Editing Oldsmar, Florida

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
<!--See the Table at Infobox settlement for all fields and descriptions of usage-->
<!-- Basic info  ---------------->| official_name      = City of Oldsmar
| name               = Oldsmar, Florida
| other_name         = 
| native_name        = <!-- for cities whose native name is not in English -->
| settlement_type    = [[City (Florida)|City]]
| motto              = Top of the Bay
<!-- images and maps  ----------->| image_blank_emblem = 
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| image_map          = Pinellas_County_Florida_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Oldsmar_Highlighted.svg
| mapsize            = 250x200px
| map_caption        = Location in [[Pinellas County, Florida|Pinellas County]] and the state of [[Florida]]
|image_skyline = File:Oldsmar, florida city hall pmr 03.jpg
|image_caption = Oldsmar City Hall
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| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name   = {{flag|United States}}
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1  = {{flag|Florida}}
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in Florida|County]]
| subdivision_name2  = {{noflag|[[Pinellas County, Florida|Pinellas]]}}
| subdivision_type3  = 
| subdivision_name3  = 
| subdivision_type4  = 
| subdivision_name4  = <!-- Politics ----------------->
| government_type    = [[Council-manager government|Council-Manager]]
| governing_body     = Council-Manager form of government
| leader_title       = [[Mayor]]
| leader_name        = Dan Saracki
| leader_title1      = [[Vice Mayor]]
| leader_name1       = Steve Graber
| leader_title2      = <br>Valerie Tatarzewski,<br>Andrew Knapp,<br>Katie Gannon
| leader_title3      = [[City Manager]]
| leader_name3       = Felicia Donnelly
| leader_title4      = [[City Clerk]]
| leader_name4       = Kristin Garcia
| established_title  = <!-- Settled -->
| established_date   = 
| established_title2 = <!-- Incorporated (town) -->
| established_date2  = 
| established_title3 = <!-- Incorporated (city) -->
| established_date3  = <!-- Area    --------------------->
| area_magnitude     = 
| unit_pref          = Imperial
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_12.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=October 31, 2021}}</ref>
| area_total_km2     = 26.15
| area_land_km2      = 23.17
| area_water_km2     = 2.98
| area_total_sq_mi   = 10.10
| area_land_sq_mi    = 8.95
| area_water_sq_mi   = 1.15
| area_water_percent = 
| area_urban_km2     = 
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| area_metro_km2     = 
| area_metro_sq_mi   = 
| area_blank1_title  = 
| area_blank1_km2    = 
| area_blank1_sq_mi  = <!-- Population   ----------------------->
| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes = 
| population_note    = 
| population_total   = 14898
| population_density_km2 = 642.97
| population_density_sq_mi = 1665.33
| population_metro   = 
| population_density_metro_km2 = 
| population_density_metro_sq_mi = 
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| population_density_blank1_sq_mi = <!-- General information  --------------->
| timezone           = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
| utc_offset         = −5
| timezone_DST       = EDT
| utc_offset_DST     = −4
| coordinates        = {{coord|28|2|3|N|82|39|54|W|region:US-FL_type:city(15,000)|display=inline,title}}
| elevation_footnotes = <!--for references: use <ref> tags-->
| elevation_m        = 2
| elevation_ft       = 7
<!-- Area/postal codes & others -------->| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP Code]]
| postal_code        = 34677
| area_code_type     = [[North American Numbering Plan|Area codes]]
| area_codes         = [[Area code 656|656]], [[Area code 813|813]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 12-51350<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = 0288131<ref name="GR3">{{cite web|url=http://geonames.usgs.gov|access-date=2008-01-31|title=US Board on Geographic Names|publisher=[[United States Geological Survey]]|date=2007-10-25}}</ref>
| website            = {{URL|www.myoldsmar.com}}
| footnotes          = 
| pop_est_as_of      = 
| pop_est_footnotes  = 
| population_est     = 
}}

'''Oldsmar''' is a city in [[Pinellas County, Florida]], [[United States]]. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 14,898. The Oldsmar name dates to April 12, 1916, when automobile pioneer [[Ransom E. Olds]] purchased {{convert|37541|acre|km2}} of land north of [[Tampa Bay]] to establish a planned community.

