Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
Encyclopedia
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
. , the population was 48,452. The city has relatively strict zoning
laws and also a number of gated communities
.
and pine
forest
s, as well as swamp
land further west. In 1959, wealthy landowner and insurance magnate John D. MacArthur
announced plans to develop 4000 acres (16.2 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 Florida Legislature
, because of the similarity of the name to the nearby Palm Beach
. MacArthur planned to build a "garden city
" so he altered the name slightly. The city was incorporated
as a "paper town" (meaning that it existed only on paper) in 1959. The 1960 Census
recorded that the city officially had a population of one, apparently a squatter
whom MacArthur had allowed to stay on his property.
Rapid development took place in the 1960s. 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 1,008 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 (128.7 km) 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 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 1300000 square feet (120,774 m²) Gardens Mall in 1988 initiated a new wave of development, as did the sell off in 1999 of approximately 5000 acres (20.2 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 adopted an Art in Public Places ordinance in 1989 and has amassed an eclectic collection of works.
The city suffered much damage to its tropical landscaping
in the hard freezes
of 1985 and 1989, but has experienced no freezing temperatures since then. 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. Many homes and businesses were severely damaged during the first two storms and contractors and construction materials were at a premium. Hundreds of homes were only nearing final repair when Hurricane Wilma hit the following year damaging or destroying many of those completed or ongoing repairs.
The Professional Golfers' Association of America
has its headquarters in the city. There are 12 golf course
s 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
has been held at the PGA National Resort and Spa since 2007 and was held at the Country Club at Mirasol
from 2003 to 2006; both are located in Palm Beach Gardens. Ameribank has their headquarters in Palm Beach Gardens. The Gardens Mall
, PGA Commons, Legacy Place, and Downtown at the Gardens
are the center of the city's retail market.
K-12 primary
and secondary school
s are administrated by the School District of Palm Beach County
. Palm Beach Gardens Community High School
and William T. Dwyer High School
are the local public high school
s. The Upper School campus of The Benjamin School is also located in Palm Beach Gardens.
The Edward M. Eissey Campus, a satellite campus
of the Palm Beach State College
, is located in Palm Beach Gardens. It includes the Eissey Theatre for the Performing Arts.
was 629.6 per square mile (243.1/km2). There were 18,317 housing units at an average density of 329.0 per square mile (127.0/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 93.78% White (89.1% were Non-Hispanic 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 $59,776, and the median income for a family was $74,548 (these figures had risen to $69,630 and $83,715 respectively as of a 2007 estimate). Males had a median income of $50,045 versus $33,221 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $42,975. About 3.5% of families and 5.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.9% of those under age 18 and 3.5% 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%, French
made up 0.83%, and German
was the mother tongue of 0.61% of the population. Eleven other languages are spoken in the city, each of which are reported at less than 0.5%.
, K-9
, Detective
and Crime Scene Investigation, SWAT
and Hostage Negotiation. The department also has a 85-member Volunteers in Police Service
(VIPS) unit, including a Police Explorer
Post.
As of January 2011, the Chief of Police
is Stephen J. Stepp. Richard A Facchine and Clinton Shannon are Assistant Chiefs. Each Assistant Chief has two Commanders reporting to him.
The Palm Beach Gardens Police Foundation is a non-profit foundation holding IRS
501(c)(3) status. The Mission of the Palm Beach Gardens Police Foundation is to secure private funding to enhance the integrity of the community and the effectiveness of our Police Department. It does this by providing funding for innovative police department projects, that would not otherwise be funded from the city’s budget. These are typically programs that serve the community, improve communications, and foster excellence in policing.
The Palm Beach Gardens Fire Rescue Department operates out of five stations
located throughout the City. As of January 2011, the Fire Chief
is Peter Bergel.
On September 11, 2010, the city dedicated its "09.11.01 Memorial Plaza", located at Fire Station 3 on Northlake Boulevard. The memorial
commemorates the September 11, 2001 attacks. Its centerpiece is a steel section retrieved from the ruins of the World Trade Center
in New York City
.
provides for a council-manager government
. The city council
consists of five Palm Beach Gardens residents elected to serve three-year terms. A quorum
of three members may conduct city business. The city manager
is appointed by a majority
vote of the council.
