Palm Beach Gardens, Florida facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
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9/11 Memorial Plaza
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| Nickname(s):
The Gardens, PBG,
The Golf Capital of the World |
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| Motto(s):
"A Signature City"
"A Unique Place to Live, Learn, Work, and Play!" |
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| Country |  United States |
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| State |  Florida |
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| County |  Palm Beach |
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| Incorporated | 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)
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| • 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)
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| Area code(s) | 561, 728 | |
| FIPS code | 12-54075 | |
| ANSI code | 02404464 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 2404464 | |
Palm Beach Gardens is a city in Palm Beach County, Florida. It is about 77 miles (124 km) north of Miami. Palm Beach Gardens is a main city in the larger Miami metropolitan area. In 2020, about 59,182 people lived there.
Contents
History of Palm Beach Gardens
Early History to 1970
Before Palm Beach Gardens was built, the land was mostly cattle ranches and pine forests. There were also swamplands further west. The first people settled here in the 1890s. They lived near what is now Juno Beach.
In the early 1900s, two other areas were settled. These were Prairie Siding and Kelsey City. Prairie Siding was a railroad station and timber mill. Kelsey City was named after Harry Kelsey, who bought a lot of land.
In 1959, a rich landowner named John D. MacArthur planned to build homes for 55,000 people. He wanted to call it Palm Beach City. But the state of Florida said no because it was too similar to nearby Palm Beach. So, MacArthur chose the name Palm Beach Gardens. He wanted to build a "garden city" with lots of green spaces.
The city officially started on paper in 1959. In 1960, the city had only one resident, Charles Cooper. He lived in a small shack. MacArthur helped him get a proper house later.
The city grew quickly in the late 1950s and 1960s. In 1958, the Beeline Highway opened. This road connected Indiantown with West Palm Beach. In 1961, MacArthur moved a huge, 80-year-old banyan tree to the city's entrance. It cost $30,000 and took many hours to move. This tree became a symbol of the city. It is still on the city's shield today.
The city's services also grew. The Palm Beach Gardens Fire Department started in 1963. A volunteer police force began in 1965. In 1965, a new exit for the Florida Turnpike opened in the city. MacArthur helped make this happen. A bridge over the Intracoastal Waterway was finished in 1966.
Businesses also came to the area. RCA opened a factory in 1961. It made personal computers. At its busiest, it had over 3,400 workers. Pratt & Whitney, an aerospace company, also built a large facility. They developed rocket and jet engines. This plant employed almost 9,000 workers at its peak.
1970-1990: City Facilities Expansion
By 1970, about 7,000 people lived in Palm Beach Gardens. The city kept growing steadily. In the 1970s, the first hotel, supermarket, and shopping center were built. The city also started building its Municipal Complex.
In 1972, Garden Boulevard was renamed MacArthur Boulevard to honor John D. MacArthur. This street became the city's first historical district. In 1980, Linda Monroe became the city's first woman councilmember. She later became the first female mayor.
In 1976, I-95 was completed, connecting Palm Beach Gardens to Miami. In 1987, the last part of I-95 was finished, linking the city to Fort Pierce.
In 1979, Sikorsky Aircraft opened a facility. They made and tested helicopters like the Black Hawk. In 1978, work began on the PGA National Resort Community. This huge project included homes, offices, shops, and golf courses. It became the new home for the Professional Golfers' Association of America.
The city's first community recreation center was built in 1983. In 1988, The Gardens Mall opened. It was one of Florida's largest malls. This led to a lot of new development. The MacArthur Foundation sold more land in 1999, causing even more growth. New roads, parks, and the expansion of Palm Beach State College followed.
The city started an "Art in Public Places" program in 1989. This means you can see many different artworks around the city.
1990-Present
Palm Beach Gardens was hit by several hurricanes in 2004 and 2005. These included Hurricane Frances, Hurricane Jeanne, and Hurricane Wilma. Many homes and businesses were damaged. Power was out for days after each storm.
In 1993, the Palm Beach Gardens Police SWAT team was formed. They handle high-risk situations. In 2011, the city opened a new Emergency Operations and Communications Center. It helps with emergency calls for several nearby cities.
Today, the city's main shopping areas are The Gardens Mall, PGA Commons, Midtown, Legacy Place, and Downtown at the Gardens. These are all located on PGA Boulevard. In 2000, the city's municipal complex was renovated.
