West Palm Beach, Florida

City in southeast Florida, United States

City in Florida, United States

West Palm Beach, Florida

City

West Palm Beach skyline from the intercoastal waterway

Seal

Logo

Nickname(s):

Orchid City, West Palm, WPB

Location in Palm Beach County and the state of Florida

Show West Palm Beach

Show Florida

Show the United States

Coordinates: 26°42′35″N 80°03′51″W﻿ / ﻿26.70972°N 80.06417°W﻿ / 26.70972; -80.06417
Country|  United States
State|  Florida
County| Palm Beach
Settled (Lake Worth Country Settlement)| c. 1884[1]
Platted (West Palm Beach Settlement)| 1893[1]
Incorporated (Town of West Palm Beach)| November 5, 1894[1]
Incorporated (City of West Palm Beach)| July 21, 1903[1]
Named after| Location west of Palm Beach
Government

• Type| Mayor–Commission
• Mayor| Keith A. James (D)[2][3]
• Council President| Shalonda Warren[4]
• Commissioners| Christina Lambert,
Joseph "Joe" Peduzzi,
Christy Fox, and
Cathleen Ward[5]
• City Administrator| Faye W. Johnson[6]
• City Clerk| Shaquita Edwards[4]
Area

[7]

• Total

| 57.98 sq mi (150.18 km2)
• Land| 53.82 sq mi (139.39 km2)
• Water| 4.17 sq mi (10.79 km2)
Elevation

| 13 ft (4 m)
Population

(2020)[8]

• Total

| 117,415

• Estimate

(2022)[9]

| 120,932
• Rank| 239th in the United States
17th in Florida
• Density| 2,246.97/sq mi (867.58/km2)
Time zone| UTC−5 (EST)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP codes|

33401–33422

Area code| 561, 728
FIPS code| 12-76600
GNIS feature ID| 0293097[10]
Website| wpb.org

West Palm Beach is a city in and the county seat of Palm Beach County, Florida, United States.[11] It is located immediately to the west of the adjacent Palm Beach, which is situated on a barrier island across the Lake Worth Lagoon.

It is the largest city in Palm Beach County, and at the time of the 2020 census, its population was 117,415.[8] West Palm Beach is a principal city of the Miami metropolitan area, which was home to 6.14 million people in 2020.[12] It is the oldest incorporated municipality in the South Florida area, incorporated as a city two years before Miami in November 1894. West Palm Beach is located approximately 68 miles (109 km) north of Downtown Miami.

## History

[edit]

Main article: History of West Palm Beach, Florida

Old city hall and jail West Palm Beach in the 1880s West Palm Beach in the 1960s West Palm Beach skyline in 2010 Aerial view Wide panorama of skyline Panoramic view of West Palm Beach, North Palm Beach and Lake Worth, 1915

The beginning of the historic period in south Florida is marked by Juan Ponce de León's first contact with native people in 1513. Europeans found a thriving native population, which they categorized into separate tribes: the Mayaimi in the Lake Okeechobee Basin and the Jaega and Ais people in the East Okeechobee area and on the east coast north of the Tequesta. When the Spanish arrived, there were around 20,000 Native Americans in south Florida. By 1763, by the time the English gained control of Florida, the native peoples had been all but wiped out through war, enslavement, or European diseases.[13]

Other native peoples from Alabama and Georgia moved into Florida in the early 18th century. They were of varied ancestry, but Europeans called them all Creeks. In Florida, they were known as the Seminole and Miccosukee Indians. The Seminoles clashed with American settlers over land and escaped slaves who found refuge among them. They resisted the government's efforts to move them to the Indian Territory west of the Mississippi River. Between 1818 and 1858, three wars were fought between Seminoles and the United States government. By 1858, very few Seminoles remained in Florida.[14]

The area that became West Palm Beach was settled in the late 1870s and 1880s by a few hundred settlers who called the vicinity Lake Worth Country. These settlers were a diverse community from different parts of the United States and the rest of the world. They included founding families such as the Potters and the Lainharts, who later became leading members of the business community in the fledgling city. The first white settlers in Palm Beach County lived around Lake Worth, which was then an enclosed freshwater lake, named after Colonel William Jenkins Worth, who fought in the Second Seminole War in Florida in 1842. Most settlers engaged in the growing of tropical fruits and vegetables for shipment to the north via Lake Worth and the Indian River. By 1890, the U.S. Census counted over 200 people settled along Lake Worth in the vicinity of what later became West Palm Beach. The area at this time also boasted a hotel, the "Cocoanut House", a church, and a post office. The city was platted by Henry Flagler as a community to house the servants working in the two grand hotels on the neighboring island of Palm Beach, across Lake Worth in 1893, coinciding with the arrival of the Florida East Coast railroad. Flagler paid two area settlers, Captain Porter and Louie Hillhouse, a combined sum of $45,000 for the original town's site, stretching from Clear Lake to Lake Worth.

On November 5, 1894, 78 people met at the "Calaboose" (the first jail and police station located at Clematis St. and Poinsettia, now Dixie Hwy.) and passed a motion to incorporate the Town of West Palm Beach in what was then Dade County (now Miami-Dade County).[15] This made West Palm Beach the first incorporated municipality in Dade County and in South Florida. The town council quickly addressed the building codes, and the tents and shanties were replaced by brick, brick veneer, and stone buildings. The city grew steadily during the 1890s and the first two decades of the 20th century; most residents were engaged in the tourist industry and related services or winter vegetable market and tropical fruit trade. In 1909, the Florida legislature formed Palm Beach County and West Palm Beach became its county seat. In 1916, a new neoclassical courthouse was opened. It has been painstakingly restored to its original condition and is now a local history museum.

The city grew rapidly in the 1920s as part of the Florida land boom. The population of West Palm Beach quadrupled from 1920 to 1927, and all kinds of businesses and public services grew along with it. Many landmark structures and preserved neighborhoods were constructed during this period. Originally, Flagler intended his Florida East Coast Railway to have its terminus in West Palm, but after the area experienced a deep freeze, he chose to extend the railroad to Miami instead.

The land boom was already faltering when the city was devastated by the 1928 Okeechobee hurricane. The Depression years of the 1930s were a quiet time for the area, which saw slight population growth and property values lower than during the 1920s. The city only recovered with the onset of World War II, which saw the construction of Palm Beach Air Force Base, which brought thousands of military personnel to the city. The base was vital to the allied war effort, as it provided an excellent training facility and had unparalleled access to North Africa for a North American city. Also during World War II, German U-boats sank two dozen merchant ships and oil tankers off the coast of West Palm Beach. Nearby Palm Beach was under blackout conditions to minimize night visibility to German U-boats.[16]

The 1950s saw another boom in population, partly due to the return of many soldiers and airmen who served nearby during the war. Also, the advent of air conditioning encouraged growth, as year-round living in a tropical climate became more acceptable to northerners. West Palm Beach became one of the nation's fastest-growing metropolitan areas during the 1950s; the city's borders spread west of Military Trail and south to Lake Clarke Shores. However, many city residents still lived in a narrow six-block wide strip from the south to north end. The neighborhoods were strictly segregated between White and African-American populations, a legacy that the city still struggles with today. The primary shopping district remained downtown, centered around Clematis Street.[17]

In the 1960s, Palm Beach County's first enclosed shopping mall, the Palm Beach Mall, and an indoor arena were completed. These projects led to a brief revival for the city, but in the 1970s and 1980s crime continued to be a serious issue and suburban sprawl continued to drain resources and business away from the old downtown area. By the early 1990s there were very high vacancy rates downtown, and serious levels of urban blight.[18]

Since the 1990s, developments such as CityPlace and the preservation and renovation of 1920s architecture in the nightlife hub of Clematis Street have seen a downtown resurgence in the entertainment and shopping district. The city has also placed emphasis on neighborhood development and revitalization in historic districts such as Northwood, Flamingo Park, and El Cid. Some neighborhoods still struggle with blight, crime, and lowered property values caused by the Great Recession, which hit the region particularly hard. Since the recovery, multiple new developments have been completed. The Palm Beach Mall, located at the Interstate 95/Palm Beach Lakes Boulevard interchange became abandoned as downtown revitalized - the very mall that initiated the original abandonment of the downtown. The mall was redeveloped into the Palm Beach Fashion Outlets in February 2014. The West Palm Beach station for Brightline, a high speed passenger rail service serving Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach, was opened in 2018.[19]

### Timeline

[edit]

Timeline of West Palm Beach, Florida

* 1893
* "Town platted on Lake Worth."[20]
* Florida East Coast Railway begins operating.[21]
* 1894
* West Palm Beach incorporated.[22]
* John S. Earman becomes mayor.
* 1896 – Fire.[23]
* 1900 – Population: 564.[24]
* 1903 – "City of West Palm Beach" established.[25]
* 1905 – Population: 1,280.[24]
* 1907 – Flagler Park established.[20]
* 1908 – Palm Beach Post newspaper begins publication.[26]
* 1909 – West Palm Beach designated seat of newly created Palm Beach County.[27]
* 1912 – Palm Beach County Fair begins.
* 1916 – County courthouse constructed.[20]
* 1917 – Beaux Arts Theatre in business.[28]
* 1919
* Office of city manager created.[23]
* City Hall built.[23]
* 1923 – Kettler Theatre in business.[28]
* 1924 – Public Library building opens.
* 1925 – Seaboard Air Line Railway begins operating;[23] West Palm Beach station opens.
* 1926
* West Palm Beach Canal (to Lake Okeechobee) constructed.[21]
* September: 1926 Miami hurricane occurs.[23]
* 1928 – September: 1928 Okeechobee hurricane occurs.[23]
* 1930 – Population: 26,610.
* 1933 – Palm Beach Junior College opens.[23]
* 1936
* Morrison Field (airport) begins operating.[23]
* WJNO radio begins broadcasting.[29]
* 1937 – Historical Society of Palm Beach County founded.[30]
* 1941 – Norton Museum of Art established.[20]
* 1942
* April 17: City gets "8.35 inches of rain in just two hours."[31]
* U.S. military Palm Beach Air Force Base begins operating near West Palm Beach.[23]
* 1947 – WIRK radio begins broadcasting.[29]
* 1948
* Palm Beach International Airport active.
* WEAT radio begins broadcasting.[29]
* 1951 – Beach Drive-In cinema in business.[28]
* 1954 – WPTV (television) begins broadcasting.[32]
* 1955 – WEAT-TV (television) begins broadcasting.[32]
* 1961 – Cardinal Newman High School established.
* 1962 – West Palm Beach Municipal Stadium opens.
* 1964 – Palm Beach County Genealogical Society formed.[33]
* 1967 – Palm Beach County Library System established.
* 1967 – Palm Beach Mall opens.
* 1967 – West Palm Beach Auditorium opens (capacity: 5,000). It would later be sold in 1998 to the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, Inc (Jehovah's Witnesses) It was renovated and renamed the West Palm Beach Christian Convention Center.
* 1968 – Palm Beach Atlantic College established.[20]
* 1977 – Snow is reported on January 19 at Palm Beach International Airport from 6:10 a.m. to 8:00 a.m.[34]
* 1979 – Cross County Mall in business.
* 1980 – Population: 63,305.
* 1985 – Plaza hi-rise built.
* 1991
* Yesteryear Village (museum) opens.[33]
* March 12: Strong mayor referendum succeeds.[35]
* November 19: Nancy M. Graham elected first strong mayor of West Palm Beach.[36]
* 1994 – "County Judicial Complex" built.[20]
* 1997 – West Palm Beach Municipal Stadium closes.
* 1999 – Trump International Golf Club in business.
* 2000
* May: Lake Worth Middle School shooting occurs.[20]
* October 27: CityPlace opens
* December 4: Bush v. Palm Beach County Canvassing Board lawsuit decided during the 2000 United States presidential election recount in Florida.
* City website online (approximate date).[37][38]
* 2010 – Population: 99,919.[39][40]
* 2011 – Jeri Muoio becomes mayor.
* 2014 – Palm Beach Outlets opens on the former site of the Palm Beach Mall which closed in 2010.
* 2017 – Ballpark of the Palm Beaches opens (renamed FITTEAM Ballpark of the Palm Beaches in 2018)
* 2017 – Lois Frankel becomes U.S. representative for Florida's 21st congressional district.[41]
* 2024 – Donald Trump, a former president of the United States and nominee of the Republican Party in the 2024 presidential election, survives an assassination attempt while golfing at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach.[42]

