Boca Raton, Florida
The city of Boca Raton, Florida, located in the southern part of the state, is a major urban center for the southern section of Palm Beach County. While the city is part of the greater Miami metropolitan area, Boca Raton has a history, economy and lifestyle that is all its own. Boca Raton has an official population of 86,386, but the surrounding area adds another 120,000 (mostly in “West Boca,” outside the city limits) while visitors account for another 150,000 on an average day. When moving to Boca Raton, a great deal of city life awaits you.
Economy:
Boca Raton has a reputation as an affluent city, with many residents having a higher-than-average income. This is due not only to the strong influence of the tourism industry (which makes up a large section of the city’s economy) but also to the presence of many corporations in the city. Boca Raton is, in fact, a major economic center for Palm Beach County. IBM arrived in the city in 1967, when it built its southern states hub, focusing on computer technologies. Manufacturing gave way to management and research in 1987, and in 1996, IBM’s facilities were sold to T-REX Management Consortium. IBM returned to Boca Raton in 2001, when the company opened a laboratory for software development. Other companies are present in Boca Raton as well with corporations such as Office Depot, the Bluegreen Corporation, Jarden Consumer Solutions and the GEO Group headquartered in the city. With such a flourishing job market, Boca Raton moving companies are thriving in this area.
History:
European settlers arrived in the Boca Raton area at a relatively late time, 1895, taking land that the Tequesta Indians had occupied until the 18th century. The town remained small in its early years, functioning as a center for an agricultural region specializing in pineapple cultivation. Among the earliest settlers in Boca Raton was a community of recently-immigrated Japanese, who farmed an area along what is now Yamato Road. That community ended during World War II, when the government seized the Japanese property for the building of an air base. Boca Raton saw its first growth with the 1920s Florida land boom, and the town was incorporated in 1925. Tourism began to grow at this time, with Addison Mizner’s distinctive luxury hotel, the Cloister Inn (now known as the Boca Raton Resort & Club) built in 1926. Agriculture remained strong in the city during the 1930s and 1940s, and Boca Raton was known for its green beans and other winter vegetables. World War II brought the Army Air Corps to Boca Raton, along with 30,000 military and support personnel. With the town’s population standing at 723 as late as 1940, this represented major growth. Further growth occurred in the 1960s, when the city spread westward and ballooned to a population of over 30,000 by 1970.
Tourism:
While the beaches (nine of them within the city) are Boca Raton’s biggest draw, there are many other attractions. Performance art organizations are also a significant presence in the city, with such groups as the Boca Raton Philharmonic Symphonia, the Centre for the Arts, the Boca Ballet Theatre, the Caldwell Theater and the Sol Children’s Theatre Troupe. Film stars descend on the city annually for the Palm Beach International Film Festival, held in April with several venues in Boca Raton. Nature can be found within the city at the Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, an attraction in Red Reef Park that features a boardwalk, a butterfly garden and animal exhibits. Travel in and around Boca Raton is possible on either the Palm Tran bus service or the Tri-Rail commuter railroad. The closest flights are at the Palm Beach International Airport in nearby West Palm Beach.
Colleges/Universities:
• Florida Atlantic University
• Palm Beach State College
• Lynn University
• Digital Media Arts College
• Everglades University
Interesting Facts:
• There was a brief theme park boom in Boca Raton during the 1950s. Over just a few years, the city saw the opening of Africa USA (a safari park), Ancient America (at the site of some prehistoric mounds) and Bibletown on the Winter Bible Conference Grounds.
• Due to strict development codes in Boca Raton, there are stringent limits on both signs and advertisements. No billboards are allowed within the city, and even chain businesses like McDonald’s are required to tone down their famous “Golden Arches.”
• Some Internet security professionals have labeled Boca Raton as the “spam capital of the world.” A high percentage of all spam e-mail is generated in the area.
Helpful Links:
• City of Boca Raton
• Palm Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau
• Boca Raton Storage Facilities
• Boca Raton Moving Guide