Ozona and Palm Harbor, on the coast just north of Dunedin, have interesting histories. Both Ozona and Palm Harbor were originally settled by J.C. Craver. According to Craver's diary, still in the family, he came here in the winter of 1877 upon the advice of his physician. A post office commission under the name of Bay St. Joseph was granted in 1878, this being the earliest written record of either community.
The name Bay St. Joseph was used only a short time before Yellow Bluff replaced it. But that name proved relatively short-lived, as a few years later its negative connotation with the yellow fever epidemic gave way to its present name Ozona , meaning "pure air." Palm Harbor was originally called Sutherland after a post office was granted in 1888, the same year the railroad came through (the name was switched to Palm Harbor in 1925 - Editor). Sutherland boasted two beautiful hotels, the larger one becoming Southern College in 1902. It sat high on the bluff overlooking Sutherland Bayou and the Gulf of Mexico.
Sutherland was thought to be named after Duke of Sutherland, who visited these parts after landing at Tarpon Springs in 1887. Local pioneers dismiss this coincidence, pointing out that the name Sutherland is a shortening of Southern Land and Development Company, the group which originally platted the community in 1888. Areas pioneers included the Whitehursts, the Hollands, the Tinneys, the Suttons, the Thompsons, and the Wilsons.
As of the census of 2000, there were 59,248 people, 25,461 households, and 16,906 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 1,276.6/km² (3,306.8/mi²). There were 28,044 housing units at an average density of 604.2/km² (1,565.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 95.83% White, 0.97% African American, 0.19% Native American, 1.28% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.60% from other races, and 1.10% from two or more races. 3.45% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 25,461 households out of which 27.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.3% were married couples living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.6% were non-families. 28.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.79.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 20.8% under the age of 18, 5.1% from 18 to 24, 27.1% from 25 to 44, 23.7% from 45 to 64, and 23.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 88.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.5 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $45,404, and the median income for a family was $52,925. Males had a median income of $41,003 versus $29,287 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $26,470. 5.5% of the population and 4.3% of families were below the poverty line. 5.2% of those under the age of 18 and 6.5% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
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