West Palm Beach is a city located in Palm
Beach County, Florida. As of the 2000 census, the city
had a total population of 82,103. It is the county seat of Palm
Beach County.
The City of West Palm Beach was founded by Henry Flagler in 1894,
as a community to house the servants working in the two grand hotels
on the neighboring island of Palm Beach, across Lake Worth. During
the 1920s, the city boomed and was a rival to Miami, leaving the
city with many historic structures and neighborhoods. the city quickly
declined however, due to hurricanes, depression and rampant suburbanization.
In the past 10 years, however, the city had undergone a tremendous
renaissance as newcomers have re-discovered the city's historic
areas and a resurgent downtown entertainment and shopping district.
Due to Florida's stringent annexation laws, the city's boundaries
remain roughly at their 1920s position, giving the city a population
much smaller than the large metropolitan area of nearly 1.2 million
people that surrounds it.
In 2000, the city was the focal point of a controversy regarding
voting irregularities that some claim may have affected the outcome
of the 2000 Presidential Election.
West Palm Beach was the site of the first attacks in the 2001 anthrax
attacks
West Palm Beach Attractions
The City of West Palm Beach, with its sunny palm-lined
street, scenic waterfront views, quaint shopping districts, historic
neighborhoods, year-round outdoor festivals, elegance and luxurious
comfort are the hallmarks of this slice of paradise.
The Downtown Retail and Entertainment District is a vibrant area
lined with fashionable martini bars, trendy nightclubs, elite boutiques
and fine restaurants. When the sun sets, enjoy fine dining by candlelight
at one of the many lovely area restaurants.
Every Thursday evening the area comes alive with the award winning
Clematis by Night free fountainside concert series, where visitors
& locals mingle among arts & crafts vendors while enjoying
live entertainment. West Palm Beach is definitely one of the more
popular nighttime hotspots. Cozy pubs, energetic dance clubs, concert
halls and movie theaters abound throughout the downtown area, giving
revelers ample choice of how to spend their evening.
For theater & performing arts, the Raymond F. Kravis Center
for the Performing Arts is the premier location in West Palm
Beach to spend an evening. The Norton Museum of Art houses
a world-renowned collection of European, American, Chinese and contemporary
art, along with rotating exhibitions.
West Palm Beach also offers family fun, with the Palm Beach
Zoo at Dreher Park, the South Florida Science Museum
or nearby world-class beaches and fishing. SunFest, Florida's
largest waterfront music and art festival, takes place in West Palm
Beach each May.
Whether you come for the shining sun or the shining storefronts,
the subdued elegance of West Palm Beach is sure to captivate you.
West Palm Beach Geography
West Palm Beach is located at 26°42'36" North, 80°3'52"
West (26.709992, -80.064373)1.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total
area of 150.7 km² (58.2 mi²). 142.8 km² (55.1 mi²)
of it is land and 7.9 km² (3.1 mi²) of it is water. The
total area is 5.26% water.
West Palm Beach Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there are 82,103 people, 34,769 households,
and 18,253 families residing in the city. The population density
is 574.9/km² (1,488.9/mi²). There are 40,461 housing units
at an average density of 283.3/km² (733.8/mi²). The racial
makeup of the city is 58.09% White, 32.21% African American, 0.33%
Native American, 1.46% Asian, 0.16% Pacific Islander, 4.35% from
other races, and 3.40% from two or more races. 18.21% of the population
are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 34,769 households out of which 22.4% have children under
the age of 18 living with them, 34.3% are married couples living
together, 13.6% have a female householder with no husband present,
and 47.5% are non-families. 37.6% of all households are made up
of individuals and 11.8% have someone living alone who is 65 years
of age or older. The average household size is 2.26 and the average
family size is 3.02.
In the city the population is spread out with 21.3% under the age
of 18, 9.8% from 18 to 24, 31.5% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to
64, and 16.0% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is
37 years. For every 100 females there are 97.3 males. For every
100 females age 18 and over, there are 94.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $36,774, and the
median income for a family is $42,074. Males have a median income
of $30,221 versus $26,473 for females. The per capita income for
the city is $23,188. 18.9% of the population and 14.5% of families
are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 29.2% of
those under the age of 18 and 14.8% of those 65 and older are living
below the poverty line.
The city has Palm Beach International Airport, which also serves
Palm Beach County, Florida.
For more information visit city site at www.cityofwpb.com
