielsen Media Research. In 2003, the company consolidated its employees in a new complex in Oldsmar, Florida, with workers from Dunedin and other areas in Pinellas County moving into the Oldsmar Building."Univision sues over Nielsen's meters." Associated Press at the St. Petersburg Times. June 11, 2004. Retrieved on August 28, 2011.
Until early 2005, Dunedin was the home of Nielsen Media Research's production operations.
TD Ballpark and Englebert Complex are used by the Dunedin Blue Jays and spring training facilities for the Toronto Blue Jays since 1977. TD Ballpark was built on the former Grant Field c. 1930.
The downtown business district is notable for its absence of large commercial signage, corporate franchise restaurants or chain retail stores. The Pinellas Trail, a bicycle and pedestrian trail that traverses all of Pinellas County, bisects downtown Dunedin. A large portion of the trail lies on the former roadbed of the Orange Belt Railway, the first railroad in Pinellas County, which arrived in 1888.
Controversy Dunedin has been accused of draconian fining of its residents. In one case, it sued a former resident to collect over a hundred thousand dollars for yard and swimming pool maintenance. There are cases where the city has charged tens of thousands of dollars over uncut grass or aesthetic city code violations. The city has a $250 to $500 per day accruing violation policy per city code § 22-79(d). "In 5½ years, the city has collected nearly $3.6 million in fines, sometimes tens of thousands at a time, for violating laws that prohibit grasses taller than 10 inches, recreational vehicles parked on streets at certain hours or sidings and bricks that don't match." The case was dropped about a month after it was initiated (in 2019) due to intense national scrutiny over the matter.
Culture Traditions
The sister city of Dunedin is Stirling, Scotland, and it has maintained and embraced its Scottish roots. Once a year, Scottish clans descend upon the city for the Dunedin Highland Games. Both Dunedin High School and Dunedin Highland Middle School have competition-level pipe and drum bands. The high school's marching band is known as the Scottish Highlander Band, and both teen and adult members make up the City of Dunedin Pipe Band.
In addition to the Highland Games, Dunedin hosts many other annual festivals. The most popular among these is Dunedin's Mardi Gras celebration, during which thousands of visitors descend on the small town.
City Hall
Located on 737 Louden Avenue, the Dunedin City Hall house the offices of the City Commission, City Manager, City Clerk, Communications, Community Development, Economic & Housing Development, Engineering, Finance, Human Resources, Information Technology, and Utility Billing. The new city hall, opened in 2023, replaced the old city hall located at 542 Main Street. The new Dunedin City Hall is designed with a concept based on a wave, suggesting Dunedin’s identity as a coastal city. This design also aligns with the city’s branding, which features a wave/nautical flag design. The building materials include natural limestone panels and manufactured ledgestone. The curtainwall across the front of the Commission Chambers reflects the "transparency of government."
Historic buildings Located on Edgewater Drive, the Fenway Hotel is a historic hotel that has seen many famous guests throughout its lifetime.
Other historic structures in Dunedin:
Andrews Memorial Chapel, built in 1888 J. O. Douglas House, built in 1880 Willis S. Blatchley House, built in 1916 Dunedin Golf Club 11th Hole Bridge, 1926
Recreation
The city of Dunedin contains a Parks & Recreation Department, which provides low-cost recreation programming to the city's residents. The city operates four recreation facilities, each one designed to provide resources for a specific age group.