text:
West Palm Beach, Florida

West Palm Beach is a city in and the county seat of Palm Beach County, Florida, United States. 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. West Palm Beach is a principal city of the Miami metropolitan area, which was home to 6.14 million people in 2020. 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 mi north of Downtown Miami.

History

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 o 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.

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 over 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, there were very few Seminoles remaining in Florida.

The area that was to become 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 world. They included founding families such as the Potters and the Lainharts, who would go on to become leading members of the business community in the fledgling city. The first white settlers in Palm Beach County lived around Lake Worth, which at the time was an enclosed freshwater lake, named after Colonel William Jenkins Worth, who had 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 would become 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 the motion to incorporate the Town of West Palm Beach in what was then Dade County (now Miami-Dade County). 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, Palm Beach County was formed by the Florida State Legislature and West Palm Beach became the county seat. In 1916, a new neo-classical courthouse was opened, which has been painstakingly restored back to its original condition and is now used as the 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 of the city's landmark structures and preserved neighborhoods were constructed during this period. Originally, Flagler intended for 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 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 just off the coast of West Palm Beach. Nearby Palm Beach was under blackout conditions to minimize night visibility to German U-boats.

The 1950s saw another boom in population, partly due to the return of many soldiers and airmen who had served in the vicinity 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 of the city's residents still lived within 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.

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.

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 and crime, as well as 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 then 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.

Timeline

 * 1893
 * "Town platted on Lake Worth."
 * Florida East Coast Railway begins operating.
 * 1894
 * West Palm Beach incorporated.
 * John S. Earman becomes mayor.
 * 1896 – Fire.
 * 1900 – Population: 564.
 * 1903 – "City of West Palm Beach" established.
 * 1905 – Population: 1,280.
 * 1907 – Flagler Park established.
 * 1908 – Palm Beach Post newspaper begins publication.
 * 1909 – West Palm Beach designated seat of newly created Palm Beach County.
 * 1912 – Palm Beach County Fair begins.
 * 1916 – County courthouse constructed.
 * 1917 – Beaux Arts Theatre in business.
 * 1919
 * Office of city manager created.
 * City Hall built.
 * 1923 – Kettler Theatre in business.
 * 1924 – Public Library building opens.
 * 1925 – Seaboard Air Line Railway begins operating; West Palm Beach station opens.
 * 1926
 * West Palm Beach Canal (to Lake Okeechobee) constructed.
 * September: 1926 Miami hurricane occurs.
 * 1928 – September: 1928 Okeechobee hurricane occurs.
 * 1930 – Population: 26,610.
 * 1933 – Palm Beach Junior College opens.
 * 1936
 * Morrison Field (airport) begins operating.
 * WJNO radio begins broadcasting.
 * 1937 – Historical Society of Palm Beach County founded.
 * 1941 – Norton Museum of Art established.
 * 1942
 * April 17: City gets "8.35 inches of rain in just two hours."
 * U.S. military Palm Beach Air Force Base begins operating near West Palm Beach.
 * 1947 – WIRK radio begins broadcasting.
 * 1948
 * Palm Beach International Airport active.
 * WEAT radio begins broadcasting.
 * 1951 – Beach Drive-In cinema in business.
 * 1954 – WPTV (television) begins broadcasting.
 * 1955 – WEAT-TV (television) begins broadcasting.
 * 1961 – Cardinal Newman High School established.
 * 1962 – West Palm Beach Municipal Stadium opens.
 * 1964 – Palm Beach County Genealogical Society formed.
 * 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.
 * 1977 – Snow is reported on January 19 at Palm Beach International Airport from 6:10 a.m. to 8:00 a.m.
 * 1979 – Cross County Mall in business.
 * 1980 – Population: 63,305.
 * 1985 – Plaza hi-rise built.
 * 1991
 * Yesteryear Village (museum) opens.
 * March 12: Strong mayor referendum succeeds.
 * November 19: Nancy M. Graham elected first strong mayor of West Palm Beach.
 * 1994 – "County Judicial Complex" built.
 * 1997 – West Palm Beach Municipal Stadium closes.
 * 1999 – Trump International Golf Club in business.
 * 2000
 * May: Lake Worth Middle School shooting occurs.
 * 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).
 * 2010 – Population: 99,919.
 * 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.

West Palm Beach Canal (C51)
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.

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.

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.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, this city has a total area of 58.2 sqmi, of which 55.1 sqmi is land and 3.1 sqmi (5.26%) is water.

Due to vast areas of wetland immediately to the west of the city's downtown, growth took place to the north and south in a linear fashion. Until the 1960s, the city was no more than several blocks wide but over 100 blocks in length. Large scale development finally expanded to the west of the city 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 now serves as a reservoir for the city drinking water as well as a nature preserve.

Historic neighborhoods and communities

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 ft yacht, but the yacht ran aground in the Gulf of Mexico and never reached Lake Worth. In 1947 Hone's house was bought by Max Brombacher, Henry Flagler's chief engineer, and it remains in the Brombacher family today. Belair became West Palm Beach's fourth historic district in August 1993.

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 went 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 known as 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 the neighborhood 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 of the 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. He named it El Cid, after the 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 were owners of shops and businesses on fashionable Dixie Highway nearby. Recently, residents rallied to have stop signs installed throughout the neighborhood and have banded together to ward off commercial and industrial zoning. Property values are rising as residents renovate and restore Spanish-style houses. Most of the 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 neighborhoods still intact, 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.

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. 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
The estimated 2012 population of West Palm Beach and the immediately adjacent Census Designated Places is 134,795. 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.

