Citizendia

City of Boca Raton
Boca Raton, Florida
Boca Raton, Florida
Motto: A City for All Seasons
Coordinates: 26°22′7″N 80°6′0″W / 26.36861, -80.1
CountryFlag of the United States United States
StateFlag of Florida Florida
County Palm Beach
Founded1925
Government
 - TypeCommission-Manager
 - MayorSteven L. Abrams
Area
 - Total29. A motto (from the Italian word motto, meaning witticism sentence is a phrase meant to formally describe the general motivation or intention of a social group Wikipedia talkFeatured lists for an explanation of this and other inclusion tags below -->This list of countries, arranged alphabetically The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The political units and divisions of the United States include The 50 states (four of these being officially styled as Commonwealths) which are typically Florida ( is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States, bordering Alabama to the northwest and Georgia to the ImageFlorida counties mappng|thumb|right|400px|Florida counties (clickable map poly 42 38 86 40 79 44 74 47 71 55 69 69 74 72 76 87 77 90 87 97 87 102 87 108 78 111 77 115 80 117 Palm Beach County is located in the state of Florida. As of 2007 the county had a population of 1351236 according to the University of Florida Bureau of Economic In the council-manager form of government an elected city council (typically between five and 11 people is responsible for making Policy, passing Ordinances voting Appropriations A mayor (from the Latin māior, meaning "greater" is a modern title used in many countries for the highest ranking officer in a municipal government Steven L Abrams (born in 1958 in Des Moines Iowa is the former mayor of the City of Boca Raton Florida Area is a Quantity expressing the two- Dimensional size of a defined part of a Surface, typically a region bounded by a closed Curve. 1 sq mi (75. The square mile is an imperial and US unit of Area equal the area of a square of one statute mile. 4 km²)
 - Land27. Square Kilometre ( US spelling square kilometer) symbol km2, is a decimal multiple of the SI unit of 2 sq mi (70. 4 km²)
 - Water1. 9 sq mi (5. 0 km²)  6. 63%
Elevation13 ft (4 m)
Population (2006)
 - Total86,396
 - Density2,682. The elevation of a Geographic location is its height above a fixed reference point often the mean sea level. A foot (plural feet or foot; symbol or abbreviation ft or sometimes &prime – the prime symbol) is a non-SI unit The metre or meter is a unit of Length. It is the basic unit of Length in the Metric system and in the International Population density (in agriculture standing stock and Standing crop) is a measurement of Population per unit area or unit volume 8/sq mi (1,061. 7/km²)
Time zoneEastern (EST) (UTC-5)
 - Summer (DST)EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP codes33400-33499
Area code(s)561
FIPS code12-07300[1]
GNIS feature ID0279123[2]
Website: http://www.ci.boca-raton.fl.us/
The Boca Raton Resort & Club Tower stands 300 ft (91m), has 28 floors, and was completed in 1969. It is the tallest building in Boca Raton.
The Boca Raton Resort & Club Tower stands 300 ft (91m), has 28 floors, and was completed in 1969. UTC−5 is the Time offset used in the North American Eastern Time Zone during Standard time and in the North American Central Time Zone during Daylight saving time ( DST UTC−4 is the Time offset used in the Atlantic Standard Time Zone in Canada in winter and the North American Eastern Time Zone during The ZIP code is the system of Postal codes used by the United States Postal Service (USPS A telephone numbering plan is a plan for allocating Telephone number ranges to countries regions areas and exchanges and to non-fixed telephone networks Area code 561 is an area code in Florida, which went into effect on May 13, 1996. Federal Information Processing Standards ( FIPS) are publicly announced standards developed by the United States Federal government for use by all non-military The Geographic Names Information System ( GNIS) is a database that contains name and locative information about more than two million physical and cultural features located throughout It is the tallest building in Boca Raton. [3]

Boca Raton ("bōkə rə-tōn") is a city in Palm Beach County, Florida incorporated in May 1925. Palm Beach County is located in the state of Florida. As of 2007 the county had a population of 1351236 according to the University of Florida Bureau of Economic Florida ( is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States, bordering Alabama to the northwest and Georgia to the As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 74,764; the 2006 population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau was 86,396. The United States Census Bureau (officially Bureau of the Census as defined in Title) is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census [4] However, the majority of people using the postal address of Boca Raton, numbering some 200,000[5] in total, are not actual residents of the incorporated city of Boca Raton. Most live in unincorporated West Boca. The city of Boca Raton estimates that on any given day, there are roughly 350,000 people in the city itself, [6].

Boca Raton is the largest city between West Palm Beach and Pompano Beach. West Palm Beach, also known as West Palm, is the most populous city in Palm Beach County, Florida, USA. Pompano Beach is a City in Broward County, Florida, along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean just to the north of Fort Lauderdale. On November 2, 2004, the voters of the Via Verde Association, Waterside, Deerhurst Association (Boca South), Marina Del Mar Association, Rio Del Mar Association, and Heatherwood of Boca Raton Condominium Association approved annexation into the Boca Raton city limits, increasing the city land area to 29. Events 1570 - A Tidal wave in the North Sea devastates the coast from Holland to Jutland, killing more than 1000 "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " Annexation ( Latin ad, to and nexus, joining is the legal incorporation of some territory into another geo-political entity (either adjacent or non-contiguous ----The term city limits (or city boundary) refers to the defined boundary of a City. 6 square miles (77 km²). According to the U.S. Census estimates of 2005, the city had a population of 86,629. The United States Census is a decennial Census mandated by the United States Constitution. [7]

Contents

History

Listed on early maps as "Boca Ratones," many people assume the name is simply translated to "Rat's Mouth". The Spanish word boca (or mouth) was often used to describe an inlet, while ratón (literally mouse) was used by Spanish sailors to describe rocks that gnawed at a ship's cable, or as a term for a cowardly thief. An inlet is a narrow body of water between islands or leading inland from a larger body of water often leading to an enclosed body of water such as a sound, bay, [8][9] The name Boca Ratones originally appeared on eighteenth century maps associated with an inlet in the Biscayne Bay area of Miami. Biscayne Bay ( Bahía Vizcaina, in Spanish) is a Lagoon that is approximately 35 miles (56 km long and up to 8 miles (13 km wide located on the By the beginning of the nineteenth century, the term was mistakenly moved north to its current location on most maps and applied to Lake Boca Raton, whose inlet was closed at the time.

