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Renting an Apartment in Palm Beach Gardens
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 2006, the population was estimated by the United States Census
Bureau is 48,944. The city has relatively strict zoning laws and also has a
number of large gated communities, which give the city a reputation for
exclusivity. The city boasts many luxury retail stores.
Palm Beach Gardens is The Robb Reports and NY Times " 'It' destination in South
Florida and is a magnet for high net worth and celebrity types throughout the
world. It has recently taken over its local elementary, middle and high schools
and has made them competitive with the top tier schools in the US, which has
made it the most desirable relocation city in Palm Beach County as well as the
state of Florida.
History
Prior to development, the land that became Palm Beach Gardens was primarily
cattle ranch land 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 kmē) 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 its similarity to the name of the nearby city
of Palm Beach. MacArthur planned to build a "garden city" so he altered the name
only slightly.
The city was incorporated as a "paper town" in 1959, meaning that it existed
only on paper. In the 1960 U.S. Census the city officially had a population of
one, apparently a squatter whom MacArthur had allowed to stay on his property.
After 1960 development occurred rapidly, and 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 1008 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 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
famous 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 1.3 million square foot Gardens Mall in
1988 initiated a new wave of development, as did the sell off in 1999 of
approximately 5,000 acres (20 kmē) 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 suffered much damage to its tropical landscaping in the hard freezes of
1985 and 1989, but has experienced no freezing temperatures since. 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.
The city is the headquarters for the Professional Golfers Association of America
and bills itself as the "Golf Capital of the World." 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 was hosted in March 2007 at the PGA National Resort and Spa and was
hosted at the Country Club at Mirasol in 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006; both are
located in Palm Beach Gardens. Ameribank and Wackenhut Corporation also
have their headquarters in Palm Beach Gardens. The Gardens Mall and Downtown at
the Gardens are the center of the city's retail market. Often referred to as the
premiere shopping area of the south east. The city has the first and one of only
three PAUL bakeries in the United States.
The city is home to the Eissey satellite campus of Palm Beach Community College,
which includes the Eissey Theatre for the Performing Arts.
City services
The Palm Beach Gardens Police Department is the municipal police department.
There are over 100 sworn officers in the department including SWAT, K9,
Tactical, Community Involvement Unit, Hostage Negotiating Team and other special
units. The department also has a 60 member volunteer Citizens Mobile Patrol Unit
and a Police Explorer Post.
The Palm Beach Gardens Fire Department is the municipal fire department. It
operates out of 5 stations strategically located throughout the city.
The Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center is a hospital in the city. It is owned by
Tenet Healthcare.
On August 10, 2007, the city launched a new website addition designed to boost
its local economy by providing a virtual guide to city information to its
residents and visitors (local dining, shopping, entertainment, and other
services), while providing an exclusive promotional system to the business
community within the city, the only official chamber exclusively for the City of
Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. The system is called CityHost411 and includes the
virtual host C.L.A.I.R. (City Licensed, Automated Information Resource).
Transportation
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 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 of 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 and Fort
Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, about 17 miles and 61 miles south of
Palm Beach gardens, respectively.