Belle Glade, Florida

Belle Glade, Florida
—  City  —
Location of Belle Glade, Florida
Coordinates: 26°41′7″N 80°40′17″W / 26.68528°N 80.67139°W / 26.68528; -80.67139Coordinates: 26°41′7″N 80°40′17″W / 26.68528°N 80.67139°W / 26.68528; -80.67139
Country	United States
State	Florida
County	Palm Beach
Area
- Total	4.7 sq mi (12.1 km2)
- Land	4.6 sq mi (12.0 km2)
- Water	0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2)
Elevation	16 ft (5 m)
Population (2000)[1]
- Total	16,739
- Density	3,206.2/sq mi (1,237.9/km2)
Time zone	Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
- Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code	33430
Area code(s)	561
FIPS code	12-05200[2]
GNIS feature ID	0278445[3]

Belle Glade is a city in Palm Beach County, Florida on the southeastern shore of Lake Okeechobee. The population was 14,906 at the 2000 census. According to the U.S Census estimates of 2007, the city had a population of 16,739.^[4]

Belle Glade (and the surrounding area) is sometimes referred to as "Muck City" due to the large quantity of muck, in which sugarcane grows, found in the area.^[5] About half the sugarcane in the nation is grown in the plains around Belle Glade and nearby Clewiston. Despite being located in the South Florida region of the state, Belle Glade is culturally more associated with the Florida Heartland.

For a time during the early to mid-1980s, the city had the highest rate of AIDS infection per capita (37 cases in a population of roughly 19,000) in the United States.^[6] According to the FBI in 2003 the city had the second highest violent crime rate in the country at 298 per 10,000 residents.

History

The existence of Belle Glade is related to the federal project of draining the land around Lake Okeechobee, the acreage to be used for agriculture. The town was built in 1925 and destroyed by a hurricane three years later which killed thousands of people. Since then the town has been rebuilt. The area around Lake Okeechobee is fertile and farming has been an important industry.^[7]

Geography

The former sign at the entrance to Belle Glade.

Belle Glade is located at 26°41′07″N 80°40′17″W / 26.685264°N 80.671275°W / 26.685264; -80.671275.^[8]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.7 square miles (12 km²), of which 4.7 square miles (12 km²) are land and 0.21% is water.

Demographics

As of the census^[2] of 2000, there were 14,906 people, 4,854 households, and 3,431 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,206.2 inhabitants per square mile (1,237.7/km²). There were 5,374 housing units at an average density of 1,155.9 per square mile (446.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 13.8% White (non-Hispanic), 50.68% Black or African American, 27.57% Hispanic or Latino of any race, 0.17% Native American, 0.19% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 9.70% from other races, and 8.93% from two or more races.^[9]

There were 4,854 households out of which 39.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.9% were married couples living together, 22.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.3% were non-families. 23.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.04 and the average family size was 3.62.

In the city the population was spread out with 33.5% under the age of 18, 10.0% from 18 to 24, 27.1% from 25 to 44, 20.7% from 45 to 64, and 8.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 103.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $22,715, and the median income for a family was $26,756. Males had a median income of $26,232 versus $21,410 for females. The per capita income for the city was $11,159. About 28.5% of families and 32.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 41.1% of those under age 18 and 21.4% of those age 65 or over.

As of 2000, speakers of English as a first language accounted for 61.03% of all residents, while Spanish as a mother tongue consisted of 26.87%, Haitian Creole comprised 11.00%, and French made up 1.07% of the population.^[10]

As of 2000, Belle Glade had the tenth highest percentage of Haitian residents in the United States, at 11.50% of the populace.^[11] It also had the sixtieth highest percentage of Cuban residents nationally, at 5.98% of the population.^[12]

Government and infrastructure

The United States Postal Service operates the Belle Glade Post Office.^[13]

The Florida Department of Corrections operates the Glades Correctional Institution in an unincorporated area in Palm Beach County near Belle Glade.^[14]

Schools

School District of Palm Beach County operates public schools.

Elementary schools

• Gove Elementary
• Belle Glade Elementary
• Glade View Elementary
• Pioneer Park Elementary

Middle schools

• Lake Shore Middle School

High schools

• Glades Central High School

Private schools

• Glades Day School
• Lakeside Academy

Colleges

• Palm Beach State College - Belle Glade Campus

Economy

The cane sugar mill of the "Sugar Cane Growers Cooperative" (SCGC) is located at Belle Glade. During the crop season the factory employs 550 people.^[15]

The "Glades Correctional Institution" near Belle Glade was founded in 1932, employs about 350 and has a capacity of 918 inmates.^[16]

