the island by first burying and then pretending to discover a couple of wooden chests on the beach around 1915. After claiming the chests were filled with treasure, the news of the discovery quickly spread and people began calling the island Treasure Island. With an elevation of only three feet, the Great Gale of 1848 carved out John's Pass on the island's north end and split off two smaller islands, called the Isle of Palms and Isle of Capri. Treasure Island saw a surge in residential and hotel construction following World War II through the 1950s. The real estate used in these ventures often consisted of fill from dredged material; that is, artificial extensions of the land were created, which were usually designed for convenient access to navigable waterways. Treasure Island today has a thriving bar and restaurant scene in its downtown. Climate Treasure Island has a humid subtropical climate, closely bordering a tropical climate, resulting in warm, humid summers with frequent thunderstorms, and drier winters. Library The community is served by the Gulf Beaches Public Library, located in nearby Madeira Beach. The library is supported by Madeira Beach, Redington Beach, North Redington Beach, Redington Shores, and Treasure Island. These five communities have combined their resources in order to fund the library, which they would not be able to maintain individually. Notable people Michael Clarke, rock drummer for The Byrds, Flying Burrito Brothers, and Firefall Babe Ruth, legendary baseball slugger Jerry Sags, WWE and WCW professional wrestler References External links City of Treasure Island official website Treasure Island Chamber of Commerce Cities in Pinellas County, Florida Gulf Coast barrier islands of Florida Cities in Florida Populated coastal places in Florida on the Gulf of Mexico Islands of Pinellas County, Florida Beaches of Pinellas County, Florida Beaches of Florida Islands of Florida