Clearwater Beach is a beach community on a barrier island in the Gulf of Mexico, within the city of Clearwater in Pinellas County, Florida. Although it lies on a separate island, it belongs to the city of Clearwater, connected to the mainland by bridge—a link first established in 1915. The community is one of the Tampa Bay region's defining beach destinations, celebrated for its wide, sugar-white sand and clear, shallow water, and frequently ranked among the best beaches in the United States. Clearwater Beach is primarily a resort and residential community built for the water. Its shoreline is lined with hotels, condominiums, and vacation rentals, and the island's small year-round population of roughly 7,500 swells with seasonal visitors and second-home owners. Pier 60, at the heart of the beach, is the community's central landmark, offering fishing and nightly sunset celebrations that draw residents and tourists alike. The island's built environment is dense and oriented toward the Gulf, with condominium complexes such as Surfside Condominiums, the Villas of Clearwater Beach, and Sand Key Condos providing beachfront and near-beach housing. A promenade and palm-lined walkway run along the shoreline, and the area's restaurants, shops, and marinas cluster near the beach and the causeway. For residents, Clearwater Beach offers a coastal, resort lifestyle with direct access to one of Florida's most celebrated beaches, while remaining connected to the services of mainland Clearwater, St. Petersburg, and the broader Tampa Bay region. Its combination of natural beauty, recreation, and Gulf-front living makes it a distinctive and sought-after address.