The city's early history was as the site of Addison Mizner's Boca Raton Hotel. Addison Cairns Mizner (1872 – 1933 was an American resort Architect whose Mediterranean Revival style left an indelible stamp on south Florida, and which The Boca Raton Resort & Club, which opened February 6, 1926[http //books The "pink hotel" today is visible from miles away as a towering building on the Intracoastal Waterway. The Intracoastal Waterway is a 4800-km (3000-mile Waterway along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States. The Pearl City neighborhood of Boca Raton was originally established to house the service personnel for the hotel. Pearl City is a neighborhood in Boca Raton Florida north of downtown Japanese farmers of the Yamato Colony converted the land west of the city into pineapple plantations beginning in 1904. The are the dominant Ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent of these approximately 127 million are residents of Japan The Yamato Colony was an attempt to create a community of Japanese farmers in what is now Boca Raton Florida early in the 20th Century Pineapple ( Ananas comosus) is the common name for an edible Tropical Plant and also its Fruit It is native to the southern part of Brazil Fundamentally a plantation is usually a large Farm or estate, especially in a tropical or semitropical country on which Cotton, Tobacco During World War II much of their land was confiscated and used as the site of the Boca Raton Army Air Force Base, a major training facility for B-29 bomber crews. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including There was also a radar school and research facility there. Much of the airbase was later donated to become the grounds of Florida Atlantic University, many of whose parking lots are former runways of the airbase, while part of the airbase is now used as Boca Raton Airport. An airbase, sometimes referred to as an Air Force Station, a military Airport or airfield, provides basing and support of Military Boca Raton Airport is a state-owned public-use Airport located two miles (3 km) northwest of the Central business district of Boca Raton The Japanese heritage of the Yamato Colony survives in the name of Yamato Road (NW 51st Street) just north of the airport and at the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens northwest of the city. The Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens is a center for Japanese arts and culture located west of Delray Beach in Palm Beach County,

Boca Raton was the site of two now vanished amusement parks, Africa U.S.A. (1953-1961) and Ancient America (1953-1959). Theme park is the generic term for a collection of rides and other Entertainment attractions assembled for the purpose of entertaining a large group Africa USA was an African wildlife tourist attraction that was open from 1953 until 1961 Africa U. S. A. was a wild animal park in which the tourists rode a "Jeep Safari Train" through the park. There were no fences separating the animals from the tourists on the "Jeep Safari Train". A fence is a freestanding structure designed to restrict or prevent movement across a boundary [10] It is now the Camino Gardens subdivision one mile (1. 6 km) west of the Boca Raton Hotel. Ancient America was built surrounding a real Indian burial mound. Today, the mound is still visible within the Boca Marina & Yacht Club neighborhood on U.S. Route 1 near Yamato Road. US Route 1 (US 1 is a major north-south US Highway that serves the East Coast of the United States. [11]

In the late 1960s, Boca Raton became the southern home to the International Business Machines Corporation (IBM). International Business Machines Corporation abbreviated IBM and nicknamed "Big Blue", is a multinational Computer Technology In 1965, well before the extension of I-95 into Southern Florida, IBM purchased several hundred acres of real estate just west of the CSX rail line, just northwest of Florida Atlantic University. Interstate 95 (officially The Singer Expressway in Miami-Dade County), the main Interstate Highway on the East coast of the United States, serves Construction of IBM's main complex began in earnest in 1967, and the mammoth manufacturing and office complex was dedicated in March 1970. The campus was designed with self-sufficiency in mind, and to that end sported its own electrical substation, water pumping station, and rail-spur. The pumping of Water is a basic and practical technique far more practical than scooping it up with one's hands or lifting it in a hand-held bucket Among other very noteworthy IT accomplishments, such as the mass manufacture of the System/360 and development of the Series/1 mainframe computers, IBM's main complex was the birthplace of the IBM PC, which later evolved into the IBM Personal System/2. The IBM System/360 ( S/360) is a Mainframe computer system family announced by IBM on April 7, 1964. The IBM Series/1 Computer was a 16-bit Minicomputer, introduced The Personal System/2 or PS/2 was IBM 's third generation of Personal computers The PS/2 line released to the public in 1987 was created by IBM in an In 1987, IBM relocated their manufacturing for what became the IBM PC Company to Research Triangle Park in Raleigh, North Carolina, and converted the cavernous manufacturing facilities into offices and laboratories, later producing ground-breaking products such as the OS/2 operating system and VoiceType Dictation, known today as ViaVoice voice-recognition software. Research Triangle Park ( RTP) is the largest Research park in the United States Raleigh (pronounced rah-lee) is the Capital of the State of North Carolina and the county seat of Wake County, USA OS/2 is a computer Operating system, initially created by Microsoft and IBM, then later developed by IBM exclusively IBM ViaVoice is a range of language-specific continuous Speech recognition Software products offered by IBM.

