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Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
City of Palm Beach Gardens
Nickname(s): 
The Gardens, PBG, The Golf Capital of the World
Motto(s): 
"A Signature City" and "A Unique Place to Live, Learn, Work, and Play!"
Map of Florida highlighting Palm Beach Gardens.svg
Country  United States of America
State  Florida
County Flag of Palm Beach County, Florida.png Palm Beach
Established June 20, 1959
Government
 • Type Council-Manager
Area
 • Total 59.34 sq mi (153.68 km2)
 • Land 58.71 sq mi (152.07 km2)
 • Water 0.62 sq mi (1.61 km2)  4.5%
Elevation
16 ft (5 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 59,182
 • Density 1,007.99/sq mi (389.19/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP codes
33403, 33408, 33410, 33412, 33418, 33420 (PO Box)
Area code(s) 561
FIPS code 12-54075
ANSI code 02404464
GNIS feature ID 0302681

Palm Beach Gardens is a city in Palm Beach County in the U.S. state of Florida, 77 miles north of downtown Miami. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 59,182. Palm Beach Gardens is a principal city of the Miami metropolitan area, which was home to an estimated 6.1 million people at the 2019 census.

Geography

The city has a total area of 55.3 square miles (143 km2), of which 55.1 square miles (143 km2) is land and 0.2 square miles (0.52 km2) (4.5%) is water.

History

Prior to development, the land that became Palm Beach Gardens was primarily cattle ranches and pine forests, as well as swampland further west. In 1959, wealthy landowner and insurance magnate John D. MacArthur announced plans to develop 4,000 acres (16 km2) and build homes for 55,000 people. He chose the name Palm Beach Gardens after his initial choice, Palm Beach City, was denied by the Florida Legislature, because of the similarity of the name to the nearby Palm Beach. MacArthur planned to build a "garden city" so he altered the name slightly. The city was incorporated as a "paper town" (meaning that it existed only on paper) in 1959. The 1960 Census recorded that the city officially had a population of one, apparently a squatter whom MacArthur had allowed to stay on his property.

Rapid development took place in the 1960s. By 1970 the city had a population approaching 7,000 people. To showcase his new community, MacArthur purchased an 80-year-old banyan tree located in nearby Lake Park, that was to be cut down to enlarge a dentist's office. It cost $30,000 and 1,008 hours of manpower to move it. A second banyan was moved the following year. While moving the first banyan tree over the Florida East Coast Railway, the massive tree shifted and disconnected the Western Union telephone and telegraph lines running adjacent to the railroad, cutting off most communications between Miami, 78 miles (126 km) to the south, and the outside world until the damage could be repaired. These trees still remain at the center of MacArthur Boulevard near Northlake Boulevard and are still featured on the city shield. In January 2007, the great-grandson of impressionist artist Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Alexandre Renoir, presented a painting to the city which depicts the Gardens banyan tree. It is currently on display at the city hall on North Military Trail.

City growth was slow but steady throughout the 1970s and 1980s, as the population has still not reached the predicted 55,000 people envisioned by MacArthur. However, the opening of the 1,300,000-square-foot (120,000 m2) Gardens Mall in 1988 initiated a new wave of development, as did the sell off in 1999 of approximately 5,000 acres (20 km2) in the city by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. Development of this property happened quickly and led to much new growth in the city. The city adopted an Art in Public Places ordinance in 1989 and has amassed an eclectic collection of works.

The city suffered much damage to its tropical landscaping in the hard freezes of 1985 and 1989, but has experienced no freezing temperatures since then. The city was hit by Hurricane Frances, Hurricane Jeanne, and Hurricane Wilma in 2004 and 2005. Much of the city lost power for days at a time after each storm, and many traffic signals and directional signs in the city were destroyed. Many homes and businesses were severely damaged during the first two storms and contractors and construction materials were at a premium. Hundreds of homes were only nearing final repair when Hurricane Wilma hit the following year damaging or destroying many of those completed or ongoing repairs.

The Professional Golfers' Association of America has its headquarters in the city. There are 12 golf courses within the city limits, including a course owned by the municipality. The Honda Classic has been held at two Palm Beach Gardens locations: from 2003 to 2006 at the Country Club at Mirasol and since 2007 at the PGA National Resort and Spa. PGA National was also the site of the 1983 Ryder Cup, the 1987 PGA Championship, and the Senior PGA Championship from 1982 to 2000.

The Gardens Mall, PGA Commons, Midtown, Legacy Place, and Downtown at the Gardens are the center of the city's retail market. They are located on the municipality's main stretch on PGA Boulevard.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1960 1
1970 6,102 610,100.0%
1980 14,407 136.1%
1990 22,965 59.4%
2000 35,058 52.7%
2010 48,452 38.2%
2020 59,182 22.1%
U.S. Decennial Census

2020 census

Palm Beach Gardens racial composition
(Hispanics excluded from racial categories)
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
Race Number Percentage
White (NH) 45,353 76.63%
Black or African American (NH) 2,282 3.86%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH) 33 0.06%
Asian (NH) 2,597 4.39%
Pacific Islander (NH) 10 0.02%
Some Other Race (NH) 246 0.42%
Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) 1,902 3.21%
Hispanic or Latino 6,759 11.42%
Total 59,182

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 59,182 people, 24,191 households, and 14,907 families residing in the city.