Notable residents

• Reidel Anthony, former NFL wide receiver, Tampa Bay Buccaneers^[17]
• Brad Banks, CFL quarterback, Winnipeg Blue Bombers; 2002 Heisman Trophy first runner-up for the University of Iowa^[18]
• Jessie Hester, former NFL wide receiver, Los Angeles Raiders, Atlanta Falcons, Indianapolis Colts, and St. Louis Rams^[19]
• Santonio Holmes, NFL wide receiver, New York Jets^[20]
• James Lee, NFL offensive lineman, Tampa Bay Buccaneers^[21]
• Louis Oliver, former NFL safety, Miami Dolphins and Cincinnati Bengals^[22]
• Fred Taylor, NFL running back, New England Patriots^[23]
• Andre Waters, former NFL safety, Philadelphia Eagles and Arizona Cardinals^[24]

Belle Glade in popular culture

The final scenes of the crime novel Pretty Little Things by Jilliane Hoffman take place in a sugarcane plantation near Belle Glade.

References

1. ^ "Annual Estimates of the population for the Incorporated Places of Florida" (XLS). US Census Bureau. http://www.census.gov/popest/cities/tables/SUB-ES. Retrieved 2007-08-15. ^{[dead link]}
2. ^ ^{a b} "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
3. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. http://geonames.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
4. ^ http://www.census.gov/popest/cities/tables/SUB-EST2007-04-12.xls
5. ^ Adelson, Eric. "The Chase". ESPN The Magazine. ESPN. http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=adelson/070416. Retrieved 23 May 2011. 
6. ^ AEGiS-Miami Herald: PLAGUE BAFFLES TOWN Belle GLades AIDS rate tops in U.S
7. ^ Gorman, Juliet. "Introduction to Belle Glade". www.oberlin.edu. http://www.oberlin.edu/library/papers/honorshistory/2001-Gorman/jookjoints/belleglade/introtobelleglade.html. Retrieved 2008-06-08. 
8. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html. Retrieved 2011-04-23. 
9. ^ "Demographics of Belle Glade, FL". MuniNetGuide.com. http://www.muninetguide.com/states/florida/municipality/Belle_Glade.php. Retrieved 2007-11-12. 
10. ^ "MLA Data Center Results of Belle Glade, FL". Modern Language Association. http://www.mla.org/map_data_results&state_id=12&county_id=&mode=&zip=&place_id=5200&cty_id=&ll=&a=&ea=&order=r. Retrieved 2007-11-12. 
11. ^ "Ancestry Map of Haitian Communities". Epodunk.com. http://www.epodunk.com/ancestry/Haitian.html. Retrieved 2007-11-12. 
12. ^ "Ancestry Map of Cuban Communities". Epodunk.com. http://www.epodunk.com/ancestry/Cuban.html. Retrieved 2007-11-12. 
13. ^ "Post Office™ Location - BELLE GLADE." United States Postal Service. Retrieved on August 26, 2011.
14. ^ "Glades Correctional Institution." Florida Department of Corrections. Retrieved on August 26, 2011.
15. ^ press release of SGCG, added 2011-04-24
16. ^ Homepage of the Florida Department of Correction, found on 2011-04-24
17. ^ "Reidel Anthony Past Stats, Statistics, History, and Awards - databaseFootball.com". databasefootball.com. http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=ANTHOREI01. Retrieved April 24, 2011. "High School: Glades Central (Belle Glade, FL)" 
18. ^ "Player Bio: Brad Banks :: Football". hawkeyesports.com. http://www.hawkeyesports.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/banks_brad00.html. Retrieved April 24, 2011. 
19. ^ "Jessie Hester Past Stats, Statistics, History, and Awards - databaseFootball.com". databasefootball.com. http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=HESTEJES01. Retrieved April 24, 2011. 
20. ^ "Santonio Holmes Past Stats, Statistics, History, and Awards - databaseFootball.com". databasefootball.com. http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=HOLMESAN01. Retrieved April 24, 2011. 
21. ^ "James Lee Past Stats, Statistics, History, and Awards - databaseFootball.com". databasefootball.com. http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=LeeJam02. Retrieved April 24, 2011. 
22. ^ "Louis Oliver Past Stats, Statistics, History, and Awards - databaseFootball.com". databasefootball.com. http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=OLIVELOU01. Retrieved April 24, 2011. 
23. ^ "Fred Taylor Past Stats, Statistics, History, and Awards - databaseFootball.com". databasefootball.com. http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=TAYLOFRE01. Retrieved April 24, 2011. "High School: Glades Central (Belle Glade, FL)" 
24. ^ "Andre Waters Past Stats, Statistics, History, and Awards - databaseFootball.com". databasefootball.com. http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=WATERAND01. Retrieved April 24, 2011. 

Source

• Florida, DK Eyewitness Travel Guides, 2004, pg. 124

External links

Miami portal

• City of Belle Glade
• Official History
• Belle Glade Chamber of Commerce
• Palm Beach County Health Department, C.L. Brumback Health Center
• The Sun newspaper available in full-text with images in Florida Digital Newspaper Library