## Environment

[edit]

### West Palm Beach Canal (C51)

[edit]

According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the West Palm Beach Canal (C-51)/Stormwater Treatment Area (STA)1 East project was authorized by the U.S. Congress under the Flood Control Acts of 1948, 1954, 1962, 1968, and the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 1996. The project is located in Palm Beach County and runs east to west from West Palm Beach at Lake Worth to Water Conservation Area (WCA) No. 1 (Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge). The authorized project will provide 30-year flood protection to the urbanized eastern basin and 10-year flood protection to the western basin. All eastern basin features have been completed.[17]

During mediation of the Everglades water quality litigation, a technical plan was developed for resolution of the litigation. The technical plan included a substantially modified C-51 project. The modified plan expands the original 1,600-acre floodwater detention area into a 6,500-acre stormwater detention area. In addition to the flood damage reduction benefits provided by the original project, the modified plan provides water treatment, reduction of damaging freshwater discharges to Lake Worth, and increased water supply for the Everglades and other users.[17]

According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the total estimated cost of the West Palm Beach Canal (C51) is $375.47 million, with an estimated $345.04 million as the Federal Government's cost share. A total of $1.05 million was appropriated for this project by the U.S. Congress in Fiscal Year 2015. The Fiscal Year 2016 Budget Request from the U.S. President to the U.S. Congress was for $1 million.[17]

## Geography

[edit]

The Grassy Waters Preserve

According to the United States Census Bureau, this city has a total area of 58.2 square miles (151 km2), of which 55.1 square miles (143 km2) is land and 3.1 square miles (8.0 km2) (5.26%) is water.

Due to vast areas of wetland immediately west of the city's downtown, growth occurred north and south in a linear fashion. Until the 1960s, the city was only several blocks wide but over 100 blocks in length. Large scale development finally expanded westward with improved access and drainage in the 1960s. However, the city boundaries were not expanded much with the exception of the "Water Catchment Area," an uninhabited area in the northwest part of the city. Known as Grassy Waters, it serves as a reservoir for the city drinking water and a nature preserve.[18]

### Places

[edit]

#### Historic neighborhoods and communities

[edit]

West Palm Beach skyline from the north Clematis Street Comeau Building, Clematis Street

Bel Air Historic District: Developed from 1925 to 1935 as a neighborhood for tradesmen and real estate salesmen who helped develop Palm Beach County, some of Belair was originally a pineapple plantation owned by Richard Hone. Hones's frame vernacular house, built around 1895, still stands at 211 Plymouth Road. After Hone was murdered in 1902, his property was sold to George Currie, who created Currie Development Co. But before it was developed, the land was sold to William Ohlhaber, who raised coconut palms and ferns. Eventually, Ohlhaber platted the subdivision and sold off lots. The first house built in the subdivision was Ohlhaber's mission-style home at 205 Pilgrim. Ohlhaber's grandson said Ohlhaber bought the tract to provide dockage for his 90-foot (27 m) yacht, but the yacht ran aground in the Gulf of Mexico and never reached Lake Worth. In 1947, Hone's house was bought by Henry Flagler's chief engineer Max Brombacher, and it remains in the Brombacher family today. Belair became West Palm Beach's fourth historic district in August 1993.[19]

Central Park: Central Park is a collective name for several subdivisions north of Southern Boulevard. It originally was part of the Estates of South Palm Beach (which extended from Wenonah Place to Pilgrim Road east of Dixie Highway). Like other West Palm Beach neighborhoods, the Estates of South Palm Beach boomed after Henry Flagler's descent on Palm Beach. In 1884, James W. Copp, a bachelor in the boating business, borrowed $367.20 from Valentine Jones to buy the land. The ownership of what is now Central Park changed hands many times before being developed. Around 1919, the tropical wilderness was transformed into an exclusive neighborhood with curbed roads, sidewalks, and a pier (at the foot of what is now Southern Boulevard). The neighborhood became part of West Palm Beach in 1926, and was named a city historic district in December 1993. In 1999, it was listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

El Cid: Noted for its Mediterranean revival and mission-style homes, El Cid developed in the height of Florida's real estate boom. In the late 19th century, most land north of Sunset Road was pineapple fields, but the crop dwindled in the early 20th century. Pittsburgh socialite Jay Phipps subdivided the old pineapple fields in the 1920s and named it El Cid after celebrated Spanish hero Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, who conquered Valencia in 1094. He was called "Cid," meaning "lord." El Cid became a city historic district in June 1993. In 1995 the neighborhood was listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Flamingo Park: Originally a pineapple plantation, Flamingo Park was established by local contractors and developers, who saw the potential in this area—one of the highest coastal ridge sections from downtown West Palm Beach to Miami. Some ridge houses even had ocean views from upper floors. Houses cost about $10,000 to $18,000 in the boom era, and many buyers owned shops and businesses on fashionable Dixie Highway nearby. Recently, residents rallied to have stop signs installed through the neighborhood and banded together to ward off commercial and industrial zoning. Property values are rising as residents renovate and restore Spanish-style houses. Most homes in the neighborhood, developed from 1921 to 1930, are mission style, but nearly every style is represented. There are many Mediterranean revival-style houses along the high ridge line. Only two buildings in the historic district are known to have been designed by architects: 701 Flamingo Drive designed by Harvey and Clarke, and the Armory Arts Center designed by William Manly King. The neighborhood became a West Palm Beach historic district in January 1993 and was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 2000.

Grandview Heights: One of the city's oldest intact neighborhoods, Grandview Heights was built as an extension of Palm Beach Heights from around 1910 to 1925. Almost all of Palm Beach Heights and half of Grandview Heights was demolished in 1989 to make way for the proposed Downtown/Uptown project, which became CityPlace. Grandview Heights originally attracted construction workers who helped build the luxury hotels, ministers, and store owners. The neighborhood has one of the city's best collection of early craftsman-style bungalows, as well as some modest, Mediterranean revival-style homes. The neighborhood became a West Palm Beach historic district in 1995 and was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1999.[43]

Mango Promenade: Mango Promenade became a West Palm Beach historic district in 1995 and was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1999. Lies just south of Palm Beach Atlantic University.

Northboro Park: An expansion of Old Northwood, Northboro Park was mostly custom houses for upper-middle-class professionals. Most of the houses are Mediterranean revival, mission and frame vernacular. Developed from 1923 to 1940, the neighborhood became the city's second historic district (November 1992) and the historic designation may soon expand north to 45th Street. The oldest building in the neighborhood is Northboro Elementary School at 36th Street and Spruce, built in 1925 by DaCamara and Chace. The demolition of Northboro Elementary School began in late 2009. The first home in Northboro Park is 418 36th St., built in 1923.

Northwest: West Palm Beach's first historic district to be included on the National Register of Historic Places (February 1992), the Northwest neighborhood was first settled in 1894, when the black community was moved from the Styx in Palm Beach to West Palm Beach. It also served as the city's segregated black community from 1929 to 1960 (along with Pleasant City). Northwest remains a predominantly black community but according to the city planning department, most middle- and upper-class blacks moved to other neighborhoods after desegregation. Tamarind and Rosemary Avenues were the commercial centers for blacks by 1915, but most commercial buildings have been demolished or remodeled so the architecture is no longer significant. There are still good examples of late 19th- and early 20th-century American bungalow/craftsman-style homes in this neighborhood, which also has mission, shotgun, Bahamian vernacular, and American Foursquare styles. The Alice Frederick Mickens house, at 801 Fourth St., is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Mickens was a philanthropist and humanitarian who promoted education for black youth. Another notable house is the Gwen Cherry house at 625 Division Ave. Cherry, Florida's first Black woman legislator and a resident of Miami, inherited the house from relative Mollie Holt, who built the house in 1926. Now it is the Palm Beach County Black Historical Society. The Northwest neighborhood was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1992. The next year the neighborhood became a West Palm Beach historic district in 1993.

Old Northwood Historic District: Old Northwood was developed from 1920 to 1927—the height of the city's real estate boom. The Pinewood Development Co., platted and developed the area. Old Northwood became a neighborhood of what was considered extravagant Mediterranean revival, mission, and frame vernacular houses, at $30,000 to $36,000. The buyers were professionals, entrepreneurs and tradesmen. Among them was David F. Dunkle, who was mayor of West Palm Beach. There are houses here designed by notable architects John Volk (best known for his Palm Beach houses), William Manly King (who designed Palm Beach High School and the Armory Arts Center) and Henry Steven Harvey (whose Seaboard Railroad Passenger Station on Tamarind Avenue is listed in the National Register of Historic Places). The neighborhood became a West Palm Beach historic district in 1991 and listed in the National Register of Historic Places in June 1994.

Northwood Hills Historic District: On August 4, 2003, the City Commission designated the Northwood Hills neighborhood as the 13th Historic District in the City of West Palm Beach. Northwood Hills comprises the area from 29th Street on the South to 39th Court on the North. The east side of Windsor is the Western boundary, and Greenwood Avenue is the Eastern boundary.[44] The Neighborhood Association has worked several years to achieve the distinction of historic designation. This is the first district to be designated since 1996. Northwood Hills has a number of Mission Revival houses, a significant collection of Post-World War II architecture, a unique street layout, and one of the highest elevations in the city. The Northwood Hills neighborhood has also elected to allow the establishment of Bed and Breakfast establishments within the neighborhood.

Prospect Park: Promoted as a high-end neighborhood patterned after the prominent Prospect Park district in Brooklyn, this area consisted of mostly smaller estates for prominent businesspeople and northern investors. The neighborhood has a high concentration of Mediterranean revival and Mission revival houses. It was developed from 1920 to 1935 and became a city historic district in November 1993.

West Northwood Historic District: Cashing in on the real estate boom, developers of West Northwood built speculative and custom houses for upper-middle-class professionals from 1925 to '27. Dominant architectural styles are Mediterranean revival and mission. Although the area was declining, that has reversed in recent years, as more investors buy and restore the houses. West Northwood became a city historic district in August 1993.

