Economy
Agriculture was the single most important industry in Pinellas until the early 20th century, with much of the best land devoted to citrus production. Cattle ranching was another major industry. In 1885 the American Medical Society declared the Pinellas peninsula the "healthiest spot on earth", which helped spur the growth of the tourist industry.
Tourism today remains a major industry, with Tampa Bay's climate, white sand beaches, and many cultural attractions drawing over five million visitors to Pinellas County alone in 2010.
Service industries such as healthcare, business services and education account for more than 200,000 jobs in the county, generating almost $19 billion in revenue. Other major sectors include retail, with close to 100,000 employees in jobs such as food service, bars, and retail sales generating $12 billion for the local economy in 2010, and industries related to finance, insurance and real estate with approximately 44,000 workers generating $8.5 billion in sales.
Pinellas County's largest employers are:
- Pinellas County School District (Public; 13,905 employees. Headquartered in Largo)
- Home Shopping Network (Private; 4,000 employees. Corporate headquarters in St. Petersburg)
- Pinellas County Government (Public; 4,000 employees. Headquartered in Clearwater)
- City of St. Petersburg (Public; 3,500 employees)
- Times Publishing Company (Private; 3,187 employees. Headquartered in St. Petersburg)
- Raymond James Financial (Private; 3,022 employees. Corporate headquarters in St. Petersburg)
- Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office (Public; 2,800 employees. Headquartered in Largo)
- Nielsen Media Research (Private; 2.669 employees in Oldsmar)
- Morton Plant Hospital (Private, 2,448 employees in Clearwater)
- Bay Pines VA Medical Center (Public; 2,330 employees in St. Petersburg)
Read more about this topic: Pinellas County, Florida
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