[5] Dunedin is one of the few open waterfront communities from Sarasota to Cedar Key where buildings do not completely obscure the view of the Intracoastal Waterway and the Gulf of Mexico beyond[citation needed]; a 1-mile (1.6 km) stretch of Edgewater Drive (also known as Alternate US 19) south of downtown offers views of St. Joseph Sound, Clearwater Beach, and Caladesi Island.

Douglas and James Somerville, later named the settlement Dunedin after applying for the first post office in northern Pinellas County.

In 1899, it was incorporated as the "Town of Dunedin" mainly as a response to numerous complaints about pigs running rampant in the settlement, leading to a still-standing ban on livestock within city limits.

During and shortly before World War II the Food Machinery Corporation (FMC) factory in Dunedin (now demolished) was the primary site for the production of the Landing Vehicle Tracked (LVT) developed by FMC Dunedin's Engineers and Donald Roebling of Clearwater from Roebling's own Alligator.

[7][8] Initial training[9] on the LVT was done at the FMC factory under the auspices of the first Amphibian Tractor School, led by Major William W.

[12] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 28.2 square miles (73 km2).

Dunedin is bordered by the city of Clearwater to the south and east, the Gulf of Mexico to the west, and by Palm Harbor (a census-designated place and unincorporated community of Pinellas County) to the north.

[19] The chief executive officer, known as the city manager, oversees the ten departments and the annual budget.

Dunedin boasts an extensive Volunteer Services section, and enables all citizens the chance to have their opinions expressed and tended to.

Pinellas County Sheriff Office's North District Patrol provides law enforcement for Dunedin.

The downtown business district is notable for its absence of large commercial signage, corporate franchise restaurants or chain retail stores.

A large portion of the trail lies on the former roadbed of the Orange Belt Railway, the first railroad in Pinellas County, which arrived in 1888.

In one case, it sued a former resident to collect over a hundred thousand dollars for yard and swimming pool maintenance.

[25] "In 5½ years, the city has collected nearly $3.6 million in fines, sometimes tens of thousands at a time, for violating laws that prohibit grasses taller than 10 inches, recreational vehicles parked on streets at certain hours or sidings and bricks that don't match.

The most popular among these is Dunedin's Mardi Gras celebration, during which thousands of visitors descend on the small town.

The city operates four recreation facilities, each one designed to provide resources for a specific age group.

Tampa Bay Times writer Lennie Bennett says that DFAC is "the artistic equivalent of a village square," offering quality experiences to people of all ages.

In April and May 2021, the Toronto Blue Jays played their regulation games at TD Ballpark in Dunedin, due to COVID-19 cross-border restrictions.

[31] Dunedin is one of the smallest communities used by Major League spring training teams, although surrounded by a large metropolitan area.

The stadium was built as a replacement to Grant Field, the Blue Jays' first spring training ball park.

[32] Other recreation facilities includes: The city has a large athletic base, with community soccer, baseball, hockey, and softball teams.

In 1895, Christopher B Bouton, a resident from Cleveland, gave the city of Dunedin 200 books for public use.

Mary (Mrs. William Lovett) Douglas, who was appointed as head librarian in 1935, retired and was replaced by Annie Elizabeth (Mrs. W. Dwight) Niven in 1957.

After years of planning, the City Commission approved funding for a 38,000 square foot building in 1994, costing approximately $3.5 million.

They began to replace old systems with new public computers and converted their library services, such as the catalog and circulation checkouts, to be available online.

[38] Noah later retired as director in July 1994, replaced by Wendy (Mrs. James P.) Foley in October of that year.

[37] Soon after the Library's centennial in April 1995, the collection was moved into trailers while the old building was torn down and a new one was built in the same location.