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

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

Climate
West Palm Beach has a tropical rainforest climate (Köppen Af) with mean temperatures in all months above 18 °C. The city is situated in USDA hardiness zone 10b, with an annual mean minimum temperature of 37.7 °F.

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 temperatures is April 15 through October 10, but temperatures of 100 °F 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.

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

Demographics
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

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:
 * 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.

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

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

Public K–12 education
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.

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.

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. 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.

Charter and multi-level

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

Private schools
Private schools in the area include:

 * 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
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 (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
The Mandel Public Library of West Palm Beach serves the city. 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.

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

Economy
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.

Arts and culture
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.

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, 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.

Palm Beach County Convention Center: A complex with 350000 sqft 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.

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.

Festivals and shows
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.

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.

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
West Palm Beach does not host any professional sports teams, 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: The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches opened in February 2017 and accommodates both 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: Palm Beach Atlantic University competes in NCAA Division II basketball, baseball and soccer. PBAU has recently purchased a large tract of land just west of downtown where there will be built a multi-use athletic stadium. 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: PGA National Resort & Spa in suburban Palm Beach Gardens hosts the PGA Tour Honda Classic.

Polo and Equestrian: Palm Beach Polo and Country Club counts 7 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: 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: 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: 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, it is also home to several National Champions.

Tourism and recreation

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

Shopping areas/districts
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. 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.

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

Air: 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.

Bicycle 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. 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, and the city's mobility plan calls for protected bike lanes on most downtown streets.

Highways: 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: 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. Service was extended from Fort Lauderdale to Miami on May 19, 2018. The freight rail companies, CSX Transportation and the Florida East Coast Railway also serve the city.

Trolley: 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.

Bus: 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: 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 as well as being the home to several small passenger cruise lines.

Water Taxi: 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
Newspapers

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

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

Television

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 (Azteca), 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
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 has dropped more in West Palm Beach than in any other major city (approximately 100,000 residents or more) in the state of 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 stats show that the total crime rate per 100,000 residents has dropped by more than 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. West Palm Beach's northern neighbor, Riviera Beach, has an even higher violent crime rate.

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

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

 * 🇹🇷 Mersin, Turkey
 * 🇮🇱 Tzahar, Israel
 * 🇲🇪 Budva, Montenegro

Notable people

 * 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
 * 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
 * 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 (born 1925), real estate developer
 * Ken Green, PGA golfer
 * Jill S. Grigsby, sociologist
 * 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
 * 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
 * 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 former 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
 * 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

title: West Palm Beach, Florida


text:
Whisper Walk, Florida

Whisper Walk was a former census-designated place (CDP) and current unincorporated place northwest of Boca Raton in Palm Beach County, Florida, United States. The population was 5,135 at the 2000 census. While it is not in the city of Boca Raton, Boca Raton is its postal address, and the community is frequently classified under its umbrella term.

Geography
Whisper Walk is located at 26.39889°N, -80.1825°W (26.398866, -80.182492).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 2.6 km2, all land.

Demographics
Whisper Walk is a 55 and over community. By deed restriction, at least one member of the household must be age fifty-five or higher. The majority of residents are seasonal, retired Jewish couples from the New York metropolitan area, and other Northeastern areas.

As of the census of 2000, there were 5,135 people, 2,418 households, and 1,716 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 1,982.6 /km2. There were 2,637 housing units at an average density of 1,018.2 /km2. The racial makeup of the CDP was 93.67% White (89% were Non-Hispanic White,) 2.06% African American, 0.04% Native American, 2.77% Asian, 0.53% from other races, and 0.93% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.63% of the population.

In 2000, there were 2,418 households, out of which 16.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.3% were married couples living together, 3.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.0% were non-families. 26.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 22.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.12 and the average family size was 2.53.

In 2000, in the former CDP, the population was spread out, with 14.9% under the age of 18, 2.3% from 18 to 24, 16.4% from 25 to 44, 15.0% from 45 to 64, and 51.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 66 years. For every 100 females, there were 84.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.0 males.

In 2000, the median income for a household in the CDP was $42,368, and the median income for a family was $51,308. Males had a median income of $51,422 versus $34,844 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $26,098. About 3.4% of families and 4.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.7% of those under age 18 and 5.3% of those age 65 or over.

As of 2000, English was the first language for 91.60% of all residents, while Spanish accounted for 5.48%, Italian for 1.18%, Yiddish made up 1.07%, and Hebrew was the mother tongue for 0.64% of the population.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Whisper Walk, Florida


text:
Bayonet Point, Florida

Bayonet Point is a census-designated place (CDP) in Pasco County, Florida, United States. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 23,467.

Geography
Bayonet Point is located at 28.32278°N, -82.68389°W (28.322903, -82.683957).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 5.7 sqmi, of which 5.6 sqmi is land and 0.1 sqmi (1.41%) is water.

Demographics
As of the census of 2010, there were 23,467 people, 10,727 total households, and 6,214 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 4,136 PD/sqmi. The racial makeup of the CDP was 92.3% White, 1.9% African American, 0.3% Native American, 1.2% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 1.9% from other races, and 2.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9% of the population.

Of the 6,214 family households, 19.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them. 40.1% were married couples living together, 12.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 5% had a male householder with no wife present. Of the 10,727 total households, 42.1% were non-families. 35.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 22.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 18.4% under the age of 18. The median age was 48.9 years.

title: Bayonet Point, Florida


text:
Beacon Square, Florida

Beacon Square is a census-designated place (CDP) in Pasco County, Florida, United States. The population was 7,263 at the 2000 census.