T-REX Corporate Center was originally one of IBM's research labs where the IBM PC was created. It is located on Yamato Rd (NW 51st St), and stands next to the Boca Raton Tri-Rail Station.
T-REX Corporate Center was originally one of IBM's research labs where the IBM PC was created. It is located on Yamato Rd (NW 51st St), and stands next to the Boca Raton Tri-Rail Station. Tri-Rail is a Regional rail line linking Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach, Florida, United States

IBM maintained its facilities at Boca Raton until 1996, when the facility was closed and was sold to Blue Lake Real Estate, who in turn sold it to the T-REX Management Consortium. Today, T-REX has revitalized the facility and its surrounding real estate into a highly-successful and landscaped business/research park. What used to be IBM's Building 051, an annex separated from the former main IBM campus by Spanish River Boulevard was donated to the Palm Beach County School District and converted into Don Estridge High Tech Middle School. Don Estridge High Tech Middle School is a technology-infused public Middle school in Boca Raton, Florida that opened in 2004. It is named for Don Estridge, whose team was responsible for developing the IBM PC. Philip Donald Estridge ( June 23, 1937 - August 2, 1985) known as Don Estridge,led development of the original IBM Personal Computer IBM later returned in 2001 opening the current software development laboratory off Congress Avenue in July of that year.

In the 1980s, because of an explosion of development to the west of the historical center of the city, some eastern areas began to decay, including the downtown area. For instance, the old Boca Raton Mall, a shopping mall in the downtown area was beginning to experience higher vacancy, and occupancy by marginal tenants, due to the opening of Town Center at Boca Raton in a western area in 1979. A shopping mall or shopping centre is a building or set of buildings that contain Retail units with interconnecting Walkways enabling visitors Town Center at Boca Raton (also known as Town Center Mall or Town Center) is a super-regional shopping center located in Boca Raton, Florida

Mizner Park is a downtown attraction in Boca Raton's financial district. It is the furthest north part of Boca's 'downtown' area, and home to Mizner Park Amphitheater.
Mizner Park is a downtown attraction in Boca Raton's financial district. It is the furthest north part of Boca's 'downtown' area, and home to Mizner Park Amphitheater.

In 1991, the new downtown outdoor shopping and dining center, Mizner Park, was completed over the site of the older Boca Raton Mall. Mizner Park is an upscale Shopping mall, also featuring apartments and offices located in downtown Boca Raton Florida. It has since become a cultural center for the city. Featuring a landscaped central park between the two main roads (collectively called Plaza Real) with stores only on the outside of the roads, Mizner Park resembles a Mediterranean suburban "town center" with a more contemporary look. It features many restaurants and is home to the Boca Raton Museum of Art which moved to the new facility in 2001. A restaurant is a retail establishment that serves prepared Food to Customers. The Boca Raton Museum of Art is located at 501 Plaza Real Boca Raton, Florida in Mizner Park. Boca Raton Museum of Art, <http://www.bocamuseum.org/index.php?submenu=about_us&src=gendocs&link=AboutUs&category=About%20Us>  In 2002, a new amphitheater was built replacing a smaller one, providing a large-capacity outdoor venue where concerts and other performances are held. An amphitheatre (alternatively amphitheater) is an open-air venue for spectator sports concerts rallies or theatrical performances [12]

Mizner Park has significantly aided downtown revitalization. Many new 8-10 story mixed-use buildings have been constructed, are under construction or are proposed for the downtown area. The surrounding areas to the downtown have benefited from the downtown redevelopment.

The National Cartoon Museum (formally: the International Museum of Cartoon Art) built a 25,000-square-foot (2,300 m²) facility on the southwest edge of Mizner Park in 1996. Open for 6 years, the museum closed in 2002 and the space has been empty since. The Museum has since relocated to its original home in New York City. The City of New York The building is currently undergoing renovations for public uses, including the local public TV station, and private uses, such as locally-owned and operated bookstore.

As development continued to focus to the west of the city in the 1980s and 1990s, the mall area, Town Center at Boca Raton, became the geographic center of what is referred to as Boca Raton, though this mall was not actually annexed into the city until 2004. Town Center at Boca Raton (also known as Town Center Mall or Town Center) is a super-regional shopping center located in Boca Raton, Florida The area referred to as Boca Raton, including the unincorporated area west of the city (and discussed below), is now almost entirely built out.

In 1999, Simon Property Group bought Town Center at Boca Raton and renovated and expanded it. Simon Property Group Inc ( an S&P 500 company headquartered in Indianapolis Indiana, is the largest developer of Shopping malls in the United Town Center at Boca Raton (also known as Town Center Mall or Town Center) is a super-regional shopping center located in Boca Raton, Florida Nordstrom is the anchor department store of a new wing. Nordstrom Inc ( is an upscale Department store chain in the United States. Neiman Marcus is the newest department store tenant as of 2006. Neiman Marcus is an upscale specialty retail Department store, operated by the Neiman Marcus Group in the United States. In late 2006, Simon began the construction stage of an outdoor lifestyle center near the new wing. Town Center Mall has become a tourist attraction and the largest indoor mall in Palm Beach County. [13]

Boca Raton has a strict development code, including the size and types of commercial buildings, building signs and advertisements which may be erected within the city limits. No car dealerships are allowed in the city limits, according to the city zoning code. Additionally, no billboards are permitted in the city. The only billboard was grandfathered in during recent annexation. Corporations such as McDonald's have subdued their Golden Arches due to the code. The Golden Arches are the famous Symbol of McDonald's, the global Fast-food Hamburger chain The unincorporated areas still contain restaurants with the classic arches, but the heights of the signs have been reduced. Many buildings in the Boca Raton area have Mediterranean and Spanish architectural themes, initially inspired in the area by Addison Mizner. Addison Cairns Mizner (1872 – 1933 was an American resort Architect whose Mediterranean Revival style left an indelible stamp on south Florida, and which The strict development code has resulted in several major thoroughfares without large signs or advertisements in the traveler's view; significant landscaping is in its place.

