St. Petersburg, Florida, has a rich history, and one of its most intriguing stories involves how the city got its name.
In the late 19th century, two men played pivotal roles in the city’s development. John C. Williams, a Detroit native, purchased land in the area in 1876, seeking a warmer climate for his health. Peter Demens, a Russian aristocrat, extended the Orange Belt Railway to the region in 1888, facilitating its growth. According to local legend, the two men couldn’t agree on a name for the new settlement. Some say they decided the matter with a coin toss: if Williams won, the city would be named Williamsville; if Demens won, it would be named after his Russian hometown, St. Petersburg. Demens won the toss, and the city was named St. Petersburg. As a gesture of goodwill, Williams named the first hotel after his birthplace, Detroit.
While the coin toss story is widely told, some historians suggest that the naming was more straightforward. They believe Demens, with the help of his partner Josef Henschen, submitted the name “St. Petersburg” to the U.S. Postal Service, which approved it without the need for a coin toss.
Regardless of how it happened, the name St. Petersburg reflects the city’s diverse heritage and the contributions of its founders.