==Geography==
Oldsmar is located at {{coord|28.042061|-82.676350|type:city_region:US|format=dms|display=inline}}.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2011-04-23|date=2011-02-12|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref>

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|25.0|sqkm|disp=flip}}, of which {{convert|22.5|sqkm|disp=flip}} is land and {{convert|2.5|sqkm|disp=flip}} (9.83%) is water.<ref>{{Cite web| url=https://www.census.gov| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Oldsmar city, Florida| publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]| access-date=May 7, 2012}}</ref>

==History==
A number of archeological digs in the Oldsmar area revealed small campsites as well as permanent villages that date from the Archaic period (c. 8000 to 1000 BC).<ref>{{cite book | last1=Anderson |first1=David G. |last2=Sassaman |first2=Kenneth E. |title=Recent Developments in Southeastern Archaeology: From Colonization to Complexity |date=2012 |publisher=Society for American Archaeology Press |location=Washington, DC}}</ref><ref>Williams, J. R. (1975). THE STATUS OF PREHISTORIC SITES IN PINELLAS COUNTY, FLORIDA. Florida Scientist, 38(2), 73–76. http://www.jstor.org/stable/24319629. Accessed 18 February 2022, pp. 74-75</ref>

In 1916, [[Ransom E. Olds]] purchased 37,541 acres (151.92 km2) on the northern tip of Tampa Bay in order to design a planned community. The property appealed to Olds because of its proximity to several other towns (including Tampa and Tarpon Springs) as well as being located on the Tampa and Gulf Coast division of the [[Seaboard Air Line Railroad]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Niemeyer |first1=Glenn A. |title="Oldsmar for Health, Wealth, Happiness" |journal=The Florida Historical Quarterly |date=July 1967 |volume=46 |issue=1 |page=19 |url=http://palmm.digital.flvc.org/islandora/object/ucf%3A22409 |access-date=2 March 2023}}</ref> The town went through a number of name changes. Initially, it was called R. E. Olds-on-the-Bay and then changed to Oldsmar. In 1927 the name was again changed, this time to Tampa Shores. And finally, in 1937, it went back to its old name of  Oldsmar.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Jasper |first1=Catherine |last2=McCook |first2=Kathleen de la Pena |title=The Florida Library History Project |url=https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED422005.pdf |publisher=University of South Florida |access-date=2 March 2023 |page=210 |date=1998}}</ref>

Shortly after purchasing the property, Olds formed the Reo Farms Company (renamed Reolds Farms Company) in order to administer to the creation of his new town. Architects and city planners were hired to create drafts and laborers were hired for construction. The town possessed the staples of any small town, such as churches, schools, and a bank, as well as a railroad depot, sawmill, and dock facilities on the 10 miles of waterfront that faced [[Tampa Bay|Old Tampa Bay]]. Outside of town, tracts of land were parcelled up for agriculture. To advertise how good the land was for growing crops and raising livestock, the Reolds Farms Company built a model farm. On the farm was a herd of cattle, horses, pigs, and other livestock. They also had plots planted with potatoes, turnips, beets, celery, and citrus fruits, among other crops.{{sfn|Niemeyer|1967|pp=20-21}} An oil well was drilled but was never productive.{{sfn|Jasper|McCook|1998|page=211}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Oldsmar will drill for oil |url=https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1997/10/19/oldsmar-will-drill-for-oil/ |website=Tampa Bay Times |access-date=25 March 2022}}</ref>

The company also initiated a large publicity campaign to attract Northerners into becoming residents. One of the more popular slogans used was "Oldsmar for Health, Wealth and Happiness." Tours were also planned with [[Pullman (car or coach)|Pullmans]] chartered between Detroit and Oldsmar. To accommodate prospective residents and other tourists a 60-room hotel called the Wayside Inn was built.{{sfn|Niemeyer|1967|p=22}}<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kite-Powell |first1=Rodney |title=The Road To Oldsmar |url=https://tampamagazines.com/the-road-to-oldsmar/ |access-date=23 March 2022 |work=Tampa Magazine |date=11 January 2022}}</ref>

Olds named some of the roads himself including Gim Gong Road, named after the horticulturalist [[Lue Gim Gong]]. Olds had hired Gim Gong to help set up the agricultural community.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Quioco |first1=Ed |title=Bring back Gim Gong Road, mayor says |url=https://www.tampabay.com/archive/2001/09/30/bring-back-gim-gong-road-mayor-says/ |access-date=6 January 2023 |work=Tampa Bay Times |date=September 10, 2005}}</ref>

Built in 1918 under the supervision of R.E. Olds, the Bank Building has been an important part of Oldsmar's history. Located in the heart of downtown Oldsmar, the building was built in the style of Mediterranean Revival using rare white Italian glazed bricks. In addition to the Oldsmar State Bank, the bank was originally home to the Reolds Farm Co, and the Real Estate Sale Department. By 1920, it was reported to be handling more than $1million worth of deposits.
[[File:12 foot corn - Oldsmar, Florida. 1900 (circa).jpg|thumb|Photograph of 3 men standing amongst corn in Oldsmar, Florida. Circa 1900.]]
In 1919, the city's first library was started by the Woman's Club. It was donated to the city in 1977.<ref name="auto">Jasper & McCook (1998). p. 211</ref>