Geography and Climate
Palm Beach Gardens is located at 26°50′56″N 80°10′02″W / 26.848788°N 80.167124°W. The city covers about 55.3 square miles (143.2 km2). Most of this is land, with a small amount of water.
Climate
Palm Beach Gardens has a tropical rainforest climate. This means it has long, hot, and rainy summers. Winters are short and warm, with mild nights.
| Climate data for Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 2002–present | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 85 (29) |
92 (33) |
90 (32) |
93 (34) |
94 (34) |
96 (36) |
96 (36) |
98 (37) |
95 (35) |
93 (34) |
92 (33) |
88 (31) |
98 (37) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 82.9 (28.3) |
84.7 (29.3) |
85.9 (29.9) |
88.4 (31.3) |
90.7 (32.6) |
93.2 (34.0) |
93.5 (34.2) |
93.7 (34.3) |
91.7 (33.2) |
89.9 (32.2) |
86.0 (30.0) |
83.3 (28.5) |
94.5 (34.7) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 75.0 (23.9) |
75.2 (24.0) |
77.2 (25.1) |
81.4 (27.4) |
84.1 (28.9) |
87.8 (31.0) |
89.2 (31.8) |
89.4 (31.9) |
88.0 (31.1) |
84.5 (29.2) |
79.8 (26.6) |
75.3 (24.1) |
82.1 (27.8) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 64.5 (18.1) |
66.1 (18.9) |
68.8 (20.4) |
72.9 (22.7) |
76.5 (24.7) |
80.6 (27.0) |
82.1 (27.8) |
82.4 (28.0) |
81.5 (27.5) |
77.6 (25.3) |
72.2 (22.3) |
67.5 (19.7) |
74.4 (23.6) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 55.5 (13.1) |
57.0 (13.9) |
60.4 (15.8) |
64.4 (18.0) |
68.9 (20.5) |
73.4 (23.0) |
75.0 (23.9) |
75.3 (24.1) |
74.9 (23.8) |
70.6 (21.4) |
64.5 (18.1) |
59.6 (15.3) |
66.6 (19.2) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | 39.7 (4.3) |
42.2 (5.7) |
47.3 (8.5) |
54.7 (12.6) |
61.0 (16.1) |
69.8 (21.0) |
70.9 (21.6) |
71.7 (22.1) |
70.7 (21.5) |
59.5 (15.3) |
50.4 (10.2) |
46.2 (7.9) |
37.4 (3.0) |
| Record low °F (°C) | 31 (−1) |
32 (0) |
39 (4) |
41 (5) |
51 (11) |
62 (17) |
60 (16) |
67 (19) |
62 (17) |
47 (8) |
40 (4) |
29 (−2) |
29 (−2) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 3.38 (86) |
2.64 (67) |
3.76 (96) |
3.18 (81) |
6.36 (162) |
9.22 (234) |
7.23 (184) |
8.28 (210) |
8.38 (213) |
5.96 (151) |
3.85 (98) |
3.76 (96) |
66.00 (1,676) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 6.2 | 5.4 | 5.5 | 6.0 | 8.9 | 12.8 | 13.6 | 15.5 | 13.9 | 10.6 | 7.8 | 6.8 | 113.0 |
| Source: NOAA (mean maxima/minima 2006–2020) | |||||||||||||
Population and People
| 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 | |||
The population of Palm Beach Gardens has grown a lot since 1960. In 2020, there were 59,182 people living in the city. There were 24,359 households and 15,515 families.
Population by Race and Ethnicity
The table below shows the different groups of people living in Palm Beach Gardens.
| Race | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White (NH) | 39,861 | 45,353 | 82.27% | 76.63% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 2,050 | 2,282 | 4.23% | 3.86% |
| Native American or Alaska Native (NH) | 58 | 33 | 0.12% | 0.06% |
| Asian (NH) | 1,481 | 2,597 | 3.06% | 4.39% |
| Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian (NH) | 17 | 10 | 0.04% | 0.02% |
| Some other race (NH) | 95 | 246 | 0.20% | 0.42% |
| Two or more races/Multiracial (NH) | 576 | 1,902 | 1.19% | 3.21% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 4,314 | 6,759 | 8.90% | 11.42% |
| Total | 48,452 | 59,182 |
Emergency Services
Palm Beach Gardens has its own police and fire departments to keep everyone safe.
