Editing West Palm Beach, Florida (section)

==Geography==
[[File:Habitat of Semiardistomis viridis (Say) at Grassy Waters Preserve, West Palm Beach, Florida, USA - ZooKeys-210-019-g018.jpeg|thumb|The Grassy Waters Preserve]]
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], this city has a total area of {{convert|58.2|sqmi|km2}}, of which {{convert|55.1|sqmi|km2}} is land and {{convert|3.1|sqmi|km2}} (5.26%) is water.

Due to vast areas of [[wetland]] immediately  west of the city's downtown, growth occurred north and south in a linear fashion. Until the 1960s, the city was only several blocks wide but over 100 blocks in length. Large scale development finally expanded westward with improved access and drainage in the 1960s. However, the city boundaries were not expanded much with the exception of the "Water Catchment Area," an uninhabited area in the northwest part of the city. Known as Grassy Waters, it  serves as a reservoir for the city drinking water and a nature preserve.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=http://wpb.org/grassywaters/preserve.php|website=Grassy Waters|publisher=City of West Palm Beach|title=About Grassy Waters Preserve}}</ref>

===Places===
====Historic neighborhoods and communities====
[[File:West Palm Beach, Fl. skyline from the north.jpg|thumb|right|West Palm Beach skyline from the north]]
[[File:Clematis-1.jpg|thumb|right|Clematis Street]]
[[File:ClematisBuilding.jpg|thumb|right|Comeau Building, Clematis Street]]

'''Bel Air Historic District''': Developed from 1925 to 1935 as a neighborhood for tradesmen and real estate salesmen who helped develop Palm Beach County, some of Belair was originally a pineapple plantation owned by Richard Hone. Hones's frame vernacular house, built around 1895, still stands at 211 Plymouth Road. After Hone was murdered in 1902, his property was sold to George Currie, who created Currie Development Co. But before it was developed, the land was sold to William Ohlhaber, who raised coconut palms and ferns. Eventually, Ohlhaber platted the subdivision and sold off lots. The first house built in the subdivision was Ohlhaber's mission-style home at 205 Pilgrim. Ohlhaber's grandson said Ohlhaber bought the tract to provide dockage for his {{convert|90|ft|m|adj=on}} yacht, but the yacht ran aground in the Gulf of Mexico and never reached Lake Worth. In 1947, Hone's house was bought by Henry Flagler's chief engineer Max Brombacher, and it remains in the Brombacher family today. Belair became West Palm Beach's fourth historic district in August 1993.<ref name=":1" />

'''[[Central Park Historic District (West Palm Beach, Florida)|Central Park]]''': Central Park is a collective name for several subdivisions north of Southern Boulevard. It originally was part of the Estates of South Palm Beach (which extended from Wenonah Place to Pilgrim Road east of Dixie Highway). Like other West Palm Beach neighborhoods, the Estates of South Palm Beach boomed after Henry Flagler's descent on Palm Beach. In 1884, James W. Copp, a bachelor in the boating business, borrowed $367.20 from Valentine Jones to buy the land. The ownership of what is now Central Park changed hands many times before being developed. Around 1919, the tropical wilderness was transformed into an exclusive neighborhood with curbed roads, sidewalks, and a pier (at the foot of what is now Southern Boulevard). The neighborhood became part of West Palm Beach in 1926, and was named a city historic district in December 1993. In 1999, it was listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

'''[[El Cid Historic District|El Cid]]''': Noted for its Mediterranean revival and mission-style homes, El Cid developed in the height of Florida's real estate boom. In the late 19th century, most land north of Sunset Road was pineapple fields, but the crop dwindled in the early 20th century. Pittsburgh socialite Jay Phipps subdivided the old pineapple fields in the 1920s and named it El Cid after celebrated Spanish hero Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, who conquered Valencia in 1094. He was called "Cid," meaning "lord." El Cid became a city historic district in June 1993. In 1995 the neighborhood was listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

'''[[Flamingo Park Historic Residential District|Flamingo Park]]''': Originally a pineapple plantation, Flamingo Park was established by local contractors and developers, who saw the potential in this area—one of the highest coastal ridge sections from downtown West Palm Beach to Miami. Some ridge houses even had ocean views from upper floors. Houses cost about $10,000 to $18,000 in the boom era, and many buyers owned shops and businesses on fashionable Dixie Highway nearby. Recently, residents rallied to have stop signs installed through the neighborhood and banded together to ward off commercial and industrial zoning. Property values are rising as residents renovate and restore Spanish-style houses. Most homes in the neighborhood, developed from 1921 to 1930, are mission style, but nearly every style is represented. There are many Mediterranean revival-style houses along the high ridge line. Only two buildings in the historic district are known to have been designed by architects: 701 Flamingo Drive designed by Harvey and Clarke, and the Armory Arts Center designed by William Manly King. The neighborhood became a West Palm Beach historic district in January 1993 and was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 2000.