At the 2011 election, council members Bert Premuroso (Group 1) and Marcie Tinsley (Group 5) were automatically reelected, with no opposition, and their terms will expire in 2014. Eric Jablin (Group 3) was reelected in a contested election, and his term will also expire in 2014. Joseph Russo (Group 2) and David Levy (Group 4) were reelected in 2010, and their terms will expire in 2013.
Each year, the council appoints one of its members to be mayor
, and another to be vice-mayor. , Levy is the mayor and Premuroso the vice-mayor. Russo and Jablin have served previously as mayor.
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 a 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
has proposed 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
(17 miles south of the city), Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport
(61 miles south of the city), and North County Airport
(an uncontrolled general aviation airport 2 miles (3.2 km) north of the city).
Palm Beach County, Florida
Palm Beach County is the largest county in the state of Florida in total area, and third in population. As of 2010, the county's estimated population was 1,320,134, making it the twenty-eighth most populous in the United States...
in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. The city is in the center of a rapidly-developing area north of West Palm Beach
West Palm Beach, Florida
West Palm Beach, is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and is the most populous city in and county seat of Palm Beach County, the third most populous county in Florida with a 2010 population of 1,320,134. The city is also the oldest incorporated municipality in South Florida...
in the northern part of the county and the South Florida metropolitan area
South Florida metropolitan area
The South Florida metropolitan area, also known as the Miami metropolitan area, and designated the Miami–Fort Lauderdale–Pompano Beach, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area by the U.S...
. , the population was 48,452. The city has relatively strict zoning
Zoning
Zoning is a device of land use planning used by local governments in most developed countries. The word is derived from the practice of designating permitted uses of land based on mapped zones which separate one set of land uses from another...
laws and also a number of gated communities
Gated community
In its modern form, a gated community is a form of residential community or housing estate containing strictly-controlled entrances for pedestrians, bicycles, and automobiles, and often characterized by a closed perimeter of walls and fences. Gated communities usually consist of small residential...
.
Geography
The city has a total area of 55.3 square miles (143.2 km²). 55.1 square miles (142.7 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²) of it (0.45%) is water.History
Prior to development, the land that became Palm Beach Gardens was primarily cattle ranchesRanch
A ranch is an area of landscape, including various structures, given primarily to the practice of ranching, the practice of raising grazing livestock such as cattle or sheep for meat or wool. The word most often applies to livestock-raising operations in the western United States and Canada, though...
and pine
Pine
Pines are trees in the genus Pinus ,in the family Pinaceae. They make up the monotypic subfamily Pinoideae. There are about 115 species of pine, although different authorities accept between 105 and 125 species.-Etymology:...
forest
Forest
A forest, also referred to as a wood or the woods, is an area with a high density of trees. As with cities, depending where you are in the world, what is considered a forest may vary significantly in size and have various classification according to how and what of the forest is composed...
s, as well as swamp
Swamp
A swamp is a wetland with some flooding of large areas of land by shallow bodies of water. A swamp generally has a large number of hammocks, or dry-land protrusions, covered by aquatic vegetation, or vegetation that tolerates periodical inundation. The two main types of swamp are "true" or swamp...
land further west. In 1959, wealthy landowner and insurance magnate John D. MacArthur
John D. MacArthur
John Donald MacArthur was an American businessman and philanthropist who established the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, benefactor in the MacArthur Fellowships.-Early life:...
announced plans to develop 4000 acres (16.2 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 Florida Legislature
Florida Legislature
The Florida State Legislature is the term often used to refer to the two houses that act as the state legislature of the U.S. state of Florida. The Florida Constitution states that "The legislative power of the state shall be vested in a legislature of the State of Florida," composed of a Senate...
, because of the similarity of the name to the nearby Palm Beach
Palm Beach, Florida
The Town of Palm Beach is an incorporated town in Palm Beach County, Florida, United States. The Intracoastal Waterway separates it from the neighboring cities of West Palm Beach and Lake Worth...
. MacArthur planned to build a "garden city
Garden city movement
The garden city movement is a method of urban planning that was initiated in 1898 by Sir Ebenezer Howard in the United Kingdom. Garden cities were intended to be planned, self-contained communities surrounded by "greenbelts" , containing proportionate areas of residences, industry and...
