Kreamer Island facts for kids

Kreamer Island is a small island in the southeastern part of Lake Okeechobee. It is found in Palm Beach County, Florida. The island sits just north of Torry Island.

What is Kreamer Island?

Kreamer Island is a small piece of land in a big lake. It used to be a place where people lived. Today, it is known as a ghost town. This means no one lives there anymore.

Where is Kreamer Island?

This island is located in the southeastern part of Lake Okeechobee. It is part of Palm Beach County, Florida. Kreamer Island is about 4 miles (6.4 km) northwest of a town called Belle Glade. It is very close to another island named Torry Island. A small canal separates the two islands.

How to Get There?

Getting to Kreamer Island can be tricky!

• During the wet season, when there is a lot of water, you can only reach it by airboat. An airboat is a special boat that uses a big fan to move across shallow water.
• During the dry season or times of drought, when the water level is low, you might be able to get there using special off-road vehicles.

A Look Back: Kreamer Island's History

Kreamer Island was first settled a long time ago, in the 1800s. People lived there and made a living by fishing and farming. It was a small community.

The Big Storms

Over the years, Kreamer Island faced many powerful hurricanes. These big storms caused a lot of damage. One very strong hurricane in the 1920s was especially bad. About 1,000 people living around Lake Okeechobee lost their lives in that storm.

The Dike's Impact

After these terrible storms, a large wall was built around the lake. This wall is called the Herbert Hoover Dike. It was built to protect the towns and farms from future floods. The dike was made much taller, going from 6 feet (1.8 meters) to 20 feet (6.1 meters) high. While the dike helped protect other areas, it caused Kreamer Island to flood more often. Because of the flooding, people eventually moved away. This is why Kreamer Island became a ghost town.

Discovering the Past: Archaeology

In late 2007, something interesting happened. A drought caused the water level in Lake Okeechobee to drop very low. This revealed old items on the lake bottom near Kreamer Island. The Palm Beach County Board of Commissioners decided to start an archaeological dig. Archaeologists are scientists who study human history by digging up old objects. They hoped to learn more about the people who once lived on Kreamer Island.