'''[[Grandview Heights Historic District|Grandview Heights]]''': One of the city's oldest intact neighborhoods, Grandview Heights was built as an extension of Palm Beach Heights from around 1910 to 1925. Almost all of Palm Beach Heights and half of Grandview Heights was demolished in 1989 to make way for the proposed Downtown/Uptown project, which became CityPlace. Grandview Heights originally attracted construction workers who helped build the luxury hotels, ministers, and store owners. The neighborhood has one of the city's best collection of early craftsman-style bungalows, as well as some modest, Mediterranean revival-style homes. The neighborhood became a West Palm Beach historic district in 1995 and was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1999.<ref name=":2" />

'''[[Mango Promenade Historic District|Mango Promenade]]''': Mango Promenade became a West Palm Beach historic district in 1995 and was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1999. Lies just south of Palm Beach Atlantic University.

'''Northboro Park''': An expansion of Old Northwood, Northboro Park was mostly custom houses for upper-middle-class professionals. Most of the houses are Mediterranean revival, mission and frame vernacular. Developed from 1923 to 1940, the neighborhood became the city's second historic district (November 1992) and the historic designation may soon expand north to 45th Street. The oldest building in the neighborhood is Northboro Elementary School at 36th Street and Spruce, built in 1925 by DaCamara and Chace. The demolition of Northboro Elementary School began in late 2009. The first home in Northboro Park is 418 36th St., built in 1923.

'''[[Northwest Historic District|Northwest]]''': West Palm Beach's first historic district to be included on the National Register of Historic Places (February 1992), the Northwest neighborhood was first settled in 1894, when the black community was moved from the Styx in Palm Beach to West Palm Beach. It also served as the city's segregated black community from 1929 to 1960 (along with Pleasant City). Northwest remains a predominantly black community but according to the city planning department, most middle- and upper-class blacks moved to other neighborhoods after desegregation. Tamarind and Rosemary Avenues were the commercial centers for blacks by 1915, but most commercial buildings have been demolished or remodeled so the architecture is no longer significant. There are still good examples of late 19th- and early 20th-century American bungalow/craftsman-style homes in this neighborhood, which also has mission, shotgun, Bahamian vernacular, and American Foursquare styles. The Alice Frederick Mickens house, at 801 Fourth St., is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Mickens was a philanthropist and humanitarian who promoted education for black youth. Another notable house is the [[Gwen Cherry]] house at 625 Division Ave. Cherry, Florida's first Black woman legislator and a resident of Miami, inherited the house from relative Mollie Holt, who built the house in 1926. Now it is the Palm Beach County Black Historical Society. The Northwest neighborhood was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1992. The next year the neighborhood became a West Palm Beach historic district in 1993.

'''[[Old Northwood Historic District]]''': Old Northwood was developed from 1920 to 1927—the height of the city's real estate boom. The Pinewood Development Co., platted and developed the area. Old Northwood became a neighborhood of what was considered extravagant Mediterranean revival, mission, and frame vernacular houses, at $30,000 to $36,000. The buyers were professionals, entrepreneurs and tradesmen. Among them was David F. Dunkle, who was mayor of West Palm Beach. There are houses here designed by notable architects John Volk (best known for his Palm Beach houses), William Manly King (who designed Palm Beach High School and the Armory Arts Center) and Henry Steven Harvey (whose Seaboard Railroad Passenger Station on Tamarind Avenue is listed in the National Register of Historic Places). The neighborhood became a West Palm Beach historic district in 1991 and listed in the National Register of Historic Places in June 1994.

