Largo was officially incorporated in 1905, and in 1913 became the first town in Florida and second in the nation to adopt a town manager form of government. The town grew rapidly through the boom times of the 1920s, but was hit hard by a freeze in the latter part of the decade. Due to mounting debt and the Great Depression, the City of Largo was reduced to its original 1905 boundaries and became the Town of Largo.

When World War II veterans returned home, they quickly discovered the joys of living on Florida’s suncoast, previously only known to the local farmers and a few rich vacationers. The population boomed, growing from just 1,500 residents in 1950 to over 5300 ten years later. An unexpected freeze in 1962 dealt a serious blow to Largo’s agricultural industry, and as groves were sold off, developers were quick to move in to build homes for a growing population. By 1970, Largo’s population reached more than 22,000, and a new City of Progress was born.

Today, Largo is a community of more than 70,000 residents and continues to grow through voluntary annexation. Over the last 10 years, the City has developed such landmark projects as Largo Central Park and the Largo Cultural Center. Downtown redevelopment is currently underway, and a new, 93,000 square-foot library was recently opened. From the days of its pioneer roots to today, Largo remains your City of Progress.