#### West Palm Beach Census Designated Places and Urbanized Area

[edit]

The estimated 2012 population of West Palm Beach and the immediately adjacent Census Designated Places is 134,795.[19] Much of this urbanized area lies directly west of the city and includes the neighborhoods of Westgate, Belvedere Homes, Lakeside Green, Century Village, Schall Circle, Lake Belvedere Estates, Plantation Mobile Homes, and Golden Lakes. These neighborhoods are not technically within the boundaries of West Palm Beach, being located in unincorporated Palm Beach County. However, residents possess a "West Palm Beach" address and urban services, such as police, fire, parks, water and sewer, are provided by a combination of Palm Beach County and the City of West Palm Beach in these areas. The City of West Palm Beach also provides water and sewer service to the Town of Palm Beach. The contiguous "urbanized" area, of which West Palm Beach is the core city, includes most of eastern Palm Beach County and has an estimated 2008 population of around 1,250,000.[43]

Key incorporated cities and their populations within the West Palm Beach urbanized area include:

1. 89,407 – Boca Raton
2. 71,097 – Boynton Beach
3. 64,072 – Delray Beach
4. 60,202 – Wellington
5. 58,298 – Jupiter
6. 50,699 – Palm Beach Gardens
7. 38,696 – Greenacres
8. 36,306 – Royal Palm Beach
9. 36,000 – Lake Worth Beach
10. 33,263 – Riviera Beach
11. 20,872 – Palm Springs
12. 12,348 – North Palm Beach
13. 10,867 – Lantana
14. 8,649 – Palm Beach
15. 3,472 – Lake Clarke Shores
16. 3,283 – Loxahatchee
17. 2,057 – Atlantis
18. 1,940 – Haverhill
19. 1,939 – Mangonia Park

### Notable buildings

[edit]

This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (February 2024) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

|

Tallest buildings Name  | Stories  | Height

|
|

One West Palm | 30 | 426 ft (130 m)
515 Fern | 25 | 386 ft (118 m)
South Flagler House (2026) | 28 | 373 ft (114 m)
One Flagler[45] | 25 | 365 ft (111 m)
The Plaza | 32 | 331 ft (101 m)
La Clara | 25 | 321 ft (98 m)
Forte | 24 | 300 ft (91 m)
The Bristol | 25 | 291 ft (89 m)
Palm Beach House | 28 | 278 ft (85 m)
Placido Mar | 30 | 278 ft (85 m)
Esperante | 20 | 278 ft (85 m)
Northbridge Centre | 25 | 272 ft (83 m)
One Clear Lake Center | 20 | 270 ft (82 m)
360 Rosemary | 18 | 259 ft (79 m)
Waterview Tower | 25 | 250 ft (76 m)
Phillips Point[44] | 20 | 225 ft (69 m)

### Climate

[edit]

West Palm Beach has a tropical rainforest climate (Af).[46] The city is situated in USDA hardiness zone 10b, with an annual mean minimum temperature of 37.7 °F (3 °C).

There is year-round rainfall, with the majority falling in a wet season from May through October that is hot and humid. The average window for 90 °F (32 °C) temperatures is April 15 through October 10, but temperatures of 100 °F (38 °C) or higher have only occurred four times since record-keeping began in 1888. During this period, more than half of the days bring afternoon thunderstorms and sea breezes that cool the air for the rest of the day. Late in the season, there is also a chance for a tropical storm or hurricane to strike. The area was unusually hard-hit in 2004 and 2005, when Hurricanes Frances, Jeanne and Wilma caused property damage and power outages.[47][48][49][50]

Although it lacks a fully dry season, the period from November through April is warm and drier, with 80 °F (27 °C) temperatures remaining fairly commonplace even from December through February. Occasionally, a stronger cold front can lower daytime temperatures to around 57 °F (14 °C), the annual mean minimum max temperature, and lows to around 38 °F (3 °C). Freezes are rare; the most recent was in 2010. This dry season can also bring about potential for drought during hotter, drier seasons.

Climate data for West Palm Beach, Florida (PBI), 1991–2020 normals,[51] extremes 1888–present

Month  | Jan  | Feb  | Mar  | Apr  | May  | Jun  | Jul  | Aug  | Sep  | Oct  | Nov  | Dec  | Year
Record high °F (°C)  | 89
(32)  | 90
(32)  | 95
(35)  | 99
(37)  | 99
(37)  | 100
(38)  | 101
(38)  | 99
(37)  | 97
(36)  | 95
(35)  | 92
(33)  | 90
(32)  | 101
(38)
Mean maximum °F (°C)  | 84.3
(29.1)  | 85.8
(29.9)  | 88.8
(31.6)  | 90.4
(32.4)  | 91.9
(33.3)  | 93.7
(34.3)  | 94.2
(34.6)  | 94.2
(34.6)  | 92.4
(33.6)  | 90.0
(32.2)  | 86.5
(30.3)  | 84.3
(29.1)  | 95.4
(35.2)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C)  | 75.2
(24.0)  | 77.3
(25.2)  | 79.6
(26.4)  | 82.8
(28.2)  | 86.1
(30.1)  | 88.7
(31.5)  | 90.3
(32.4)  | 90.4
(32.4)  | 88.6
(31.4)  | 85.3
(29.6)  | 80.5
(26.9)  | 77.1
(25.1)  | 83.5
(28.6)
Daily mean °F (°C)  | 66.6
(19.2)  | 68.7
(20.4)  | 71.3
(21.8)  | 75.2
(24.0)  | 78.9
(26.1)  | 81.8
(27.7)  | 83.3
(28.5)  | 83.5
(28.6)  | 82.2
(27.9)  | 78.9
(26.1)  | 73.3
(22.9)  | 69.3
(20.7)  | 76.1
(24.5)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C)  | 58.0
(14.4)  | 60.2
(15.7)  | 63.0
(17.2)  | 67.6
(19.8)  | 71.7
(22.1)  | 74.9
(23.8)  | 76.3
(24.6)  | 76.5
(24.7)  | 75.7
(24.3)  | 72.5
(22.5)  | 66.0
(18.9)  | 61.4
(16.3)  | 68.6
(20.3)
Mean minimum °F (°C)  | 40.2
(4.6)  | 43.9
(6.6)  | 48.2
(9.0)  | 55.1
(12.8)  | 63.0
(17.2)  | 70.3
(21.3)  | 71.8
(22.1)  | 72.4
(22.4)  | 71.5
(21.9)  | 59.9
(15.5)  | 51.2
(10.7)  | 44.4
(6.9)  | 37.7
(3.2)
Record low °F (°C)  | 26
(−3)  | 27
(−3)  | 26
(−3)  | 38
(3)  | 45
(7)  | 60
(16)  | 64
(18)  | 65
(18)  | 61
(16)  | 46
(8)  | 36
(2)  | 24
(−4)  | 24
(−4)
Average precipitation inches (mm)  | 3.47
(88)  | 2.63
(67)  | 3.31
(84)  | 3.68
(93)  | 4.91
(125)  | 8.48
(215)  | 5.63
(143)  | 8.79
(223)  | 7.95
(202)  | 5.90
(150)  | 3.60
(91)  | 3.48
(88)  | 61.82
(1,570)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in.) | 8.1  | 7.2  | 7.8  | 7.5  | 10.8  | 15.7  | 15.1  | 17.8  | 16.6  | 12.3  | 9.1  | 9.3  | 137.4
Source: NOAA[52][53]

## Demographics

[edit]

Historical population Census| Pop.| Note| %±

|
|
|

1900| 564| | —
1910| 1,743| | 209.0%
1920| 8,659| | 396.8%
1930| 26,610| | 207.3%
1940| 33,693| | 26.6%
1950| 43,162| | 28.1%
1960| 56,208| | 30.2%
1970| 57,375| | 2.1%
1980| 63,305| | 10.3%
1990| 67,643| | 6.9%
2000| 82,103| | 21.4%
2010| 99,919| | 21.7%
2020| 117,415| | 17.5%
2022 (est.)| 120,932| | 3.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[54]
1900–1970[55] 1980[56] 1990[57]
2000[58] 2010[59] 2020[8] 2022[9]
Historical racial composition  | 2020[8] | 2010[59] | 2000[58] | 1990[57] | 1980[56]

|
|
|
|
|

White (non-Hispanic)  | 38.3%  | 41.6%  | 46.0%  | 53.2%  | 63.0%
Hispanic or Latino | 24.6%  | 22.6%  | 18.2%  | 14.2%  | 8.6%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)  | 30.9%  | 31.5%  | 31.6%  | 31.6%  | 27.6%
Asian (non-Hispanic)  | 2.5%  | 2.3%  | 1.5%  | 0.9%  | 0.8%
Native American (non-Hispanic)  | 0.1%  | 0.2%  | 0.2%  | 0.1%
Some other race (non-Hispanic)  | 0.6%  | 0.3%  | 0.2%  | 0.1%
Population  | 117,415  | 99,919  | 82,103  | 67,643  | 63,305
Demographic characteristics  | 2020[60][61][62] | 2010[63][64][65] | 2000[66][67][68] | 1990[57] | 1980[56]

|
|
|
|
|

Households  | 58,706  | 54,179  | 40,461  | 28,787  | 26,578
Persons per household  | 2.00  | 1.84  | 2.03  | 2.35  | 2.38
Sex Ratio | 91.7  | 94.8  | 97.3  | 91.6  | 87.9
Ages 0–17  | 18.6%  | 19.9%  | 21.3%  | 20.9%  | 21.5%
Ages 18–64  | 61.5%  | 64.1%  | 62.7%  | 60.9%  | 58.2%
Ages 65 +  | 19.9%  | 16.0%  | 16.0%  | 18.2%  | 20.3%
Median age  | 39.8  | 38.1  | 36.7  | 35.1  | 35.9
Population  | 117,415  | 99,919  | 82,103  | 67,643  | 63,305
Economic indicators

2017–21 American Community Survey | West Palm Beach  | Palm Beach County  | Florida
Median income[69] | $33,645  | $36,431  | $34,367
Median household income[70] | $56,549  | $68,874  | $61,777
Poverty Rate[71] | 17.0%  | 11.6%  | 13.1%
High school diploma[72] | 86.8%  | 89.1%  | 89.0%
Bachelor's degree[72] | 36.8%  | 38.0%  | 31.5%
Advanced degree[72] | 14.2%  | 15.0%  | 11.7%
Language spoken at home[note 1] | 2015[note 2] | 2010[note 3] | 2000[75] | 1990[76] | 1980[77]

|
|
|
|
|

English | 68.5%  | 69.1%  | 71.7%  | 78.6%  | 87.1%
Spanish or Spanish Creole | 20.4%  | 21.9%  | 17.5%  | 13.6%  | 8.3%
French or Haitian Creole | 5.7%  | 4.6%  | 5.7%  | 3.9%  | 1.0%
Other Languages  | 5.4%  | 4.4%  | 5.1%  | 3.9%  | 3.6%
Nativity  | 2015[note 4] | 2010[note 5] | 2000[82][83] | 1990[84][76] | 1980[77]

|
|
|
|
|

% population native-born | 73.0% | 72.6% | 75.3% | 81.3% | 87.1%
... born in the United States | 70.2%  | 70.0%  | 73.1%  | 79.0%  | 85.9%
... born in Puerto Rico or Island Areas | 1.6%  | 1.5%  | 1.5%  | 1.5%  | 1.2%
... born to American parents abroad | 1.2%  | 1.2%  | 0.7%  | 0.8%
% population foreign-born[note 6] | 27.0% | 27.4% | 24.7% | 18.7% | 12.9%
... born in Haiti | 3.7%  | 3.4%  | 3.5%  | 2.5%  | N/A[a]
... born in Cuba | 3.4%  | 3.8%  | 4.4%  | 4.9%  | 4.7%
... born in Jamaica | 3.3%  | 2.7%  | 2.2%  | 2.0%  | 0.5%
... born in Guatemala | 3.3%  | 3.9%  | 2.4%  | 0.4%  | N/A[a]
... born in other countries  | 13.3%  | 13.6%  | 12.2%  | 8.9%  | 7.7%

In 2000, the median income for a household in the city was $36,774, and the median income for a family was $42,074. Males had a median income of $30,221 versus $26,473 for females. The per capita income for the city was $23,188. About 14.5% of families and 18.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.2% of those under the age of 18 and 14.8% of those ages 65 and older.

