West Palm Beach, Florida

West Palm Beach is a city located in Palm Beach County, Florida, USA. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 82,103. It is the county seat of Palm Beach County⁶.

The city 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 it with many historic structures and neighborhoods. The city quickly declined thereafter, however, due to hurricanes, the Great Depression and rampant suburbanization. In the past 10 years, however, the city had undergone a tremendous renaissance as newcomers have rediscovered 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.

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.

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.

Points of interest

• Mounts Botanical Garden