Palm Beach Gardens, Florida

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City of Palm Beach Gardens
City
Official seal of City of Palm Beach Gardens
Seal
Nickname: 
Gardens
Country United States
State Florida
County Palm Beach
Established1959
Government
 • TypeCouncil-City Manager
 • MayorJoe Russo
Area
 • Total144.9 km2 (55.93 sq mi)
 • Land144.2 km2 (55.7 sq mi)
 • Water0.7 km2 (0.2 sq mi)  0.45%
Elevation
5 m (16 ft)
Population
 (2004)
44,315
 • Density305.92/km2 (792.33/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
Area code561
FIPS code12-54075Template:GR
GNIS feature ID0302681Template:GR
Websitehttp://ci.palm-beach-gardens.fl.us/

Palm Beach Gardens is a city in Palm Beach County in the U.S. state of Florida. The city is in the center of a rapidly-developing area north of West Palm Beach in the northern part of the county and the South Florida metropolitan area. As of 2006, the population was estimated by the United States Census Bureau is 48,944. The city has relatively strict zoning laws and also has a number of large gated communities, which give the city a reputation for exclusivity. The city boasts many luxury retail stores.

On August 10, 2007, the city launched a new website addition designed to boost its local economy [1] by providing a virtual guide to city information to its residents and visitors (local dining, shopping, entertainment, and other services), while providing an exclusive promotional system to the business community within the city, the only offical chamber exclusively for the City of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. The system is called CityHost411 and includes the virtual host C.L.A.I.R. (City Licensed, Automated Information Resource).

- The new CityHost411 system features a free wake up and reminder service as well as public information geared to residents and visitors to the City. - Palm Beach Gardens was the first city in the United States to offer this system to the public.

Palm Beach Gardens is The Robb Reports and NY Times " 'It' destination in South Florida and is a magnet for high net worth and celebrity types throughout the world. It has recently taken over its local elementary, middle and high schools and has made them competitive with the top tier schools in the US, which has made it the most desirable relocation city in Palm Beach County as well as the state of Florida.

Geography

Palm Beach Gardens is located at 26°49′43″N 80°6′36″W / 26.82861°N 80.11000°W / 26.82861; -80.11000 (26.828588, -80.109965).Template:GR

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 144.9 km² (55.93 mi²). 144.85 km² (55.7 mi²) of it is land and 0.6 km² (0.2 mi²) of it (0.45%) is water.

History

Prior to development, the land that became Palm Beach Gardens was primarily cattle ranch land and pine forests, as well as swampland further west. In 1959, wealthy landowner and insurance magnate John D. MacArthur announced plans to develop 4,000 acres (16 km²) and build homes for 55,000 people. He chose the name Palm Beach Gardens after his initial choice, Palm Beach City was denied by the Floirda Legislature because of its similarity to the name of the nearby city of Palm Beach. MacArthur planned to build a "garden city" so he altered the name only slightly.

The city was incorporated as a "paper town" in 1959, meaning that it existed only on paper. In the 1960 U.S. Census the city officially had a population of one, apparently a squatter whom MacArthur had allowed to stay on his property. After 1960 development occurred rapidly, and by 1970 the city had a population approaching 7,000 people. To showcase his new community, MacArthur purchased an 80-year-old banyan tree located in nearby Lake Park, that was to be cut down to enlarge a dentist's office. It cost $30,000 and 1008 hours of manpower to move it. A second banyan was moved the following year. While moving the first banyan tree over the Florida East Coast Railway, the massive tree shifted and disconnected the Western Union telephone and telegraph lines running adjacent to the railroad, cutting off most communications between Miami, 80 miles to the south, and the outside world until the damage could be repaired. These trees still remain at the center of MacArthur Boulevard near Northlake Boulevard and are still featured on the city shield. In January 2007, the great-grandson of famous impressionist artist Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Alexandre Renoir, presented a painting to the city which depicts the Gardens banyan tree. It is currently on display, at the City Hall on North Military Trail.

City growth was slow but steady throughout the 1970s and 1980s, as the population has still not reached the predicted 55,000 people envisioned by MacArthur. However, the opening of the 1.3 million square foot Gardens Mall in 1988 initiated a new wave of development, as did the sell off in 1999 of approximately 5,000 acres (20 km²) in the city by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. Development of this property happened quickly and led to much new growth in the city.