## Government and infrastructure

[edit]

West Palm Beach City Hall

Main article: List of mayors of West Palm Beach, Florida

West Palm Beach is governed via the Mayor-council system. The mayor is elected in a citywide vote. The five members of the city council are each elected from districts.

The United States Postal Service operates several post offices in the city limits:[85]

* Downtown West Palm Beach
* Northwood
* Palm Beach Carrier Annex

Additionally, the Haverhill BR, Palms Central, and West Palm Beach (including the window unit) post offices are located in an unincorporated area, while the Lake Park Post Office is located in Lake Park, despite having a West Palm Beach address.[85]

West Palm Beach has its own police force, the West Palm Beach Police Department.[86]

In 2014, an officer with a history of misconduct pled guilty to selling drugs while on duty.[87][88]

## Education

[edit]

### Public K–12 education

[edit]

K–12 public education is administrated by the School District of Palm Beach County, which is the tenth-largest school district in the United States by enrollment.[89]

Overall, 18 public elementary schools serve students within the city limits or in unincorporated areas, including Belvedere, Benoist Farms, Egret Lake, Forest Hill, Grove Park, Hope-Centennial, Meadow Park, Northboro, Northmore, Palm Beach, Palmetto, Pleasant City, Roosevelt, Seminole Trails, South Olive, U.B. Kinsey/Palmview (Performing and Visual School of the Arts Magnet School), West Gate, and Westward Elementary School.[90]

Public middle school students are served by nine different schools, including Bak Middle School of the Arts, Bear Lakes, Conniston, Jeaga, John F. Kennedy, Okeeheelee, Palm Springs, Roosevelt, and Western Pines.[91] There are also six public high schools for students in West Palm Beach or nearby unincorporated areas, including Dreyfoos School of the Arts (Performing and Visual School of the Arts Magnet School), Forest Hill, G-Star School Of The Arts, Palm Beach Gardens, Palm Beach Lakes, and Royal Palm Beach.[92]

#### Charter and multi-level

[edit]

* Palm Beach Maritime Academy – K–10 moving to K–12
* Gardens School Of Technology Arts – K–8
* University Preparatory Academy – K–3

### Private schools

[edit]

Private schools in the area include:[93]

* Berean Christian School
* Cardinal Newman High School
* The King's Academy
* American Heritage School
* Indian Ridge School
* Palm Beach Day Academy
* The Benjamin School
* Oxbridge Academy of the Palm Beaches
* Rosarian Academy
* Saint Ann Catholic School
* Matlock Preparatory Academy

### Post-secondary education

[edit]

Original Palm Beach Junior College building

The original Palm Beach Junior College building was restored and is now adjacent to the campus of the Dreyfoos School of the Arts, a magnet performing and visual arts high school. It is now a satellite building of Palm Beach State College.

Palm Beach Atlantic University lies along the Intracoastal Waterway Lake Worth Lagoon

Palm Beach Atlantic University (PBAU), a four-year private Christian university with approximately 3,200 students, is located in the city on seven blocks within the south end of downtown. The campus includes several historic structures converted to academic use. PBAU has recently added schools of nursing and of pharmacy.

Northwood University formerly had a residential campus in West Palm Beach, Florida. The campus now belongs to Keiser University, a regionally accredited school that offers a variety of degrees at the Associate, Bachelor, Master, and Doctoral levels. It is one of their 16 Florida campuses.

Various private for-profit institutions are located in the city, including the Lincoln College of Technology (formerly known as New England Institute of Technology), Florida Culinary Institute, owned by the New Jersey-based Lincoln Group of Schools, and Southeastern College.

### Libraries

[edit]

The Mandel Public Library of West Palm Beach serves the city.[94] The new city public library opened in April 2009 at 411 Clematis Street, replacing the 1962 building which stood at the intersection of Clematis Street and Flagler Drive, along the Intracoastal Waterfront. Named for a Mandel Foundation grant received in 2012, the Mandel Public Library provides books, performances, classes, research, entertainment, technology, music and more.[citation needed]

The Main Branch of the Palm Beach County Library System is also located in West Palm Beach, as well as the Okeechobee Branch Library.[95]

## Economy

[edit]

See also: List of companies based in Miami

Companies based in West Palm Beach include Affiliated Managers Group, Florida Public Utilities, ION Media Networks, Ocwen, and The Palm Beach Post. Other major employers are Pratt & Whitney, Aerojet Rocketdyne, Sikorsky Aircraft, General Dynamics, Cemex, and CSC.[96]

## Arts and culture

[edit]

Norton Museum of Art: is the largest art museum in Florida and also organizes traveling exhibits. The permanent collection features 19th and 20th century European and American art, Chinese, contemporary art and photography.

Kravis Center for the Performing Arts: Built in 1992, the Kravis Center hosts performances of music, dance, opera and theatre.

The exterior of the Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts

Meyer Amphitheater: An abandoned Holiday Inn, demolished on New Year's Eve 1993 and transformed into an outdoor waterfront amphitheater.

Richard and Pat Johnson Palm Beach County History Museum: is operated and maintained by the Historical Society of Palm Beach County,[97] and is in the Historic 1916 Court House in downtown West Palm Beach. The museum provides access to Palm Beach County history through on-site investigation in the Research Library, on-line research on www.pbchistoryonline.org, the Public Programming Series and the Distinguished Lecture Series. The museum is free to visitors and offers Docent-led tours for adults and school groups.

Richard and Pat Johnson Palm Beach County History Museum

Palm Beach County Convention Center: A complex with 350,000 square feet (33,000 m2) of exhibit halls and meeting rooms in downtown West Palm Beach.

Harriet Himmel Theater: is a multi-use theater and historic church, and is the cultural centerpiece of CityPlace.

Harriet Himmel Theater

The Carefree Theatre: Built in 1940, in the historic Flamingo Park district, it was variously an art house cinema and alternative music performance venue until severely damaged by Hurricane Wilma.

There is a Jewish community offering learning and cultural activities.[98][99]

### Festivals and shows

[edit]

Sandi Tree in BlueSunFest is Florida's largest waterfront music festival

SunFest: an annual music, art, and waterfront festival in Florida, founded in 1982 to draw visitors to the area during the "shoulder season" of April and May. SunFest has an annual attendance of more than 275,000 people. Artists who have performed include Nas, James Brown, Celia Cruz, Hall & Oates, Snoop Dogg, Earth Wind and Fire, Logic, Kool & the Gang, Ice Cube, George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic, Santana, Little Richard, Willy Chirino, The Roots, Damian Marley, Isaac Hayes, Chuck Berry, The Temptations, The Beach Boys, Ohio Players, Cee Lo Green, Mac Miller, Musiq Soulchild, Ray Charles, Ed Sheeran, J. Cole, Pitbull, Billy Idol, Dizzy Gillespie, Cyndi Lauper, and The Wailers. SunFest is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.[100][101]

The Sandi Tree is a 35 foot tall sand sculpture weighing 700 tons and decorated with lights. The tree is displayed at the Centennial Square Fountain during Decembers. A laser light show plays each night during the Holiday Season.[102]

Palm Beach International Film Festival

Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction: Classic car auction held every March in the South Florida Expo Center.

Palm Beach Opera

## Sports

[edit]

West Palm Beach does not host any professional sports team, but the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League play at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise to the south. Major League Baseball's Miami Marlins, the National Football League's Miami Dolphins and the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association all play in nearby Miami-Dade County. In the past, West Palm Beach has hosted various professional teams such as arena football, minor-league ice hockey, baseball, and semi-professional football teams.

### Spring training baseball

[edit]

The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches opened in February 2017 and accommodates the Houston Astros and Washington Nationals for spring training. The Miami Marlins and St. Louis Cardinals conduct spring training in suburban West Palm Beach in the town of Jupiter at Roger Dean Stadium. In the past, West Palm Beach hosted spring training for the St. Louis Browns from 1928 to 1936, the Philadelphia Athletics from 1946 to 1954, and the Kansas City Athletics from 1955 to 1962 at Connie Mack Field, which was demolished in 1992, and for the Milwaukee Braves from 1963 to 1965, the Montreal Expos from 1969 to 1972 and from 1981 to 1997, and the Atlanta Braves from 1966 to 1997 at West Palm Beach Municipal Stadium, which was demolished in 2002.

### Collegiate athletics

[edit]

Palm Beach Atlantic University competes in NCAA Division II basketball, baseball and soccer. PBAU recently purchased a large tract of land west of downtown where a multi-use athletic stadium will be constructed.[103] Indoor athletics play their home games at the Greene Complex which is an on-campus arena. Florida Atlantic University's athletic programs are played in nearby Boca Raton. FAU competes in the highest level of NCAA athletics including football, basketball, baseball, softball and tennis. Keiser University competes at the NAIA level, where their former basketball coach Rollie Massimino, helped in giving the athletic program national exposure.

### Professional golf

[edit]

PGA National Resort & Spa in suburban Palm Beach Gardens hosts the PGA Tour Honda Classic.

### Polo and equestrian

[edit]

Palm Beach Polo and Country Club counts seven polo fields among its world-class facilities and many high-goal games are played in the area. The equestrian events at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center are the world-renowned Winter Equestrian Festival, the Global Dressage Festival, and over 40 weeks a year of equestrian competitions, hosted in Wellington.

### Tennis

[edit]

The Delray Beach International Tennis Championships, a hard court stop on the ATP Tour, takes place annually in Delray Beach, slightly to the south of West Palm Beach.

### Croquet

[edit]

The National Croquet Center has 12 full sized croquet lawns, making it the largest dedicated croquet facility in the world. It hosts several national championships and in May 2009 will host the World Championship when representatives of up to 25 countries will be competing for the Wimbledon Cup.

### BMX racing

[edit]

Okeeheelee Park contains one of the most celebrated BMX race tracks in the state of Florida. Insured by USA BMX, the Okeeheelee track is host to state qualifiers and national races, as well as being home to several national champions.[citation needed]

## Tourism and recreation

[edit]

I-95/PBIA Interchange, Downtown WPB in background

* Palm Beach Zoo at Dreher Park
* West Palm Beach Parks and Recreation[104]
* Rapids Water Park
* South Florida Science Museum
* Lion Country Safari
* International Polo Club Palm Beach
* National Croquet Center[105]
* Trump International Golf Club (West Palm Beach)

### Shopping areas/districts

[edit]

Clematis Street: is West Palm Beach's historic "main street" and shopping venue, home to Clematis by Night, an outdoor event held on the street with live music and food. During the fall and winter months, Clematis is also home to the WPB GreenMarket.[106]

Building at CityPlace

CityPlace: Opened in 2000 on re-developed land where dilapidated single family homes and apartments once stood, CityPlace houses night clubs, restaurants, clothing and home-decor retail outlets, and multi-story town houses and apartments.

Palm Beach Outlets: Opened in 2014, it was developed on the site of the former Palm Beach Mall. Palm Beach Outlets features over 130 stores and is located directly off Interstate 95 on Palm Beach Lakes Boulevard.

Antique Row: is a shopping district on the south side of the city along Dixie Highway. Architectural Digest, The New York Times, Art & Antiques, and House Beautiful have all noted Antique Row as one of the east coast's premier antique districts, considered the "antique design center" of Florida.[107]

Northwood Village: is an historic commercial district north of downtown. The city invested money in rebuilding the streetscape and promoting the area as an arts district.