" so he altered the name slightly. The city was incorporated
Municipal corporation
A municipal corporation is the legal term for a local governing body, including cities, counties, towns, townships, charter townships, villages, and boroughs. Municipal incorporation occurs when such municipalities become self-governing entities under the laws of the state or province in which...
as a "paper town" (meaning that it existed only on paper) in 1959. The 1960 Census
United States Census, 1960
The Eighteenth United States Census, conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States to be 179,323,175, an increase of 18.5 percent over the 151,325,798 persons enumerated during the 1950 Census.-Census questions:...
recorded that the city officially had a population of one, apparently a squatter
Squatting
Squatting consists of occupying an abandoned or unoccupied space or building, usually residential, that the squatter does not own, rent or otherwise have permission to use....
whom MacArthur had allowed to stay on his property.
Rapid development took place in the 1960s. By 1970 the city had a population approaching 7,000 people. To showcase his new community, MacArthur purchased an 80-year-old banyan
Banyan
A banyan is a fig that starts its life as an epiphyte when its seeds germinate in the cracks and crevices on a host tree...
tree located in nearby Lake Park
Lake Park, Florida
Lake Park is a town in Palm Beach County, Florida, United States. The population was 8,721 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 9,080.-Geography:Lake Park is located at ....
, that was to be cut down to enlarge a dentist's
Dentist
A dentist, also known as a 'dental surgeon', is a doctor that specializes in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases and conditions of the oral cavity. The dentist's supporting team aides in providing oral health services...
office. It cost $30,000 and 1,008 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
Florida East Coast Railway
The Florida East Coast Railway is a Class II railroad operating in the U.S. state of Florida; in the past, it has been a Class I railroad.Built primarily in the last quarter of the 19th century and the first decade of the 20th century, the FEC was a project of Standard Oil principal Henry Morrison...
, the massive tree shifted and disconnected the Western Union
Western Union
The Western Union Company is a financial services and communications company based in the United States. Its North American headquarters is in Englewood, Colorado. Up until 2006, Western Union was the best-known U.S...
telephone and telegraph
Electrical telegraph
An electrical telegraph is a telegraph that uses electrical signals, usually conveyed via telecommunication lines or radio. The electromagnetic telegraph is a device for human-to-human transmission of coded text messages....
lines running adjacent to the railroad, cutting off most communications between Miami
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
, 80 miles (128.7 km) 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 impressionist
Impressionism
Impressionism was a 19th-century art movement that originated with a group of Paris-based artists whose independent exhibitions brought them to prominence during the 1870s and 1880s...
artist Pierre-Auguste Renoir
Pierre-Auguste Renoir
Pierre-Auguste Renoir was a French artist who was a leading painter in the development of the Impressionist style. As a celebrator of beauty, and especially feminine sensuality, it has been said that "Renoir is the final representative of a tradition which runs directly from Rubens to...
, 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 1300000 square feet (120,774 m²) Gardens Mall in 1988 initiated a new wave of development, as did the sell off in 1999 of approximately 5000 acres (20.2 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 adopted an Art in Public Places ordinance in 1989 and has amassed an eclectic collection of works.
The city suffered much damage to its tropical landscaping
Landscaping
Landscaping refers to any activity that modifies the visible features of an area of land, including:# living elements, such as flora or fauna; or what is commonly referred to as gardening, the art and craft of growing plants with a goal of creating a beautiful environment within the landscape.#...
in the hard freezes
Cold wave
A cold wave is a weather phenomenon that is distinguished by a cooling of the air. Specifically, as used by the U.S. National Weather Service, a cold wave is a rapid fall in temperature within a 24 hour period requiring substantially increased protection to agriculture, industry, commerce, and...
of 1985 and 1989, but has experienced no freezing temperatures since then. The city was hit by Hurricane Frances
Hurricane Frances
Hurricane Frances was the sixth named storm, the fourth hurricane, and the third major hurricane of the 2004 Atlantic hurricane season. The system crossing the open Atlantic during mid to late August, moving to the north of the Lesser Antilles while strengthening. Its outer bands affected Puerto...
, Hurricane Jeanne
Hurricane Jeanne
Hurricane Jeanne was the deadliest hurricane in the 2004 Atlantic hurricane season. It was the tenth named storm, the seventh hurricane, and the fifth major hurricane of the season, as well as the third hurricane and fourth named storm of the season to make landfall in Florida...
, and Hurricane Wilma
Hurricane Wilma
Hurricane Wilma was the most intense tropical cyclone ever recorded in the Atlantic basin. Wilma was the twenty-second storm , thirteenth hurricane, sixth major hurricane, and fourth Category 5 hurricane of the record-breaking 2005 season...