Geography
Beacon Square is located at 28.21222°N, -82.74889°W (28.212314, -82.748768).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 2.0 sqmi, of which 2.0 sqmi is land and 0.04 sqmi (1.96%) is water.

Beacon Square is a subdivision located on the west side of U.S. Highway 19 in Holiday, zip code 34691.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 7,263 people, 3,509 households, and 2,084 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 3,633.4 PD/sqmi. There were 4,119 housing units at an average density of 2,060.6 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the CDP was 95.32% White, 1.03% African American, 0.34% Native American, 0.81% Asian, 1.09% from other races, and 1.40% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.84% of the population.

There were 3,509 households, out of which 17.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.6% were married couples living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.6% were non-families. 34.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 23.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.07 and the average family size was 2.61.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 16.4% under the age of 18, 5.2% from 18 to 24, 22.1% from 25 to 44, 21.0% from 45 to 64, and 35.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 51 years. For every 100 females, there were 83.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.4 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $27,528, and the median income for a family was $33,125. Males had a median income of $27,220 versus $21,792 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $16,913. About 8.1% of families and 9.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.6% of those under age 18 and 8.3% of those age 65 or over.

title: Beacon Square, Florida


text:
Crystal Springs, Florida

Crystal Springs is a hydrological spring and a census-designated place (CDP) in Pasco County, Florida, United States. The population was 1,175 at the 2000 census.

Geography
Crystal Springs is located at 28.18083°N, -82.16861°W (28.180879, -82.168690).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 5.6 sqmi, all land.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,175 people, 427 households, and 312 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 211.6 PD/sqmi. There were 474 housing units at an average density of 85.4 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the CDP was 93.62% White, 0.60% African American, 0.68% Native American, 0.09% Asian, 3.06% from other races, and 1.96% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.36% of the population.

There were 427 households, out of which 34.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.2% were married couples living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.7% were non-families. 19.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.75 and the average family size was 3.15.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 27.1% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 29.2% from 25 to 44, 24.3% from 45 to 64, and 11.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 102.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.7 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $42,578, and the median income for a family was $44,688. Males had a median income of $33,750 versus $19,583 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $18,346. About 3.5% of families and 9.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.4% of those under age 18 and 9.5% of those age 65 or over.

Preserve
Crystal Springs Preserve is 525 acres of natural wilderness surrounding Crystal Springs, a Magnitude 2 spring that discharges 30 million gallons of water daily. There is a non-profit educational facility, Crystal Springs Foundation, operating on site with programs that show diverse ecosystems via trails, boardwalks, a wildlife pavilion, a butterfly garden and a nature center. The preserve is privately owned by Crystal Springs Preserve, Inc., a closely held private company. The spring is the source for Zephyrhills Natural Spring Water, a commercially bottled water product. The water that is bottled represents less than 1% of the flow of the Spring.

title: Crystal Springs, Florida


text:
Dade City, Florida

Dade City is a city in and the county seat of Pasco County, Florida, United States. It is located in the Tampa Bay Area, north east of Tampa and west south west of Orlando. The population was 7,275 as of the 2020 census.

The city was named after Maj. Francis L. Dade who served, and was killed in action, during the Second Seminole War.

History
An earlier European-American community known as Fort Dade existed nearby in the 1870s and 1880s. The railroad was constructed a few miles to the east, and business owners chose to relocate a few miles to the east to be near it. The newer town became known as Dade City. The name became official when the Hatton post office was changed to Dade City on December 18, 1884.

Dade City was initially incorporated in 1884 or 1885. That incorporation seems to have been forgotten subsequently, and the city was reincorporated in 1889. When Pasco County was formed from the southern section of Hernando County in 1887, Dade City became the county seat of the new county, first temporarily and later permanently, by a popular vote.

The Pioneer Florida Museum, which opened on Labor Day, 1975, showcases the life of European-American pioneers in Central Florida. Its artifacts and exhibits include a 1913 locomotive, a Methodist church, a house built before the American Civil War, an old school, and an old train depot from Trilby, Florida.

The Hugh Embry Library, currently located on 4th Street, was started in 1904 when its namesake, then 25, was recovering from an illness. Embry had a strong desire to read, but at that time there was no public library in Dade City. He solicited donations of books from local households, and developed a small library in the Embry home on Church Street. (This is now the site of the U.S. Post Office.)

His efforts helped generate enthusiasm in the community for a more extensive library, culminating in the development of the Pasco County Library Association in 1905. After Embry's death at the age of 28 due to tuberculosis, the library initially faltered. Efforts of active community members and civic organizations such as the Dade City Woman's Club kept it operating. The library was relocated several times over the next five decades, finally reaching its current location in 1963. The library underwent a complete renovation in the late 1980s. The current 7200 sqft building opening in 1991.

The Crescent Theatre was Dade City's main movie theater from its opening in 1926 until it closed in 1950. It was located on the northeast corner of South 5th Street and Florida Avenue. The front facade/entry to the original building was preserved while other renovations were made for adaptive reuse. A metal structure was added in the 1990s. Today the building is used as a non-profit Seniors' Services center.

The Pasco Theater, built as a movie theater on South 7th Street, operated from 1948 until 1999. The Pasco theater has since been demolished.

Lawrence Puckett (1906–1985) settled in Dade City in 1925. He later became involved in politics and served as mayor of Dade City from 1981–1983 and as a member of the Dade City Commission from 1976 until his death in 1985. His recollections of the city were published by the Pasco County Centennial Committee. They date from his arrival as a young man of 19. Puckett describes Dade City before and after the Florida land boom as "a typical southern agriculture area, where the few well-to-do controlled the economy and the poor white folks and Negroes did the work for minimal pay. In other words, folks here were either quite well-to-do or very damn poor". Puckett described Dade City as it existed during the Florida boom, with its various shops, streets, and buildings. Most of these had changed significantly by the time he was writing.

