Riviera Beach, Florida facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Riviera Beach, Florida
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| City of Riviera Beach | ||
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| Nickname(s):
Conchtown
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| Motto(s):
"Best Waterfront City"
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Location of Riviera Beach in Palm Beach County, Florida
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| Country |  United States |
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| State |  Florida |
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| County |  Palm Beach |
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| Settled (Lake Worth Settlement) | c. Early 1860s–1880 | |
| Settled (Oak Lawn Settlement) | c. 1881–1892 | |
| Platted (Riviera Settlement) | c. 1893–1921 | |
| Incorporated (Town of Riviera) | September 29, 1922 | |
| Incorporated (Town of Riviera Beach) | 1941 | |
| Incorporated (City of Riviera Beach) | 1959 | |
| Named for | French Riviera | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Council-Manager | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 9.66 sq mi (25.01 km2) | |
| • Land | 8.28 sq mi (21.44 km2) | |
| • Water | 1.38 sq mi (3.57 km2) | |
| Elevation | 16 ft (5 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 37,604 | |
| • Density | 3,892.8/sq mi (1,503.6/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC– 05:00 (Eastern (EST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC– 04:00 (EDT) | |
| ZIP codes |
33403, 33404, 33407, 33410, 33418
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| Area code(s) | 561, 728 | |
| FIPS code | 12-60975 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 2404626 | |
| Website | https://www.rivierabch.com | |
Riviera Beach is a city in Palm Beach County, Florida, United States. It became an official city on September 29, 1922. It is the easternmost city in the Miami metropolitan area. In 2020, about 37,604 people lived in Riviera Beach.
Many people of African-American heritage live in Riviera Beach. The city is home to the Port of Palm Beach, a busy port for ships. It also has a United States Coast Guard station and its own marina for boats. One of the best places for diving in the country, Blue Heron Bridge, is in Riviera Beach. In 2015, a part of Old Dixie Highway in the city was renamed President Barack Obama Highway. You can also visit Rapids Water Park here, which is a fun place for both locals and visitors.
Contents
History of Riviera Beach
Riviera Beach was first called Oak Lawn. This was back in 1893 when it was renamed Riviera. The word "Beach" was added to its name in 1941. However, it was officially made a "Town of Riviera" much earlier, in 1922. In 1959, it changed from a "town" to the "City of Riviera Beach" we know today.
For the first half of the 1900s, people often called it "Conchtown." This nickname came from the many Conch people who lived there. These were people from the Bahamas or Bahamian Americans. The city's name, Riviera, was inspired by the beautiful French Riviera.
Geography and Location
Riviera Beach is located in the northeast part of Palm Beach County, Florida. You can find it at these coordinates: 26°46′48″N 80°4′2″W / 26.78000°N 80.06722°W.
The city covers about 9.8 square miles (25.01 square kilometers) in total. Most of this area, about 8.3 square miles (21.44 square kilometers), is land. The rest, about 1.5 square miles (3.57 square kilometers), is water. The eastern part of Riviera Beach includes most of Singer Island. This is a long piece of land on the Atlantic coast. It is separated from the main part of the city by Lake Worth's Lake Worth Lagoon.
Climate and Weather
Riviera Beach has a tropical climate. This means it's warm or hot for most of the year. It's also known as a tropical rainforest climate because even its driest month gets enough rain. It hardly ever gets cold enough for frost.
There are two main seasons in Riviera Beach, just like in other parts of South Florida.
- Mild and Dry Winter: This season lasts from November to April.
- Hot and Wet Summer: This season runs from May to October. During summer, short thunderstorms happen almost every day.
