Canal Point, Florida facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Canal Point, Florida
CDP
Nickname(s):  CP
Country	United States
State	Florida
County	Palm Beach
Area
• Total	1.39 sq mi (3.60 km2)
• Land	1.39 sq mi (3.60 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	13 ft (4 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	344
• Density	247.13/sq mi (95.42/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	33438
Area code(s)	561, 728
FIPS code	12-10100
GNIS feature ID	0279964

Canal Point is a small community in Palm Beach County, Florida, United States. It is known as a census-designated place (CDP). This means it's a special area defined by the government for counting people. Canal Point is part of the Miami metropolitan area, but its culture is more like the Florida Heartland.

In 2020, about 344 people lived in Canal Point. The land was first home to the Calusa tribe until around 1650. White settlers started living here in 1909. They built a farming community that still grows a lot of crops today, especially sugar from sugarcane.

The West Palm Beach Canal was finished in 1917. This allowed farmers to ship their crops by boat to West Palm Beach and other places. Later, in 1924, Conners Highway was built. This made it possible to transport crops by trucks and cars. Canal Point is a very small place with not many buildings or roads.

About Canal Point's Location

Canal Point is located at 26°51′43″N 80°37′50″W / 26.86194°N 80.63056°W / 26.86194; -80.63056. It covers about 1.5 square miles (3.6 square kilometers) of land.

The community is right on the eastern shore of Lake Okeechobee. It is northeast of Pahokee and northwest of Bryant.

Weather in Canal Point

Canal Point has a warm climate. Summers are hot and humid, with average high temperatures often in the 90s Fahrenheit (around 32-35 Celsius). Winters are mild and pleasant. The area gets a lot of rain, especially in the summer months.

History of Canal Point

Long ago, the Calusa tribe lived in this area. Evidence from a place called Big Mound City, about 10 miles (16 km) away, shows they were here between 500 BCE and 1650 CE.

Canal Point became the first settlement for white people on the eastern side of Lake Okeechobee in 1909. A company called Southern States Land and Timber Company started planting sugarcane here in 1917. Around the same time, the West Palm Beach Canal was completed. This canal helped farmers send their crops to West Palm Beach. From there, the crops could go to other parts of the United States using the Florida East Coast Railway.

In 1924, Conners Highway was finished. This road followed the path of the West Palm Beach Canal. It made it easier to transport crops by vehicles.

Canal Point was not as badly damaged by the 1928 hurricane as some other towns. However, the local economy suffered a lot. It never fully recovered after the Herbert Hoover Dike was built in the 1930s. This dike limited boat traffic.

People of Canal Point

The number of people living in Canal Point has changed over the years. In 2000, there were 525 people. By 2010, the population was 367, and in 2020, it was 344 people.

In 2020, there were 107 households and 81 families living in Canal Point. The community is made up of people from different backgrounds.

Life in Canal Point

Most people in Canal Point work in agriculture. Many are independent farmers. Others work for large local sugar companies. The three biggest ones are the US Sugar Corporation, Osceola Farms, and Fanjul Sugar.

The town also has an access point to the Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail. This trail is great for walking or biking along the lake.

Getting Around Canal Point

The Palm Tran Route 47 bus connects Canal Point to nearby towns like Pahokee, Belle Glade, and South Bay. It also links to Route 40, which goes from Belle Glade to Wellington.

Several major roads pass through Canal Point. State Road 15 and US routes 98 and 441 all travel together through the town. This road is known locally as E. Main Street. Another important road is State Road 700, also called W. Main Street and Conners Highway.

Education in Canal Point

View of Canal Point Elementary School, circa July 1953.

Canal Point has one school:

• Kathryn E. Cunningham/Canal Point Elementary School. This school was named after Kathryn E. Cunningham, a principal who worked in education for 50 years. She helped get the school built and always supported children's learning.

Students in Canal Point also attend:

• Pahokee Middle School
• Pahokee High School

There are no colleges or universities right in Canal Point. However, Palm Beach State College has campuses in nearby Belle Glade and Loxahatchee Groves.

Famous People from Canal Point

• Anquan Boldin: A former NFL wide receiver who played for teams like the Arizona Cardinals and Baltimore Ravens. He grew up in Canal Point.
• Laura Upthegrove: Known as the "Queen of the Everglades," she was a famous bandit who owned a gas station in Canal Point.

Images for kids

• 

  Original lab/office building constructed at U.S. Sugar Plant Field Station, Canal Point, Florida, August 1922.

• 

  U.S. Sugar Plant Field Station (USDA Sugarcane Field Station), 1940, Canal Point, Florida.

• 

  Aerial view, E, of Canal Point, Florida, from over Lake Okeechobee.

• 

  Aerial view, ESE, of West Palm Beach Canal, Canal Point, Florida, 1940, from over Lake Okeechobee.

• 

  Aerial view, W, of the USDA Sugarcane Experiment Station, Canal Point, Florida, October 6, 1947, flooded after 1947 Fort Lauderdale hurricane.

• 

  Water standing approximately three feet deep in fields of U.S. Sugar prepared for Fall cane planting, east of Canal Point - Port Myacca Highway and south of the USDA's Sugarcane Experiment Station. Note flooded mature sugarcane field in the background. Photograph taken October 6, 1947, from Canal Point Townsite.

• 

  A sandbag and muck dike hold flood water back from the townsite of Canal Point, Florida, during October and November, 1947. The trees in the background are along the border of the USDA sugarcane experiment field.

See also

In Spanish: Canal Point para niños