| City of Palm Beach Gardens | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| — City — | |||
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| Nickname(s): The Gardens | |||
| Coordinates: | |||
| Country | United States | ||
| State | Florida | ||
| County | Palm Beach | ||
| Established | 1959 | ||
| Government | |||
| • Type | Council-City Manager | ||
| • Mayor | David Levy | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 55.3 sq mi (143.3 km2) | ||
| • Land | 55.1 sq mi (142.7 km2) | ||
| • Water | 0.2 sq mi (0.6 km2) 0.45% | ||
| Elevation[1] | 16 ft (5 m) | ||
| Population (2010)[2] | |||
| • Total | 48,452 | ||
| • Density | 875.6/sq mi (338.1/km2) | ||
| Time zone | EST (UTC-5) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) | ||
| ZIP codes | 33403, 33408, 33410, 33412, 33418, 33420 (PO Box) | ||
| Area code(s) | 561 | ||
| FIPS code | 12-54075[3] | ||
| ANSI code | 02404464[3] | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 0302681[1] | ||
| Website | www.pbgfl.com | ||
Palm Beach Gardens is a city in Palm Beach County in the U.S. state of Florida. The city is in the center of a rapidly-developing area north of West Palm Beach in the northern part of the county and the South Florida metropolitan area. As of the 2010 United States Census[update], the population was 48,452.[2] The city has a number of gated communities.
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The city has a total area of 55.3 square miles (143 km2). 55.1 square miles (143 km2) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.52 km2) of it (0.45%) is water.[3]
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, 80 miles (130 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.[4]
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. Several PGA tournaments have been hosted in Palm Beach Gardens since 1971. The Honda Classic has been held at the PGA National Resort and Spa since 2007 and was held at the Country Club at Mirasol from 2003 to 2006; both are located in Palm Beach Gardens. Ameribank has their headquarters in Palm Beach Gardens. The Gardens Mall, PGA Commons, Legacy Place, and Downtown at the Gardens are the center of the city's retail market.
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.
As of the 2000 United States Census[update], there were 35,058 people, 15,599 households, and 10,217 families residing in the city. The population density was 629.6 per square mile (243.1/km2). There were 18,317 housing units at an average density of 329.0 per square mile (127.0/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 93.78% White (89.1% were Non-Hispanic White),[5] 2.30% African American, 0.11% Native American, 2.15% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.67% from other races, and 0.96% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.63% of the population.
There were 15,599 households out of which 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.
In the city the population was spread out with 18.7% under the age of 18, 5.1% from 18 to 24, 26.3% from 25 to 44, 28.9% from 45 to 64, and 21.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females there were 90.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $59,776, and the median income for a family was $74,548 (these figures had risen to $69,630 and $83,715 respectively as of a 2007 estimate).[6] Males had a median income of $50,045 versus $33,221 for females. The per capita income for the city was $42,975. About 3.5% of families and 5.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.9% of those under age 18 and 3.5% of those age 65 or over.
As of 2000, speakers of English as a first language accounted for 89.27% of all residents, while Spanish comprised 5.60%, Italian was at 1.00%, French made up 0.83%, and German was the mother tongue of 0.61% of the population. Eleven other languages are spoken in the city, each of which are reported at less than 0.5%.[7]
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.[8] The department also has a 85-member Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS) unit,[9][10] including a Police Explorer Post.
As of January 2011, the chief of police is Stephen J. Stepp.[11][12] Richard A Facchine and Clinton Shannon are Assistant Chiefs. Each Assistant Chief has two Commanders reporting to him.
The Palm Beach Gardens Police Foundation is a non-profit foundation holding IRS 501(c)(3) status.[13] 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 our 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.[14] As of January 2011, the Fire Chief is Peter Bergel.[15]
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.[16]
The city charter provides for a council-manager government.[17] The city council consists of five Palm Beach Gardens residents elected to serve three-year terms.[18] A quorum of three members may conduct city business.[19] The city manager is appointed by a majority vote of the council.
At the 2011 election, council members Bert Premuroso (Group 1) and Marcie Tinsley (Group 5) were automatically reelected, with no opposition, and their terms will expire in 2014. Eric Jablin (Group 3) was reelected in a contested election, and his term will also expire in 2014.[20][21] Joseph Russo (Group 2) and David Levy (Group 4) were reelected in 2010, and their terms will expire in 2013.[22]
Each year, the council appoints one of its members to be mayor, and another to be vice-mayor.[23] As of January 2011[update], Levy is the mayor and Premuroso the vice-mayor. Russo and Jablin have served previously as mayor.[24]
In December 1987, the last "missing link" of Interstate 95 opened in the city, paving the way for new development immediately to the north. There are three interchanges on I-95 serving the city and a fourth is planned at Central Boulevard. The city also is served by two interchanges on the 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 airports are Palm Beach International Airport (17 miles south of the city), Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (61 miles south of the city), and North County Airport (an uncontrolled general aviation airport 2 miles (3.2 km) north of the city).
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