With the Florida land boom, people were streaming into the state, usually sticking to the Eastern Coast. The overall economic effect was to drive up property prices all across the state. For Dade City, Puckett estimated that the top money-making ventures were either real estate, business related to real estate, or the production of moonshine.

He said that the increase of people and capital into Dade City had a profound effect on its culture:

"'Country clubs and golf courses were being constructed with country folks playing golf and dancing the Charleston. Wood lands and grazing lands were developed into subdivisions with side walk &: streets built 9 miles in the woods, which in most cases was about all that happened.'"

During World War II, the government established a prisoner-of-war camp in Dade City. The prisoners were German soldiers from Field Marshal Erwin Rommel's Afrika Korps, who were captured in battles in North Africa in 1942-1943. They were put to work, producing limestone bricks, building warehouses, and making boxes. The POW camp operated from approximately 1942 to the spring of 1946. The site has been redeveloped as the Pyracantha Park Civic Center.

Geography
Dade City is located at 28.36177°N, -82.19332°W.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.4 sqmi, of which 3.3 sqmi is land and 0.1 sqmi (2.96%) is water.

Dade City contains gently rolling topography with elevations from 60 ft to 100 ft.

Demographics
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 7,275 people, 2,371 households, and 1,782 families residing in the city.

By age in 2020, the population was split with 3.5% were under 5 years old, 20.1% were under 18 years old, and 21.8% were 65 years or older. 52.0% were female persons only. There were 707 veterans living in the city and 7.3% were foreign born persons.

In 2020, 62.0% of the housing units were owner occupied. The median value of those owner-occupied units was $150,700. The median selected monthly owner costs for those with a mortgage was $1,270, and $399 for those without a mortgage. The median gross rent was $1,004. There were 2.83 persons per household.

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 6,437 people, 2,123 households, and 1,454 families residing in the city.

Arts and Culture
Dade City is popular with tourists for its antique stores, restaurants, and historic architecture, including the Pasco County Courthouse, Hugh Embry Library, and Edwinola. The annual Kumquat Festival is hosted downtown. The festival is to celebrate the tart kumquat, a citrus fruit eaten whole, that the surrounding area produces as a commodity crop.

Downtown
Dade City's downtown is known for its antique shops and restaurants. It is also the location for the Hugh Embry branch library which is a member of the Pasco County Library Cooperative.

Major roads

 * is the main road through Dade City running north and south through the city.
 * is the main east-west road that runs through central Pasco County, from US 19 in Bayonet Point to US 98/301 in Dade City.
 * is an extension of SR 41, which is a hidden state road along US 301 from the Hillsborough County Line and becomes an independent route in Zephyrhills.
 * was the main east-west road that runs through central Pasco County, from US 19 in Bayonet Point to US 98/301 in Dade City until February 2023.
 * is a county alternate route of SR 52.
 * runs west to east from Bellamy Brothers Boulevard (CR 581) in Darby to northern Dade City.
 * runs west to east from Bellamy Brothers Boulevard (CR 581) in Darby to northern Dade City.

Airports
The city is served by Zephyrhills Municipal Airport.

Railroads
Passenger rail service was previously available at the Atlantic Coast Line depot. Since 2004, the depot is only served by Amtrak Thruway service to Jacksonville and Lakeland.

CSX Transportation's Wildwood Subdivision provides freight rail service to Dade City.

Local bus service
Pasco County Public Transportation provides local bus service on routes 30 & 31 in Dade City.

Public Safety
The Dade City Police Department provides Law enforcement services for Dade city. Pasco County Fire Rescue covers all fire protection and emergency medical services for the city.

Healthcare
The only hospital in Dade City is AdventHealth Dade City.

Notable People

 * Martha Barnette, attorney and former president of the American Bar Association
 * Kurt S. Browning, Republican politician and Superintendent of Schools for Pasco County, Florida
 * Dallas Eakins, NHL coach
 * Dave Eiland, MLB pitcher
 * Joey Ivie, NFL player
 * Don Lewis, businessman who disappeared in 1997
 * Roy Roberts, actor
 * Jim Courier, Professional Tennis Player
 * Michael Penix, NFL player

In popular culture

 * In Showtime's TV series Dexter, in the episode "Father Knows Best", Dexter Morgan and his girlfriend Rita go to Dade City to clear out the house of Dexter's recently deceased biological father.
 * The 1990 film Edward Scissorhands was filmed in Dade City during the spring of 1990.

title: Dade City, Florida


text:
Dade City North, Florida

Dade City North is a census-designated place (CDP) in eastern Pasco County, Florida, United States. The population was 3,319 at the 2000 census.

Geography
Dade City North is located at 28.37806°N, -82.19778°W (28.378059, -82.197878).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 1.8 sqmi, of which, 1.8 sqmi of it is land and 0.04 sqmi of it (1.09%) is water.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 3,319 people, 910 households, and 663 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 1,824.2 PD/sqmi. There were 1,017 housing units at an average density of 559.0 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the CDP was 55.05% White, 10.79% African American, 0.48% Native American, 0.12% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 29.77% from other races, and 3.74% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 56.49% of the population.

