Feb. 9, 1888.An article in the Ohio Democrat, probably referring to what is now called Orange Lake, reports:
Another pretty drive is to the famous Blue Sink, one of those marvelous spots where in some past generation the land and all upon it disappeared. It is very beautiful, circular in form and filled with water blue as indigo. The banks slope gently down and all around are giant pines, that stand as grim sentinels and custodians of the secret of the spot. A short distance to the north are the Salt Springs where during the war the confederates manufactured their salt. Relics of those olden days may still be seen.
Nov. 1913. On the day after Thanksgiving, Gerben DeVries first visits Port Richey. He wrote later, Port Richey then consisted of a store and a postoffice in charge of David Clark who had always lived here. There was a small school building, a few houses near the mouth of the river, and that was about all.
New Port Richey was not yet on the map.
Where this town now stands, I found a hotel in charge of two very congenial people—Mr. and Mrs. Fred Sass. There was also a freight and passenger depot at the end of two rusty 30-pound rails, an unoccupied store building which is now the Idlewile apartment house, Mr. Malmstrom’s home on the Circle nearing completion, a beautiful river bank covered with a grove of the finest palm and oak trees I had ever seen, a lot of pretty white stakes marking the location of town lots for sale, and a sand trail as crooked as they make them running from here to Tarpon Springs.
Jan. 21, 1960. The New Port Richey Press reports that Flor-A-Mar officially opened to the public on Sunday. [The development dated back to 1958 when Howard A. Burkland purchased more than 2,000 acres between the Gulf and U. S. 19. The name was changed to Gulf Harbors. The name of the channel they dredged to the gulf is called North Gulf Harbors Channel (no bank fishing all private), that Windsong Charters & Boat Rentals now use. According to Glen Dill, in fiscal year 1964, 7 sales were made; 22 were made in 1965, and 66 in 1966. In 1964, Empire Properties took over the development.]
June 4, 1961. Seven-digit telephone numbers go into effect in New Port Richey.
Dec. 19, 1961. A new $75,000 county government building on Sunset Road opens. [Some offices did not open until Jan. 2, 1962.]
Jan. 4, 1962. The New Port Richey Press reports that a seven-acre site at the southeast corner of U. S. 19 and Main Street has been acquired for the construction of Pasco Plaza, a new shopping center to include a Food Fair supermarket and Neisner’s Junior Department Store.
Sept. 1, 1965. West Pasco Hospital opens. [It is apparently the first hospital in western Pasco County except for a hospital which operated briefly at Fivay.]
1967. Richey Manor Nursing Home opens, with 60 beds.
Mid-November 1967. A new Main Street bridge in New Port Richey opens to traffic.
May 21, 1969. The Southgate Rocking Chair Theatre opens.
June 2, 1969. The New Port Richey Press reports that construction has begun on a McDonald’s Restaurant on U. S. 19 in New Port Richey.
Oct. 1970. Four persons are murdered during a robbery inside Dorn’s Hideaway at 8127 Little Road, and a fifth person was murdered by the same killer on the same day at another location in New Port Richey. [In January 1977, when it was the Shangri-La lounge, a topless nightclub, three members of the Outlaw Motorcycle Club followed a man out of the bar and killed him on Moon Lake Road. The bar was later known as Arches, Model T’s, and the Gold N' Spur. In 1989 the Gold N' Spur was damaged by a fire set by an arsonist.]
Aug. 2, 1971. Community Hospital begins admitting patients (West Pasco’s Heritage).
Nov. 11. 1971. The New Port Richey Press reports, New Port Richey mayor William F. Grey, who has announced he will not run for re-election on Dec. 7, is heading an investigation into the possibility of moving the seat of Pasco County government from Dade City to New Port Richey.
August 1975. The West Pasco Chronicle discontinues publication, merging with the Suncoast Shopper to form the new Suncoast Shopper and News.
Feb. 26, 1976. Ronald Reagan, campaigning for President, speaks at Southgate Shopping Center in New Port Richey.
Mar. 8, 1976. The New Port Richey Press reports that Jimmy Carter, candidate for President, made his second visit to New Port Richey on Thursday, greeting supporters at Southgate Shopping Center.
Mar. 25, 1976. U. S. Sen. Vance Hartke dedicates the opening of Veterans Village.
Sept. 7, 1976. The new post office on Nebraska Avenue opens.
June 14, 1985. The Madison Street bridge in New Port Richey is dedicated.
June 3, 1987. An early morning fire destroys four businesses in downtown New Port Richey and injures 12 firefighters.
1992. Vice President Dan Quayle, seeking re-election, campaigns in New Port Richey, speaking at Sims Park.