Original city plans included a golf course and a luxury hotel on the bay, but neither were ever built. A [[sawmill]] and [[foundry]] were established that made cast-iron engines for tractors and grove heaters. The mill also produced the Olds Chair (also called the Oldsmar Chair). The chair was similar to the popular [[Adirondack chair]] and was made out of either yellow pine or cypress.{{sfn|Jasper|McCook|1998|page=211}}

Olds provided financial backing for the Kardell Tractor and Truck Company to move into town. Renamed Oldsmar Tractor Company, Olds had hoped it would devise a machine to clear out palmetto roots, pine stumps, and other scrub, which all had to be removed by hand otherwise.{{sfn|Niemeyer|1967|page=24}} Eventually, Oldsmar had dairy and agricultural farms and, in the early days, it was a common sight to see cattle and hogs running loose through the town. Aside from peppers, tomatoes, corn, gladiolus, and grapes, a banana plantation was established but the winters proved too harsh and the crops failed.

In 1921, a [[1921 Tampa Bay hurricane|hurricane]] hit Tampa Bay. Because Oldsmar sits on a plateau with an elevation never rising over {{convert|20|ft|m}} above sea level, it was devastated by the storm. Large trees were uprooted and floodwater reached levels {{convert|14|ft|m}} above normal. Some of the homes that survived the storm were moved, by barge, to St. Petersburg in the following two decades.{{sfn|Jasper|McCook|1998|page=212}}

Olds spent a reported $100,000 drilling an oil well that never yielded. The well is now capped and sits on the grounds of the [[Tampa Bay Downs]] Racetrack. Other such wells were dug in Florida; two in the [[Florida Panhandle|Panhandle]] and one in [[Sarasota, Florida|Sarasota]], but none of them possessed the technology to drill through the Florida [[aquifer]].{{sfn|Jasper|McCook|1998|page=211}}

By 1923, Olds had over $4.5 million invested in the community and there was only a population of around 200 inhabitants.{{sfn|Niemeyer|1967|page=27}} When he realized Oldsmar was not growing as anticipated, he began liquidating his assets by first selling unplatted parcels of land. The racetrack was nearly completed when he traded it for the [[Fort Harrison Hotel]] in Clearwater. The rest of the land was traded for the Belerive Hotel in [[Kansas]]. By the time Olds left town, he had suffered a loss of nearly $3 million. While Olds envisioned a city of 100,000, the population was around 200 when he left.

Harry A. Prettyman, a [[St. Louis, Missouri|St. Louis]] promoter, and his associates continued to sell lots in town following Olds's departure. Prettyman staged promotional gimmicks like Gold Rushes where pieces of gold were buried on a vacant lot and everyone got to dig for it. In 1927 Prettyman was caught selling underwater lots. To avoid scandal, the town of Oldsmar was renamed Tampa Shores. It wasn't until 1935 that the last of the property owned by Olds was finally sold.

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1930= 280
|1940= 315
|1950= 345
|1960= 878
|1970= 1538
|1980= 2608
|1990= 8361
|2000= 11910
|2010= 13591
|2020= 14898
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}

{| class="wikitable"
|+'''Oldsmar racial composition'''<br> (Hispanics excluded from racial categories)<br> (''NH = Non-Hispanic'')<br>
!Race
!Pop 2010<ref>{{Cite web|title=P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Oldsmar city, Florida|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Oldsmar+city;+Florida+&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!Pop 2020<ref>{{Cite web|title=P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Oldsmar city, Florida|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Oldsmar+city;+Florida+&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!% 2010
!% 2020
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] (NH)
|10,259
|10,175
|75.48%
|68.30%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] (NH)
|678
|685
|4.99%
|4.60%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] (NH)
|24
|26
|0.18%
|0.17%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] (NH)
|792
|811
|5.83%
|5.44%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] or [[Native Hawaiian]] (NH)
|10
|19
|0.07%
|0.13%
|-
|[[Other races (U.S. Census)|Some other race]] (NH)
|40
|82
|0.29%
|0.55%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Two or more races/Multiracial]] (NH)
|245
|674
|1.80%
|4.52%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|1,543
|2,426
|11.35%
|16.28%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''13,591'''
|'''14,898'''
|
|
|-
|}

As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 14,898 people, 5,182 households, and 3,707 families residing in the city.<ref>{{Cite web|title=S1101 HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES - 2020: Oldsmar city, Florida|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Oldsmar+city;+Florida+&tid=ACSST5Y2020.S1101|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>