'''Northwood Hills Historic District''': On August 4, 2003, the City Commission designated the Northwood Hills neighborhood as the 13th Historic District in the City of West Palm Beach. Northwood Hills comprises the area from 29th Street on the South to 39th Court on the North. The east side of Windsor is the Western boundary, and Greenwood Avenue is the Eastern boundary.<ref name=":3" /> The Neighborhood Association has worked several years to achieve the distinction of historic designation. This is the first district to be designated since 1996. Northwood Hills has a number of Mission Revival houses, a significant collection of Post-World War II architecture, a unique street layout, and one of the highest elevations in the city. The Northwood Hills neighborhood has also elected to allow the establishment of Bed and Breakfast establishments within the neighborhood.

'''Prospect Park''': Promoted as a [[high-end]] neighborhood patterned after the prominent Prospect Park district in Brooklyn, this area consisted of mostly smaller estates for prominent businesspeople and northern investors. The neighborhood has a high concentration of Mediterranean revival and Mission revival houses. It was developed from 1920 to 1935 and became a city historic district in November 1993.

'''West Northwood Historic District''': Cashing in on the real estate boom, developers of West Northwood built speculative and custom houses for upper-middle-class professionals from 1925 to '27. Dominant architectural styles are Mediterranean revival and mission. Although the area was declining, that has reversed in recent years, as more investors buy and restore the houses. West Northwood became a city historic district in August 1993.

====West Palm Beach Census Designated Places and Urbanized Area====
The estimated 2012 population of West Palm Beach and the immediately adjacent Census Designated Places is 134,795.<ref name=":1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|title=U.S. Census website|publisher=United States Census Bureau|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> Much of this urbanized area lies directly west of the city and includes the neighborhoods of Westgate, Belvedere Homes, Lakeside Green, Century Village, Schall Circle, Lake Belvedere Estates, Plantation Mobile Homes, and Golden Lakes. These neighborhoods are not technically within the boundaries of West Palm Beach, being located in unincorporated Palm Beach County. However, residents possess a "West Palm Beach" address and urban services, such as police, fire, parks, water and sewer, are provided by a combination of Palm Beach County and the City of West Palm Beach in these areas. The City of West Palm Beach also provides water and sewer service to the Town of Palm Beach. The contiguous "urbanized" area, of which West Palm Beach is the core city, includes most of eastern Palm Beach County and has an estimated 2008 population of around 1,250,000.<ref name=":2">{{cite web|url=http://www.bebr.ufl.edu/population|title=Population Studies Program - www.bebr.ufl.edu|access-date=July 4, 2016}}</ref>

Key incorporated cities and their populations within the West Palm Beach [[urbanized area]] include:
<!-- Please maintain alphabetical order -->
{{colbegin|colwidth=22em}}
# 89,407 – [[Boca Raton, Florida|Boca Raton]]
# 71,097 – [[Boynton Beach, Florida|Boynton Beach]]
# 64,072 – [[Delray Beach, Florida|Delray Beach]]
# 60,202 – [[Wellington, Florida|Wellington]]
# 58,298 – [[Jupiter, Florida|Jupiter]]
# 50,699 – [[Palm Beach Gardens, Florida|Palm Beach Gardens]]
# 38,696 – [[Greenacres, Florida|Greenacres]]
# 36,306 – [[Royal Palm Beach, Florida|Royal Palm Beach]]
# 36,000 – [[Lake Worth Beach, Florida|Lake Worth Beach]]
# 33,263 – [[Riviera Beach, Florida|Riviera Beach]]
# 20,872 – [[Palm Springs, Florida|Palm Springs]]
# 12,348 – [[North Palm Beach, Florida|North Palm Beach]]
# 10,867 – [[Lantana, Florida|Lantana]]
# 8,649 – [[Palm Beach, Florida|Palm Beach]]
# 3,472 – [[Lake Clarke Shores, Florida|Lake Clarke Shores]]
# 3,283 – [[Loxahatchee, Florida|Loxahatchee]]
# 2,057 – [[Atlantis, Florida|Atlantis]]
# 1,940 – [[Haverhill, Florida|Haverhill]]
# 1,939 – [[Mangonia Park, Florida|Mangonia Park]]
<!-- ↑ Please maintain alphabetical order ↑--> {{colend}}

