Lake Worth, Florida
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Geography
Lake Worth is located at [Geographic references#1GR1], approximately seven miles south of West Palm Beach and 60 miles north of downtown Miami.According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 16.7 km² (6.5 mi²). 14.6 km² (5.6 mi²) of it is land and 2.1 km² (0.8 mi²) of it (12.69%) is water.
The USDA has mapped most of Lake Worth in the Southern Florida Flatwoods land resource area.[link] Deep, poorly drained acidic sandy soils are typical for the area; they have gray topsoil, white subsoil, and a dark hardpan. Much of Lake Worth is built on a rapidly drained white or gray sand which is too dry and infertile to support vigorous plant growth. The western outskirts of Lake Worth are in the Southern Florida Lowlands area. Topsoils there are sandy, but the subsoils have a much higher content of clay and the soils are relatively fertile. As in the flatwoods, these soils are poorly drained for many purposes unless drainage systems are installed.[link]
Lake Worth bills itself as "Where The Tropics Begin." Many tropical plants grow in the city; among the more prominent examples are mahogany, royal poinciana and many species of palm, including coconut palm. African tulip tree, avocado and many species of eucalyptus may also be found, although they are on the city's list of trees to avoid. Temperate-zone trees native to Lake Worth or Palm Beach County include American elm, live oak, red maple, red mulberry and slash pine. Species which are grown south of their native areas include American sweetgum, Shumard oak and tulip tree.
Although the incorporated city of Lake Worth is small geographically, as is common in Palm Beach County, a large unincorporated urbanized area with a Lake Worth postal address lies to the west of the city, and includes the Census Designated Place of Lake Worth Corridor, as well as neighborhoods such as "The Fountains", Lago Lucerne, Lake Osbourne Estates, Maleluca Lane Corridor and Palm Beach National. The 2006 Census estimates this urbanized area's population as 154,892. The total population of both incorporated and unicorporated Lake Worth is estimated by the 2006 Census to be 190,377.
History
Local folklore has it that the first post office in the Lake Worth area was founded in the 1880s by a married African American couple who were freed slaves. The initial name for the post office was Jewel. The post office was located in a small dry good shop which the couple operated to serve the lake traffic which connected the small pioneer homesteads located along the banks of the Lake Worth lagoon.
After Henry Flagler extended his railine south from West Palm Beach to Miami in 1896, a land development scheme was created to plat a townsite between the railroad and the lake. Purchasers of lots within the townsite would also receive a larger plot of land west of town for agricutural use. The initial name proposed for the new town was Lucerne. However, the U.S. Post Office refused to accept the name because there already was a Lucerne, Florida post office. Therefore, the city fathers settled on the name Lake Worth, for the lake which the fledgling town was sited on. One of the main streets was named Lucerne Avenue instead. The city was officially incorporated in 1912. Many of the first residents were farmers from other parts of the American south and mid-west, looking to benefit from the growing winter vegetable market of the time. The city benefited with the rest of south Florida during the 1920s land boom. A wooden automobile traffic bridge over Lake Worth was completed in 1919. The first casino and municipal beach complex was completed shortly thereafter. The 1920s also saw the completion of the Gulfstream Hotel, which still towers over the downtown to this day.
The city was severely damaged in the 1928 hurricane, toppling the bell tower on the elementary school (today the City Hall Annex) and destroying the beachfront casino and automobile bridge over Lake Worth. This led to a severe economic decline within the community which led into the Great Depression. Things were so dire in the city in the 1930s, that FDR's Works Progress Adminstration built a striking, moorish-styled "City Gymnasium" on the corner of Lake Avenue and Dixie Highway to provide employment for the impoverished citizenry. The building today serves as City Hall.
Development started again after World War II with many modest pensioners, especially from Quebec, Finland and eventually Germany, moving to the city and building 1,000 square foot cottages. These new immigrants brought their industrious nature with them as well as their native customs, restaraunts, shops, and churches and for decades the town flourished. To this day one can find an unusual abundance of beer halls, chocolatiers, bavarian delicatessans and Lutheran churches, which stand out in the semi-tropical urban sprawl of south Florida.
Another wave of immigrants moved in in the 1980 and 90s, mostly from Guatemala, adding a hispanic feel to the ethnic blend. After a short period of neglect and decline in the 1980s and 1990s, the city has seen a huge resurgence in interest and development and once moribund property values have soared. The city's charming main street, Lake Avenue, contains some of the oldest commercial structures in south Florida, including the Lake Worth Play House and the art deco PBICA. The re-discovery of this unique charm has spurred new interest in the city.
Many of the city's residents, who have a long running sense of fierce independence and support of mom and pop institutions, bemoaned the arrival of Starbucks and a six story condominium "high rise" in 2006. However, these developments showcase how far the city has come from just ten years ago, when many area residents derisively referred to the city as "Lake Worthless."