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. Many homes and businesses were severely damaged during the first two storms and contractors and construction materials were at a premium. Hundreds of homes were only nearing final repair when Hurricane Wilma hit the following year damaging or destroying many of those completed or ongoing repairs.
The Professional Golfers' Association of America
Professional Golfers' Association of America
Founded in 1916, the Professional Golfers' Association of America is headquartered in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, and is made up of more than 28,000 men and women golf professional members...
has its headquarters in the city. There are 12 golf course
Golf course
A golf course comprises a series of holes, each consisting of a teeing ground, fairway, rough and other hazards, and a green with a flagstick and cup, all designed for the game of golf. A standard round of golf consists of playing 18 holes, thus most golf courses have this number of holes...
s 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
Honda Classic
The Honda Classic is a PGA Tour golf tournament that is played each March in Florida. It was founded in 1972 as the Jackie Gleason's Inverrary Classic. In 1981, American Motors backed the tournament. Since 1982, American Honda Motor Co., Inc...
has been held at the PGA National Resort and Spa since 2007 and was held at the Country Club at Mirasol
Mirasol
The Country Club at Mirasol, also referred to simply as Mirasol, is a large, gated community located in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. The community, developed by Taylor Woodrow, contains just under 1,200 homes and home sites on two championship golf courses along with natural preserves and lakes....
from 2003 to 2006; both are located in Palm Beach Gardens. Ameribank has their headquarters in Palm Beach Gardens. The Gardens Mall
The Gardens Mall
The Gardens Mall is an upscale, two-story, enclosed shopping mall in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Its anchors are Macy's, Sears, Bloomingdale's, Nordstrom, and Saks Fifth Avenue, and it features more than 160 specialty shops and restaurants.-Current:...
, PGA Commons, Legacy Place, and Downtown at the Gardens
Downtown at the Gardens
Downtown at the Gardens is a upscale retail, restaurant and outdoor lifestyle center in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, on PGA Boulevard and Alternate A1A, east of I-95. An open-air two-level, lifestyle center with 30 stores and restaurants, its anchors include a 16-screen Cobb Theatre, Whole Foods...
are the center of the city's retail market.
Education
PublicPublic education
State schools, also known in the United States and Canada as public schools,In much of the Commonwealth, including Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and the United Kingdom, the terms 'public education', 'public school' and 'independent school' are used for private schools, that is, schools...
K-12 primary
Primary education
A primary school is an institution in which children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as primary or elementary education. Primary school is the preferred term in the United Kingdom and many Commonwealth Nations, and in most publications of the United Nations Educational,...
and secondary school
Secondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
s are administrated by the School District of Palm Beach County
School District of Palm Beach County
The School District of Palm Beach County is the thirteenth largest public school district in the United States, and the fifth largest school district in Florida. The District encompasses all of Palm Beach County. For the 2010-2011 academic year, enrollment totals 171,692 students in Pre-K through...
. Palm Beach Gardens Community High School
Palm Beach Gardens Community High School
Palm Beach Gardens Community High School is a public magnet high school for grades 9-12 in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. The school mascot is the Gator. It is well known for its athletics and medical magnet program. It was built in 1969 as a public high school...
and William T. Dwyer High School
William T. Dwyer High School
William T. Dwyer High School is a public high school for grades 9–12 in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, United States. The school was named for William T. Dwyer, former vice president of Pratt & Whitney's Government Products Division and a community leader in Palm Beach County. It is best known for...
are the local public high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
s. The Upper School campus of The Benjamin School is also located in Palm Beach Gardens.
The Edward M. Eissey Campus, a satellite campus
Satellite campus
A satellite campus or branch campus is a campus of a college or university that is physically detached from the main university or college area, and is often smaller than the main campus of an institution....
of the Palm Beach State College
Palm Beach Community College
Palm Beach State College is a member institution of the Florida College System,a public state college located in Lake Worth, Florida. Palm Beach State College was formerly known as Palm Beach Community College and before that Palm Beach Junior CollegePalm Beach State College enrolls more than...
, is located in Palm Beach Gardens. It includes the Eissey Theatre for the Performing Arts.
