Editing Pinellas County, Florida (section)

===Recent history===
With the end of the Second World War, Pinellas would enter another period of rapid growth and development. In 1954 the original span of the [[Sunshine Skyway Bridge]] was opened, replacing earlier ferry service. By 1957 Clearwater was America's fastest growing city.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.tampabay.com/news/obituaries/mayor-packed-ideas-pipe-tobacco-in-rich-public-life/1121765|title=Andrew Meacham, "Mayor packed ideas, pipe tobacco in rich public life," September 15, 2010|newspaper=[[Tampa Bay Times]]|access-date=June 1, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140605052841/http://www.tampabay.com/news/obituaries/mayor-packed-ideas-pipe-tobacco-in-rich-public-life/1121765|archive-date=June 5, 2014}}</ref>

Tragedy struck on May 9, 1980, when the southbound span of the original Sunshine Skyway Bridge was struck by the freighter [[MV Summit Venture|MV ''Summit Venture'']] during a storm, sending over {{convert|1200|ft}} of the bridge plummeting into Tampa Bay. The collision caused seven personal vehicles and a Greyhound bus to fall {{convert|150|ft}} into the water, killing 35 people.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Skyway bridge collapsed 40 years ago. Here's how we're remembering the tragedy. |url=https://www.tampabay.com/news/florida/2020/05/08/the-skyway-bridge-collapsed-40-years-ago-heres-how-were-remembering-the-tragedy/ |access-date=June 7, 2023 |website=Tampa Bay Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www2.sptimes.com/Weather/SW.2.html|title=Sunshine Skyway Disaster|work=sptimes.com|access-date=November 6, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070224072620/http://www2.sptimes.com/weather/SW.2.html|archive-date=February 24, 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sptimes.com/News/050700/TampaBay/Horrific_accident_cre.shtml|title=Tampabay: Horrific accident created an unforgettable scene|work=sptimes.com|access-date=November 6, 2015}}</ref> The new bridge opened in 1987 and has since been listed as number 3 of the "Top 10 Bridges" in the World by the [[Travel Channel]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.travelchannel.com/interests/road-trips/articles/worlds-top-10-bridges|title=World's Top 10 Bridges|work=Travel Channel|access-date=November 6, 2015}}</ref>

The county operates a {{convert|21|acre|adj=on}} [[living history]] museum called Heritage Village containing more than 28 historic structures, some dating back to the 19th century, where visitors can experience what life was once like in Pinellas.

Pinellas County celebrated 100 years of existence on January 1, 2012.