New Port Richey is a city in Pasco County, Florida, part of the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater Metropolitan Area, with a population of 16,728 as of the 2020 census. Originally named in 1914, the area developed rapidly after George Sims purchased land and initiated development in 1916. The city, incorporated in 1924 with Dr. Elroy M. Avery as its first mayor, aimed to become a winter home for Hollywood stars in the 1920s, with celebrities like Thomas Meighan and Gene Sarazen owning homes there. However, the end of the Florida land boom and the Great Depression halted these ambitions. The city experienced significant population growth starting in the late 1960s, though New Port Richey itself has a small area and limited growth. It became sister cities with Cavalaire-sur-Mer, France, in 1995. New Port Richey spans an area of 4.6 square miles, with the Pithlachascotee River flowing through it. The city hosts a racially diverse population with a notable increase over the years, reflecting broader demographic trends in Florida. Education in New Port Richey includes several high schools, among them Gulf High School and River Ridge High School.