The Schoolhouse Children's Museum & Learning Center is located in a historic school building, the Boynton School (also known as the Boynton Beach Elementary School ), at 129 East Ocean Avenue in Boynton Beach , Palm Beach County, Florida .
62-495: The school was built in 1913, replacing a one-room school on the same site. Designer was West Palm Beach architect William Maughlin . It has two floors and six classrooms, and housed 12 grades. It was Boynton Beach's only school for 14 years. This was a "whites only" school until the integration of Florida schools in the 1960s. In 1927 a high school was built next door, and this building became an elementary school. Electricity and indoor plumbing were installed at that time. In 1990
124-605: A high speed passenger rail service serving Miami, Fort Lauderdale , and West Palm Beach, was opened in 2018. 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
186-780: 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
248-457: 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
310-649: A diverse community from different parts of the United States and the rest of the world. They included founding families such as the Potters and the Lainharts, who 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 fought in
372-480: 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. West Palm Beach is governed via the Mayor-council system . The mayor is elected in a citywide vote. The five members of
434-620: 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.,
496-632: 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
558-403: A stronger cold front can lower daytime temperatures to around 57 °F (14 °C), the annual mean minimum max temperature, and lows to around 38 °F (3 °C). Freezes are rare; the most recent was in 2010. This dry season can also bring about potential for drought during hotter, drier seasons. In 2000, the median income for a household in the city was $ 36,774, and the median income for
620-479: 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
682-575: 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
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#1732858836177744-581: 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
806-540: 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,
868-423: 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
930-561: Is now used as a local history museum. The city grew rapidly in the 1920s as part of the Florida land boom . The population of West Palm Beach quadrupled from 1920 to 1927, and all kinds of businesses and public services grew along with it. Many 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
992-579: 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
1054-510: 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
1116-535: 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: West Palm Beach has a tropical rainforest climate ( Köppen Af) with mean temperatures in all months above 64.4 °F (18 °C). The city is situated in USDA hardiness zone 10b, with an annual mean minimum temperature of 37.7 °F (3 °C). There
1178-429: Is year-round rainfall, with the majority falling in a wet season from May through October that is hot and humid. The average window for 90 °F (32 °C) temperatures is April 15 through October 10, but temperatures of 100 °F (38 °C) or higher have only occurred four times since record-keeping began in 1888. During this period, more than half of the days bring afternoon thunderstorms and sea breezes that cool
1240-567: 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 miles (109 km) north of Downtown Miami . The beginning of
1302-570: 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
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#17328588361771364-719: The Florida Department of State . A historical marker was erected in 2008. Since 2001 the former school is the home of the Schoolhouse Children's Museum & Learning Center . "Its mission is to encourage families to learn the history of Boynton Beach and Palm Beach County through interactive exhibitions and programs." It features hands-on, interactive exhibits about history, maritime history , marine life , local and regional history, and period home, general store , and school life displays. "Our exhibits provide an interactive glimpse of life for early Florida Pioneers – before
1426-571: The New Jersey -based Lincoln Group of Schools , and Southeastern College . 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,
1488-659: 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
1550-481: 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 neoclassical courthouse was opened. It has been painstakingly restored to its original condition and
1612-438: 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
1674-497: 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
1736-414: 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
1798-471: 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
1860-578: 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 . Private schools in the area include: 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
1922-479: 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
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1984-604: The Boynton Elementary School closed, though the building continued to be used for community programs. On March 7, 1994, it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places . In the 1990s the former school was the cornerstone of a revival of downtown Boynton Beach. In 1998-99 the building underwent a $ 14 million restoration funded by the City of Boynton Beach and the Florida Division of Historical Resources of
2046-693: 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 ,
2108-576: 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
2170-474: The U.S. Congress was for $ 1 million. According to the United States Census Bureau , this city has a total area of 58.2 square miles (151 km ), of which 55.1 square miles (143 km ) is land and 3.1 square miles (8.0 km ) (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
2232-811: The West Palm Beach Police Department. In 2014, an officer with a history of misconduct pled guilty to selling drugs while on duty. 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
2294-486: 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 (27 °C) temperatures remaining fairly commonplace even from December through February. Occasionally,
2356-404: The area experienced a deep freeze, he chose to extend the railroad to Miami instead. The land boom was already faltering when the city was devastated by the 1928 Okeechobee hurricane . The Depression years of the 1930s were a quiet time for the area, which saw slight population growth and property values lower than during the 1920s. The city only recovered with the onset of World War II, which saw
2418-451: 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
2480-456: 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
2542-604: The city council are each elected from districts. The United States Postal Service operates several post offices in the city limits: 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,
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2604-416: The city drinking water as well as a nature preserve. 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
2666-533: 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
2728-453: 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
2790-518: 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
2852-413: 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
2914-460: The days of computers, cell phones, televisions or even cars." West Palm Beach 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
2976-549: 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
3038-419: 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
3100-773: 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
3162-523: The houses. West Northwood became a city historic district in August 1993. 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
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#17328588361773224-602: 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
3286-500: 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
3348-499: 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
3410-468: 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
3472-450: 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
3534-561: 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
3596-601: 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
3658-518: 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,
3720-553: 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
3782-429: Was sold to George Currie, who created Currie Development Co. But before it was developed, the land was sold to William Ohlhaber, who raised coconut palms and ferns. Eventually, Ohlhaber platted the subdivision and sold off lots. The first house built in the subdivision was Ohlhaber's mission-style home at 205 Pilgrim. Ohlhaber's grandson said Ohlhaber bought the tract to provide dockage for his 90-foot (27 m) yacht, but
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#17328588361773844-447: 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
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