2010 census

Palm Beach Gardens Demographics
2010 Census Palm Beach Gardens Palm Beach County Florida
Total population 48,452 1,320,134 18,801,310
Population, percent change, 2000 to 2010 +38.2% +16.7% +17.6%
Population density 879.5/sq mi 670.2/sq mi 350.6/sq mi
White or Caucasian (including White Hispanic) 89.3% 73.5% 75.0%
(Non-Hispanic White or Caucasian) 82.3% 60.1% 57.9%
Black or African-American 4.4% 17.3% 16.0%
Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 8.9% 19.0% 22.5%
Asian 3.1% 2.4% 2.4%
Native American or Native Alaskan 0.2% 0.5% 0.4%
Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian 0.0% 0.1% 0.1%
Two or more races (Multiracial) 1.6% 2.3% 2.5%
Some Other Race 1.4% 3.9% 3.6%

As of 2010, there were 27,663 households, out of which 17.6% were vacant. As of 2000, 23.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.8% were married couples living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.5% were non-families. 27.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.70.

City services

The Palm Beach Gardens Police Department has 117 sworn officers. Its operational divisions include Road Patrol, Traffic, K-9, Detective and Crime Scene Investigation, SWAT and Hostage Negotiation. The department also has an 85-member Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS) unit, including a Police Explorer Post.

As of September 2015, the chief of police is Stephen J. Stepp. Clinton Shannon and James Stormes are the Assistant Chiefs. There are four Police Majors.

The Police Department provides protection to the city and also manages NorthComm - The North County Communications Center which handles emergency communications for the City of Palm Beach Gardens, the Town of Jupiter, the Town of North Palm Beach, the Town of Juno and the Town of Palm Beach Shores. When someone calls 9-1-1 in one of these locations, their call is routed to NorthComm and from there they notify the nearest available police unit.

The Palm Beach Gardens Police Foundation is a non-profit foundation holding IRS 501(c)(3) status. The Mission of the Palm Beach Gardens Police Foundation is to secure private funding to enhance the integrity of the community and the effectiveness of the Police Department. It does this by providing funding for innovative police department projects, that would not otherwise be funded from the city’s budget. These are typically programs that serve the community, improve communications, and foster excellence in policing.

The Palm Beach Gardens Fire Rescue Department operates out of five stations located throughout the City. As of October 2013, the Fire Chief is Michael Southard.

On September 11, 2010, the city dedicated its "09.11.01 Memorial Plaza" at Fire Station 3 on Northlake Boulevard. The memorial commemorates the September 11, 2001 attacks. Its centerpiece is a steel section retrieved from the ruins of the World Trade Center in New York City.

Transportation

In December 1987, the last "missing link" of Interstate 95 (I-95) opened between PGA Boulevard in Palm Beach Gardens and State Road 714, west of Stuart, paving the way for new development immediately to the north. There are three interchanges on I-95 serving the city and a fourth at Central Boulevard is under consideration. The city also is served by two interchanges on Florida's Turnpike.

Public transit is available to the rest of Palm Beach County through the regional commuter bus system PalmTran. In addition, the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority has proposed extending the Tri-Rail commuter rail system northward with a proposed station near PGA Boulevard north of the current terminus at Mangonia Park. A trolley system is also proposed to serve the newly developed "Downtown" area.

The nearest major airports, with driving distances measured from Palm Beach Gardens city hall, are:

The nearest general aviation airports are:

  • North Palm Beach County – 12 miles (19 km) west
  • Lantana – 20 miles (32 km) south
  • Stuart – 28 miles (45 km) north
  • Boca Raton – 36 miles (58 km) south

Economy

Top employers

According to Palm Beach Gardens' 2014 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are:

# Employer Employees
1 G4S 3,000
2 School District of Palm Beach County 1,193
3 Brookdale Senior Living 1,000
4 Tenet Healthcare 855
5 PGA National Resort & Spa 780
6 TBC Corporation 600
7 Biomet 3i 476
8 City of Palm Beach Gardens 455
9 Belcan 329
10 Anspach 256

Sport

There are 12 golf courses within the city limits, including a course owned by the municipality. The Professional Golfers' Association of America has its headquarters in the city.

The Honda Classic has been held at two Palm Beach Gardens locations: from 2003 to 2006 at the Country Club at Mirasol and since 2007 at the PGA National Resort and Spa. Also, the Senior PGA Championship was held at the current BallenIsles from 1964 to 1973, and at the PGA National Golf Club from 1982 to 2000. PGA National was also the site of the 1983 Ryder Cup and the 1987 PGA Championship.

In February 2018, the Palm Beach Gardens-based company FITTEAM concluded a 12-year deal with Major League Baseball′s Houston Astros and Washington Nationals giving it the naming rights to The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches – spring training home of the Astros and Nationals – in nearby West Palm Beach. The facility was renamed FITTEAM Ballpark of the Palm Beaches.

Education

Public K-12 primary and secondary schools are administrated by the School District of Palm Beach County. Palm Beach Gardens Community High School and William T. Dwyer High School are the local public high schools. The Upper School campus of The Benjamin School is also located in Palm Beach Gardens.

The Edward M. Eissey Campus, a satellite campus of the Palm Beach State College, is located in Palm Beach Gardens. It includes the Eissey Theatre for the Performing Arts.

Notable people

Some notable Palm Beach Gardens residents, past and present, include:

  • Sally Ann Howes, English Actress best known for her role as Truly Scrumptious in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
  • Dustin Johnson, professional golfer on the PGA Tour
  • Thomas Levet, professional golfer on the PGA European Tour
  • Stacy Lewis, professional golfer on the LPGA Tour
  • Vincent Marotta, entrepreneur, co-developer of Mr. Coffee
  • Charl Schwartzel, professional golfer on the PGA Tour
  • Chris Volstad, Major League Baseball pitcher
  • Lee Westwood, professional golfer on the PGA Tour
  • Serena Williams (born 1981), tennis professional
  • Venus Williams, tennis professional

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Palm Beach Gardens para niños

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