New Port Richey

History

By 1914 the area around Orange Lake was being called "New Port Richey" and the older part of Port Richey was called "Old Port Richey." On February 20, 1915 an application was made for a separate post office in New Port Richey. Later the same year the post office was established for the residents of the southern part of Port Richey. The post office was named New Port Richey, and the name became official. The first postmaster was Gerben DeVries. The growth of the city came about after George Sims purchased the Port Richey Land Company. He built a home in New Port Richey in 1916.

The first Chasco Fiesta was held in 1922. It included a pageant where they reenacted the DeValla expedition. The fiesta was an annual event until World War II. The fiesta was revived in 1945 by the Junior Women's Club. The event was fully revived in 1947 when the Chasco Club handed the festival over to the city.

On October 24, 1924, New Port Richey was incorporated. The first mayor was Dr. Elroy M. Avery, an educator, historian, and prolific author who came to New Port Richey from Cleveland after he retired in 1919.

The first act of the city council was on December 2, 1924. In the act, city council accepted Enchantment Park as a gift from George Sims. The park was renamed Sims Park.

In the mid-1920s the city hoped to become a winter home for Hollywood stars. In fact, Thomas Meighan, a leading actor in silent movies, built a large home on the river in 1928 and spent the winters there. He hoped to make movies in New Port Richey. Gene Sarazen, one of the top golfers in the 1920s, also built a home in New Port Richey. He invented the modern sand wedge in a garage in New Port Richey. Other Hollywood figures such as Ed Wynn visited New Port Richey. Songwriter Irving Berlin and bandleader Paul Whiteman made down payments on property, but did not build homes. In 1926, a new theater named for Thomas Meighan opened, and in 1927, the Hacienda Hotel, a 55-room Spanish-style luxury hotel, was completed. Moon Lake Gardens and Dude Ranch, which featured a private game preserve of 7,000 acres, opened in the 1930s.

The end of the 1920s Florida land boom ended the aspirations of New Port Richey to become a haven for Hollywood celebrities, and the Great Depression had a devastating effect on the town. By 1938 the town had lost its Tarpon Springs Branch passenger train connection to the Seaboard Air Line Railway network, a significant loss in the era before Interstates and jet airplanes.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.6 square miles (12 km2), of which 4.5 square miles (12 km2) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km2) (1.53%) is water.

The Pithlachascotee River flows through the downtown area on its way to the Gulf of Mexico.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, New Port Richey had a population of 16,728. The median age was 50.8 years. 16.3% of residents were under the age of 18 and 27.3% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 89.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 88.8 males age 18 and over.

100.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.0% lived in rural areas.

There were 7,755 households in New Port Richey, of which 20.3% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 31.3% were married-couple households, 24.0% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 35.0% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 38.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 8,967 housing units, of which 13.5% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.7% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.1%.

2020 ACS 5-year estimate

The 2020 American Community Survey 5-year estimates reported 4,145 families residing in the city.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 14,911 people, 7,030 households, and 3,624 families residing in the city.

Economy

Top employers

According to New Port Richey's (2021) Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city were:

Arts and culture

Libraries

New Port Richey Public Library

Regency Park Branch Library

Museums

West Pasco Historical Society Museum and Library, located in a historic schoolhouse.

MAPS Museum

Parks and recreation

Source:

Cotee River Park

Frances Avenue Park

Grand Boulevard Park

James E. Grey Preserve

Jasmin Park

Meadow Dog Park

Peace Hall

Recreation and Aquatics Center

Sims Park and Orange Lake

Sims Park Boat Ramp

Education

Public education is administered by Pasco County Schools.

Colleges and universities

Pasco–Hernando State College

Marchman Technical College

Keiser University (satellite campus)

Infrastructure

Public safety

The New Port Richey Fire Department has two fire stations in the city. Pasco County Fire Rescue covers all emergency medical services.

The New Port Richey Police Department has 46 sworn officers, 26 civilian employees, and several part-time officers.

Notable people

Joshua Colley, actor and singer

R. C. Enerson, racing driver

Leon Orr, former American football player

Josiah Queen, American Contemporary Christian Musician

Chris Trousdale (1985–2020), actor and singer