Florida Real Estate & Relocation Guide

Seminole, Florida

Population: 10,890

Located in Pinellas County

The name Seminole, originally Sim-in-oli, means "wild." There's a reason that Seminole has that small town "everybody-knows-everybody" feeling.

In 1995 Seminole celebrated its 25th Anniversary. Yes it has been just over 25 years ago that Seminole Boulevard was a two-lane road with little on it besides a couple of family businesses, Seminole Nursery, a few houses and mobile homes, Orange Blossom Groves, Seminole United Methodist Church and Mohns Funeral Home.

When the Seminole Volunteer Fire Department needed a place to park its truck, the Mohns were glad to oblige. "Volunteers devoted to the community placed a bell where our house was later built," recalls Marty Mohn.

Marty also remembers the struggle to have a new bridge built connecting the Bay Pines area to Madeira Beach.

"Because we were afraid of putting too much weight on the bridge, we had to stop traffic so that the school buses could go across alone to the Madeira Beach Elementary. It was a dangerous situation. Percy Templeton and I circulated petitions and finally the Florida Department of Transportation listened to us," she says.

The Seminole area was booming and many people felt a city of Seminole should be formed and incorporated. A group called the "Christmas Tree Committee" began promoting the formation of the city of Seminole. This committee included the Chamber of Commerce, Seminole Volunteer Fire Department and the Community Council Homeowners Association. On November 19, 1970, Seminole was officially approved as a city and incorporated.

In 1970, Johnson presided over the grand opening of Seminole Mall; when the city was incorporated, he was elected honorary mayor.

In 1970, the Mayor to be, Holland Mangum, also played an active part in the negotiations of incorporation, supported by his wife, "Cat". During the mid-70's Holland served as municipal judge for the city. In the late 70's Holland ran for City Council and was elected. He remained in that position until being elected Mayor in 1984. In 1995, Holland retired. Dottie Reader is the current Mayor of Seminole.