There were 910 households, out of which 43.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.9% were married couples living together, 17.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.1% were non-families. 19.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.39 and the average family size was 3.81.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 33.1% under the age of 18, 14.9% from 18 to 24, 29.3% from 25 to 44, 16.1% from 45 to 64, and 6.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 26 years. For every 100 females, there were 121.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 125.8 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $25,000, and the median income for a family was $25,987. Males had a median income of $18,817 versus $17,393 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $10,129. About 22.7% of families and 29.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 36.3% of those under age 18 and 20.6% of those age 65 or over.

title: Dade City North, Florida


text:
Elfers, Florida

Elfers is a census-designated place (CDP) in Pasco County, Florida, United States. The population was 13,161 at the 2000 census.

Geography
Elfers is located at 28.21611°N, -82.72278°W (28.216072, -82.722735).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 3.5 sqmi, of which 3.5 sqmi is land and 0.04 sqmi (0.57%) is water.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 13,161 people, 5,701 households, and 3,563 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 3,749.2 PD/sqmi. There were 6,482 housing units at an average density of 1,846.5 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the CDP was 95.19% White, 0.96% African American, 0.38% Native American, 0.91% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.93% from other races, and 1.60% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.52% of the population.

There were 5,701 households, out of which 23.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.6% were married couples living together, 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.5% were non-families. 31.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 20.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.77.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 20.1% under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 24.5% from 25 to 44, 19.3% from 45 to 64, and 30.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females, there were 82.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.4 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $28,998, and the median income for a family was $31,735. Males had a median income of $27,536 versus $21,595 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $15,801. About 10.6% of families and 12.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.1% of those under age 18 and 10.8% of those age 65 or over.

History
The area was known as the Baillie settlement until the Elfers post office was established on Dec. 14, 1909. Frieda Marie (Bolling) Eiland, the wife of the first postmaster, chose the name of the post office to honor a favorite uncle, whose last name was Elfers. Railroad service came to Elfers for the shipment of citrus in 1913. In 1915, the Elfers School opened; it was the first brick school in western Pasco County. A new building replaced it in 1966. The Elfers School red brick school has been converted into the Elfers CARES Center which celebrated a grand re-opening in 2013. The building now has a cafe, a "spacious auditorium", and is the home of the Avery Branch of the New Port Richey Public Library. Elfers was incorporated from 1925 to 1933.

title: Elfers, Florida


text:
Holiday, Florida

Holiday is a census-designated place (CDP) in Pasco County, Florida, United States. It is a suburb of the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 24,939 as of the 2020 census.

In the early 1960s, William W. Boyd, president of First Federal Savings and Loan Association of Tarpon Springs, noted the name Holiday Drive on a map near the site of the proposed branch to be built in southwestern Pasco County and asked his board of directors to give the name to the new branch. Later Boyd began drumming up support to name the community Holiday.

Geography
Holiday is located in west central Florida northwest of Tampa Bay on the Gulf of Mexico, at 28.18389°N, -82.74278°W (28.183890, −82.742886).

Demographics
As of the census of 2010, there were 22,403 people and 9,505 households residing in the CDP. The racial makeup of the CDP was 82.7% White, 4.1% African American, 0.5% Native American, 1.4% Asian, and Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10.0% of the population. The population density per square mile was 4,168.8.

There were 9,505 households. The average persons living in a household was 2.31. The home ownership rate was 73.8%. The median value of owner-occupied units was $97,600. There were 12,484 housing units.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 20.0% of children under 18 (5.8% under 5) and 21.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The female population was 51.4%. High school graduates or higher of ages 25+ was 82.4%. Bachelor's degree or higher of ages 25+ was 10.1%. There were 2,887 veterans.

The per capita income was $19,947 and the median household income was $36,888.

Infrastructure

 * Holiday Pacific and Southern Tower. At 1538 ft., this antenna tower is one of the tallest structures on the west coast of Florida.
 * Duke Energy Power Plant (Anclote Power Plant), located at 1729 Baillies Bluff Road, Holiday, FL 34691.

Borders and neighborhoods
Holiday is bordered on the south by the City of Tarpon Springs/Pinellas County Line, the Gulf of Mexico on the west (with access from the Anclote River Park, Gulf Park, and Key Vista Park in Holiday), the city of New Port Richey to the north, and Trinity to the east.

Holiday is divided into many neighborhoods, which include:
 * Aloha Gardens
 * Baillies Bluff
 * Beacon Square
 * Colonial Hills
 * Crest Ridge Gardens
 * Forest Hills
 * Forest Hills East
 * Gulf Trace
 * Gulf Winds
 * Holiday Lake Estates
 * Holiday Lake Villas
 * Holiday Lake West
 * Key Vista
 * La Villa Gardens
 * Sand Bay
 * Westwood

Schools
Holiday is part of the Pasco County School System.

There are three elementary schools in Holiday:
 * Gulfside Elementary School
 * Sunray Elementary
 * Gulf Trace Elementary School

There is one middle school:
 * Paul R. Smith Middle School (named after United States Army Sergeant First Class Paul Ray Smith, who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions on 4 April 2003 during the invasion of Iraq).

There is one high school:
 * Anclote High School (named after the Anclote River)

Private Schools:
 * Web of Wisdom, serves students grades K-12. Located at 5238 Mile Stretch Dr, Holiday, FL 34690.
 * World of Knowledge, a Montessori School, serves students pre-kindergarten-12. Located at 1935 Abacus Road, Holiday, Florida 34690.

title: Holiday, Florida


text:
Hudson, Florida

Hudson is a census-designated place (CDP) located at the westernmost end of Pasco County, Florida, United States, and is included in the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 census, Hudson's population was 12,158.

History
In 1878, Isaac Hudson moved his family to the uninhabited brush of coastal Pasco County and allowed a post office to be established in his home. The town grew in the early twentieth century when the Fivay Company began cutting lumber and shipping it by rail to Tampa. Hudson stagnated when the Fivay Company went out of business in 1912 and people turned to the sea or moved away; shrimping and fishing employed about half of the working men in the 1930s to 1950s.

