New Port Richey

About New Port Richey

New Port Richey is a relatively small suburban city located on the western coast of Florida. It's considered a suburb of the larger Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater metropolitan area, with a population that has seen a series of alternating increases and decreases. New Port Richey is best known for its scenic riverfront landscape and diverse population.

The History of New Port Richey

The area's first settlers in the area were Aaron McLaughlin Richey and his family. They settled near the Cotee River mouth. Soon after, he established the local post office, calling it Port Richey. In addition, he opened a small store to help other new settlers as well as those traveling on the river. In 1911, W.E. Guilford created new plans for the city. At this time, the city started being called New Port Richey, and earned incorporation in 1924.

Through the 1920s, New Port Richey earned some celebrity as a vacation destination for the rich and famous, though that status was short-lived. The Great Depression had a massive impact on the town, devastating its economy for some time. During the second half of the 20th century, New Port Richey began to slowly recover, bolstered by the arrival of Pasco-Hernando State College in 1976 and Gulf View Square in 1980.

Living in New Port Richey

New Port Richey has a small-town sense of community, with a number of local events and celebrations strengthening local ties. Local parks and recreational facilities provide plenty of gathering spaces, making it easy to get outdoors and enjoy the Florida sun. There are 10 different parks within the city's 4 square miles and a number of nature preserves in and around the town.

The Pithlachascotee River, nicknamed the Cotee River by locals, hosts several boat docks and kayak launching points. You can expect to see manatee families and dolphin pods regularly traveling the waterway, as well as a variety of native birds and other wildlife. If you'd like to experience more of New Port Richey's natural attractions, you can explore the James E. Grey Preserve. It spans 80 acres, and is part of the Great Florida Birding Trail. There, you can see more than 100 species of native birds and many other Florida animals including wild boar, turtles and manatees.

New Port Richey Schools

Students in New Port Richey are part of the Pasco County School District. In addition to traditional campuses, the Pasco County School District offers several charter schools for students to attend.

There are two small post-secondary campuses in New Port Richey: Pasco-Hernando State College and Keiser University.

Resources for Moving to New Port Richey

Here are a few city resources that can make your move to New Port Richey a bit easier:

• Utilities: The city manages residential water and sewer services. Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative provides power to most areas of New Port Richey.
• Garbage and Recycling: The county doesn't provide waste collection services, so you'll need to choose your own private company. All private companies are required to offer twice-weekly trash collection and must pick up recyclables at least twice a month.
• Transportation: A handful of public transit routes travel through New Port Richey, operated by the county.

New Port Richey Housing

New Port Richey is fairly affordable in terms of housing prices, with a median home price that's significantly less expensive than many of its neighboring cities. You can expect to pay less for a home here than in many other coastal cities in the country. There's also a diverse rental market in New Port Richey. Rent prices are also typically very affordable, with a variety of options to choose from.