It was an exporter of agricultural products until the 1960s population growth began to transform it into a bedroom community.

Largo began as a rural farming community and became the third largest city in Florida's most densely populated county.

In the 18th century, the Tocobaga had been virtually destroyed after years of exposure to European diseases, Spanish settlement efforts and warfare between Spain and England.

By 1845, a surveyor recorded the location of Lake Tolulu, apparently south of present-day East Bay Drive and roughly where the Largo Central Park Nature Preserve is today.

During the Civil War, many Largo area residents fought for the Confederate States of America.

James and Daniel McMullen were members of the "Cow Cavalry" driving Florida cattle to Georgia and the Carolinas to help sustain the war effort.

After the war, Largo area residents returned to farming, ranching, and raising citrus.

Then and for decades afterwards, Largo's economy was based on agriculture—citrus groves, cattle ranches, and hog farms, as well as turpentine stills and sawmills.

The Great Depression was difficult for Largo, which lacked the financial resources to meet its obligations.

The debt incurred from the issuance of bonds in the late 1920s was not paid off until after World War II.

The years after World War II saw rapid growth as people began moving into the area and Largo annexed surrounding lands.

During the nuclear arms race, electronics companies like General Electric and Honeywell boosted the economy.

The groves, farms, ranches and forests have mostly given way to homes and shopping centers and light industry.

All departments saw rapid growth and improvements in quality, especially under the leadership of the late Mayor Thom Feaster.

In 1995, Largo Central Park opened on the site of the old Pinellas County Fairgrounds.

[7] In the 2006 commission elections, Largo achieved two milestones furthering its former motto of "City of Progress".

She narrowly defeated incumbent mayor Robert E. Jackson in a bitterly contested race.

The voters' choice between these two candidates decided the major issue of the election: that the city would not revert to a mayor-dominated process of governance in lieu of the continuing role for the seven-member commission acting as non-partisans—that is, deliberating independently and equally with the mayor and deciding democratically the political issues of the city.

[11] It is centrally located in Pinellas County, touching the Intracoastal Waterway to the southwest and Tampa Bay to the northeast.

The unincorporated community of Ridgecrest forms a large enclave between western and central Largo.

Allen's Creek drains northeast Largo, flowing into Tampa Bay.

Largo is located on the Pinellas Peninsula, so that its climate is moderated by its proximity to the Gulf of Mexico and Tampa Bay.

The decline of agriculture with population growth beginning in the 1960s largely transformed Largo into a bedroom community.

Largo Medical Center, owned by the Hospital Corporation of America (HCA), was established in 1978; it consists of two separate campuses: its original campus near downtown Largo, and the former Sun Coast Hospital on Indian Rocks Road, which was renamed Largo Medical Center-Indian Rocks Campus after its acquisition by HCA.

[22] The commission's role encompasses the setting of city policy, exercising those duties imposed by the charter and law.

The city manager directs the administration in governing and providing municipal services to Largo.

[25] St. Patrick Catholic School has a campus on Trotter Road in Largo, providing a private education for grades Pre-K–8.