W.L. Hendry came with his sons from Tampa and began digging inlets from the coast around Hudson Springs, using the fill to create a higher ground to put a few houses on in 1950. This was to become the Port of Hudson neighborhood. In the 1980s, people began building larger homes (most of which were mobile homes) along the canals. Now, while its older waterfront is reviving, large residential developments are spreading inland.

Bayonet Point Hospital, located in Hudson Florida, is the areas local hospital. Founded in 1981, it was the first hospital to be built in North West Pasco County serving residents in Pasco, Hernando and Citrus counties.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, Hudson has a total area of 6.4 sqmi, of which 6.4 sqmi is land and 0.04 sqmi (0.31%) is water.

Demographics
As of the census of 2010, there were 12,158 people, 5,816 households, and 3,466 families residing in Hudson. The population density was 2,005.3 PD/sqmi. There were 7,686 housing units, at an average density of 1,207.5/sq. mi. (465.9/km$2$). The racial makeup was 96.87% White, 0.36% Black, 0.22% American Indian, 0.91% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.42% from other races, and 1.19% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race comprised 2.60% of the population.

There were 5,816 households, out of which 13.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.2% were married couples living together, 6.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.2% were nonfamilies. 30.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.04, and the average family size was 2.47.

In Hudson, 12.9% of the population were under the age of 18, 4.0% from 18 to 24, 17.1% from 25 to 44, 27.4% from 45 to 64, and 38.6% who were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 57 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.3 males, and for every 100 women age 18 and over, there were 91.2 men.

The median income for a household in Hudson was $33,177, and the median income for a family was $39,708. Men had a median income of $30,688, versus $24,620 for women; the per capita income was $19,476. About 5.5% of families and 9.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.3% of those under age 18 and 8.1% of those age 65 or over.

Parks and recreation
Robert J. Strickland Memorial Park (Hudson Beach) was built in the 1960s and is the main beach for the Hudson community. Several restaurants in the area offer water views of the gulf or adjacent canals.

Veterans Memorial Park and Arthur F. Engle Memorial Park are the main indoor and outdoor sports and recreation centers, with indoor gymnasiums, outdoor fields and an outdoor pool (at Veterans Memorial Park).

There are also three semiprivate golf courses: Beacon Woods Golf Club, Meadow Oaks Golf & Country Club, and Heritage Pines Country Club.

Hudson once proclaimed itself the "gopher racing capital of the world".

title: Hudson, Florida


text:
Jasmine Estates, Florida

Jasmine Estates is a census-designated place (CDP) in Pasco County, Florida, United States. The population was 18,989 according to the 2010 census.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 3.6 sqmi, of which 3.6 sqmi is land and 0.1 sqmi (1.65%) is water.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 18,213 people, 8,361 households, and 5,275 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 5,096.5 PD/sqmi. There were 9,289 housing units at an average density of 2,599.3 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the CDP was 94.46% White, 1.63% African American, 0.32% Native American, 0.88% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.21% from other races, and 1.49% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.07% of the population.

There were 8,361 households, out of which 21.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.4% were married couples living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.9% were non-families. 31.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 20.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.18 and the average family size was 2.67.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 19.1% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 23.6% from 25 to 44, 20.6% from 45 to 64, and 30.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females, there were 86.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.2 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $26,935, and the median income for a family was $31,584. Males had a median income of $26,077 versus $21,906 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $14,867. About 12.0% of families and 14.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.8% of those under age 18 and 9.0% of those age 65 or over.

title: Jasmine Estates, Florida


text:
Lacoochee, Florida

Lacoochee is a census-designated place (CDP) in Pasco County, Florida, United States. The population was 1,345 at the 2000 census.

Geography
Lacoochee is located at 28.46333°N, -82.17167°W (28.463248, -82.171774).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 2.8 sqmi, all land.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,345 people, 417 households, and 321 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 471.6 PD/sqmi. There were 457 housing units at an average density of 160.2 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the CDP was 60.59% White, 24.24% African American, 2.23% Native American, 0.07% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 9.74% from other races, and 3.05% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 37.55% of the population.

There were 417 households, out of which 47.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.0% were married couples living together, 20.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.8% were non-families. 19.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.23 and the average family size was 3.66.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 40.1% under the age of 18, 9.8% from 18 to 24, 26.1% from 25 to 44, 15.8% from 45 to 64, and 8.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 25 years. For every 100 females, there were 103.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.8 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $15,197, and the median income for a family was $16,553. Males had a median income of $40,300 versus $11,250 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $6,780. About 45.5% of families and 51.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 57.4% of those under age 18 and 26.6% of those age 65 or over.

Notable person

 * Mudcat Grant, professional baseball player

title: Lacoochee, Florida


text:
Land o' Lakes, Florida

Land O' Lakes is a census-designated place (CDP) in Pasco County, Florida, United States. It is part of the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, Florida MSA. As of the 2020 US census, the CDP had a population of 35,929.

History
The land that is now Land O' Lakes was taken from its Native American inhabitants in the 1830s as part of the Second Seminole War. By the 1840s, a stage coach line ran through the center of where the CDP is now located. Eventually, by the early 1900s, a railroad line ran through the CDP and a station was built.

Throughout the 20th century, Land O' Lakes expanded and absorbed surrounding communities such as Denham, Ehren, and Gowers Corner.

Dupree Gardens, one of Florida's original roadside tourist attractions, was located in what is now known as Land O' Lakes. The name Land O' Lakes was suggested at a community meeting in 1949. On September 1, 1950, the Ehren post office was renamed Land O' Lakes.

