West Palm Beach, FL

The county seat of Palm Beach County, West Palm Beach has a population of around 100,000. This vibrant community is home to an ever-changing skyline as ongoing revitalization efforts transform older buildings. Once known for its high crime rate, the city has worked hard to change its image, dramatically decreasing crime in recent years.

ECONOMY AND INDUSTRIES

West Palm Beach is home to a number of manufacturers that provide a high percentage of the city's jobs. Industries include information technology, aerospace and engineering, pharmaceutical products and food processing. The city's economy is also dependent on business and financial services and tourism.

The city's biggest employers are the School District of Palm Beach County and Palm Beach County. The largest corporate employers are Tenet Healthcare Corp., Florida Power & Light Company, Hospital Corporation of America and the Wackenhut Corporation

NEIGHBORHOODS AND DISTRICTS

The city of West Palm Beach comprises several distinctive neighborhoods:

• Flamingo Park is located at High coastal ridge and has houses constructed in Spanish style.
• Grandview Heights is one of the oldest neighborhoods, with a collection of early-craftsman-style bungalows, and also some Mediterranean revival-style homes.
• Northwest is the first historic district, which is a predominantly African American community.
• Most of the urban area lies in suburban West Palm Beach.

BEST BETS

• Grassy Waters Preserve: The Grassy Waters Preserve is a favorite destination for recreation in West Palm Beach. The Owa-Hee Trail runs through the park and is a used for bike tours. The park offers nature guides to educate park patrons about the plants and wildlife living in the preserve. Guided tours are available free of charge on Saturdays and Sundays.
• Osprey Park: Located on North Flagler Drive, Osprey Park is one of the city's newest parks. It spans 3.2 acres and offers a walking and jogging path, picnic areas, playground, volleyball court, dog park, fishing dock and kayak/canoe launch. Named for the ospreys that make their home there, the park is a favorite with nature lovers, who can see the birds and the park's endangered manatees up close.
• West Palm Beach Municipal Golf Course: The 185-plus-acre course is an 18-hole, 72-par beauty designed by Dick Wilson. It is known for its elevated greens and full-grown shade trees.
• Trump International Golf Club: The 27-hole Trump International was rated the top course in the state by Florida Golf Magazine, and one of the nation's best new courses by Golf Digest.
• Warren Hawkins Aquatic Center: The popular Warren Hawkins Aquatic Center is open to the public year-round. It features the Gaines Park pool, locker rooms and an adjacent picnic area.

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

• Norton Museum of Art: The Norton Museum of Art houses art from around the world and also hosts traveling exhibits and special events in the West Palm Beach Community. It is open Tuesday through Sunday year-round.
• Meyer Amphitheatre: Located in Downtown West Palm Beach, Meyer Amphitheatre offers seating for 3,000. It hosts the city's fireworks celebration each year on the Fourth of July. It is also the setting for a number of outdoor concerts and festivals year-round.
• Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts: The Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts has a growing reputation both nationally and internationally as a world-class venue. One of the Southeast's top performing-arts centers, it includes three distinct venues: the Alexander W. Dreyfoos, Jr., Concert Hall, the Rinker Playhouse and the Michael and Andrew Gosman Amphitheatre. The center is the home of Ballet Florida, the Miami City Ballet, Palm Beach Opera and the Palm Beach Pops. It also sponsors extensive community outreach programs.

EVENTS

• Clematis by Night: Every Thursday night, Downtown West Palm Beach is home to Clematis by Night, a live concert series. The event is held in Centennial Square on Clematis Street and features arts-and-craft vendors.
• Palm Beach International Film Festival: The Palm Beach International Film Festival is an annual event that has increased in popularity in recent years. The festival draws filmmakers, artists and film executives from all over the world and is held in April each year.
• SunFest: SunFest is a five-day music-and-art festival that is held annually in the first week of May. This festival is the largest waterfront festival in the state of Florida. The proceeds from the event help provide scholarships, education programs and community outreach.
• Roger Dean Stadium: Located in the West Palm Beach suburb of Jupiter, Roger Dean Stadium is the spring training home of the Saint Louis Cardinals and the Florida Marlins.
• It is also home to two Florida State League teams: the Palm Beach Cardinals and the Jupiter Hammerheads.

LOCAL MEDIA

West Palm Beach is served by one daily newspaper, the Palm Beach Post.

Radio stations broadcasting from the city include:

• WAYF 88.1-FM
• WXEL 90.7-FM
• WRLX 92.1-FM
• WEAT 104.3-FM
• WIRK 107.9-FM
• WFTL 850-AM
• WJNO 1290-AM

Most of the major television networks have affiliates in West Palm Beach. The city's television stations include:

• WPEC TV (CBS)
• WFLX TV (FOX)
• WFGC TV (Independent)
• WPTV TV (NBC)
• WXEL TV (PBS)
• WTVX TV (CW)

EDUCATION

Institutions of higher education in West Palm Beach include Palm Beach Atlantic University, Northwood University, the Lincoln College of Technology vocational school, Palm Beach Community College and the Florida Culinary Institute.