===Notable buildings===
{{unreferenced section|date=February 2024}}
{| class="wikitable"
|+ '''Tallest buildings'''
|-
! Name
! Stories
! Height
|-
| One West Palm || 30 || {{convert|426|ft|m|abbr=on}}
|-
| 515 Fern || 25 || {{convert|386|ft|m|abbr=on}}
|-
| South Flagler House (2026) || 28 || {{convert|373|ft|m|abbr=on}}
|-
| One Flagler<ref>{{Cite web |title=One Flagler - The Skyscraper Center |url=https://www.skyscrapercenter.com/building/one-flagler/32010# |access-date=2024-11-10 |website=www.skyscrapercenter.com}}</ref> || 25 || {{convert|365|ft|m|abbr=on}} 
|-
| [[The Plaza (West Palm Beach)|The Plaza]]|| 32 || {{convert|331|ft|m|abbr=on}}
|-
| La Clara || 25 || {{convert|321|ft|m|abbr=on}}
|-
| Forte || 24 || {{convert|300|ft|m|abbr=on}}
|-
| The Bristol || 25 || {{convert|291|ft|m|abbr=on}}
|-
| Palm Beach House || 28 || {{convert|278|ft|m|abbr=on}}
|-
| Placido Mar || 30 || {{convert|278|ft|m|abbr=on}}
|-
| Esperante || 20 || {{convert|278|ft|m|abbr=on}}
|-
| Northbridge Centre || 25 || {{convert|272|ft|m|abbr=on}}
|-
| One Clear Lake Center || 20 || {{convert|270|ft|m|abbr=on}}
|-
| 360 Rosemary || 18 || {{convert|259|ft|m|abbr=on}}
|-
| Waterview Tower || 25 || {{convert|250|ft|m|abbr=on}}
|-
| Phillips Point<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=http://phillipspointpalmbeach.com/|title=Phillips Point - Downtown West Palm Beach|website=phillipspointpalmbeach.com}}</ref>|| 20 || {{convert|225|ft|m|abbr=on}}
|}

===Climate===
West Palm Beach has a [[tropical rainforest climate]] (Af).{{Citation needed|date=April 2025}} The city is situated in USDA [[hardiness zone]] 10b, with an annual mean minimum temperature of {{convert|37.7|°F|0}}.

There is year-round rainfall, with the majority falling in a wet season from May through October that is hot and humid. The average window for {{convert|90|°F|0}} temperatures is April 15 through October 10, but temperatures of {{convert|100|°F|0}} or higher have only occurred four times since record-keeping began in 1888. During this period, more than half of the days bring afternoon thunderstorms and sea breezes that cool the air for the rest of the day. Late in the season, there is also a chance for a tropical storm or hurricane to strike. The area was unusually hard-hit in 2004 and 2005, when Hurricanes [[Hurricane Frances|Frances]], [[Hurricane Jeanne|Jeanne]] and [[Hurricane Wilma|Wilma]] caused property damage and power outages.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kleinberg |first1=Eliot |title=Remembering the hurricanes of 2004's "Mean Season" |url=https://www.palmbeachpost.com/story/news/local/2019/08/29/post-time-remembering-hurricanes-of-2004s-mean-season/4354684007/ |website=Palm Beach Post |access-date=4 September 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Wilma |url=https://www.weather.gov/mfl/wilma |website=National Weather Service |publisher=National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration |access-date=4 September 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Frances |url=https://www.weather.gov/mfl/frances |website=National Weather Service}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Jeanne |url=https://www.weather.gov/mfl/jeanne |website=National Weather Service |access-date=4 September 2022}}</ref>

Although it lacks a fully [[dry season]], the period from November through April is warm and drier, with {{convert|80|°F|0}} temperatures remaining fairly commonplace even from December through February. Occasionally, a stronger cold front can lower daytime temperatures to around {{convert|57|°F|0}}, the annual mean minimum max temperature, and lows to around {{convert|38|°F|0}}. Freezes are rare; the most recent was in 2010. This dry season can also bring about potential for drought during hotter, drier seasons.