The city suffered much damage to its tropical landscaping in the hard freezes of 1985 and 1989, but has experienced no freezing temperatures since. The city was hit by Hurricane Frances, Hurricane Jeanne, and Hurricane Wilma in 2004 and 2005. Much of the city lost power for days at a time after each storm, and many traffic signals and directional signs in the city were destroyed.

The city is the headquarters for the Professional Golfers Association of America and bills itself as the "Golf Capital of the World." There are 12 golf courses within the city limits, including a course owned by the municipality. Several PGA tournaments have been hosted in Palm Beach Gardens since 1971. The Honda Classic was hosted in March 2007 at the PGA National Resort and Spa and was hosted at the Country Club at Mirasol in 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006; both are located in Palm Beach Gardens. Ameribank [2] and Wackenhut Corporation also have their headquarters in Palm Beach Gardens. The Gardens Mall and Downtown at the Gardens [3] are the center of the city's retail market. Often referred to as the premiere shopping area of the south east. The city has the first and one of only three PAUL bakeries in the United States.

The city is home to the Eissey satellite campus of Palm Beach Community College, which includes the Eissey Theatre for the Performing Arts.

Demographics

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 35,058 people, 15,599 households, and 10,217 families residing in the city. The population density was 243.1/km² (629.6/mi²). There were 18,317 housing units at an average density of 127.0/km² (329.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 93.78% White, 2.30% African American, 0.11% Native American, 2.15% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.67% from other races, and 0.96% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.63% of the population.

There were 15,599 households out of which 23.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.8% were married couples living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.5% were non-families. 27.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.5% 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 2.70.

In the city the population was spread out with 18.7% under the age of 18, 5.1% from 18 to 24, 26.3% from 25 to 44, 28.9% from 45 to 64, and 21.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females there were 90.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $250,000, and the median income for a family was $374,548.[citation needed] Males had a median income of $190,045 versus $173,221 for females. The per capita income for the city was $389,975.[citation needed] About 0.5% of families and 0.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 0.9% of those under age 18 and 0.5% of those age 65 or over.

As of 2000, speakers of English as a first language accounted for 89.27% of all residents, while Spanish comprised 5.60%, Italian was at 1.00%, and French made up 0.83% of the population. Twelve other languages are spoken in the City, each of which are reported at less than 1%. [4]

City services

The Palm Beach Gardens Police Department is the municipal police department. [1] There are over 100 sworn officers in the department including SWAT, K9, Tactical, Community Involvement Unit, Hostage Negotiating Team and other special units. The department also has a 60 member volunteer Citizens Mobile Patrol Unit and a Police Explorer Post.

The Palm Beach Gardens Fire Department is the municipal fire department. It operates out of 5 stations strategically located throughout the city.

The Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center is a hospital in the city. It is owned by Tenet Healthcare.

Transportation

In December 1987, the last "missing link" of Interstate 95 opened in the city, paving the way for new development immediately to the north. There are three interchanges on I-95 serving the city and fourth is planned at Central Boulevard. The city also is served by two interchanges on the Florida's Turnpike

Public transit is available to the rest of Palm Beach County through the regional commuter bus system PalmTran. In addition, the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority of extending the Tri-Rail commuter rail system northward with a proposed station near PGA Boulevard north of the current terminus at Mangonia Park. A trolley system is also proposed to serve the newly developed "Downtown" area.

The nearest airports are Palm Beach International Airport and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, about 17 miles and 61 miles south of Palm Beach gardens, respectively.

Notable residents

References

  1. ^ Gentile, Michelle: "City aims to boost local economy.", front page. Hometown News, August 10th, 2007.
  2. ^ https://www.ameribank.com/home.html
  3. ^ http://www.downtownatthegardens.com
  4. ^ http://www.mla.org/map_data_results&state_id=12&county_id=&mode=place&zip=&place_id=54075&cty_id=&ll=&a=&ea=&order=r

{{cite web - | url = http://www.myhometownnews.net/index.php?id=29758 - | title = City aims to boost local economy - | accessdate = 2007-08-10 - | author = Michelle Gentile - | authorlink = Hometown News - | date = 2007-08-10 - | publisher = Hometown News - | language = English


External links


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