Geography

Even in filthy smog, from nearly 5 miles (8 km) away, the Boca Hotel Tower (far right) stands out. Nothing in Boca Raton is nearly as tall.
Even in filthy smog, from nearly 5 miles (8 km) away, the Boca Hotel Tower (far right) stands out. Nothing in Boca Raton is nearly as tall.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 75. The United States Census Bureau (officially Bureau of the Census as defined in Title) is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census 4 km² (29. Square Kilometre ( US spelling square kilometer) symbol km2, is a decimal multiple of the SI unit of 1 mi²). The square mile is an imperial and US unit of Area equal the area of a square of one statute mile. 70. 4 km² (27. 2 mi²) of it is land and 5. 0 km² (1. 9 mi²) of it (6. 63%) is water. Boca Raton is a 'principal city' (as defined by the Census Bureau) of the South Florida metropolitan area. Like most south Florida cities, Boca Raton has a water table that does not permit building basements, but there are several high points in the city, such as Bibletown located at 4th Avenue and the aptly named "High Street. The water table is the level at which the ground water pressure is equal to Atmospheric pressure. " The highest point in this area is the guard shack at Camino Gardens, which is 24 ft (7. 3 m) above sea level. The Boca Raton Hotel's Beach Club rests at 23 ft (7. 0 m) above sea level. [14]

Several small tunnels run under roads in Boca, but the roads are built up several feet at these locations, or are located on dunes. Several of these tunnels are under State Road A1A at Spanish River Park, from the west side of the road where parking is available to beachgoers, to the east side of the road, which is where the beach is located. A1A is already higher than the surrounding land here due to sand dunes formed by erosion and other natural features. [15]

Politics

New fire and police stations were constructed in the early years of the 21st century, including this one, shown under construction in 2004.
New fire and police stations were constructed in the early years of the 21st century, including this one, shown under construction in 2004.

The city council, including Mayor Susan Whelchel, is nonpartisan, although all of its members are registered Republicans. As of 2007, Robert Wexler and Ron Klein, who represent different parts of the city in the United States Congress, are Democrats. Robert Wexler (born January 2, 1961) is an American politician from the U Ronald "Ron" Klein (born July 10 1957) is an American politician from the U The United States Congress is the bicameral Legislature of the federal government of the United States of America, consisting of two houses The Democratic Party is one of two major Political parties in the United States, the other being the Republican Party.

Demographics

As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 74,764 people, 31,848 households, and 20,000 families residing in the city. A census is the procedure of acquiring information about every member of a given population [16] The population density was 1,061. Population density (in agriculture standing stock and Standing crop) is a measurement of Population per unit area or unit volume 7/km² (2,749. 8/mi²). There were 37,547 housing units at an average density of 533. 2/km² (1,381. 0/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 90. 75% White (84. 2% were Non-Hispanic White,)[17] 3. 76% African American, 0. 16% Native American, 1. 99% Asian, 0. 04% Pacific Islander, 1. 39% from other races, and 1. 90% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8. 51% of the population.

There were 31,848 households out of which 24. 1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53. 1% were married couples living together, 7. NOTICE TO WOULD-BE ROMEOS ************** 1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37. 2% were non-families. 29. 5% of all households were made up of individuals and 11. 6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2. 26 and the average family size was 2. 81.

In the city, the population was spread out with 18. 9% under the age of 18, 8. 1% from 18 to 24, 26. 4% from 25 to 44, 26. 7% from 45 to 64, and 19. 8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 95. 1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92. 8 males.

According to a 2006 estimate, the median income for a household in the city was $66,052, and the median income for a family was $90,725. [2] Males had a median income of $52,287 versus $33,347 for females. The per capita income for the city was $45,628. Per capita income means how much each individual receives in monetary terms of the yearly income generated in the country About 4. 1% of families and 6. 7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6. The poverty threshold, or poverty line, is the minimum level of Income deemed necessary to achieve an adequate Standard of living in a given country 0% of those under age 18 and 4. 9% of those age 65 or over.

According to Forbes, Boca Raton has three of the ten most expensive gated communities in the U. Forbes is an American Publishing and media company Its flagship publication Forbes magazine is published bi-weekly In its modern form a gated community is a form of Residential community containing controlled entrances for Pedestrians Bicycles and Automobiles S. The Royal Palm Yacht and Country Club holds the #1 spot, The Sanctuary takes #6, and Le Lac takes the #8 spot. [18]

As of 2000, English was spoken by 79. English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States 89%, Spanish by 9. 28%, French consisted of 1. French ( français,) is a Romance language spoken around the world by 118 million people as a native language and by about 180 to 260 million people 46%, Portuguese was at 1. Portuguese ( or língua portuguesa) is a Romance language that originated in what is now Galicia (Spain and northern Portugal. 45%, French Creole at 1. Haitian Creole language ( kreyòl ayisyen) often called simply Creole or Kreyòl ( pronounced) is a language spoken in Haiti 29%, and Italian made up 1. Italian ( or lingua italiana) is a Romance language spoken by about 63 million people as a First language, primarily in Italy. 05% of the population. Although there are a substantial number of Jewish people within the city, only 0. PLEASE TAKE NOTE************ 36% of the population spoke Hebrew at home, while only 0. 27% of the population spoke Yiddish at home. Yiddish (yi [[wiktייִדיש ייִדיש]] yidish or yi [[wiktאידיש אידיש]] idish, literally "Jewish" is a nonterritorial High [19]

Culture

Boca Raton is known for its affluent social community and high income demographic. Boca Raton has a large Jewish and South American influence. Boca Raton's Jewish population consists mostly of Jewish people from the northeast United States. Boca Raton's South American population includes a large demographic from Brazil, Colombia, and Venezuela.