{{Weather box
| location  = West Palm Beach, Florida ([[Palm Beach International Airport|PBI]]),  1991–2020 normals,<ref>Mean monthly maxima and minima (i.e. the highest and lowest temperature readings during an entire month or year) calculated based on data at said location from 1991 to 2020.</ref> extremes 1888–present
| single line = Y
| Jan record high F  = 89
| Feb record high F  = 90
| Mar record high F  = 95
| Apr record high F  = 99
| May record high F  = 99
| Jun record high F  = 100
| Jul record high F  = 101
| Aug record high F  = 99
| Sep record high F  = 97
| Oct record high F  = 95
| Nov record high F  = 92
| Dec record high F  = 90
| year record high F = 101
| Jan avg record high F  = 84.3
| Feb avg record high F  = 85.8
| Mar avg record high F  = 88.8
| Apr avg record high F  = 90.4
| May avg record high F  = 91.9
| Jun avg record high F  = 93.7
| Jul avg record high F  = 94.2
| Aug avg record high F  = 94.2
| Sep avg record high F  = 92.4
| Oct avg record high F  = 90.0
| Nov avg record high F  = 86.5
| Dec avg record high F  = 84.3
| year avg record high F = 95.4
| Jan high F  = 75.2
| Feb high F  = 77.3
| Mar high F  = 79.6
| Apr high F  = 82.8
| May high F  = 86.1
| Jun high F  = 88.7
| Jul high F  = 90.3
| Aug high F  = 90.4
| Sep high F  = 88.6
| Oct high F  = 85.3
| Nov high F  = 80.5
| Dec high F  = 77.1
| year high F = 83.5
| Jan mean F  = 66.6
| Feb mean F  = 68.7
| Mar mean F  = 71.3
| Apr mean F  = 75.2
| May mean F  = 78.9
| Jun mean F  = 81.8
| Jul mean F  = 83.3
| Aug mean F  = 83.5
| Sep mean F  = 82.2
| Oct mean F  = 78.9
| Nov mean F  = 73.3
| Dec mean F  = 69.3
| year mean F = 76.1
| Jan low F  = 58.0
| Feb low F  = 60.2
| Mar low F  = 63.0
| Apr low F  = 67.6
| May low F  = 71.7
| Jun low F  = 74.9
| Jul low F  = 76.3
| Aug low F  = 76.5
| Sep low F  = 75.7
| Oct low F  = 72.5
| Nov low F  = 66.0
| Dec low F  = 61.4
| year low F = 68.6
| Jan avg record low F  = 40.2
| Feb avg record low F  = 43.9
| Mar avg record low F  = 48.2
| Apr avg record low F  = 55.1
| May avg record low F  = 63.0
| Jun avg record low F  = 70.3
| Jul avg record low F  = 71.8
| Aug avg record low F  = 72.4
| Sep avg record low F  = 71.5
| Oct avg record low F  = 59.9
| Nov avg record low F  = 51.2
| Dec avg record low F  = 44.4
| year avg record low F = 37.7
| Jan record low F  = 26
| Feb record low F  = 27
| Mar record low F  = 26
| Apr record low F  = 38
| May record low F  = 45
| Jun record low F  = 60
| Jul record low F  = 64
| Aug record low F  = 65
| Sep record low F  = 61
| Oct record low F  = 46
| Nov record low F  = 36
| Dec record low F  = 24
| year record low F = 24
| precipitation colour    = green
| Jan precipitation inch  = 3.47
| Feb precipitation inch  = 2.63
| Mar precipitation inch  = 3.31
| Apr precipitation inch  = 3.68
| May precipitation inch  = 4.91
| Jun precipitation inch  = 8.48
| Jul precipitation inch  = 5.63
| Aug precipitation inch  = 8.79
| Sep precipitation inch  = 7.95
| Oct precipitation inch  = 5.90
| Nov precipitation inch  = 3.60
| Dec precipitation inch  = 3.48
| year precipitation inch = 61.82
| unit precipitation days = 0.01 in.
| Jan precipitation days  = 8.1
| Feb precipitation days  = 7.2
| Mar precipitation days  = 7.8
| Apr precipitation days  = 7.5
| May precipitation days  = 10.8
| Jun precipitation days  = 15.7
| Jul precipitation days  = 15.1
| Aug precipitation days  = 17.8
| Sep precipitation days  = 16.6
| Oct precipitation days  = 12.3
| Nov precipitation days  = 9.1
| Dec precipitation days  = 9.3
| year precipitation days = 137.4
|source 1 = NOAA<ref>{{cite web
| url = https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=mfl
| title = NOWData – NOAA Online Weather Data
| publisher = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]
| accessdate = May 14, 2021
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
| url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USW00012844&format=pdf
| title = Summary of Monthly Normals 1991–2020
| publisher = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]
| accessdate = May 14, 2021
}}</ref> }}