Demographics
, there were 35,058 people, 15,599 households, and 10,217 families residing in the city. The population densityPopulation density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 629.6 per square mile (243.1/km2). There were 18,317 housing units at an average density of 329.0 per square mile (127.0/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 93.78% White (89.1% were Non-Hispanic White), 2.30% African American, 0.11% Native American, 2.15% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.67% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 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
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
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 $59,776, and the median income for a family was $74,548 (these figures had risen to $69,630 and $83,715 respectively as of a 2007 estimate). Males had a median income of $50,045 versus $33,221 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $42,975. About 3.5% of families and 5.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.9% of those under age 18 and 3.5% of those age 65 or over.
As of 2000, speakers of English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
as a first language
First language
A first language is the language a person has learned from birth or within the critical period, or that a person speaks the best and so is often the basis for sociolinguistic identity...
accounted for 89.27% of all residents, while Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
comprised 5.60%, Italian
Italian language
Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
was at 1.00%, French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
made up 0.83%, and German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
was the mother tongue of 0.61% of the population. Eleven other languages are spoken in the city, each of which are reported at less than 0.5%.
City services
The Palm Beach Gardens Police Department has 117 sworn officers. Its operational divisions include Road Patrol, TrafficHighway patrol
A highway patrol is either a police unit created primarily for the purpose of overseeing and enforcing traffic safety compliance on roads and highways, or a detail within an existing local or regional police agency that is primarily concerned with such duties.Duties of highway patrols or traffic...
, K-9
Police dog
A police dog, often referred to as a "K-9 dog" in some areas , is a dog that is trained specifically to assist police and other law-enforcement personnel in their work...
, Detective
Detective
A detective is an investigator, either a member of a police agency or a private person. The latter may be known as private investigators or "private eyes"...
and Crime Scene Investigation, SWAT
SWAT
A SWAT team is an elite tactical unit in various national law enforcement departments. They are trained to perform high-risk operations that fall outside of the abilities of regular officers...
and Hostage Negotiation. The department also has a 85-member Volunteers in Police Service
Volunteers in Police Service
The Volunteers in Police Service is a volunteer program that provides volunteer assistance to local police. The program is managed by the International Association of Chiefs of Police in partnership with the White House Office of the USA Freedom Corps and the Bureau of Justice Assistance, Office...
(VIPS) unit, including a Police Explorer
Law Enforcement Exploring
Law Enforcement Exploring also known as Police Explorers is a career-oriented program that gives young adults the opportunity to explore a career in law enforcement by working with local law enforcement agencies. Founded on July 12, 1973, it is one of the Exploring programs from Learning for Life,...
Post.
As of January 2011, the Chief of Police
Chief of police
A Chief of Police is the title typically given to the top official in the chain of command of a police department, particularly in North America. Alternate titles for this position include Commissioner, Superintendent, and Chief constable...
is Stephen J. Stepp. Richard A Facchine and Clinton Shannon are Assistant Chiefs. Each Assistant Chief has two Commanders reporting to him.
The Palm Beach Gardens Police Foundation is a non-profit foundation holding IRS
Internal Revenue Service
The Internal Revenue Service is the revenue service of the United States federal government. The agency is a bureau of the Department of the Treasury, and is under the immediate direction of the Commissioner of Internal Revenue...
501(c)(3) status. The Mission of the Palm Beach Gardens Police Foundation is to secure private funding to enhance the integrity of the community and the effectiveness of our Police Department. It does this by providing funding for innovative police department projects, that would not otherwise be funded from the city’s budget. These are typically programs that serve the community, improve communications, and foster excellence in policing.
The Palm Beach Gardens Fire Rescue Department operates out of five stations
Fire station
A fire station is a structure or other area set aside for storage of firefighting apparatus , personal protective equipment, fire hose, fire extinguishers, and other fire extinguishing equipment...
located throughout the City. As of January 2011, the Fire Chief
Fire chief
Fire Chief is a top executive rank or commanding officer in a fire department, either elected or appointed...
is Peter Bergel.
On September 11, 2010, the city dedicated its "09.11.01 Memorial Plaza", located at Fire Station 3 on Northlake Boulevard. The memorial
Memorial
A memorial is an object which serves as a focus for memory of something, usually a person or an event. Popular forms of memorials include landmark objects or art objects such as sculptures, statues or fountains, and even entire parks....
commemorates the September 11, 2001 attacks. Its centerpiece is a steel section retrieved from the ruins of the World Trade Center
World Trade Center
The original World Trade Center was a complex with seven buildings featuring landmark twin towers in Lower Manhattan, New York City, United States. The complex opened on April 4, 1973, and was destroyed in 2001 during the September 11 attacks. The site is currently being rebuilt with five new...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
Government
The city charterMunicipal charter
A city charter or town charter is a legal document establishing a municipality such as a city or town. The concept developed in Europe during the middle ages....
provides for a council-manager government
Council-manager government
The council–manager government form is one of two predominant forms of municipal government in the United States; the other common form of local government is the mayor-council government form, which characteristically occurs in large cities...
