St. Petersburg is a city in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 258,308, making it the fifth-most populous city in Florida and the second-largest city in the Tampa Bay Area, after Tampa. It is the largest city in the state that is not a county seat (the city of Clearwater is the chair of Pinellas County). Along like Clearwater, these cities are allowance of the Tampa–St. Petersburg–Clearwater Metropolitan Statistical Area, the second-largest in Florida in imitation of a population of as regards 2.8 million. St. Petersburg is on the Pinellas peninsula amongst Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, and is partnered to mainland Florida to the north.

Locals often adopt to the city as St. Pete. Neighboring St. Pete Beach formally condensed its name in 1994 after a vote by its residents. St. Petersburg is governed by a mayor and city council.

With an average of 361 days of sunshine annually, and a Guinness World Record for the most consecutive days of sunshine (768 days with 1967 and 1969), it is nicknamed “The Sunshine City.” Located on the Gulf of Mexico, the average water temperature is typically approximately 76 °F (24 °C). Due to its great weather, the city has long been a popular retirement destination, although in recent years the population has moved in a much more teen direction.

When the Spanish first arrived in the area of Tampa Bay, they encountered people of the Safety Harbor culture. About 20 sites past temple mounds have been found with reference to Tampa Bay, with several in Pinellas County. Best known of the Safety Harbor people was the chiefdom of Tocobaga, which was likely located at the Safety Harbor site in Philippe Park in northern Pinellas County. The Pánfilo de Narváez expedition landed upon the shores of Boca Ciega Bay at the Jungle Prada Site upon April 14, 1528. It was the first inland exploration of North America. Of 300 men upon the expedition without help four survived. One of the survivors of the expedition, Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca, wrote the first photo album describing the peoples, wildlife, flora and fauna of inland North America in his Relacion, published in Spain in 1542.