Demographics
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 35,929 people, 13,663 households, and 10,393 families residing in the CDP.

In 2020, by age the population was split with 5.0% under 5 years old, 22.9% under 18 years old, and 17.1% 65 years or older. 50.8% of the population were female persons. The CDP had an average of 2.82 persons per household.

As of 2020, there were 2,636 veterans living in the CDP and 12.2% of the population were foreign born persons.

In 2020, the owner-occupied housing rate was 81.6%. The median value of owner-occupied housing units was $269,900. The median monthly owner costs with a mortgage was $1,720 and without a mortgage was $567. The median gross rent was $1,524. 98.5% of households had a computer and 95.1% had a broadband Internet subscription. 94.0% of the population 25 years and older were high school graduates or higher and 35.8% of that same population had a Bachelor's degree or higher. The median household income was $84,146 and the per capita income was $36,877. 8.2% of the population lived below the poverty threshold.

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 31,996 people, 11,820 households, and 8,515 families residing in the CDP.

Major roads

 * Toll Florida 589.svg Suncoast Parkway runs north and south along the western edge of Land O' Lakes (actually closer to Odessa).
 * US 41.svg U.S. Route 41 (Land O' Lakes Boulevard) is the main north-south road in Land O' Lakes as well as the rest of central Pasco County.
 * Florida 54.svg SR 54 is the main east-west road that runs through southern Pasco County, from US 19 near Holiday to US 301 in Zephyrhills.
 * Florida 597.svg SR 597 (Dale Mabry Highway)
 * Pasco County Road 583 FL.svg County Road 583 (Ehren Cutoff) runs northeast to southwest from US 41 to SR 52 in rural Pasco County.
 * Collier Parkway

Culture
An honorary mayor position was established by area residents in 1968. The honorary mayor has no real political power and only has ceremonial duties.

The town is a member of the Pasco County Library Cooperative with a library branch, the Land O' Lakes Branch Library, at 2818 Collier Parkway, Land O' Lakes, Florida 34639.

Education
Public district schools are operated by the Pasco County Schools.

High schools

 * Land O Lakes High School
 * Sunlake High School

Middle schools

 * Charles S. Rushe Middle School
 * Pine View Middle School

Elementary schools

 * Bexley Elementary School
 * Connerton Elementary School
 * Denham Oaks Elementary School
 * Lake Myrtle Elementary School
 * Oakstead Elementary School
 * Pine View Elementary School
 * Sanders Memorial Elementary School

Charter schools

 * Classical Preparatory School
 * Countryside Montessori
 * Imagine School at Land O Lakes

Private schools

 * Academy at the Lakes
 * Center Academy Lutz
 * Land O Lakes Christian School

Notable companies

 * Artix Entertainment
 * Hungry Harry´s Famous Barbecue

Points of interest

 * Conner Preserve
 * Cypress Creek Preserve
 * Dupree Gardens (Historical marker and gate ruins)

title: Land o' Lakes, Florida


text:
New Port Richey, Florida

New Port Richey is a city in Pasco County, Florida, United States. It is a suburban city included in the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was counted at 16,728 in the 2020 census.

History
By 1914 the area around Orange Lake was being called "New Port Richey" and the older part of Port Richey was called "Old Port Richey." In 1915 a separate post office was established for the residents of the southern part of Port Richey. The post office was named New Port Richey, and the name became official. The first postmaster was Gerben DeVries. The growth of the city came about after George Sims purchased the Port Richey Land Company. He built a home in New Port Richey in 1916.

The first Chasco Fiesta was held in 1922 to raise money for the local library. The event was revived in 1947 and has been held annually since then. It includes a large street parade and a boat parade on successive Saturdays.

In 1924 New Port Richey was incorporated. The first mayor was Dr. Elroy M. Avery, an educator, historian, and prolific author who came to New Port Richey from Cleveland after he retired in 1919.

The first act of the city council was to accept Enchantment Park as a gift from George Sims. The park was renamed Sims Park. The main attractions of the city were the park, the Pithlachascotee River, and Orange Lake.

In the mid-1920s the city hoped to become a winter home for Hollywood stars. In fact, Thomas Meighan, a leading actor in silent movies, built a large home on the river in 1928 and spent the winters there. He hoped to make movies in New Port Richey. Gene Sarazen, one of the top golfers in the 1920s, also built a home in New Port Richey. He invented the modern sand wedge in a garage in New Port Richey. Other Hollywood figures such as Ed Wynn visited New Port Richey. Songwriter Irving Berlin and bandleader Paul Whiteman made down payments on property, but did not build homes. In 1926, a new theater named for Thomas Meighan opened, and in 1927, the Hacienda Hotel, a 55-room Spanish-style luxury hotel, was completed. Moon Lake Gardens and Dude Ranch, which featured a private game preserve of 7,000 acres, opened in the 1930s.

The end of the 1920s Florida land boom ended the aspirations of New Port Richey to become a haven for Hollywood celebrities, and the Great Depression had a devastating effect on the town. By 1938 the town had lost its Tarpon Springs Branch passenger train connection to the Seaboard Air Line Railway network, a significant loss in the era before Interstates and jet airplanes.

Beginning in the late 1960s, western Pasco County began a decades-long period of rapid population growth, although the population of New Port Richey has not increased much because of the small area which makes up the city. Most of the population of western Pasco County is in unincorporated areas. Pasco-Hernando State College began offering classes in New Port Richey in 1972, and completed construction of a campus in 1976. Gulf View Square shopping mall opened in 1980. In 1995, New Port Richey became sister cities with Cavalaire-sur-Mer on the French Riviera. Cavalaire Square in downtown was named in honor of that relationship. In 2004 President George W. Bush, campaigning for re-election, spoke to supporters in Sims Park.

