Belle Glade, Florida

Encyclopedia : B : BE : BEL : Belle Glade, Florida

Belle Glade is a city in Palm Beach County, Florida on the southeastern shore of Lake Okeechobee. The population was 14,906 at the 2000 census. According to the U.S Census estimates of 2005, the city had a population of 15,423. [link] For a time, the city had the highest rate of AIDS infection in the United States.[link] About half the sugarcane in the nation is grown in the plains around Belle Glade and nearby Clewiston.

Contents

1 Geography
2 Demographics
3 Trivia
4 Crime
5 See also
6 References
7 External links

Geography

Belle Glade is located at [26°41′7″N, 80°40′17″W] (26.685264, -80.671275).^{[Geographic references#1GR1]}

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 12.1 km² (4.7 mi²). 12.0 km² (4.7 mi²) of it is land and 0.21% is water.

Demographics

As of the census^{[Geographic references#2GR2]} of 2000, there were 14,906 people, 4,854 households, and 3,431 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,237.7/km² (3,206.2/mi²). There were 5,374 housing units at an average density of 446.2/km² (1,155.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 30.29% White, 50.68% African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.19% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 9.70% from other races, and 8.93% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 27.57% of the population.

There were 4,854 households out of which 39.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.9% were married couples living together, 22.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.3% were non-families. 23.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.04 and the average family size was 3.62.

In the city the population was spread out with 33.5% under the age of 18, 10.0% from 18 to 24, 27.1% from 25 to 44, 20.7% from 45 to 64, and 8.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 103.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $22,715, and the median income for a family was $26,756. Males had a median income of $26,232 versus $21,410 for females. The per capita income for the city was $11,159. About 28.5% of families and 32.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 41.1% of those under age 18 and 21.4% of those age 65 or over.

Trivia

Belle Glade (and the surrounding area) is sometimes referred to as "Muck City" due to the large quantity of muck (soil), in which sugarcane grows, found in the area. [link]

Crime

According to the FBI in 2003 the city had the second highest violent crime rate in the country at 298 per 10,000 residents.

References

Florida, DK Eyewitness Travel Guides, 2004, pg. 124

External links

[City of Belle Glade]
[Belle Glade Chamber of Commerce]
[Maps and aerial photos] Coordinates: [26.685264° -80.671275°]
* Street map from [Google Maps] or [Yahoo! Maps]
* Topographic map from [TopoZone]
* Aerial image or topographic map from [TerraServer-USA]
* Satellite image from [Google Maps] or [Windows Live Local]

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