West Palm Beach

West Palm Beach, is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and is the most populous city in and county seat of Palm Beach County. The city is also the oldest incorporated municipality in South Florida. According to the US Census Bureau, in 2010 the city had an estimated population of 99,919. The city is one of the principal cities in the South Florida metropolitan area.

West Palm Beach in the 1880s

West Palm Beach in the 1960sThe city was founded by Henry Flagler as a community to house the servants working in the two grand hotels on the neighboring island of Palm Beach, across Lake Worth. The original spelling was "Westpalmbeach", but it was feared that the 13-letter word would be an ominous omen for the fledgling community. On November 5, 1894, 78 people met at the "Calaboose" (the first jail and police station located at Clematis St. and Poinsettia, now Dixie Hwy.) and passed the motion to incorporate the Town of West Palm Beach in what was then Dade County. This made West Palm Beach the oldest incorporated municipality in the county and in South Florida. The town council quickly addressed the building codes and the tents and shanties were replaced by brick, brick veneer, and stone buildings. The city grew rapidly in the 1920s as part of the Florida land boom. Many of the city's landmark structures and preserved neighborhoods were constructed during this period.

In the 1960s, Palm Beach County's first enclosed shopping mall, the Palm Beach Mall, and an indoor arena were completed. These projects led to a brief revival for the city. Since the 1990s, developments such as CityPlace and the preservation and renovation of 1920s architecture in the nightlife hub of Clematis Street have seen a downtown resurgence in the entertainment and shopping district.

Arts and culture

Harriet Himmel Theater in CityPlaceRaymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts – Built in 1992, the Kravis Center hosts performances of music, dance, opera and theatre.

Norton Museum of Art – is the largest art museum in Florida and also organises travelling exhibits. The permanent collection features 19th and 20th century European and American art, Chinese, contemporary art and photography.

The Carefree Theatre – Built in 1940, in the historic Flamingo Park district, it was variously an art house cinema and alternative music performance venue until severely damaged by Hurricane Wilma. Thevenue has re-opened at a renovated church located nearby and under a new name, The Theater.

Meyer Amphitheatre – An abandoned Holiday Inn, demolished in 1993 and transformed into an amphitheatre.

Palm Beach County Convention Center – A complex with 350,000 square feet (33,000 m2) of exhibit halls and meeting rooms in downtown West Palm Beach.

Festivals and shows

SunFest is Florida's largest waterfront music festivalSunFest - is an annual music, art, and waterfront festival in Florida, founded in 1982 to draw visitors to the area during the 'shoulder season', or April and May. SunFest has an annual attendance of more than 275,000 people. Artists who have performed include Carrie Underwood, John Mayer, Ray Charles, Ludacris, Nelly, Lenny Kravitz, Dizzy Gillespie, Bob Dylan, Kenny G, Earth Wind and Fire, Cyndi Lauper, Pink Floyd, MGMT, and The Wailers. SunFest is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.[17]

Palm Beach International Film Festival

Palm Beach Boat Show

Winter Equestrian Festival – The largest and longest running horse show in the world (January-March) and a major fixture on the national and international sports and social event calendars.

Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction – Classic car auction held every March in the South Florida Expo Center.

City festivals – Weekly events such as Clematis By Night on downtown Clematis Street, Moonfest, and a seasonal downtown Green Market held each winter on Saturdays.

Attractions

Palm Beach Zoo at Dreher Park

Rapids Water Park

South Florida Science Museum

Lion Country Safari

International Polo Hall of Fame

National Croquet Center

Palm Beach Polo and Players Club

Trump International Golf Club

Notable area residents, past and present

Hank Aaron, former all-time home run king. A street is named for him.

Tori Amos, singer-songwriter

Otis Anderson former NFL New York Giants, Super Bowl MVP

Jeff Atwater, State Senator, Florida Legislature, Palm Beach County

Bob Barker, Entertainer/Gameshow Host

Dickey Betts, former Allman Brothers Band member.

Anquan Boldin, NFL player Baltimore Ravens and graduate of Pahokee High School in western Palm Beach County.

Jason Bonham, drummer and son of Led Zeppelin's legendary drummer John Bonham

Don Brewer, Grand Funk Railroad drummer

Jimmy Buffett, singer/entertainer

Diana Canova, actress

Chris Carrabba, singer/song writer from Dashboard Confessional

Anthony Carter, former NFL player

Glenn Close, actress

Bob Cousy, former NBA great and TV commentator

Marshall Criser, former president of the University of Florida.

Vic Damone, singer

Dale Dawson, former NFL player

Ted DiBiase Jr., pro wrestler

Celine Dion, singer

Heath Evans, Fullback for the New Orleans Saints and graduate of The Kings Academy

Kason Gabbard, MLB Pitcher with the Texas Rangers

Anthony Goldwire, former NBA player

Jeff Gordon, NASCAR driver

Ken Green, PGA golfer

Deidre Hall, actress and graduate of Lake Worth High School in central Palm Beach County

George Hamilton, Actor, graduate of Palm Beach High School

Derek Harper, former NBA player for the Knicks and Mavericks

Alcee Hastings, U.S. Congressman

Ryan Hawblitzel, former Major League Baseball player

Devin Hester, NFL Player with the Chicago Bears

Jay Howard, British professional race car driver in the IZOD IndyCar Series and Indianapolis 500

Hey Monday, alternative rock band

Alan Jackson, Country singer

Tommy Lee Jones, actor

Ron Klein, U.S. Congressman

Joey Kramer, Aerosmith drummer

Larry the Cable Guy, comedian

Rush Limbaugh, Radio talk show host

David McCampbell, American Naval Aviator during World War II

A.J. McLean, Backstreet Boy

Marta Fernandez Miranda de Batista, First Lady of Cuba (1952–1959)

Edgar Mitchell, astronaut who walked on the moon

Joe Namath, former NFL quarterback

Olivia Newton-John, actress, singer

Jim Palmer, baseball Hall of Famer

Barbara Pariente, former Chief Justice and current Justice of the Florida Supreme Court

James Patterson, author

Cassadee Pope rock singer

Jamieson Price, actor:movies,TV,stage, voice over for animation and commercials

Lilly Pulitzer, Fashion Designer

Judge Reinhold, actor

Burt Reynolds, actor, graduate of Palm Beach High School

Randi Rhodes, radio talk show host

Adrian Rogers, former president Southern Baptist Convention and pastor of Bellevue Baptist Church

Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Catcher for the Boston Red Sox

Ron Sellers,former NFL Dallas Cowboys

Rod Stewart, singer

Vinny Sutherland, former NFL Player and graduate of Palm Beach Lakes High School

Fred Taylor, NFL Player New England Patriots and graduate of Pahokee High School in western Palm Beach County

Otis Thorpe, former NBA player for the Houston Rockets and Pistons

Tico Torres, Bon Jovi Drummer

Donald Trump, real estate mogul, TV host

Steve Walsh, former NFL quarterback

Robert Wexler, U.S. Congressman

Tenth Avenue North, a contemporary Christian rock band

Tiger Woods, Professional Golfer on the PGA Tour

Yanni, composer

Surfer Blood, Indie Rock Band

Nick Zano, Actor

Virginia Zeani, opera singer