The Acreage, Florida facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Acreage, Florida
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Location within Palm Beach County and the state of Florida
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Florida |
| County |  Palm Beach |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 41,654 |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| Zip codes |
33411, 33412, 33470
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| Area code(s) | 561, 728 |
The Acreage is a special kind of community called a census-designated place (CDP). It is located in Palm Beach County, Florida, in the United States. This area is part of the larger Miami metropolitan area in South Florida. In 2020, about 41,654 people lived in The Acreage.
Contents
Exploring The Acreage's Location
The Acreage is found at coordinates 26.770518° N and 80.254626° W. It sits north of other towns like Royal Palm Beach, Wellington, and Loxahatchee Groves. It is about 18 miles (29 km) northwest of West Palm Beach.
This community is unique because it's on the edge of busy, developed parts of Palm Beach County. It also touches the more rural, farming areas. The Acreage has large home lots, dirt roads, and many wooded spots. This gives it a country feel. Even so, it is seen as a place where people live and travel to work in the bigger South Florida Metropolitan Area.
The Indian Trail Improvement District is in charge of The Acreage. This district takes care of the roads and drainage systems. The Acreage uses several Zip codes: 33411, 33412, and 33470.
The Acreage's Past
The Acreage was first built by Samuel Friedland and his company, Royal Palm Beach Colony, Inc. It was called Royal Palm Beach Colony back then. The idea was to create homes for workers from nearby citrus groves. These workers were given 1-acre (4,000 m²) lots with few rules about how they could use their land.
Sometimes, local flooding happens every year. This can cause roads to close. Hurricane Irene in 1999 caused a lot of memorable flooding. In 2004, two hurricanes, Hurricane Frances and Hurricane Jeanne, hit the area within three weeks. They caused a lot of damage to older, wooden houses. Newer homes mostly had minor damage.
The Acreage is also surrounded by several nature preserves. This makes it feel like a mix of country and suburban life. The area has grown quickly. There has been a recent push for it to become its own city. It is now more developed than nearby Loxahatchee Groves and Westlake.
Who Lives in The Acreage?
Knowing about the people who live in a place is called demographics. Here's a look at The Acreage's population.
Population in 2020
According to the 2020 United States census, 41,654 people lived in The Acreage. There were 11,814 households and 9,730 families.
- The average number of people per household was 3.28.
- There were about 1,215.4 people living per square mile.
- About 4.4% of the population was under 5 years old.
- About 22.3% of the population was under 18 years old.
- About 12.3% of the population was 65 years and older.
- About 48.8% of the residents were female.
- There were 2,088 veterans living in the area.
- About 18.9% of the people were born in another country.
Homes and Money in 2020
- Most homes, about 89.6%, were owned by the people living in them.
- The average value of an owned home was $356,600.
- The average monthly cost for homeowners with a mortgage was $1,987.
- For those without a mortgage, it was $657.
- The average rent for a home was $1,988 per month.
- Almost all households (98.5%) had a computer.
- Most households (92.1%) had a fast internet connection.
- About 80.3% of people aged 25 and older had finished high school or more.
- About 21.4% of people aged 25 and older had a college degree or higher.
- The average household income was $89,56.
- The average income per person was $33,483.
- About 4.8% of the population lived below the poverty line.
Local Businesses and Services
Most businesses, shops, and schools in The Acreage are found on the edges of the area. These include places along Northlake Boulevard/Coconut Boulevard and Orange Boulevard/Seminole Pratt Whitney Road. The middle of The Acreage is mostly homes, with a few plant nurseries on the main streets.
A new post office, pharmacy, and grocery stores are planned for the 33412 area. Doctor's offices and banks are also expected to open.
The Acreage Branch Library
In April 2012, The Acreage Branch Library opened. It is a large building, about 30,000 square feet. It is located on Orange Blvd. near Seminole Pratt Whitney Road. This library was the first county building to be LEED-certified. This means it was built to be very good for the environment.
The library has many things like CDs, DVDs, books, newspapers, and magazines. It has four small study rooms and a larger group study room. There are also special areas for children and teens with comfortable seating. A unique feature is a family restroom with child-sized facilities.
The library also has a cool light sculpture called “Productive Light.” It looks like a suspended "orange tree" made of lights. It also has a photovoltaic system (solar panels) and an interactive "sun panel." For those who arrive on horseback, the library even has horse hitching posts!
Other Businesses and Housing
A McDonald's restaurant recently opened at the intersection of Seminole Pratt and Orange. It is next to a Walgreens. Four country clubs are now in the 33412 area of The Acreage. Some houses in the Ibis Country Club can cost over $3 million. Land taxes and insurance costs in The Acreage are among the highest in Palm Beach County.
The Minto Westlake housing project was approved. This project will build 4,500 homes. This new development is expected to bring in over $1 billion to the economy. However, some people are against it because it changes the rural feel of The Acreage. Westlake became its own city in 2016.
Fun and Games: Parks and Sports
The Acreage has nine parks where people can enjoy the outdoors. The Acreage Athletic League helps organize youth sports for kids in the area.
- Acreage Community Park
- Bob Hoefl Park
- Citrus Grove Park
- Coconut Park
- Downers Park
- Kidscape Park
- Nicole Hornstein Equestrian Park
- Sycamore Park
- Temple Park
Learning in The Acreage
The School District of Palm Beach County serves the community. Here are some of the schools:
- Acreage Pines Elementary School
- Frontier Elementary School
- Golden Grove Elementary School
- Pierce Hammock Elementary School
- Osceola Creek Middle School
- Western Pines Middle School
- Seminole Ridge Community High School
- ALLSTAR Kids - Private School
- Planet Kids - Private School
- Palm Beach State College- Loxahatchee Groves Campus
News and Information
People in The Acreage get their news from several sources. These include the Sun-Sentinel newspaper, West Palm Beach WPTV-TV (a TV station), local radio, the Town-Crier newspaper, and The Palm Beach Post.
Roads and Utilities
Getting Around
There are only a few paved main roads in The Acreage. Most of the roads are unpaved. This is partly because many people in the area have horses. For years, local residents have disagreed about building more roads. Many want to keep the area quiet and rural. The ongoing State Road 7 road extension was delayed because people wanted to protect local wildlife. However, it has now helped reduce traffic.
Water and Drainage
Homes in The Acreage do not have public sewer and water systems. Almost all homes use their own well for water and a septic system for waste. The area is flat and low. To help with flooding, there are private ponds, large drainage ditches called swales, many canals, and houses built on raised land pads.
See also
In Spanish: The Acreage (Florida) para niños