## Transportation

[edit]

The historic Seaboard Air Line Station serves both Amtrak and Tri-Rail The Water Taxi is means of transportation in West Palm Beach

### Air

[edit]

The city is served by Palm Beach International Airport, located in unincorporated Palm Beach County. The airport attracts people from all over the county as well as from the Treasure Coast and Space Coast counties to the north. In 2014 there were over 6.5 million passengers who passed through the gates of PBIA making it the 52nd busiest airport in the nation.[108]

### Bicycle

[edit]

The city's flat terrain, early paved streets, and year-round climate quickly earned it the designation as the "bicyclingest town in the U.S.A.". The historic core consists of a dense grid of narrower streets, laid out by Henry Flagler. Clematis Street was one-lane each direction with a speed limit of 12 mph, and the middle of the street between lanes was used to park bicycles.[109] The popularity of bicycling declined during the later half of the 20th century, but has undergone a renewed increase in popularity. In addition, a bike share program, SkyBike, was introduced in 2015,[110] and the city's mobility plan calls for protected bike lanes on most downtown streets.[111]

### Highways

[edit]

U.S. 1 passes through the city's downtown, commercial, and industrial districts. Interstate 95 bisects the city from north to south with multiple interchanges serving West Palm Beach, including an entrance to Palm Beach International Airport. Florida's Turnpike passes through West Palm Beach further west, connecting with the western suburbs of Royal Palm Beach and Wellington. State Road 80, running east–west, is a partial expressway, that runs from Interstate 95 to State Road 7.

### Rail

[edit]

Amtrak has daily long-distance trains, Silver Meteor and Silver Star, arriving and departing to points north and Miami to the south as well. Tri-Rail commuter rail system serves the city from a historical station located on the west side of Tamarind Avenue, just east of I-95. Tri-Rail provides commuter rides north to Mangonia Park and south to Miami. All Aboard Florida began track upgrades in 2015 in preparation for higher-speed passenger service serving Miami, Florida through Orlando, FL. Service on All Aboard Florida's Brightline service from West Palm Beach to Fort Lauderdale began on January 12, 2018.[112] Service was extended from Fort Lauderdale to Miami on May 19, 2018.[113] The freight rail companies, CSX Transportation and the Florida East Coast Railway also serve the city.

### Trolley

[edit]

There is a free downtown trolley that provides transportation around downtown including Clematis, City Place, Tri Rail Station, Palm Beach Outlets, and Waterfront districts of the city.[114][115]

### Bus

[edit]

Greyhound Lines operates scheduled intercity bus service out of the train station on the west side of Tamarind Avenue. Palm Tran, the Palm Beach County municipal bus service, operates scheduled service throughout the city and the suburban areas of Palm Beach County.

### Port

[edit]

The Port of Palm Beach is located on the northern edge of the city limits. It is the fourth busiest container port in Florida and the 18th busiest in the continental United States. In addition to intermodal capacity, the Port is a major modal point for the shipment of various goods[108] as well as being the home to several small passenger cruise lines.

### Water taxi

[edit]

As a waterfront city there is specific need for water transportation between points in the city and surrounding areas. Waterway transportation is available to and from the downtown Clematis Street District, Sailfish Marina Resort, waterfront attractions, Peanut Island, and special events.

## Media

[edit]

### Newspapers

[edit]

The Palm Beach Post is owned by Virginia-based Gannett. Its name notwithstanding, the Post is based in West Palm Beach, not Palm Beach. The Post is the 57th highest daily circulation in the country, according to the 2007 BurrellesLuce survey, and is the city's sole daily newspaper. It serves Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast, the area north of Palm Beach County that includes Martin and St. Lucie Counties.

The Palm Beach Daily News, another publication owned by Gannett, serves the town of Palm Beach. It frequently covers issues and affairs of the Palm Beach city council. It also extends coverage to events taking place in West Palm Beach.

South Florida Sun-Sentinel, is based in Fort Lauderdale and covers portions of Southern Palm Beach County.

New Times Broward-Palm Beach is an alternative weekly publication serving West Palm Beach along with Fort Lauderdale.

WPB Magazine is a quarterly publication serving West Palm Beach.

### Radio

[edit]

West Palm Beach is ranked as the 46th largest radio market in the country by Arbitron.

### Television

[edit]

West Palm Beach is ranked as the 38th largest television market in the country by Nielsen Media Research. The market is served by stations affiliated with major American networks including WPTV-TV/5 (NBC), WPEC/12 (CBS), WBWP-LD/19 (Ind.), WPBF/25 (ABC), WFLX/29 (FOX), WTVX/34 (CW), WXEL-TV/42 (PBS), WTCN-CD/43 (MYTV), WWHB-CD/48 (Roar), WFGC/61 (CTN), and WPXP-TV/67 (ION).

The area's official Telemundo affiliate is WSCV in Miami, WLTV is the area's Univision affiliate, and WAMI-DT is the area's UniMás affiliate, also in Miami. In addition to those, many Miami/Ft. Lauderdale market TV and radio stations are also available and viewed in West Palm Beach.

## Crime

[edit]

West Palm Beach

Crime rates* (2012)
Violent crimes
Homicide| 17
Rape| 31
Robbery| 334
Aggravated assault| 439
Total violent crime| 821
Property crimes
Burglary| 1,289
Larceny-theft| 3,801
Motor vehicle theft| 314
Arson| 21
Total property crime| 5,404

Notes

*Number of reported crimes per 100,000 population.

2012 population: 102,422

Source: 2012 FBI UCR Data

Violent crime: According to Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) statistics, West Palm Beach is experiencing a steep drop in major crimes. In the past decade, crime dropped more in West Palm Beach than any other major city (approximately 100,000 residents or more) in Florida. In 1993, West Palm Beach was featured in a 60 Minutes segment on urban decay. At the time, 80% of downtown properties were vacant. Since then, the city has done much to improve its image, at least in the physical sense. Occupancy is high, and housing prices have risen rapidly. FDLE statistics show the total crime rate per 100,000 residents has dropped by over 50% since 2000, from 13,880 that year to 6,571 in 2008. In 2008 alone, there was a 17.9% drop in crime. Annual crime rates are always more than three times the national average. However, as of 2006, the city's crime average has been gradually decreasing while robbery was up 17 percent.[116] West Palm Beach's northern neighbor, Riviera Beach, has an even higher violent crime rate.[117]

The following are the crime rates, per 100,000 people, for West Palm Beach as of 2005.[118]

## Sister cities

[edit]

West Palm Beach has three sister cities, as designated by Sister Cities International:

* Mersin, Turkey[119]
* Tzahar, Israel[120]
* Budva, Montenegro[121]

## Notable people

[edit]

It has been suggested that this section be split out into another article titled List of people from West Palm Beach, Florida. (Discuss) (August 2021)

|

* Andy Abad, MLB first baseman for Oakland Athletics, Boston Red Sox and Cincinnati Reds
* Stephanie Abrams, Weather Channel meteorologist
* Tori Amos, singer-songwriter
* Ottis Anderson, NFL player New York Giants, MVP of Super Bowl XXV
* Jeff Atwater, State Senator, Florida Legislature, Palm Beach County
* Agnes Ballard, architect and educator, one of the first women elected to office in Florida
* Bob Barker, entertainer, game show host, The Price Is Right
* Scottie Barnes, professional basketball player for the Toronto Raptors
* Zinn Beck, MLB infielder
* Dickey Betts, Allman Brothers Band member
* Dante Bichette, MLB outfielder
* Jason Bonham, drummer, son of Led Zeppelin's John Bonham
* Don Brewer, Grand Funk Railroad drummer
* Jimmy Buffett, singer and entertainer
* Virginia Spencer Carr, biographer and literary critic
* Diana Canova, actress
* Chris Carrabba, singer-songwriter from Dashboard Confessional
* Anthony Carter, NFL player
* Tom Carvel, of Carvel Ice-cream stores
* Glenn Close, actress
* John Collins, professional basketball player for the Atlanta Hawks
* Bob Cousy, basketball Hall of Famer and TV commentator
* Marshall Criser, president of University of Florida
* Arlene Dahl, actress[122]
* Vic Damone, singer and actor
* Dale Dawson, NFL player
* Phil Dawson, NFL placekicker for San Francisco 49ers
* Ted DiBiase, Jr., professional wrestler
* Alexander W. Dreyfoos, Jr., entrepreneur and philanthropist
* Watson B. Duncan III, acting coach and mentor to Burt Reynolds
* Mabel Evelyn Elliott, physician and humanitarian to Armenian and Greek refugees, first West Palm Beach woman to attend medical school
* Heath Evans, fullback for New Orleans Saints and graduate of The Kings Academy
* Mark Foley, U.S. Congressman
* Kason Gabbard, MLB pitcher
* Andrés Galarraga, MLB baseball player
* Anthony Goldwire, NBA player
* Murray H. Goodman, real estate developer[123]
* Ken Green, PGA golfer
* Jill S. Grigsby, sociologist[124]
* Deidre Hall, actress, graduate of Lake Worth High School in central Palm Beach County
* George Hamilton, actor, graduate of Palm Beach High School
* Derek Harper, NBA player, New York Knicks and Dallas Mavericks
* William Harris, tennis player
* Alcee Hastings, U.S. Congressman
* John Havlicek, basketball Hall of Famer
* Ryan Hawblitzel, baseball player
* Tyler Herron (1986–2021), baseball pitcher
* Devin Hester, NFL player
* Hey Monday, alternative rock band
* Bill Hicks, comedian
* Jay Howard, British professional race car driver in IndyCar Series and Indianapolis 500
* Dick Howser, professional baseball player, manager of 1985 World Series champion Kansas City Royals
* Travis Hunter, professional football player
* Tommy Lee Jones, actor
* Michael Jordan, basketball Hall of Famer
* Ron Klein, U.S. Congressman
* Blake Koch, NASCAR driver
* Brooks Koepka, professional golfer
* Joey Kramer, Aerosmith drummer
* Larry the Cable Guy, comedian
* Debi Laszewski, IFBB professional bodybuilder
* Theresa LePore, Supervisor of Elections; designer of butterfly ballot, which figured prominently in U.S. presidential election, 2000
* David McCampbell, naval aviator during World War II
* AJ McLean, of the Backstreet Boys
* Tony McQuay, gold and silver medalist 2016 Summer Olympics, track and field
* Matthew Mercer, voice actor and dungeon master
* Taylor Motter, utility player for the St. Louis Cardinals
* Marta Fernandez Miranda de Batista, First Lady of Cuba (1952–1959)
* Bob Mitchell, Negro league baseball player
* Edgar Mitchell, astronaut who walked on moon
* Ruthie Morris, guitarist of Magnapop
* Jim Palmer, baseball Hall of Famer
* Barbara Pariente, former Justice and Chief Justice of Florida Supreme Court
* James Patterson, author
* Cassadee Pope, winner of The Voice season 3 and lead singer of rock band Hey Monday
* Jamieson Price, actor, voice-over artist
* Judge Reinhold, actor
* Burt Reynolds, actor, graduate of Palm Beach High School
* Dusty Rhodes (baseball coach), college baseball coach
* Randi Rhodes, radio talk show host
* Adrian Rogers, president Southern Baptist Convention and pastor of Bellevue Baptist Church
* William J. Ronan, (1912-2014) chairman New York State MTA and Port Authority of New York & New Jersey; president of NYU
* Jarrod Saltalamacchia, MLB catcher
* Ron Sellers, NFL player for Dallas Cowboys
* Ben Silverman (born 1987), professional PGA golfer
* Steve Sipek (Stjepan Sipek), actor, stage name Steve Hawkes, starred in Blood Freak and Tarzan and the Brown Prince
* Howard Stern, radio talk show host
* Peggy Stewart, actress
* Surfer Blood, indie rock band
* Vinny Sutherland, NFL player, graduate of Palm Beach Lakes High School
* Tenth Avenue North, contemporary Christian rock band
* Robby Thompson, MLB second baseman for San Francisco Giants 1986–1996, bench coach for Seattle Mariners, graduated from Forest Hill Community High School
* Otis Thorpe, NBA player for Houston Rockets and Detroit Pistons
* Devon Travis, former MLB player who is currently a coach for the Atlanta Braves
* Tiffany Trump, daughter of the 45th and 47th U.S. president Donald Trump, born in West Palm Beach
* Maryly Van Leer Peck, American academic, first woman president of a Florida community college and first woman engineer graduate from University of Florida
* Kyril Vassilev, Bulgarian-American portrait painter
* Larry Walker, MLB right fielder, first Canadian to win Most Valuable Player Award (MVP) of MLB[125][126]
* Steve Walsh, NFL quarterback, football head coach at Cardinal Newman High School
* Robert Wexler, U.S. Congressman
* Serena Williams, professional tennis player
* Venus Williams, professional tennis player
* Yanni, composer
* Nick Zano, actor
* Virginia Zeani, opera singer
* Snot, rapper[127]