. The city council
City council
A city council or town council is the legislative body that governs a city, town, municipality or local government area.-Australia & NZ:Because of the differences in legislation between the States, the exact definition of a City Council varies...
consists of five Palm Beach Gardens residents elected to serve three-year terms. A quorum
Quorum
A quorum is the minimum number of members of a deliberative assembly necessary to conduct the business of that group...
of three members may conduct city business. The city manager
City manager
A city manager is an official appointed as the administrative manager of a city, in a council-manager form of city government. Local officials serving in this position are sometimes referred to as the chief executive officer or chief administrative officer in some municipalities...
is appointed by a majority
Majority
A majority is a subset of a group consisting of more than half of its members. This can be compared to a plurality, which is a subset larger than any other subset; i.e. a plurality is not necessarily a majority as the largest subset may consist of less than half the group's population...
vote of the council.
At the 2011 election, council members Bert Premuroso (Group 1) and Marcie Tinsley (Group 5) were automatically reelected, with no opposition, and their terms will expire in 2014. Eric Jablin (Group 3) was reelected in a contested election, and his term will also expire in 2014. Joseph Russo (Group 2) and David Levy (Group 4) were reelected in 2010, and their terms will expire in 2013.
Each year, the council appoints one of its members to be mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
, and another to be vice-mayor. , Levy is the mayor and Premuroso the vice-mayor. Russo and Jablin have served previously as mayor.
Transportation
In December 1987, the last "missing link" of Interstate 95Interstate 95 in Florida
Interstate 95 is the main Interstate Highway on the east coast of the United States; it serves the Atlantic coast of Florida. It begins at a partial interchange with U.S. Highway 1 just south of downtown Miami, and heads north past Daytona Beach and Jacksonville to the Georgia state line at the St...
opened in the city, paving the way for new development immediately to the north. There are three interchanges
Interchange (road)
In the field of road transport, an interchange is a road junction that typically uses grade separation, and one or more ramps, to permit traffic on at least one highway to pass through the junction without directly crossing any other traffic stream. It differs from a standard intersection, at which...
on I-95
Interstate 95 in Florida
Interstate 95 is the main Interstate Highway on the east coast of the United States; it serves the Atlantic coast of Florida. It begins at a partial interchange with U.S. Highway 1 just south of downtown Miami, and heads north past Daytona Beach and Jacksonville to the Georgia state line at the St...
serving the city and a fourth is planned at Central Boulevard. The city also is served by two interchanges on the Florida's Turnpike
Florida's Turnpike
Florida's Turnpike , designated as the Ronald Reagan Turnpike, and originally known as the Sunshine State Parkway is a north–south toll road that runs through 11 counties in the Florida peninsula, from U.S...
.
Public transit
Public transport
Public transport is a shared passenger transportation service which is available for use by the general public, as distinct from modes such as taxicab, car pooling or hired buses which are not shared by strangers without private arrangement.Public transport modes include buses, trolleybuses, trams...
is available to the rest of Palm Beach County through the regional commuter bus
Transit bus
A transit bus , also known as a commuter bus, city bus, or public bus, is a bus used for short-distance public transport purposes...
system PalmTran. In addition, the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority
South Florida Regional Transportation Authority
The South Florida Regional Transportation Authority is a tri-county public transit authority operating out of Pompano Beach, Florida, serving Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties. The organization was created on July 1, 2003 by the Florida Legislature and enacted by the Florida Department...
has proposed extending the Tri-Rail
Tri-Rail
Tri-Rail is a commuter rail line linking Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach, Florida, United States. It is run by the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority. The system has 18 stations along the South Florida coast...
commuter rail
Regional rail
Commuter rail, also called suburban rail, is a passenger rail transport service that primarily operates between a city center, and the middle to outer suburbs beyond 15km and commuter towns or other locations that draw large numbers of commuters—people who travel on a daily basis...
system northward with a proposed station
Train station
A train station, also called a railroad station or railway station and often shortened to just station,"Station" is commonly understood to mean "train station" unless otherwise qualified. This is evident from dictionary entries e.g...
near PGA Boulevard north of the current terminus at Mangonia Park
Mangonia Park (Tri-Rail station)
Mangonia Park Station is a Tri-Rail commuter rail station in Mangonia Park, Palm Beach County, Florida. This is currently the northernmost station of the commuter rail system....