The city was hit especially hard by Hurricanes Frances, Jeanne and Wilma in 2004 and 2005 because it operates the only municipal power system in south Florida. This makes it very difficulty to get replacement parts for components damaged by hurricanes, and the city often lags behind other areas in getting power restored. The repeat destruction of the city's power grid has also created a fiscal strain on the city's budget as well as individual homeowners due to sky rocketing electric bills. There is a movement with the community to eventually move to Florida Power and Light, like the rest of south Florida.
Culture
Though Lake Worth is a considered a suburb of West Palm Beach, the city's downtown area has developed a distinct character and is a regular destination for both tourists and residents of South Florida. Downtown Lake Worth is home to the [Palm Beach Institute of Contemporary Art],the Lake Worth Playhouse, and the Museum of the City of Lake Worth. Yearly festivals such as the [Street Painting Festival] and Finlandia Week (a celebration of Lake Worth's Finnish population) attract thousands of people. When combined with neighboring Lantana's Finnish community, it becomes the largest Finnish community in the United States. The largest Oktoberfest in south Florida is held every October just outside the city on Lantana Road. The city also holds a weekly street festival called "Friday on the Avenues" with both Lake and Lucerne Avenues being blocked to traffic and food and art kiosks being set up around the antique Town Clock in the square in front of City Hall Annex.Lake Worth has a large population of new immigrants from Latin America and the Caribbean, though the downtown area has become increasingly gentrified in recent years. Some of South Florida's most attractive architecture can be found in College Park, an affluent neighborhood in the northeast corner of the city. Lake Worth's Bohemian atmosphere attracts many artists and musicians and the city has a large gay and lesbian population. Each March, the city it hosts one of the largest gay pride parades and festivals in the state at downtown's Bryant Park. In reflection of the Lake Worth's liberal views, an admitted anarchist was voted a seat on the city commission at the age of nineteen.
A substantial portion of the 1981 movie, Body Heat, starring William Hurt and Kathleen Turner was filmed in downtown Lake Worth.
Education
Lake Worth High School is the second oldest high school in Palm Beach County, established in 1922. The city is home to Lake Worth Middle School and several elementary schools. John I. Leonard High School is located in unincorporated Lake Worth.
Palm Beach Community College's main campus is located in unincorporated Lake Worth. It is the oldest community college in Florida, founded in 1937. It was at one time located on the campus of Palm Beach High School, at the present day Dreyfoos School for the Performing Arts in downtown West Palm Beach. The school moved to its present location in the late 1950s.
Recreation
Lake Worth contains a bounty of public parks and open space. The Municipal Beach is one of the last remaining large tracts of public open space on the ocean in southeast Florida. Attempts to redevelop the site with a larger private component such as hotels chain shops and restaurants and condos, have met fierce opposition from city residents. The City Pier, jutting into the Atlantic, was once a proud symbol of the city. However, much of it was destroyed by Hurricane Frances in 2004. Bryant Park, downtown on Lake Worth, has a 1920s bandshell which is used for festivals and events year round. The nearby municipal golf course offers low cost golfing with spectacular views of Lake Worth and Palm Beach beyond. On the west side of town, the County owned John Prince Park, follows meandering shores of Lake Osbourne and offers miles of bike and walking trails as well as hundreds of acres for picnicing, volleyball and even overnight camping.
Demographics
As of the census[Geographic references#2GR2] of 2000, there were 35,133 people, 13,828 households, and 7,688 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,405.1/km² (6,225.5/mi²). There were 15,861 housing units at an average density of 1,085.8/km² (2,810.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 65.12% White, 18.86% African American, 0.78% Native American, 0.75% Asian, 0.11% Pacific Islander, 9.57% from other races, and 4.82% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 29.71% of the population.There were 13,828 households out of which 26.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.9% were married couples living together, 11.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.4% were non-families. 33.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.19.
In the city the population was spread out with 22.9% under the age of 18, 10.6% from 18 to 24, 32.6% from 25 to 44, 19.6% from 45 to 64, and 14.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 108.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 110.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $30,034, and the median income for a family was $35,374. Males had a median income of $24,862 versus $22,971 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,517. About 15.8% of families and 20.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.1% of those under age 18 and 12.7% of those age 65 or over.
Famous and Infamous residents, past and present
- Convicted Vietnam-era war criminal William Calley
- Congressman Mark Foley was a former elected city official
- Soap opera star Deidre Hall
- University of Texas at Austin Tower Sniper Charles Whitman
See also
- Lake Worth Corridor: an unincorporated area outside the city limits of Lake Worth.
- Palm Beach Community College: the college's main campus is located in suburban Lake Worth.
External links
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