Greenacres, Florida facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Greenacres, Florida
City
Flag Seal
Motto(s):  "A Good Place to Live" "Live·Learn·Work·Play"
Location of Greenacres, Florida
Country	United States
State	Florida
County	Palm Beach
Incorporated (Town of Greenacres City)	May 24, 1926
Reincorporated (City of Greenacres City)	December 4, 1945
Incorporated (City of Greenacres)	November 6, 1990
Government
• Type	Council-Manager
Area
• Total	6.04 sq mi (15.64 km2)
• Land	6.00 sq mi (15.54 km2)
• Water	0.04 sq mi (0.10 km2)
Elevation	16 ft (5 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	43,990
• Density	7,331.67/sq mi (2,830.85/km2)
Time zone	UTC-4 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	EDT
ZIP codes	33400-33499
Area code(s)	561, 728
FIPS code	12-27322
GNIS feature ID	283408

Greenacres is a city in Palm Beach County, Florida, United States. It is part of the large Miami metropolitan area in South Florida. In 2020, the city had about 43,990 people living there.

The story of Greenacres began around 1909 when people started buying land in the area. However, it was hard to farm because of the wet conditions. Things changed in the 1920s when Lawrence Carter "L. C." Swain started planning a community.

The community officially became a town called Greenacres City on May 24, 1926. The name "Greenacres" was actually picked out of a hat! The city was briefly dis-incorporated in 1945 but was officially re-incorporated in 1947. Greenacres grew quickly starting in the 1970s. In 1990, residents voted to simply call the community Greenacres.

Today, Greenacres is a diverse city with a large population. John I. Leonard High School, which is one of the biggest high schools in Florida, is located in Greenacres.

History of Greenacres

Early Days and Founding

In 1909, some people from a company in Colorado bought thousands of acres of land in Florida. They sold these lands to buyers across the United States and Canada. However, farming was difficult because the land was very wet, like the Everglades. Many buyers ended up settling closer to Lake Worth.

These lands were mostly unused until the 1920s. That's when Lawrence Carter "L. C." Swain from Massachusetts bought a large piece of land. He planned to create a community for working families. In 1923, he mapped out the first part of what would become Greenacres. By 1925, he was selling lots for $225.

Becoming a City

The town was officially named Greenacres City on May 24, 1926. The name "Greenacres" was chosen in a local contest. When it first became a city, about 1,250 people lived there. L. C. Swain became the honorary mayor.

Sadly, two big hurricanes hit Greenacres City. One in 1926 destroyed the civic building. Another in 1928 caused damage to almost every building in the town.

Changes and Growth

L. C. Swain passed away in 1944. Today, Swain Boulevard and L. C. Swain Middle School are named after him. In 1945, there was a time when Greenacres City was no longer officially a city. However, the mayor at the time, Charles A. Grabowski, fought against this decision.

On December 4, 1945, residents held a meeting and voted to become a city again. Greenacres City was officially re-incorporated in 1947. Over the years, Greenacres City grew to cover about 6 square miles by adding more land.

In the 1960s, a city hall and community center were built. By the 1970s, the city had its own full-time police and fire departments. In 1984, residents voted to build a new city hall and more recreation areas.

On November 6, 1990, about 60% of voters decided to drop the word "city" from the official name. So, the municipality became known simply as Greenacres. In 2006, the Greenacres Historical Society was formed to celebrate the city's 80th anniversary. They opened a museum two years later. A new city hall was completed in 2007.

Geography

Greenacres is located at about 26°37′41″N 80°8′7″W.

The United States Census Bureau says the city has a total area of about 5.79 square miles. All of this area is land.

Greenacres is in the east-central part of Palm Beach County. It is located northwest of Atlantis, east of Wellington, and next to Palm Springs on its east side.

Climate

Greenacres has a tropical climate. This means it's warm all year round, similar to places in the Caribbean. It is one of the few places in the United States that has this type of climate. It generally experiences a tropical monsoon climate.

Population Information

Population in 2010 and 2020

In 2020, Greenacres had 43,990 people living there. There were 14,215 households and 9,601 families. The population density was about 7,331 people per square mile. About 76.7% of the people in the city were 18 years old or older.

In 2010, there were 37,573 people in Greenacres. The population density was about 6,487 people per square mile. The average age of residents was 36.3 years old. About 24.8% of the population was under 18 years old.

Education

All public schools from kindergarten to 12th grade in Greenacres are managed by the School District of Palm Beach County. This is one of the largest school districts in the United States.

Public Elementary Schools

• Cholee Lake Elementary School
• Diamond View Elementary School
• Greenacres Elementary School
• Heritage Elementary School
• Liberty Park Elementary School
• Forest Hill Elementary School

Public Middle Schools

• L. C. Swain Middle School
• Okeeheelee Middle School
• Tradewinds Middle School

Public High School

• John I. Leonard High School

See also

In Spanish: Greenacres (Florida) para niños