How to Relocate, Retire and Enjoy Life In Clearwater, Florida

Clearwater is a city of 106,000+ people on beaches of the Gulf Coast of Florida, across from Old Tampa Bay and northwest of St. Petersburg, which is in the same larger metropolitan area. See the map below for the exact location of Clearwater northwest of I-275 on US 19. This area is full of new additions and improvements in the quality of life for residents.

Clearwater leadership and residents seem always on the lookout for ways to improve life in the community. for instance, near the end of 2011, residents petitioned the Federal Government to declare Clearwater in a single zip code rather than the current two zip codes in order to focus, streamline and speed mail service and EMT/Fire/Police runs. The zip code requested to stay is 29822.

Another improvement is the addition of Z-Vans in the community that travel about to teach deaf students how to use video phones. This will likely improve the communication services offered already to the deaf and hard of hearing among Clearwater retirees. Clearwater aims to be an accessible community.

The Clearwater Aging Well Center makes a tremendous effort of offering wellness tips and programs for Seniors in the area. This division of city government appreciates Seniors and is constantly offering new things to help maintain independence and enjoy life. Anything from meals to health tips to how to use the local Police Department to good advantage is on the agenda.

Clearwater is a good place for the retirement years, but many younger people make a good living in the area. In fact, over 30,000 job openings were listed for a radius of 25 miles of city center in mid-December 2011 (see employment information at the end of this article). Many of these positions are in the Healthcare and Transportation/Freight Industries.

Movies are back "in" in Clearwater. The city had not hosted a first-run film between 2002 and December 2011, but that changed with the addition of a new theater complex.

In the middle of December 2011 and just in time for the crop of Christmas films to be released, Clearwater became the home of a new 12-screen cinema. This is the brand new high-tech Cobb Countryside 12 Theater at the Westfield Countryside Mall. Travel and Tourism make this area a prime site for new entertainment venues that current residents of all ages can enjoy as well. High-Tech? -- The first three rows of seats in the Cobb theater's 4D offering includes vibrating chairs. In addition to that, the theater offers many more features in its huge addition to the Westfield Country side mall that came with a ticket price of $12 Million. There is plenty to do in Clearwater!

• Clearwater Threshers - Florida State League Baseball -- Bright House Networks Field
• Philadelphia Phillies - Major League Baseball -- Bright House Networks Field for Spring Training.
• Tampa Bay Devil Rays - Major League Baseball -- St. Petersburg Tropicana Field.
• Tampa Bay Lightning - National Hockey League -- St. Pete Times Forum.
• Tampa Bay Storm - Arena Football League -- St. Pete Times Forum.
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers - NFL.

OTHER - Recreational and Social Sports

• Lazin' Ravens Track Club
• Countryside Lightning Soccer and Chargers Soccer Club
• Disc Golf - Cliff Stephens Park and Coachman Park.
• Lega Mexicana - Mexican League Soccer
• Pinellas Heat - Volleyball

• Aging Wisely - Elder Care Assessments, including housing: http://www.agingwisely.com/
• Bayview Gardens
• Belleair Towers
• Harbourtown Apts. in Palm Harbor. Starting at $650.00. (727) 362-2085
• Imperial Palms Apts. in Largo. Starting at $720.00. (727) 674-2323.
• Magnolia Manor
• Park Place - (727) 734-7734; no web site.

Additional affordable housing communities in Clearwater are in planning and under construction.

Calculated from raw data found at the Zillow.com real estate web site, the following housing was available in mid-December 2011.

• Number of Total Homes for sale: 1888
• Price Range: $61,000 to $14,900,000
• Median Price: $549,000

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• Number of 2-Bedroom Apartments/Condos for sale: 481
• Price Range: to $39,900 - $3,400,000; 18 Foreclosures up for auction.
• Median Price: $249,900

1. BayCare Health System Clearwater
2. Baycare Health System, Tampa/St. Petersburg
3. Schneider National - Trucking and Freight
4. J.B. Hunt Transport - Trucking and Freight
5. Ryder - Trucking
6. General Electric - Engineers and Assemblers
7. Tech Data - Financial Analysts, Software Developers, Sales
8. US Air Force
9. Smith Transport - Trucking and Freight
10. SunCoast Hospice - End of Life Care

Within 10 Miles of the City:

• Lockheed Martin
• HCA - Health
• Largo Health System
• Other