## See also

[edit]

* Florida portal
* United States portal
* North America portal
* Cities portal
* Geography portal

* Okeeheelee Park

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ Language spoken at home among residents at least five years old; only languages (or language groups) which at least 2% of residents have spoken at any time since 1980 are mentioned
2. ^ Refers to 2013–2017 American Community Survey data;[73] the last Decennial Census where language data was collected was in the 2000 census
3. ^ Refers to 2008–2012 American Community Survey data;[74] the last Decennial Census where language data was collected was in the 2000 census
4. ^ Refers to 2013–2017 American Community Survey data;[78][79] the last Decennial Census where foreign-born population data was collected was in the 2000 census
5. ^ Refers to 2008–2012 American Community Survey data;[80][81] the last Decennial Census where foreign-born population data was collected was in the 2000 census
6. ^ Only countries of birth which at least 2% of residents were born in at any time since 1980 are mentioned

1. ^ a b Not counted separately; aggregated into "Other" category

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d "(Chapter) III: A Brief History of West Palm Beach (pages 21-24)" (PDF). wpb.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 10, 2015. Retrieved July 18, 2015.
2. ^ "Mayor's Office | West Palm Beach, FL". City of West Palm Beach. Retrieved July 10, 2023.
3. ^ Parker, Terri (March 13, 2019). "Keith James elected as new mayor of West Palm Beach". WPBF. Retrieved April 4, 2019.
4. ^ a b "Our 39 Municipal Members Listings". The Palm Beach County League of Cities. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
5. ^ "City Commission | West Palm Beach, FL". City of West Palm Beach. Retrieved July 10, 2023.
6. ^ "City Administration | West Palm Beach, FL". City of West Palm Beach. Retrieved July 10, 2023.
7. ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
8. ^ a b c d "P2: HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT ... - Census Bureau Table". P2 | HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
9. ^ a b "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places in Florida: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022". Florida. U.S. Census Bureau. May 2023. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
10. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
11. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
12. ^ "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Miami-Dade County, Florida; Broward County, Florida; Palm Beach County, Florida". www.census.gov.
13. ^ Native Americans. Pbchistoryonline.org. Retrieved on 2013-08-16.
14. ^ The Seminole War in Palm Beach County. Pbchistoryonline.org. Retrieved 2013-08-16.
15. ^ "Historic Gallery". The City of West Palm Beach. Archived from the original on November 21, 2010. Retrieved November 28, 2010.
16. ^ When German U-boats attacked Palm Beach County, westpalmbeach.com. Accessed June 22, 2023.
17. ^ a b c d "Congressional Fact Sheet - West Palm Beach Canal (C51)" (PDF). U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. March 2015. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
18. ^ a b "About Grassy Waters Preserve". Grassy Waters. City of West Palm Beach.
19. ^ a b c "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. United States Census Bureau.
20. ^ a b c d e f g Hellmann 2006.
21. ^ a b Federal Writers' Project 1939.
22. ^ Florida Legislative Committee on Intergovernmental Relations (2001), Overview of Municipal Incorporations in Florida (PDF), LCIR Report, Tallahassee, archived from the original (PDF) on April 28, 2017`{{citation}}`: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
23. ^ a b c d e f g h i "West Palm Beach". Palm Beach County History Online. Historical Society of Palm Beach County. Retrieved April 20, 2017.
24. ^ a b "Population of Cities and Towns", Census of the State of Florida...1905, Tallahassee: Capital Pub. Co., 1906
25. ^ "About: History and Facts". City of West Palm Beach. Retrieved April 20, 2017.
26. ^ "US Newspaper Directory". Chronicling America. Washington DC: Library of Congress. Retrieved April 20, 2017.
27. ^ Scholl Center for American History and Culture. "Florida: Individual County Chronologies". Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. Chicago: Newberry Library. Archived from the original on March 5, 2017. Retrieved April 20, 2017.
28. ^ a b c "Movie Theaters in West Palm Beach, FL". CinemaTreasures.org. Los Angeles: Cinema Treasures LLC. Retrieved April 20, 2017.
29. ^ a b c "United States AM Stations: Florida", Yearbook of Radio and Television, New York: Radio Television Daily, 1964, OCLC 7469377 - via Internet Archive
30. ^ "Our History". West Palm Beach: Historical Society of Palm Beach County. Retrieved April 20, 2017.
31. ^ "This Day in Weather History". Aberdeen, South Dakota: National Weather Service. Retrieved April 20, 2017.
32. ^ a b Charles A. Alicoate, ed. (1960), "Television Stations: Florida", Radio Annual and Television Year Book, New York: Radio Daily Corp., OCLC 10512206
33. ^ a b American Association for State and Local History (2002). "Florida". Directory of Historical Organizations in the United States and Canada (15th ed.). Rowman Altamira. ISBN 0759100020.
34. ^ 40th Anniversary of Snow in South Florida (PDF) (Report). National Weather Service Miami, Florida. January 2017. p. 2.
35. ^ Angela Bradbery (March 13, 1991). "'The people spoke': Strong mayor approved for West Palm Beach". The Palm Beach Post. West Palm Beach, Florida. p. 1. Retrieved March 3, 2017 - via Newspapers.com.
36. ^ Angela Bradbery (November 20, 1991). "Graham wins mayor's race". The Palm Beach Post. West Palm Beach, Florida. p. 1. Retrieved March 2, 2017 - via Newspapers.com.
37. ^ "City of West Palm Beach". Archived from the original on August 21, 2000 - via Internet Archive, Wayback Machine.
38. ^ Kevin Hyde; Tamie Hyde (eds.). "United States of America: Florida". Official City Sites. Utah. OCLC 40169021. Archived from the original on August 24, 2000.
39. ^ "West Palm Beach city, Florida". QuickFacts. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved April 20, 2017.
40. ^ Florida Legislative Office of Economic and Demographic Research; U.S. Census Bureau (2011), "City of West Palm Beach", 2010 Census Detailed City Profiles
41. ^ Civic Impulse, LLC. "Members of Congress". GovTrack. Washington DC. Retrieved April 20, 2017.
42. ^ Lapointe, Markenzy (September 23, 2024). "Written Factual Proffer in Support of Pretrial Detention" (PDF). Fox News. FOX Television Stations. Retrieved September 23, 2024.
43. ^ a b "Population Studies Program - www.bebr.ufl.edu". Retrieved July 4, 2016.
44. ^ a b "Phillips Point - Downtown West Palm Beach". phillipspointpalmbeach.com.
45. ^ "One Flagler - The Skyscraper Center". www.skyscrapercenter.com. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
46. ^ "United States Koppen-Geiger Climate Classification Map". plantmaps.com. Retrieved July 2, 2025.
47. ^ Kleinberg, Eliot. "Remembering the hurricanes of 2004's "Mean Season"". Palm Beach Post. Retrieved September 4, 2022.
48. ^ "Wilma". National Weather Service. National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved September 4, 2022.
49. ^ "Frances". National Weather Service.
50. ^ "Jeanne". National Weather Service. Retrieved September 4, 2022.
51. ^ Mean monthly maxima and minima (i.e. the highest and lowest temperature readings during an entire month or year) calculated based on data at said location from 1991 to 2020.
52. ^ "NOWData – NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved May 14, 2021.
53. ^ "Summary of Monthly Normals 1991–2020". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved May 14, 2021.
54. ^ "U.S. Census Bureau". U.S. Census Bureau.
55. ^ "Census Counts: 1890-2020". Florida Municipal Population Census Counts: 1890 to 2020. Office of Economic and Demographic Research, The Florida Legislature. 2023. Archived from the original on April 4, 2022. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
56. ^ a b c "General Population Characteristics FLORIDA 1980 Census of Population" (PDF). 07553445v1chA-Cpt11sec1ch002.pdf. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
57. ^ a b c "1990 Census of Population General Population Characteristics Florida Section 1 of 2" (PDF). Florida: 1990, Part 1. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
58. ^ a b "PL002: HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT ... - Census Bureau Table". PL002 | HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE [73]. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
59. ^ a b "P2: HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT ... - Census Bureau Table". P2 | HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
60. ^ "H1 | OCCUPANCY STATUS". H1: OCCUPANCY STATUS - Census Bureau Table. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
61. ^ "P12 | SEX BY AGE FOR SELECTED AGE CATEGORIES". P12: SEX BY AGE FOR SELECTED ... - Census Bureau Table. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
62. ^ "P13 | MEDIAN AGE BY SEX". P13: MEDIAN AGE BY SEX - Census Bureau Table. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
63. ^ "H1 | OCCUPANCY STATUS". H1: OCCUPANCY STATUS - Census Bureau Table. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
64. ^ "P12 | SEX BY AGE". P12: SEX BY AGE - Census Bureau Table. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
65. ^ "P13 | MEDIAN AGE BY SEX". P13: MEDIAN AGE BY SEX - Census Bureau Table. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
66. ^ "H003 | OCCUPANCY STATUS [3]". H003: OCCUPANCY STATUS [3] - Census Bureau Table. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
67. ^ "P012 | SEX BY AGE [49]". P012: SEX BY AGE [49] - Census Bureau Table. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
68. ^ "P013 | MEDIAN AGE BY SEX [3]". P13: MEDIAN AGE BY SEX [3] - Census Bureau Table. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
69. ^ "S2001: EARNINGS IN THE PAST 12 ... - Census Bureau Table". S2001 | EARNINGS IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS (IN 2021 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
70. ^ "S1901: INCOME IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS ... - Census Bureau Table". S1901 | INCOME IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS (IN 2021 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
71. ^ "S1701: POVERTY STATUS IN THE PAST ... - Census Bureau Table". S1701 | POVERTY STATUS IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
72. ^ a b c "S1501: EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT - Census Bureau Table". S1501 | EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
73. ^ "C16001: LANGUAGE SPOKEN AT HOME FOR ... - Census Bureau Table". C16001 | LANGUAGE SPOKEN AT HOME FOR THE POPULATION 5 YEARS AND OVER. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
74. ^ "B16001: LANGUAGE SPOKEN AT HOME BY - Census Bureau Table". B16001 | LANGUAGE SPOKEN AT HOME BY ABILITY TO SPEAK ENGLISH FOR THE POPULATION 5 YEARS AND OVER. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
75. ^ "PCT010: AGE BY LANGUAGE SPOKEN AT ... - Census Bureau Table". PCT010 | AGE BY LANGUAGE SPOKEN AT HOME FOR THE POPULATION 5 YEARS AND OVER [83]. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
76. ^ a b "1990 Census of Population General Social and Economic Characteristics Florida Section 1 of 3" (PDF). Florida: 1990, Part 1. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
77. ^ a b "General Social and Economic Characteristics FLORIDA 1980 Census of Population" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
78. ^ "B05001: NATIVITY AND CITIZENSHIP ... - Census Bureau Table". B05001 | NATIVITY AND CITIZENSHIP STATUS IN THE UNITED STATES. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
79. ^ "B05006: PLACE OF BIRTH FOR THE ... - Census Bureau Table". B05006 | PLACE OF BIRTH FOR THE FOREIGN-BORN POPULATION IN THE UNITED STATES. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
80. ^ "B05001: NATIVITY AND CITIZENSHIP ... - Census Bureau Table". B05001 | NATIVITY AND CITIZENSHIP STATUS IN THE UNITED STATES. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
81. ^ "B05006: PLACE OF BIRTH FOR THE ... - Census Bureau Table". B05006 | PLACE OF BIRTH FOR THE FOREIGN-BORN POPULATION IN THE UNITED STATES. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
82. ^ "P021: PLACE OF BIRTH BY CITIZENSHIP ... - Census Bureau Table". P021 | PLACE OF BIRTH BY CITIZENSHIP STATUS [15]. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
83. ^ "PCT019: PLACE OF BIRTH FOR THE ... - Census Bureau Table". PCT019 | PLACE OF BIRTH FOR THE FOREIGN-BORN POPULATION [126]. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
84. ^ "1990 Census of Population General Social and Economic Characteristics Florida Section 2 of 3" (PDF). Florida: 1990, Part 2. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
85. ^ a b "Palm Beach County Post Officers". Retrieved December 21, 2021.
86. ^ "Police Department". West Palm Beach, FL. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
87. ^ "West Palm Beach Police Officer Pleads Guilty to Selling Controlled Substances While in Uniform and on Duty". FBI. April 30, 2014. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
88. ^ "Former West Palm Beach police officer pleads guilty to selling drugs on duty". baynews9.com. May 3, 2014. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
89. ^ "Top 10 Largest School Districts by Enrollment and Per Pupil Current Spending". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 21, 2021.
90. ^ "Elementary School Attendance Boundaries SY2020–21" (PDF). School District of Palm Beach County. 2020. Retrieved December 21, 2021.[permanent dead link]
91. ^ "Middle School Attendance Boundaries SY2020–21" (PDF). School District of Palm Beach County. 2020. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 21, 2021. Retrieved December 21, 2021.
92. ^ "High School Attendance Boundaries SY2020–21" (PDF). School District of Palm Beach County. 2020. Retrieved May 29, 2021.[permanent dead link]
93. ^ "Private Schools in Palm Beach County, Florida". Floridasmart.com. Retrieved November 28, 2010.
94. ^ "Library Website." Mandel Public Library of West Palm Beach. Retrieved on September 29, 2015.
95. ^ "Main Library - West Palm Beach - Palm Beach County Library System". Pbclibrary.org. Archived from the original on May 4, 2012. Retrieved December 18, 2012.
96. ^ "Palm Beach County Top Employers".
97. ^ "Historical Society of Palm Beach County". Retrieved July 4, 2016.
98. ^ McManus, Shani (June 16, 2015). "Teen Leadership Students Celebrate Graduation". Sun Sentinel.
99. ^ Sheskin, Ira M. (Fall 1998). "A Methodology for Examining the Changing Size and Spatial Distribution of a Jewish Population: A Miami Case Study". Shofar. 17 (1). Purdue University Press.
100. ^ "SunFest". SunFest of Palm Beach County. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
101. ^ "Past Performers".
102. ^ Holiday in Paradise. The Palm Beaches Florida.
103. ^ "University Finalizes Local Land Deal". Palm Beach Atlantic University. February 13, 2009. Archived from the original on December 29, 2010. Retrieved November 28, 2010.
104. ^ "Parks and Recreation Overview". Retrieved May 15, 2019.
105. ^ "National Croquet Center in West Palm Beach, FL". Visit Florida. Retrieved May 15, 2019.
106. ^ "WPB GreenMarket". WPB Government. Retrieved October 8, 2024.
107. ^ "Florida Antiques Shopping Design Center". Antique Row West Palm Beach. Retrieved November 28, 2010.
108. ^ a b "Why Palm Beach County?". Pbcgov.com. Archived from the original on September 26, 2007. Retrieved November 28, 2010.
109. ^ Williams, Gordon L. (1979). "The West Palm Beach that I Remember" (PDF).
110. ^ "Bike share in West Palm Beach a smart way to go". Palm Beach Post. Retrieved July 20, 2015.
111. ^ "WPB mobility plan". 2018.
112. ^ Hudson, Tom (January 22, 2018). "The Sunshine Economy: Safety, Service and Selling Passenger Rail to South Floridians". WLRN Public Radio and Television. Retrieved August 6, 2018.
113. ^ "Brightline train service extends to Miami". 7News Miami. May 20, 2018. Retrieved August 6, 2018.
114. ^ "Downtown WPB Trolley | Molly's Trolleys of West Palm Beach". www.mollystrolleys.com.
115. ^ "trolley".
116. ^ "West Palm Beach, Florida (FL) Detailed Profile - relocation, real estate, travel, jobs, hospitals, schools, crime, news, sex offenders". City-data.com. Retrieved November 28, 2010.
117. ^ "Crime Rate Comparison: West Palm Beach Vs. Riviera Beach". Areaconnect.com. 2006. Retrieved November 28, 2010.
118. ^ "Crime Rate Comparison: West Palm Beach Vs. West Palm Beach". Areaconnect.com. 2006. Retrieved November 28, 2010.
119. ^ "Sister city of West Palm Beach: Mersin, Turkey". Turkish American Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved March 10, 2011.
120. ^ "About the Tzahar Project". edugal.org/. Archived from the original on July 21, 2011. Retrieved March 10, 2011.
121. ^ Abramson, Andrew (April 15, 2012). "Montenegrin officials arrive to solidify ties to West Palm Beach as part of sister city program". The Palm Beach Post. Retrieved November 23, 2013.
122. ^ "Designer fashion charity sale in downtown West Palm Beach". sunsentinal.com.
123. ^ "The Goodman Company - A History of Shopping Center Excellence". thegoodmancompany.com.
124. ^ "Jill S. Grigsby". Research. Pomona College. Archived from the original on August 26, 2021. Retrieved August 27, 2021.
125. ^ Montville, Leigh (April 5, 1993). "The accidental ballplayer: Larry Walker always dreamed of playing in Montreal—for a hockey team". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved April 24, 2011.
126. ^ Smith, Claire (November 14, 1997). "Walker is first Canadian M.V.P." The New York Times. Retrieved February 11, 2017.
127. ^ "Rapper $NOT Fires Back at SNOT's MIKEY DOLING: 'Old Man Mad About My Name' - 101.5 K-Rock Manhattan's Real Rock". March 21, 2022. Archived from the original on December 20, 2022. Retrieved July 3, 2022.