Areas outside of the Boca Raton city limits

A majority of "postal Boca Raton" lies outside of the actual city limits. This large unincorporated area to the west of the city limits is included in the Boca Raton mailing address and local telephone calling area. There are many large planned developments in the area, including gated communities, and a number of golf courses. A Planned Unit Development, or PUD, is both a type of building development as well as a regulatory process In its modern form a gated community is a form of Residential community containing controlled entrances for Pedestrians Bicycles and Automobiles A golf course consists of a series of holes each consisting of a Teeing ground, Fairway, rough and other hazards and a green with a pin and cup all designed for This is a result in the later start of development in these areas, and the availability of large tracts of land. Several of the communities are large enough to be designated as census-designated places, including Boca Del Mar, Boca Pointe, Hamptons at Boca Raton, Mission Bay, Loggers' Run, Sandalfoot Cove, and Whisper Walk. A census-designated place ( CDP) is a type of place (a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes Boca Del Mar is an upper-middle class Census-designated place located in an unincorporated area near Boca Raton in Palm Beach County Florida. Boca Pointe is a Census-designated place (CDP located in an unincorporated area near Boca Raton in Palm Beach County, Florida. Hamptons at Boca Raton is a Census-designated place (CDP located in an unincorporated area near Boca Raton in Palm Beach County Florida. Mission Bay is a Census-designated place (CDP located in an unincorporated area near Boca Raton in Palm Beach County Florida. Sandalfoot Cove is a Census-designated place (CDP located in an unincorporated area near Boca Raton in Palm Beach County Florida. Whisper Walk is a Census-designated place (CDP located in an unincorporated area near Boca Raton in Palm Beach County Florida. West Boca continues west from the city limits to the Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge. The 147392 acre (596 km² Arthur R Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge includes the most northern remnant of the historic Everglades wetland ecosystem The area also has other large neighborhoods such as Avalon at Boca Raton, Boca Falls, Boca Winds, Boca West, and The Polo Club Boca Raton. "West Boca" is a common designator for the area west of Florida's Turnpike. Florida's Turnpike (TPK which has carried the Ronald Reagan Turnpike legislative designation since 1998 is a Toll road that runs 312 miles (497 km down

Notable residents, past and present

Education

Public schools

Public education is provided and managed by The School District of Palm Beach County. The School District of Palm Beach County is the eleventh largest Public school district in the United States, and the fifth largest school district in Florida Boca Raton is also home to several notable private and religious schools. Less than 50% of the children in the City of Boca Raton attend public schools, the majority attend private school or are home schooled.

As of 2007, Boca Raton is served by four public high schools. Within the city's limits, Boca Raton Community High School serves the eastern part of the city. Spanish River Community High School serves the western part of the city limits and parts of unincorporated Boca Raton. Spanish River Community High School is a public coeducational high school serving the cities of Boca Raton and Delray Beach as part of the School District of Palm Olympic Heights Community High School serves the west-central unincorporated areas. Olympic Heights Community High School is a public high school located at 20101 Lyons Road serving west Boca Raton and parts of Delray Beach as part of the School District of Palm Finally, West Boca Raton Community High School serves the far-west unincorporated areas. West Boca Raton Community High School is a public high school in the unincorporated western suburb of Boca Raton Florida. Spanish River and Olympic Heights also serve students from Delray Beach and Boynton Beach. Delray Beach is a city in Palm Beach County, Florida, USA. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population Boynton Beach is a city in Palm Beach County, Florida, United States. [22]

The area is served by five public middle schools:

The area is served by twelve public elementary schools:

There is another alternative to the Palm Beach County Public Schools in Boca Raton. The Alexander D. Henderson University School is located on the Florida Atlantic University campus. A. D. Henderson University School (ADHUS) is organized as a unique and separate school district; it is not part of the Palm Beach County School System. Henderson School is recognized as Florida Atlantic University School District #72, under the College of Education’s administrative oversight.

University schools in Florida are authorized to provide excellent instruction for grades K-12 and University students, support University research efforts, and test educational reforms for Florida schools. ADHUS is a public school and thus does not charge tuition. It is open to children who reside in Palm Beach County or Broward County and admission is by lottery. Student characteristics of gender, race, family income and student ability are used to match the student population profile to that of the state. [24]

Private schools

Colleges and universities

Libraries

The Boca Raton Public Library serves city of Boca Raton residents. A second municipal library building on Spanish River Boulevard west of I-95 was opened in January, 2008.

The Southwest County Regional Library serves Boca Raton residents who live outside the city limits. A second county library on State Road 7 and Yamato Road is planned for 2008. County library card holders may use any of the fourteen branches in the Palm Beach County Library System. [26]

Controversies and crime

Despite being known as a safe city, Boca Raton is not without its share of crime. According to this article in the Palm Beach Post, there are nine known gangs operating in the area identified as Boca Raton, the majority outside the city limits in the suburbs of Boca Raton.
Despite being known as a safe city, Boca Raton is not without its share of crime. According to this article in the Palm Beach Post, there are nine known gangs operating in the area identified as Boca Raton, the majority outside the city limits in the suburbs of Boca Raton. [27]

Crime statistics

According to the Department of Justice, the following offenses occurred in Boca Raton in 2006. For animal rights group see Justice Department (JD The United States Department of Justice ( DOJ) is a Cabinet department [28] The Federal Bureau of Investigation assembles these data each year through the Uniform Crime Reporting Program. The Uniform Crime Reports ( UCR) contain official data on crime that is reported to law enforcement agencies across the country who then provide the data to the [29]

Murders and nonnegligent manslaughters 3
Forcible rapes 13
Robberies 72
Aggravated assaults 150
Total violent crimes 238
Burglaries 551
Larceny-thefts 2,232
Motor vehicle thefts 168
Arson 2
Total property crimes 2,951
Estimated population 88,093

Terrorism

In 2001, Boca Raton was the site of the first anthrax attack in the United States when two employees at the American Media building were stricken by the agent. The 2001 Anthrax attacks in the United States, also known as Amerithrax from its Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI case name occurred over American Media Inc, is a publisher of a number of major United States -based magazines and Supermarket tabloids Company background American Media's Robert "Bob" Stevens, photo editor of the Sun, a supermarket tabloid published by American Media, died of inhalation anthrax while Ernesto Blanco, a 73-year-old mail-room employee, fell ill and later recovered. Sun is a Supermarket tabloid owned by American Media Inc. Its contents have often come under question American Media moved their headquarters to the nearby T-REX Corporate Center. The American Media building remained sealed until the summer of 2004, when it became the last of the afflicted buildings to be decontaminated, through the use of chlorine dioxide gas. Chlorine dioxide is a Chemical compound with the formula ClO2 See Timeline of the 2001 anthrax attacks in Florida. The following is a timeline the 2001 anthrax attacks in Florida.