. A trolley
Tram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
system is also proposed to serve the newly developed "Downtown" area.
The nearest airports are Palm Beach International Airport
Palm Beach International Airport
Palm Beach International Airport is a public airport located 3 nautical miles west of Palm Beach, Florida, in West Palm Beach, Florida, and serves Palm Beach County. The airport is operated and maintained by Palm Beach County Department of Airports. Road access to the airport is available...
(17 miles south of the city), Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport
Fort Lauderdale – Hollywood International Airport is an international commercial airport located in unincorporated Broward County, Florida, three miles southwest of the central business district of Fort Lauderdale...
(61 miles south of the city), and North County Airport
North Palm Beach County General Aviation Airport
North Palm Beach County Airport , also known as North County Airport, is an uncontrolled general aviation airport located 12 nautical miles northwest of West Palm Beach off the Bee Line Highway in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida...
(an uncontrolled general aviation airport 2 miles (3.2 km) north of the city).
Notable residents
- Gary BeachGary BeachGary Beach is an American actor, primarily in Broadway musical theatre.-Biography:Beach was born in Alexandria, Virginia and later went on to graduate from the North Carolina School of the Arts, the same school as Terrence Mann, his Beauty and the Beast costar.Beach and his partner, Jeffrey...
, Tony AwardTony AwardThe Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as a Tony Award, recognizes achievement in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ceremony in New York City. The awards are given for Broadway...
winning actorActorAn actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity... - Mark CalcavecchiaMark CalcavecchiaMark John Calcavecchia is an American professional golfer and a former PGA Tour member. During his professional career, he has won thirteen PGA Tour events, including the 1989 Open Championship. Calcavecchia currently plays on the Champions Tour.-Early years:Calcavecchia was born in Laurel,...
, professional golfer on the PGA Tour - Scott CarpenterScott CarpenterMalcolm Scott Carpenter is an American engineer, former test pilot, astronaut, and aquanaut. He is best known as one of the original seven astronauts selected for NASA's Project Mercury in April 1959....
, one of the original Mercury SevenMercury SevenMercury Seven was the group of seven Mercury astronauts selected by NASA on April 9, 1959. They are also referred to as the Original Seven and Astronaut Group 1...
NASANASAThe National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
astronautAstronautAn astronaut or cosmonaut is a person trained by a human spaceflight program to command, pilot, or serve as a crew member of a spacecraft....
s selected in 1959 for Project MercuryProject MercuryIn January 1960 NASA awarded Western Electric Company a contract for the Mercury tracking network. The value of the contract was over $33 million. Also in January, McDonnell delivered the first production-type Mercury spacecraft, less than a year after award of the formal contract. On February 12,... - Gary CarterGary CarterGary Edmund Carter , nicknamed "Kid" and "Kid Carter", is an American former Major League Baseball catcher. During a 19-year baseball career, mostly with the Montreal Expos and the New York Mets, Carter established himself as one of the premier catchers in the National League, winning three Gold...
, Major League BaseballMajor League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
Hall of FameNational Baseball Hall of Fame and MuseumThe National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is an American history museum and hall of fame, located at 25 Main Street in Cooperstown, New York, operated by private interests serving as the central point for the study of the history of baseball in the United States and beyond, the display of...
catcherCatcherCatcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to... - Dave DavisDave Davis (bowler)Dave Davis was a successful professional ten-pin bowler and former member of the Professional Bowlers Association . He grew up in Hackensack, New Jersey, and now resides in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida....
, former professional bowlerTen-pin bowlingTen-pin bowling is a competitive sport in which a player rolls a bowling ball down a wooden or synthetic lane with the objective of scoring points by knocking down as many pins as possible.-Summary:The lane is bordered along its length by semicylindrical channels Ten-pin bowling (commonly just...
; 1967 PBAProfessional Bowlers AssociationThe Professional Bowlers Association is the major sanctioning body for the sport of professional ten-pin bowling in the United States. Headquartered in Seattle, Washington, the PBA membership consists of almost 4,300 members worldwide...