The city is full of different kinds of tropical vegetation. You can see many unique plants, trees, and flowers all around Riviera Beach and South Florida.
| Climate data for Riviera Beach, Florida | |||||||||||||
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 75 (24) |
77 (25) |
79 (26) |
82 (28) |
86 (30) |
89 (32) |
90 (32) |
90 (32) |
88 (31) |
85 (29) |
80 (27) |
76 (24) |
83 (28) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 57 (14) |
59 (15) |
62 (17) |
66 (19) |
71 (22) |
74 (23) |
76 (24) |
76 (24) |
75 (24) |
72 (22) |
66 (19) |
60 (16) |
68 (20) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 3.13 (80) |
2.94 (75) |
4.59 (117) |
3.66 (93) |
4.51 (115) |
8.30 (211) |
5.76 (146) |
7.95 (202) |
8.35 (212) |
5.13 (130) |
4.75 (121) |
3.38 (86) |
62.45 (1,588) |
| Source: The Weather Channel | |||||||||||||
Population Changes Over Time
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1930 | 811 | — | |
| 1940 | 1,981 | 144.3% | |
| 1950 | 4,065 | 105.2% | |
| 1960 | 13,046 | 220.9% | |
| 1970 | 21,401 | 64.0% | |
| 1980 | 26,489 | 23.8% | |
| 1990 | 27,639 | 4.3% | |
| 2000 | 29,884 | 8.1% | |
| 2010 | 32,488 | 8.7% | |
| 2020 | 37,604 | 15.7% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
The population of Riviera Beach has grown a lot over the years. In 1930, there were only 811 people. By 2020, the population had grown to 37,604 people.
Who Lives in Riviera Beach?
The table below shows the different groups of people living in Riviera Beach. The U.S. Census counts people by their race and also by whether they are of Hispanic or Latino origin. People of Hispanic or Latino origin can be of any race.
| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2000 | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
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| White alone (NH) | 7,586 | 7,440 | 8,302 | 25.38% | 22.90% | 22.08% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 20,066 | 21,126 | 22,877 | 67.15% | 65.03% | 60.84% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 38 | 76 | 45 | 0.13% | 0.23% | 0.12% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 295 | 765 | 1,087 | 0.99% | 2.35% | 2.89% |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 7 | 18 | 7 | 0.02% | 0.06% | 0.02% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 49 | 98 | 164 | 0.16% | 0.30% | 0.44% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | 495 | 547 | 1,082 | 1.66% | 1.68% | 2.88% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 1,348 | 2,418 | 4,040 | 4.51% | 7.44% | 10.74% |
| Total | 29,884 | 32,488 | 37,604 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
Schools in Riviera Beach
Riviera Beach has several schools for students of all ages.
Elementary Schools
- Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Elementary School
- Lincoln Elementary School (This school used to be Lincoln High School. It was only for black students during a time when schools were separated by race. Before that, it was called West Riviera Junior High School.)
- Washington Elementary School
- West Riviera Elementary School
Middle School
- John F Kennedy Middle School (This school was originally John F. Kennedy High School. It was also only for black students during the time of racial separation.)
High Schools
- Inlet Grove High School
- Suncoast High School (This school was originally Riviera Beach High School. It was only for white students during the time of racial separation.)
Charter High School
- Riviera Beach Preparatory and Achievement Academy (This school teaches students from 5th to 12th grade.)
Transportation in the City
You can get around Riviera Beach using buses. PalmTran operates several bus routes that serve the city.
Local Businesses and Economy
One notable business in Riviera Beach is EDF Incorporated, which was started in 1978.
Famous People from Riviera Beach
Many talented people have connections to Riviera Beach:
- Anthony Carter (born 1960) – A great football player who played for the Michigan Wolverines and in the NFL. He was chosen for the Pro Bowl three times.
- Paul DeJong (born 1993) – A professional baseball player, an infielder for the San Francisco Giants in MLB.
- Devin Hester (born 1982) – An NFL player famous for returning kicks. He holds many records and was part of the National Football League 100th Anniversary All-Time Team.
- Elizabeth Jacobson (1984–2005) – A brave USAF airman who sadly passed away during the Iraq War.
- Richard Rellford (born 1964) – A professional basketball player.
- Burt Reynolds (1936–2018) – A famous actor. He moved to Riviera Beach when he was 10 years old in 1946. His father was a police officer and even became the Chief of Police in Riviera Beach.
- Willie Young (born 1985) – An NFL defensive end football player.
Images for kids
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Welcome sign for Riviera Beach.
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The official seal of Riviera Beach.
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Map showing Riviera Beach in Florida.
See also
In Spanish: Riviera Beach para niños