## Bibliography

[edit]

* "West Palm Beach". Florida Gazetteer and Business Directory 1907-1908. R. L. Polk & Co. 1907.
* "West Palm Beach". Florida State Gazetteer and Business Directory. R. L. Polk & Co. 1918.
* "West Palm Beach". Automobile Blue Book. Vol. Middle Atlantic and Southeastern. 1922.
* Federal Writers' Project (1939). "West Palm Beach". Florida: a Guide to the Southernmost State. American Guide Series. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 314+.
* Dora Doster Utz (1973). "West Palm Beach" (PDF). Tequesta. 33. Historical Association of Southern Florida. ISSN 0363-3705 - via Florida International University. (Personal remembrance, circa 1900s-1950s)
* Gordon L. Williams (1979). "West Palm Beach that I Remember" (PDF). Tequesta. 39 - via Florida International University. (Personal remembrance, circa 1920s)
* H. J. Roberts (1994). West Palm Beach Centennial Reflections. West Palm Beach: Sunshine Sentinel Press. ISBN 1884243029.
* Everee Jimerson Clarke (2005). Pleasant City, West Palm Beach. Black America. Charleston, South Carolina: Arcadia.
* Lynn Lasseter Drake; Richard A. Marconi (2006). West Palm Beach: 1893 to 1950. Images of America. Charleston, South Carolina: Arcadia. ISBN 9781439633472.
* Paul T. Hellmann (2006). "Florida: West Palm Beach". Historical Gazetteer of the United States. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 1-135-94859-3.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to West Palm Beach, Florida.

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for West Palm Beach.

* West Palm Beach official website
* "(West Palm Beach)". Florida Memory. Florida Department of State, Division of Library and Information Services.
* "West Palm Beach". Viva Florida: History Happened Here. Tallahassee: Florida League of Cities.
* Items related to West Palm Beach, various dates (via Digital Public Library of America)

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Palm Beach County, Florida, United States

County seat: West Palm Beach

Cities|

* Atlantis
* Belle Glade
* Boca Raton
* Boynton Beach
* Delray Beach
* Greenacres
* Lake Worth Beach
* Pahokee
* Palm Beach Gardens
* Riviera Beach
* South Bay
* Westlake
* West Palm Beach

Towns|

* Briny Breezes
* Cloud Lake
* Glen Ridge
* Gulf Stream
* Haverhill
* Highland Beach
* Hypoluxo
* Juno Beach
* Jupiter
* Jupiter Inlet Colony
* Lake Clarke Shores
* Lake Park
* Lantana
* Loxahatchee Groves
* Manalapan
* Mangonia Park
* Ocean Ridge
* Palm Beach
* Palm Beach Shores
* South Palm Beach

Villages|

* Golf
* North Palm Beach
* Palm Springs
* Royal Palm Beach
* Tequesta
* Wellington

CDPs|

* Acacia Villas
* Cabana Colony
* Canal Point
* Gun Club Estates
* Juno Ridge
* Jupiter Farms
* Kenwood Estates
* Lake Belvedere Estates
* Lake Harbor
* Limestone Creek
* Pine Air
* Plantation Mobile Home Park
* Royal Palm Estates
* San Castle
* Schall Circle
* Seminole Manor
* Stacy Street
* The Acreage
* Watergate
* Westgate

Former CDPs|

* Aberdeen
* Belle Glade Camp
* Boca Del Mar
* Boca Pointe
* Boca West
* Century Village
* Cypress Lakes
* Dunes Road
* Fremd Village-Padgett Island
* Golden Lakes
* Hamptons at Boca Raton
* High Point
* Kings Point
* Lakewood Gardens
* Lake Worth Corridor
* Lakeside Green
* Mission Bay
* Sandalfoot Cove
* Villages of Oriole
* Whisper Walk

Unincorporated
communities|

* Dahlberg
* Loxahatchee
* Miracle Village
* Okeelanta
* Palm Beach Farms
* Runyon
* West Boca Raton

Ghost towns|

* Apix
* Big Mound City
* Bryant
* Chosen
* Deem City
* Golfview
* Juno
* Kreamer Island
* Yamato Colony

* Florida portal
* United States portal

* v
* t
* e

Miami metropolitan area

Population: 6,138,333 (2020)

Counties|

* Miami-Dade
* Broward
* Palm Beach

Major city
441k|

* Miami

Cities and towns
100k–250k|

* Coral Springs
* Fort Lauderdale
* Hialeah
* Hollywood
* Miami Gardens
* Miramar
* Pembroke Pines
* Pompano Beach
* West Palm Beach

Cities and towns
25k–99k|

* Aventura
* Boca Raton
* Boynton Beach
* Coconut Creek
* Cooper City
* Coral Gables
* Cutler Bay
* Dania Beach
* Davie
* Deerfield Beach
* Delray Beach
* Doral
* Greenacres
* Hallandale Beach
* Homestead
* Jupiter
* Lake Worth
* Lauderdale Lakes
* Lauderhill
* Margate
* Miami Beach
* North Lauderdale
* North Miami
* North Miami Beach
* Oakland Park
* Palm Beach Gardens
* Plantation
* Riviera Beach
* Sunrise
* Tamarac
* West Park
* Weston
* Wilton Manors

Cities and towns
10k–25k|

* Belle Glade
* Hialeah Gardens
* Lighthouse Point
* Miami Lakes
* Miami Springs
* Opa-locka
* Palm Beach
* Parkland
* South Miami
* Sunny Isles Beach
* Sweetwater
* Palm Springs

A list of cities under 10,000 is available here.

