Delray Beach, Florida is located in Palm Beach County, and has a population of about 64,000 people. Delray has a tropical climate, with summer temps reaching into the high 80s and winters have temps in the mid-50s. The city has two miles of beaches on the Atlantic Ocean and is a vibrant and exciting city. Anyone thinking of moving to Delray Beach would find an exciting place that has many attractions. It is very much an ‘outdoor' kind of place.
Economy:
Delray Beach has a median household income that is slightly higher than the state average. The cost of living in Delray is higher than the national average. The current unemployment rate is 11.4 percent. The primary economy of Delray Beach is based in its tourist business. Going hand in hand with this is food services, construction and health care. Some of the major employers in Delray include Annco Services Inc, XenaCare Holdings and the Delray Medical Center.
History:
The area was first settled by African-Americans and Seminole Indians. In 1868, William Gleason and his wife began buying up land in Florida, and they purchased many acres in the area. Settlers to the area had to buy land from the couple. In 1885, Henry Flagler, owner of the railroad, also purchased land in the area and sold plots to settlers. In 1994, William Linton arrived and bought land from both the Gleasons and from Flagler, and named the town Linton. Both the first school and the first church were established by the African-American settlers in Linton. The railroad was completed in 1896 and this opened up trade and farming in the area. The town was renamed Delray after Linton defaulted on his land payments. At the turn of the century, Yamato Colony was established there by Japanese pineapple farmers. The city was incorporated in 1927.
Tourism:
The Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens is a tribute to Japanese culture and art. It features traditional tea ceremonies, galleries and festivals, along with magnificent gardens you can tour. The Old School Square Cultural Arts Center has exhibits and pop culture venues. The Carson Cottage Museum was built in 1920 and housed Delray's first doctor. The Spady Cultural Heritage Museum highlights the city's Black culture and heritage. The Delray Affair is an annual festival held in April and features arts and crafts as a street festival. Garlicfest is held in February and has food, music and events. In July there is the Roots Cultural Festival featuring art, food and music celebrating the African-American beginnings of Delray.