Law Enforcement
The Palm Beach Gardens Police Department has 127 police officers. They have different teams like Road Patrol, Traffic, K-9 (with police dogs), Detectives, and Crime Scene Investigation. They also have a SWAT team and a Hostage Negotiation team.
The department also has a group of 85 volunteers called VIPS (Volunteers in Police Service). The Chief of Police in 2022 is Clinton Shannon.
The Police Department also runs NorthComm. This center handles emergency calls for Palm Beach Gardens and several nearby towns. If you call 9-1-1 in these areas, your call goes to NorthComm.
The Palm Beach Gardens Police Foundation is a non-profit group. It helps raise money for new police projects that the city budget might not cover.
Fire Rescue
The Palm Beach Gardens Fire Rescue Department has been helping citizens since 1964. They have five fire stations located around the city:
- Station 61 - Battalion 61, EMS 61, Ladder 61, Rescue 61, Brush 561, Light/Air 61, Boat 61;
- Station 62 - Engine 62, Rescue 62;
- Station 63 - Engine 63, Rescue 63, Brush 563;
- Station 64 - Engine 64, Rescue 64, Truck 64;
- Station 65 - Engine 65, Rescue 65.
On September 11, 2010, the city opened its "09.11.01 Memorial Plaza" at Fire Station 63. This memorial remembers the attacks of September 11, 2001. It has a piece of steel from the World Trade Center in New York City.
Transportation
Palm Beach Gardens is easy to get to by car. Interstate 95 (I-95) has three exits that serve the city. The Florida's Turnpike also has two exits here.
For public transit, you can use the PalmTran bus system. This system connects Palm Beach Gardens to the rest of Palm Beach County. There are also plans to extend the Tri-Rail commuter train system north. A new train station might be built near PGA Boulevard. A trolley system is also planned for the "Downtown" area.
The closest major airports are:
- West Palm Beach – 12 miles (19 km) south
- Fort Lauderdale – 58 miles (93 km) south
- Miami – 82 miles (132 km) south
Smaller airports for private planes include:
- 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
Palm Beach Gardens has many different businesses. Here are some of the top employers in the city:
| # | 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 |
Education
All public schools in Palm Beach Gardens are managed by the School District of Palm Beach County.
The main public high schools are Palm Beach Gardens Community High School and William T. Dwyer High School. The Benjamin School also has a campus here.
Palm Beach State College has a campus in Palm Beach Gardens called the Edward M. Eissey Campus. It includes the Eissey Theatre for the Performing Arts.
Sport
Palm Beach Gardens is known for golf! There are 12 golf courses in the city. The Professional Golfers' Association of America (PGA) has its main office here.
The The Honda Classic golf tournament has been held in Palm Beach Gardens since 2003. It is currently played at the PGA National Golf Club. The Senior PGA Championship was also held here for many years. The PGA National was also the site of the 1983 Ryder Cup and the 1987 PGA Championship.
In 2018, a company from Palm Beach Gardens, FITTEAM, bought the naming rights for The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches. This is where the Major League Baseball teams, the Houston Astros and Washington Nationals, do their spring training. The facility was renamed FITTEAM Ballpark of the Palm Beaches.
Notable People
Many interesting people have lived in Palm Beach Gardens, including:
- Paul Goldschmidt (born 1987), a baseball player and MVP
- Max Greyserman (born 1995), a professional golfer
- Sally Ann Howes (1930–2021), an English actress from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
- Dustin Johnson (born 1984), a professional golfer
- Anirban Lahiri (born 1987), a professional golfer
- Jack Langer (born 1949), an investment banker and former basketball player
- Thomas Levet (born 1968), a professional golfer
- Stacy Lewis (born 1985), a professional golfer
- Vincent Marotta (1924–2015), who helped create Mr. Coffee
- Grayson Murray (1993–2024), a professional golfer
- Charl Schwartzel (born 1984), a professional golfer
- Loris Spinelli (born 1995), a racing driver
- Chris Volstad (born 1986), a baseball pitcher
- Lee Westwood (born 1973), a professional golfer
- Serena Williams (born 1981), a famous tennis player
- Venus Williams (born 1980), a famous tennis player
See also
In Spanish: Palm Beach Gardens para niños