Technological issues

According to MessageLabs (an email security vendor), Boca Raton is the "spam capital of the world", being the source of a surprisingly high fraction of all spam generated worldwide, which is not surprising given the area's appeal, the personal fortunes of typical spammers, and the area's notorious past as a favorite of organized crime. MessageLabs is a major provider of integrated Messaging and web security services with over 19000 clients ranging from small business to the Fortune 500 Electronic mail, often abbreviated to e-mail, email, or originally eMail, is a Store-and-forward method of writing sending receiving This article describes how security can be achieved through design and engineering E-mail spam, also known as "bulk e-mail" or "junk e-mail" is a subset of spam that involves nearly identical messages sent to numerous recipients by "Crime syndicate" redirects here For the DC Comics group of villains see Crime Syndicate. According to the Miami Herald, the city has a long history of involvement in confidence tricks. The Miami Herald is a daily Newspaper owned by The McClatchy Company headquartered in Downtown Miami Florida. A confidence trick or confidence game (also known as a bunko, con, flim flam, gaffle, grift, scam, scheme Richard C. Breeden, former U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission chairman, once called the city "the only coastal city in Florida where there are more sharks on land than in the water. Richard C Breeden (born 1949 is an American corporate lawyer and hedge fund manager The US Securities and Exchange Commission (commonly known as the SEC) is an independent agency of the United States government which holds primary responsibility " In the keynote address to a computer security conference on June 8, 2004, Bruce Sterling described the city as the "Capone-Chicago of cyber fraud. This article describes how security can be achieved through design and engineering Events 68 - The Roman Senate accepts emperor Galba. 536 - St Silverius becomes Pope (probable "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " Michael Bruce Sterling (born April 14, 1954) is an American Science fiction author, best known for his novels and his seminal work on the Mirrorshades "

On July 22, 2004, Boca Raton resident Scott Levine was charged with the largest computer crime indictment in United States history. Events 1099 - First Crusade: Godfrey of Bouillon is elected the first Defender of the Holy Sepulchre of The Kingdom of "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " Scott Levine was a Boca Raton, Florida resident On 22 July, 2004, Levine was charged with the largest Computer crime Indictment Computer crime, Cybercrime, e-crime, hi-tech crime or electronic crime generally refers to criminal activity where a Computer In the Common law legal system an indictment (ɪnˈdaɪtmənt (in-DITE-mint is a formal accusation of having committed a criminal offense Federal prosecutors allege that Levine unlawfully accessed Acxiom, a database of consumer data aggregator, to steal detailed personal information about millions of persons. A Computer Database is a structured collection of records or data that is stored in a computer system Data mining is the process of Sorting through large amounts of data and picking out relevant information Consumer privacy laws and regulations seek to protect any individual from loss of privacy due to failures or limitations of corporate customer privacy measures

Organized crime

Boca Raton has a connection to the Mafia. Although not known for violent crime, it's a popular hangout spot for many suspected Mafia members. According to a number of US Federal indictments, as of June, 2004, the Gambino family continues to operate in Boca Raton. The Gambino crime family is one of the " Five Families " that controls Organized crime activities based in New York City, United States The Television show, The Sopranos has featured the city in its plot, and Mafia Wife author Lynda Milito resides in Boca Raton[30][31][32]. The Sopranos is an American Television drama series created by David Chase.

Transportation

Palmetto Park Road is the central east-west thoroughfare through Boca Raton, and is one of four roads in Boca Raton to connect to Interstate 95.
Palmetto Park Road is the central east-west thoroughfare through Boca Raton, and is one of four roads in Boca Raton to connect to Interstate 95. Interstate 95 (officially The Singer Expressway in Miami-Dade County), the main Interstate Highway on the East coast of the United States, serves
I-95's northbound lane at the northern end of the city.
I-95's northbound lane at the northern end of the city.

Air

At one time, Henry Flagler's FEC Railway was the lifeblood of south Florida, and Boca Raton was largely industrial and agricultural. Many traces of this still exist, such as this abandoned rail yard, which was used to load trucks onto trains.
At one time, Henry Flagler's FEC Railway was the lifeblood of south Florida, and Boca Raton was largely industrial and agricultural. The Florida East Coast Railway is a Class II railroad operating in the U Many traces of this still exist, such as this abandoned rail yard, which was used to load trucks onto trains.

Highways

FEC track as it crosses over the C-15 canal from Boca Raton (near), to Delray Beach (far). This line was once double tracked, and ran all the way to Key West.
FEC track as it crosses over the C-15 canal from Boca Raton (near), to Delray Beach (far). The Florida East Coast Railway is a Class II railroad operating in the U This line was once double tracked, and ran all the way to Key West. Key West is a city in Monroe County Florida, United States. The city encompasses Key West, the namesake island the part of Stock Island

Rail

A south facing picture of the Boca Raton Tri-Rail station. A northbound Amtrak train is visible in the distance.
A south facing picture of the Boca Raton Tri-Rail station. Boca Raton Station is a Tri-Rail station in Boca Raton, Palm Beach County, Florida. A northbound Amtrak train is visible in the distance. The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, Doing business as Amtrak, is a Government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971