* v
* t
* e

Greater Miami Area

Central business district|

* Downtown Miami
* Arts & Entertainment District
* Brickell
* Central Business District
* Historic District
* Government Center
* Park West

Major urban areas|

* Boca Raton
* Boynton Beach
* Coral Gables
* Coral Springs
* Deerfield Beach
* Delray Beach
* Doral
* Fort Lauderdale
* Hialeah
* Hollywood
* Jupiter
* Kendall
* Miami Beach
* Miami Gardens
* Miramar
* Palm Beach Gardens
* Pembroke Pines
* Pompano Beach
* Sunrise
* West Palm Beach

Colleges
and universities|

* Barry University
* Broward College
* Carlos Albizu University
* Florida Atlantic University
* Florida International University
* Florida Memorial University
* Johnson & Wales University
* Miami Dade College
* Miami International University of Art & Design
* Nova Southeastern University
* St. Thomas University
* University of Fort Lauderdale
* University of Miami

Parks and recreation|

* Alice Wainwright Park
* Amelia Earhart Park
* Arch Creek
* The Barnacle Historic State Park
* Bayfront Park
* Big Cypress National Preserve
* Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park
* Biscayne National Park
* Brian Piccolo Sports Park & Velodrome
* Chapman Field Park
* Crandon Park
* Dinner Key
* Everglades National Park
* Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden
* Fort Dallas
* Fruit & Spice Park
* Greynolds Park
* Haulover Park
* Jungle Island
* The Kampong
* Margaret Pace Park
* Matheson Hammock Park
* Miami Seaquarium
* Monkey Jungle
* Museum Park
* Oleta River State Park
* Peacock Park
* Pride Park, Miami Beach FL
* Shark Valley
* Simpson Park Hammock
* South Pointe Park
* Tamiami Park
* Tropical Park
* The Underline
* Virginia Key
* Zoo Miami

Attractions|

* Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts
* Amerant Bank Arena
* Bass Museum
* Bergeron Rodeo Grounds
* Biltmore Hotel
* Bonita Chita Key
* Broward County Convention Center
* Butterfly World
* Coral Castle
* Downtown Miami
* FIU Stadium
* Florida Grand Opera
* Fontainebleau Miami Beach
* Fort Lauderdale Swap Shop
* Frost Art Museum
* Frost School of Music
* Gulfstream Park
* Hard Rock Stadium
* HistoryMiami
* Holocaust Memorial
* Homestead
* Jewish Museum of Florida
* Kaseya Center
* Las Olas Boulevard
* LoanDepot Park
* Lowe Art Museum
* Lincoln Road
* Lummus Park
* MacFarlane Homestead
* Miami Beach Architectural District
* Miami Beach Convention Center
* Miami Children's Museum
* Miami City Ballet
* Miami Conservatory
* Museum of Contemporary Art
* New World Symphony Orchestra
* Normandy Isles
* North Shore
* Ocean Bank Convocation Center
* Ocean Drive
* Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science
* Pérez Art Museum Miami
* Riverwalk
* Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood
* South Beach
* The Miami Line
* Vizcaya Museum and Gardens
* Watsco Center
* Wolfsonian-FIU
* Wynwood Art District

Major shopping centers|

* Aventura Mall
* Bal Harbour Shops
* Bayside Marketplace
* Boynton Beach Mall
* Brickell City Centre
* Broward Mall
* CocoWalk
* Coral Square
* Dadeland Mall
* Dolphin Mall
* The Falls
* The Galleria at Fort Lauderdale
* The Gardens Mall
* Lincoln Road
* The Mall at 163rd Street
* Mary Brickell Village
* Miami International Mall
* Midtown Miami
* Midway Crossings
* Miracle Marketplace
* Pembroke Lakes Mall
* The Promenade at Coconut Creek
* The Shops at Sunset Place
* Sawgrass Mills
* Southland Mall
* Shops at Merrick Park
* Town Center at Boca Raton
* Westland Mall

Transportation|

* Amtrak
* Broward County Transit
* Brightline
* Government Center
* Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport
* Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport
* Miami-Dade Transit
* Metrobus
* Metromover
* Metrorail
* MIA Mover
* MiamiCentral
* Miami Intermodal Center
* Miami International Airport
* Miami–Opa Locka Executive Airport
* North Perry Airport
* Palm Beach International Airport
* Palm Tran
* Pompano Beach Airpark
* Port Everglades
* PortMiami
* Tri-Rail

Major thoroughfares|

* East 6th Avenue
* North 36th Street
* North 54th Street
* North 79th Street
* North 103rd Street
* North 125th Street
* North 135th Street
* West 7th Avenue
* West 12th Avenue
* West 27th Avenue
* West 107th Avenue
* Allapattah Road
* Alton Road
* Bird Road
* Biscayne Boulevard
* Brickell Avenue
* Broad Causeway
* Collins Avenue
* Coral Reef Drive
* Coral Way
* County Line Road
* Douglas Road
* Flagler Street
* Galloway Road
* Gratigny
* Ives Dairy Road
* Julia Tuttle Causeway
* Kendall Drive
* John F. Kennedy Causeway
* Killian
* Krome Avenue
* William Lehman Causeway
* Le Jeune Road
* Ludlam Road
* MacArthur Causeway
* Miami Avenue
* Miami Gardens Drive
* Milam Dairy Road
* Miracle Mile
* Okeechobee Road
* Old Cutler Road
* Port Boulevard
* Quail Roost Drive
* Red Road
* Rickenbacker Causeway
* South Dixie Highway
* Sunset Drive
* Tamiami Trail
* University Drive
* Venetian Causeway
* West Dixie Highway

* v
* t
* e

Geography of Florida

Natural features|

* Beaches
* Caves
* Everglades (drainage and development)
* Keys
* Lakes
* Lake Okeechobee
* Reef
* Rivers
* Sinkholes
* Springs
* Straits
* Swamps

Regions|

* Big Bend
* region
* coast
* Central Florida
* Emerald Coast
* Everglades
* First Coast
* Forgotten Coast
* Gold Coast
* Halifax area
* Heartland
* Keys
* Nature Coast
* North central Florida
* North Florida
* Panhandle
* South Florida
* Southwest Florida
* Space Coast
* Suncoast
* Tampa Bay Area
* Treasure Coast

Metro areas|

* Cape Coral–Fort Myers
* Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin
* Deltona–Daytona Beach–Ormond Beach
* Gainesville
* Homosassa Springs
* Jacksonville
* Lakeland–Winter Haven
* Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach
* Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island
* North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton
* Ocala
* Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford
* Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville
* Panama City
* Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent
* Port St. Lucie
* Punta Gorda
* Sebastian-Vero Beach
* Sebring
* Tallahassee
* Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater
* The Villages

Largest cities|

* Jacksonville
* Miami
* Tampa
* Orlando
* St. Petersburg
* Hialeah
* Port St. Lucie
* Tallahassee
* Cape Coral
* Fort Lauderdale
* Pembroke Pines
* Hollywood
* Gainesville
* Miramar
* Coral Springs
* Palm Bay
* West Palm Beach
* Clearwater
* Lakeland
* Pompano Beach
* Miami Gardens
* Davie

Counties|

* Alachua
* Baker
* Bay
* Bradford
* Brevard
* Broward
* Calhoun
* Charlotte
* Citrus
* Clay
* Collier
* Columbia
* DeSoto
* Dixie
* Duval
* Escambia
* Flagler
* Franklin
* Gadsden
* Gilchrist
* Glades
* Gulf
* Hamilton
* Hardee
* Hendry
* Hernando
* Highlands
* Hillsborough
* Holmes
* Indian River
* Jackson
* Jefferson
* Lafayette
* Lake
* Lee
* Leon
* Levy
* Liberty
* Madison
* Manatee
* Marion
* Martin
* Miami‑Dade
* Monroe
* Mosquito (former county)
* Nassau
* Okaloosa
* Okeechobee
* Orange
* Osceola
* Palm Beach
* Pasco
* Pinellas
* Polk
* Putnam
* Santa Rosa
* Sarasota
* Seminole
* St. Johns
* St. Lucie
* Sumter
* Suwannee
* Taylor
* Union
* Volusia
* Wakulla
* Walton
* Washington

Other|

* State forests
* State parks
* Highest points
* Wakulla Volcano

* v
* t
* e

County seats of Florida

* Apalachicola
* Arcadia
* Bartow
* Blountstown
* Bonifay
* Bradenton
* Bristol
* Bronson
* Brooksville
* Bunnell
* Bushnell
* Chipley
* Clearwater
* Crawfordville
* Crestview
* Cross City
* Dade City
* DeFuniak Springs
* DeLand
* East Naples
* Fernandina Beach
* Fort Lauderdale
* Fort Myers
* Fort Pierce
* Gainesville
* Green Cove Springs
* Inverness
* Jacksonville
* Jasper
* Key West
* Kissimmee
* LaBelle
* Lake Butler
* Lake City
* Live Oak
* Macclenny
* Madison
* Marianna
* Mayo
* Miami
* Milton
* Monticello
* Moore Haven
* Ocala
* Okeechobee
* Orlando
* Palatka
* Panama City
* Pensacola
* Perry
* Port St. Joe
* Punta Gorda
* Quincy
* Sanford
* Sarasota
* Sebring
* St. Augustine
* Starke
* Stuart
* Tallahassee
* Tampa
* Tavares
* Titusville
* Trenton
* Vero Beach
* Wauchula
* West Palm Beach

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF
* WorldCat

National|

* Germany
* United States
* France
* BnF data
* Czech Republic
* Israel

Geographic|

* MusicBrainz area

Other|

* NARA
* Yale LUX

*[Pop.]: Population
*[%±]: Percent change
*[Sex Ratio]: Sex ratio measured in number of males per 100 females
*[Median income]: Median income in 2021 inflation-adjusted dollars
*[Median household income]: Median household income in 2021 inflation-adjusted dollars
*[High school diploma]: Percentage of the population aged 25+ with a high school diploma or higher
*[Bachelor's degree]: Percentage of the population aged 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher
*[Advanced degree]: Percentage of the population aged 25+ with an advanced degree
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template