S2 Ep2108: ONE PLACE, MANY VOICES Amy Cianci & Sharon Centanne - Lealman Yesterday & Today

About this episode

Sharon Centanne and Amy Cianci discuss the history and current state of Lealman.

(Airs 6/9/2026) In this episode, longtime resident and historian Sharon Centanne and Lealman Exchange and St. Pete Press publisher Amy Cianci talk about Lealman now and in the past. Lealman's history began in the 1870s when Elza B. Lealman, a former Suwannee County sheriff, relocated to the Pinellas Peninsula to farm strawberries and citrus. Originally a massive, rural settlement stretching across present-day Pinellas Park and St. Petersburg, it has uniquely retained its unincorporated status amid intense surrounding city growth. [Note: Sharon reference to WW2 at 5:10 should be WW1] Key Historical Milestones 1895: A train station was formally established and designated on Hillsborough County maps as "Lealman Station" near present-day 52nd Avenue North, facilitating local agricultural trade. [ 1 , 2 ] Early 1900s: The area functioned as a hub for egg farms and dairy routes before the Florida real estate boom shifted the focus to residential development. [ 1 , 2 ] The Era of Annexation: As neighboring cities (such as St. Petersburg and Pinellas Park) incorporated and expanded, they steadily annexed portions of Lealman's unofficial territory. To protect their geographic identity and…

People in this episode

Guests: Sharon Centanne, Amy Cianci

Topics covered

• history
• community
• local culture
• urban development
• residential growth

Keywords

• Lealman
• history
• urban growth
• community identity
• Pinellas County

Mentioned in this episode

Places: Lealman, Pinellas Peninsula, Pinellas Park, St. Petersburg

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