Golfview, Florida facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Golfview, Florida
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 Golfview, Florida
Location in Florida
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Florida |
| County | Palm Beach |
| Incorporated | June 11, 1937 |
| Unincorporated | September 1, 1998 |
| Named for | The golf course at the West Palm Beach Country Club |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.0 sq mi (3 km2) |
| • Land | 0.0 sq mi (0 km2) |
| • Water | 0.0 sq mi (0 km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
Golfview was a small town in Palm Beach County, Florida, in the United States. It was officially created on June 11, 1937. The town was located very close to the Palm Beach International Airport. Golfview was always small, both in size and population. At its largest, in 1980, only 210 people lived there. By the mid-1980s, the airport began to expand, which caused many residents to sell their homes. Golfview officially stopped being a town on September 1, 1998.
A Town's Story
Early Days of Golfview
People started living in the area that would become Golfview around 1934. They even built a 20-foot archway to mark their community. In May 1937, a plan was sent to the Florida Legislature, which is like Florida's law-making group. The plan was to create a 125-acre community near Belvedere Road and Military Trail.
On June 11, 1937, Florida's governor, Fred P. Cone, signed a bill that officially made Golfview a town. Even though there were no golf courses in Golfview itself, the town got its name from the nearby West Palm Beach Golf Course. When it first started, Golfview had about a dozen residents. By 1962, the population grew to about 155 people, and the town covered about 1 square mile. In that same year, a special fallout shelter was built at the property of Mayor Ellis Altman. This was the only one in the county funded by the government.
Why Golfview Disappeared
Because Golfview was so close to the Palm Beach International Airport, it became a very noisy and busy place. It was no longer a good spot for people to live quietly. In 1987, due to the airport's noise and plans for expansion, most of the property owners in Golfview agreed to sell their homes. The total value of these sales was $35 million. The town council also agreed to change the town's zoning. This meant the entire town was now set aside for commercial buildings, like offices or hotels.
After trying to attract companies to build new hotels or office parks, the properties were eventually sold to Palm Beach County. This happened in 1998, and the county paid $15.9 million for the land to expand the airport. In July of that year, the town's archway was moved to Yesteryear Village at the South Florida Fairgrounds. About a month later, the town clerk signed a document to officially end Golfview's status as a town. This document was filed on September 1, 1998, which officially dissolved Golfview. It was the first town in Florida to stop being a municipality since 1987.