Water

Long before any settlers arrived, the original 1870 government survey of the area[33] showed that just west of and parallel to the Atlantic Ocean's coastal dune was the "Boca Ratones Lagoon", which extended south for nine miles (14. Year 1870 ( MDCCCLXX) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common In physical Geography, a dune is a Hill of Sand built by Aeolian processes. 5 km) from just north of the present location of Atlantic Avenue in Delray Beach. Delray Beach is a city in Palm Beach County, Florida, USA. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population Along the southern half of the lagoon were three wide areas each called a "Lake", which are now named (north to south) Lake Rogers, Lake Wyman, and Lake Boca Raton. At the southeast end of the lagoon was a short protrusion toward the south which would become the Boca Raton Inlet after a sandbar at its mouth was removed. The lagoon and lakes were part of a half-mile (0. 8 km) wide swamp, west of which was scrub land a mile (1. 6 km) wide (part of the Atlantic coastal ridge) where the Florida East Coast Railway (1896) and Dixie Highway were built. The Dixie Highway was a United States Automobile Highway first planned in 1914 to connect the US Midwest with the Southern United To the west of the scrub was a half mile or wider swamp within which flowed north to south the "Prong of Hillsborough River", which is now the El Rio Canal. It now forms the eastern border of Florida Atlantic University and the Old Floresta neighborhood. Iguanas are plentiful around the southern half of the canal. Iguana is a Genus of Lizard native to tropical areas of Central and South America and the Caribbean first described by Austrian The prong entered the "Hillsborough River" at the present eastern end of the straight portion of the Hillsboro Canal (dredged 1911-1914), which is the southern city limits. The Hillsboro Canal is located in the southeastern portion of Florida, and for much of its length forms the border between Broward and Palm Beach counties The river flowed southeast in several channels along the western edge of the present Deerfield Island, formerly called Capone Island (named for Al Capone who owned it during the 1930s), which did not become an island until the Royal Palm Canal was dredged along its northern edge in 1961. Alphonse Gabriel "Al" Capone (January 17 1899 &ndash January 25 1947 commonly nicknamed Scarface, was an Italian American Gangster who [34][35] Flowing south from the lagoon to the river along the eastern edge of the 'island' was a "Small boat Pass into Hillsboro' River", also called the Little Hillsboro. The river continued due south about four and a half miles (7. 2 km) just inland of the coastal dune until it emptied into the Atlantic Ocean at the "Hillsborough Bar", now the Hillsboro Inlet. Hillsboro Inlet in Pompano Beach, Florida, USA is an inlet from the Atlantic Ocean that connects the ocean to the Intracoastal Waterway.

The lagoon was dredged in 1894–95 to form part of the Florida East Coast Canal from Jacksonville to Biscayne Bay with a minimum depth of 5 feet (1. Biscayne Bay ( Bahía Vizcaina, in Spanish) is a Lagoon that is approximately 35 miles (56 km long and up to 8 miles (13 km wide located on the 5 m) and a minimum width of 50 feet (15. 2 m). [36] After 1895, the lagoon and canal were sometimes called the Spanish River. Between 1930 and 1935 the canal was improved to 8×100 feet (2. 4×30. 5 m) by the federal government and renamed the Intracoastal Waterway. The Intracoastal Waterway is a 4800-km (3000-mile Waterway along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States. It was improved again between 1960 and 1965 to 10×125 feet (3×38. 1 m). [37] All three versions were subject to shoaling which reduced their depths below the specified minimum. A shoal or sandbar (also called sandbank) is a somewhat Linear Landform within or extending into a body of Water, Forming part of the northern city limits is the C-15 canal, connecting the El Rio Canal to the Intracoastal Waterway. The first settler was T. M. Rickards in 1895 who resided on the north shore of Lake Boca Raton. The Cloisters Inn, now the Boca Raton Hotel and Resort, was built on the western edge of the lake in 1927 by Adison Mizner.

Boca Raton in popular culture

Boca has been mentioned in many movies, including Cats & Dogs, Music and Lyrics, Wag the Dog, A Perfect Murder, Bewitched, and Mr. 3000, and in many TV shows, such as Histeria!, American Dragon: Jake Long, American Dad!, Nip/Tuck, The Sopranos, Lizzie McGuire, The Golden Girls, Code Name: The Cleaner, The Nanny, The Venture Brothers, Phil of the Future, Two and a Half Men and MADtv. Cats & Dogs is a 2001 American Comedy film directed by Lawrence Guterman. Music and Lyrics is a romantic comedy Film released by Warner Bros Wag the Dog is a 1997 Film starring Robert De Niro, about a Washington spin doctor who distracts the electorate from a A Perfect Murder is a 1998 Thriller film, made by Kopelson Entertainment and Warner Bros Bewitched is an American Situation comedy originally broadcast for eight seasons on ABC from 1964 to 1972. Mr 3000 is a 2004 Touchstone Pictures / Dimension Films / Spyglass Entertainment / The Kennedy/Marshall Company Film Histeria! is an American Animated television series of the late-1990s created by Tom Ruegger (who also created Tiny Toon Adventures American Dragon Jake Long was an American Animated television series produced by Walt Disney Television Animation. American Dad! is a satirical American animated series produced by Underdog Productions and Fuzzy Door Productions for 20th Century Nip/Tuck is an American television Medical drama series created by Ryan Murphy for FX Networks. The Sopranos is an American Television drama series created by David Chase. For the title character see Lizzie McGuire (character. Lizzie McGuire is a Disney Channel Original Series that aired The Golden Girls is an American sitcom that originally aired on NBC from September 14, 1985, to May 9, Code Name The Cleaner is an action / Comedy starring Cedric the Entertainer, Lucy Liu, Callum Keith Rennie and Nicollette The Venture Bros (alternatively The Venture Brothers) is an American Animated television series airing as part of Adult Swim Phil of the Future is an American Comedy Children's television series that was produced by 2121 Productions (a part of Brookwell Two and a Half Men is an Emmy Award nominated American television sitcom, which premiered on CBS on Monday September 22 2003 at MADtv, is an American Sketch comedy television series based on the humor magazine Mad. These references usually have something to do with Florida's reputation for its resorts, or high concentration of condominiums, or alternately, especially in the case of Seinfeld, numerous references to Boca Raton as "God's waiting room" . Seinfeld is an American Situation comedy, or sitcom that originally aired on NBC from July 5 1989 to May 14 1998 lasting nine seasons There is also a reference in rapper Young Dro's song Shoulder Lean, in which he says "ice comes from Boca Raton", among numerous other songs. " Shoulder Lean " is the debut single by Young Dro from his Debut album Best Thang Smokin'. Additionally, in rapper Trick Daddy's smash hit Shut up he says "But all my Boca (Raton) Boys they know dough, that's fo' sho' doe". Boca Raton is almost idomatically used for indicating retirement, such as in The Nanny in which Fran Drescher is always pushing her parents to move to Boca. Francine Joy Drescher (born September 30, 1957) is an Emmy award and Golden Globe nominated American Film and Television

