The same man who brought ice and water to Clearwater in 1900 also brought light to the city in 1905. J.N. McClung illuminated the town when he was granted an electric light franchise. The increasing population and growing number of stately homes appearing on the bluff in Clearwater formed the customer base for his fledgling electric company.

The beautiful waters nearby have always been popular with Clearwater residents. Here people stroll at the recreational pier and pavilion built in 1902 at the foot of Cleveland Street.

From the outset, Clearwater was a popular home for affluent Northerners as well as pioneer settlers from the South. Pioneers born in Florida were dubbed "Florida Crackers" for the sound of the long whips used by mule and horse team drivers as they transported supplies and produce by wagon.

In 1895, the local Orange Belt Railroad became part of the larger Plant Rail System, operated by Henry B. Plant. He had brought his railroad over from central Florida to Tampa and built the elegant Tampa Bay Hotel which opened in 1891. Plant was a major railroad developer and spearheaded much of the growth of Central and Western Florida.

Plant also built the fabulous Belleview Biltmore Hotel. A local historian writes that "in those days it was fashionable for railroads to own hotels where important shippers and celebrities could be lavishly entertained, and whose patrons would help to create passenger traffic for the railroad."

Plant's agents explored the entire West Coast of Florida in search of the ideal location for his luxury resort. Seven years of research established that Upper Pinellas County enjoyed more days of sunshine per year than any other area. The Belleview Biltmore opened its doors on January 15, 1897 to wealthy vacationers from all parts of the world. The hotel became a mecca for railroad giants, steel magnates, utility kings, industrial barons and socialites and is today the world's largest wooden structure still in use. Early features of the hotel included a circular asphalt bicycle track on which international championship races were held. One of the first golf courses in the state was built on the grounds, a six-hole course with shell greens.

By 1926, with the addition of a south wing and an east wing added earlier in 1902, four and five stories existed under 2 1/2 acres of roof and two miles of corridors connecting 285 rooms and 17 suites.