Pinellas Park in Pinellas County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

Pioneering Pinellas Park

Photographed by Tim Fillmon, August 17, 2013

1. Pioneering Pinellas Park Marker

Inscription. This area surrounding Pinellas Park's original train station has been a hub of activity since P.J. McDevitt arrived in 1909 to grow sugar cane. In 1912 one of Pinellas Park's pioneers, Walter Bender, built his home in the area now known as Davis Field. By 1927, Pinellas Park was thriving and another pioneering family, headed by Charles "Mac" Wiggins, arrived. Between them, the Bender and Wiggins clans provided the town with farmers, firefighters, a police chief, war veterans, and a relative by marriage who served as Florida's 32nd Governor. The Bender and Wiggins families were joined by marriage in 1954, and Paul and Shelia Bender remained in Pinellas Park to raise their own family and continue their ancestors' traditions of community service. Pinellas Park was incorporated as a City on June 19, 1959, and many more families have followed the examples of the Benders and Wigginses in helping Pinellas Park grow and thrive as the heart of Pinellas.

Erected by Pinellas Park, Florida.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical month for this entry is June 1490.

Location. 27° 50.372′ N,

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82° 42.77′ W. Marker is in Pinellas Park, Florida, in Pinellas County. It is at the intersection of 58th Street North and Park Boulevard North (State Road 694), on the right when traveling north on 58th Street North. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Pinellas Park FL 33781, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on Florida’s Gulf Coast

and on Tampa Bay.

It is also in the American South

and on the Gulf Coast.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Jungle Prada Site (approx. 4.3 miles away); First Mass in Florida (approx. 4.3 miles away); War Veterans Memorial Park (approx. 4½ miles away); Battlefield Cross Memorial (approx. 4½ miles away); Veterans Memorial Equatorial Sundial

Photographed by Tim Fillmon, August 17, 2013

2. Pioneering Pinellas Park Marker

(approx. 4½ miles away); Combat Wounded Veterans (approx. 4½ miles away); Rio Vista Elementary School (approx. 5.1 miles away); St. Paul Catholic Church (approx. 5.1 miles away).

Another marker is no longer nearby. Panfilo de Narvaez (was approx. 4.3 miles away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on August 27, 2013, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. This page has been viewed 868 times since then and 43 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 27, 2013, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.