As of the [[2010 United States census]], there were 13,591 people, 4,922 households, and 3,495 families residing in the city.<ref>{{Cite web|title=S1101 HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES - 2010: Oldsmar city, Florida|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Oldsmar+city;+Florida+&tid=ACSST5Y2010.S1101|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>

==Economy==
[[File:Oldsmar Oil Well.jpg|thumb|Oil well and drilling equipment - Oldsmar, Florida]]
Oldsmar hosts an office of [[Nielsen Media Research]]. Most of the employees of Nielsen Media Research work in Oldsmar and the company's media measurement work originates from the office. The [[Associated Press]] said that the Oldsmar building, with a cost figure of $80 million, was its "nerve center." In 2003 the company moved into its Oldsmar complex and consolidated its employees there, with workers from [[Dunedin, Florida|Dunedin]] and other areas in [[Pinellas County, Florida|Pinellas County]] moving into the Oldsmar building.<ref name="Oldsmarinfo">"[http://www.sptimes.com/2004/06/11/Business/Univision_sues_over_N.shtml Univision sues over Nielsen's meters]." ''[[Associated Press]]'' at the ''[[St. Petersburg Times]]''. June 11, 2004. Retrieved on August 28, 2011.</ref> Major defense contractor and aerospace company [[Lockheed Martin]] has a facility in Oldsmar that employed over 600 people as of 2015.<ref>[https://www.dnb.com/business-directory/company-profiles.lockheed_martin_corporation.fc427382b932598bb0d1abb46ef9562c.html "Lockheed Martin Corporation Corporate Profile"] ''Dun & Bradsheet''</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Times Staff Writer |title=Lockheed Martin unveils Florida's largest private solar project in Oldsmar |url=https://www.tampabay.com/news/business/energy/lockheed-martin-in-oldsmar-unveils-floridas-largest-private-solar-project/2250480/ |access-date=6 January 2023 |work=Tampa Bay Times |date=October 20, 2015}}</ref>

==Culture==
Oldsmar celebrates its history every year with Oldsmar Days and Nights, including parades, car shows (featuring the [[Oldsmobile]]), and carnival rides. The celebration is held in Spring.<ref>{{cite web |title=2023 Oldsmar Days and Nights |url=https://business.utbchamber.com/events/details/2023-oldsmar-days-and-nights-14172 |publisher=Upper Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce |access-date=1 March 2023}}</ref>

==Education==
Oldsmar is part of the [[Pinellas County Schools]] district and is served by [[East Lake High School]], Carwise Middle School, Forest Lakes Elementary School, Oldsmar Elementary School, and Oldsmar Christian School.

==Notable people==

* [[Troy Baxter Jr.]], professional [[National Basketball Association|NBA]] basketball player
* [[MasterChef (American season 5)|Francis Biondi]], Finalist on [[FOX]]'s [[MasterChef (American TV series)|MasterChef US]] Season 5 and professional golfer
* [[John Brown (basketball, born 1992)|John Brown]], professional NBA basketball player  
* [[L. J. Figueroa|L.J. Figueroa]], professional NBA basketball player  
* [[Cito Gaston]], [[Major League Baseball|MLB]] all-star outfielder, two-time [[World Series]] Champion and first African-American manager to win a World Series
* [[Justin James (basketball)|Justin James]], professional NBA basketball player
* [[Gene Michael]], professional MLB baseball player, and former manager of the [[New York Yankees]]
* [[Artavis Scott]], [[National Football League|NFL]] wide receiver
* [[Nathan Harriel]], [[Major League Soccer|MLS]] defender for [[Philadelphia Union]].
* [[Mike Boylan]], video blogger, storm chaser, and creator of [[Mike's Weather Page]]
* [[David Mundell (fighter)|David Mundell]], current [[Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship#Middleweight Championship|BKFC Middleweight Champion]] and former mixed martial artist

==Gallery==
{{gallery
|File:Reoldsparkdockpano.jpg|R.E. Olds Park Dock Panoramic photograph into Upper Tampa Bay
|File:Oldsmar Public Library.JPG|The [[Oldsmar Public Library]]}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Oldsmar, Florida}}
{{Portal|Florida}}
* [http://www.myoldsmar.com/ City of Oldsmar official website]
* [http://oldsmar100.com/ Oldsmar 100 Centennial 1916 - 2016 official website]

{{Pinellas County, Florida}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Pinellas County, Florida]]
[[Category:Populated places on Tampa Bay]]
[[Category:Cities in Florida]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1916]]
[[Category:1916 establishments in Florida]]