Player of the Year and PBA Hall of Famer - Glen DayGlen DayGlen Edward Day is an American professional golfer who plays on the PGA Tour.Day was born in Mobile, Alabama, and raised in Poplarville, Mississippi, by his mother Jeanne Bass Day. Jeanne was widowed at the age of 28 when Glen was approximately 2 years of age. His grandfather Glyndol Bass, was...
, professional golfer on the PGA Tour - Celine DionCeline DionCéline Marie Claudette Dion, , , is a Canadian singer. Born to a large family from Charlemagne, Quebec, Dion emerged as a teen star in the French-speaking world after her manager and future husband René Angélil mortgaged his home to finance her first record...
, Canadian pop singer - Luke DonaldLuke DonaldLuke Campbell Donald is an English professional golfer who is the current World Number One. He plays mainly on the U.S. based PGA Tour but is also a member of the European Tour. In 2006 he reached the top ten in the Official World Golf Rankings for the first time in his career. In January 2007, he...
, professional golfer on the PGA Tour - Jimmy KeyJimmy KeyJames Edward "Jimmy" Key is a former left-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Toronto Blue Jays , New York Yankees , and Baltimore Orioles...
, former Major League Baseball pitcherPitcherIn baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the... - Hank KuehneHank KuehneHenry August "Hank" Kuehne II is an American former U.S. Amateur champion and professional golfer who enjoyed some success on the PGA Tour....
, professional golfer on the PGA Tour - Thomas LevetThomas LevetThomas Levet is a French professional golfer who is a member of the European Tour and former member of the PGA Tour.Levet was born in Paris, France...
, professional golfer on the PGA European TourPGA European TourThe PGA European Tour is an organization which operates the three leading men's professional golf tours in Europe: the elite European Tour, the European Seniors Tour and the developmental Challenge Tour. Its headquarters are at Wentworth Club in Virginia Water, Surrey, England... - Stacy LewisStacy LewisStacy Lewis is an American professional golfer on the U.S.-based LPGA Tour.-Early years:Born in Ohio, Lewis grew up in Texas at The Woodlands outside of Houston, and graduated from The Woodlands High School in 2003...
, professional golfer on the LPGA Tour - Steve MarinoSteve MarinoStephen Paul Marino, Jr. is an American professional golfer, a member of the PGA Tour since 2007.-Early life, education, early golf:...
, professional golfer on the PGA Tour - Charles Moore (photographer)Charles Moore (photographer)Charles Lee Moore was an American photographer most famous for his photographs documenting the American civil rights era.-Life and career:...
, photojournalist (deceased) - Kassim OumaKassim OumaKassim Ouma is a Ugandan boxer. He is currently the NABA middleweight champion.-Early life:Born into poverty, at the age of six he was kidnapped and forced to join the National Resistance Army and consequently did not see his family for five years. Ouma is the 7th of 13 children, which include 7...
, former world champion boxerBoxingBoxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds... - Brian SchneiderBrian SchneiderBrian Duncan Schneider is an American Major League Baseball catcher.-Early life:Schneider was born in Jacksonville, Florida to Peter and Karen Schneider...
, Major League BaseballMajor League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
catcherCatcherCatcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
for the Philadelphia PhilliesPhiladelphia PhilliesThe Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League... - Chris VolstadChris VolstadChristopher Kenneth Volstad is a right-handed pitcher for the Miami Marlins. He is 6 foot 8 inches and 225 pounds, and is a 2005 graduate of Palm Beach Gardens High School....
, Major League BaseballMajor League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
pitcherPitcherIn baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
for the Florida MarlinsFlorida MarlinsThe Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at... - Serena WilliamsSerena WilliamsSerena Jameka Williams is an American professional tennis player and a former world no. 1. The Women's Tennis Association has ranked her world no. 1 in singles on five separate occasions. She became the world no. 1 for the first time on July 8, 2002 and regained this ranking for the fifth time on...
, tennisTennisTennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
professional - Venus WilliamsVenus WilliamsVenus Ebony Starr Williams is an American professional tennis player who is a former World No. 1 and is ranked World No. 101 as of 10 October 2011 in singles and World No. 20 in doubles as of 2011. She has been ranked World No. 1 in singles by the Women's Tennis Association on three separate...
, tennisTennisTennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
professional
External links
- City of Palm Beach Gardens Official website