Geography
New Port Richey is located at 28.24892°N, -82.71768°W.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.6 sqmi, of which 4.5 sqmi is land and 0.1 sqmi (1.53%) is water.

The Pithlachascotee River flows through the downtown area on its way to the Gulf of Mexico.

Demographics
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 16,728 people, 7,595 households, and 4,145 families residing in the city.

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 14,911 people, 7,030 households, and 3,624 families residing in the city.

Education
New Port Richey has four high schools, Gulf High School, Wendell Krinn Technical High School, River Ridge High School, and J. W. Mitchell High School. Of the four, only Gulf High School is located within the city limits of New Port Richey. A satellite campus of Fort Lauderdale-based Keiser University is also located in the city.

Museums and libraries

 * New Port Richey Public Library
 * West Pasco Historical Society Museum and Library

Parks and recreation

 * Sims Park and Orange Lake Park
 * Cotee River Park
 * Frances Avenue Park
 * Grand Boulevard Park
 * James E. Grey Preserve
 * Jasmin Park
 * Meadows Dog Park
 * Russ Park

Public Safety
The New Port Richey Fire Department provides fire protection services within the city. The department has 2 Fire stations located within the city. Pasco County Fire Rescue covers all emergency medical services. The New Port Richey Police Department is the responsible law enforcement agency within the city, the agency has 44 sworn officers.

Top employers
According to New Port Richey's 2012 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city were:

Notable people

 * Chris Trousdale (1985–2020), actor and singer
 * Joshua Colley, actor and singer
 * R. C. Enerson, racing driver
 * Michael A. Ryan, medieval historian

title: New Port Richey, Florida


text:
New Port Richey East, Florida

New Port Richey East is an unincorporated census-designated place in Pasco County, Florida, United States adjacent to New Port Richey. The population was 9,916 at the 2000 census.

Geography
New Port Richey East is located at 28.26°N, -82.69056°W (28.259991, -82.690636).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the community has a total area of 3.7 sqmi, of which 3.6 sqmi is land and 0.1 sqmi (1.64%) is water.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 9,916 people, 4,471 households, and 2,794 families residing in the community. The population density was 2,748.0 PD/sqmi. There were 5,001 housing units at an average density of 1,385.9 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the community was 95.40% White, 1.04% African American, 0.22% Native American, 1.11% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.67% from other races, and 1.53% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.88% of the population.

There were 4,471 households, out of which 22.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.0% were married couples living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.5% were non-families. 31.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.20 and the average family size was 2.73.

In the community the population was spread out, with 19.8% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 23.6% from 25 to 44, 22.7% from 45 to 64, and 27.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.1 males.

The median income for a household in the community was $30,178, and the median income for a family was $36,296. Males had a median income of $27,753 versus $23,191 for females. The per capita income for the community was $17,191. About 8.0% of families and 10.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.1% of those under age 18 and 8.3% of those age 65 or over.

title: New Port Richey East, Florida


text:
Odessa, Florida

Odessa is a census-designated place (CDP) in Pasco County, Florida, United States. The population was 3,173 at the 2000 census and more than doubled to 7,267 in 2010. Northwest of Tampa, Odessa had been an area of open spaces, ranching, and horse properties. More recently it has seen many suburban property developments as Tampa's population expands.

History
The Odessa area was first settled in the middle 1800s by the W.M. Mobley Family who migrated from Savannah, Georgia. Odessa was named in the 1880s by Peter Demens, a Russian immigrant who developed the community through the Orange Belt Railway. Later, the railroad came through, running parallel with S.R. 54. Demens also founded St. Petersburg, Florida and named both communities after places he used to go to in his native country.

There was once a large sawmill in the area providing employment. This sawmill replaced some smaller ones and was burned in a fire in 1922.

The area is rapidly being developed as Tampa expands. Odessa was home to Tampa Bay Executive Airport until 2004.

Geography

Odessa is located at 28.18333°N, -82.56833°W (28.183446, -82.568456).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the Census Designated Place lies entirely in Pasco County, Florida, and has a total area of 5.6 sqmi of which 5.3 sqmi is land and 0.3 sqmi (6.04%) is water.

The USPS mailing area that uses the city of Odessa stretches into Hillsborough County and overlaps parts of Keystone, a separate CDP located entirely in Hillsborough County. This apparent overlap is due to USPS ZIP code designation only; the two CDPs do not actually overlap - no part of Odessa is truly in Hillsborough County.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 3,173 people, 1,181 households, and 896 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 598.9 PD/sqmi. There were 1,272 housing units at an average density of 240.1 /mi2. The racial makeup of the CDP was 95.93% White, 0.66% African American, 0.57% Native American, 0.72% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.91% from other races, and 1.17% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.81% of the population.

There were 1,181 households, out of which 35.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.8% were married couples living together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.1% were non-families. 18.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.04.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 24.9% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 32.1% from 25 to 44, 27.6% from 45 to 64, and 8.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 108.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 104.8 males. The median income for a household in the CDP was $45,864, and the median income for a family was $55,461. Males had a median income of $38,992 versus $26,818 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $21,548. About 3.7% of families and 6.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.4% of those under age 18 and 11.5% of those age 65 or over.

Notable people

 * Jay Feely
 * Chris Jericho
 * Carl Nicks
 * Nate Pearson
 * Vinny Testaverde

title: Odessa, Florida