Boca Raton has also been the stage and background for many movies filmed on location in Boca Raton, including Paper Lion (1968), Paper Moon (1973), Caddyshack (1980), Where the Boys Are '84 (1984) and Stella (1990). Paper Lion, published in 1966, is a non-fiction book by prominent American writer George Plimpton. Caddyshack is a 1980 American Comedy film directed by Harold Ramis and written by Brian Doyle-Murray, Ramis and Where the Boys Are '84 is a 1984 remake of the 1960 teen sex comedy film Where the Boys Are, starring Lisa Hartman, Stella is a 1990 American Drama film produced by Touchstone and released by Buena Vista Pictures.

References

  1. ^ a b American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. The United States Census Bureau (officially Bureau of the Census as defined in Title) is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census Retrieved on 2008-01-31. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 1504 - France cedes Naples to Aragon. 1606 - Gunpowder Plot: Guy Fawkes
  2. ^ US Board on Geographic Names. United States Geological Survey (2007-10-25). The United States Geological Survey ( USGS) is a scientific agency of the United States government. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1147 - The Portuguese, under Afonso I, and Crusaders from England and Flanders conquer Lisbon after a Retrieved on 2008-01-31. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 1504 - France cedes Naples to Aragon. 1606 - Gunpowder Plot: Guy Fawkes
  3. ^ Boca Raton Club Tower, Boca Raton
  4. ^ http://www.census.gov/popest/cities/tables/SUB-EST2006-04-12.xls
  5. ^ Boca Raton Historical Society
  6. ^ http://www.ci.boca-raton.fl.us/pdf/CITYNEWSLETTERS/BocaCMLetter.pdf
  7. ^ http://www.census.gov/popest/cities/tables/SUB-EST2005-04-12.csv
  8. ^ A.Word.A.Day Archives--disembogue - retrieved July 14, 2006
  9. ^ Coastal History - retrieved July 14, 2006
  10. ^ Virtual Tour of Arica U.S.A. - URL retrieved August 27, 2006
  11. ^ Ancient America: one of Florida's lost tourist attractions - URL retrieved August 27, 2006
  12. ^ http://www.miznerparkamp.com/
  13. ^ Town Center at Boca Raton
  14. ^ Google Earth
  15. ^ Google Earth
  16. ^ These demographics reflect the population within the city limits only, which make up of less than 50% of the postal Boca Raton land. Events 1223 - Louis VIII becomes King of France upon the death of his father Philip II of France. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1223 - Louis VIII becomes King of France upon the death of his father Philip II of France. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 479 BC - Greco-Persian Wars: Persian forces led by Mardonius are routed by Pausanias, the Spartan Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 479 BC - Greco-Persian Wars: Persian forces led by Mardonius are routed by Pausanias, the Spartan Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Town Center at Boca Raton (also known as Town Center Mall or Town Center) is a super-regional shopping center located in Boca Raton, Florida
  17. ^ Demographics of Boca Raton, Fla.. MuniNetGuide. com. Retrieved on 2007-12-05. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 63 BC - Cicero reads the last of his Catiline Orations.
  18. ^ Most Expensive Gated Communities In America 2004 - Forbes.com
  19. ^ Data Center Results
  20. ^ Are Hurricanes Swamping Spammers? (2004-09-15). "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " Events 668 - Eastern Roman Emperor Constans II is assassinated in his bath at Syracuse Italy.
  21. ^ Boca spammer refuses Microsoft settlement offer
  22. ^ School District of Palm Beach County - High School Boundary Maps - Accessed December 17, 2007
  23. ^ [1]
  24. ^ FAU - A.D. Henderson University School
  25. ^ Solomon Schechter Day School of Palm Beach County
  26. ^ Palm Beach County Library System Home Page
  27. ^ PalmBeachPost.com: Gangs in Palm Beach County
  28. ^ "2006 Crime in the United States, Table 8 (Florida)", United States Department of Justice, September 2007. Events 546 - Gothic War (535–554: The Ostrogoths of King Totila Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Retrieved on 2007-11-01. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 996 - Emperor Otto III issues a deed to Gottschalk Bishop of Freising which is the oldest known document using the name Ostarrîchi  
  29. ^ "2006 Crime in the United States, Table 8, Data Declaration", United States Department of Justice, September 2007. Retrieved on 2007-11-01. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 996 - Emperor Otto III issues a deed to Gottschalk Bishop of Freising which is the oldest known document using the name Ostarrîchi  
  30. ^ Boca Raton, Florida FL - Mafia Wife Interview with Lynda Milita | Boca Raton
  31. ^ cbs4.com - Married To The Mob: Mafia Wife To Sue HBO
  32. ^ Lynda Milito from HarperCollins Publishers
  33. ^ Bureau of Land Management, General Land Office Records Florida, Townships 46–48, Range 43
  34. ^ The Mysterious "Capone Island": Deerfield Island ParkPDF (597KB)
  35. ^ Deerfield Island - Spanish River PapersPDF (2. 47MB)
  36. ^ A history of Florida's East Coast Canal: The Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway from Jacksonville to MiamiPDF (3. 8 MB)
  37. ^ Aubrey Parkman, History of the waterways of the Atlantic coast of the United States, National Waterways Study, 1983, p. 87.

External links


A geographic coordinate system enables every location on the Earth to be specified in three coordinates using mainly a spherical coordinate system.
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