Loxahatchee Groves is a town in Palm Beach County, Florida, United States. As of the 2010 census, the town had a population of 3,180. Loxahatchee Groves was incorporated November 1, 2006, as the 38th municipality in Palm Beach County. The first election for town council members was held on March 13, 2007. Although Loxahatchee Groves did not become a municipality until 2006, the area had been settled since 1917. Billing itself as "Florida's Last Frontier", Loxahatchee Groves was primarily incorporated to better protect the area from encroaching urbanization as nearby cities continued to develop and to preserve the area's rural character. The town derives its name from the Loxahatchee River; "Loxahatchee" is from the Seminole words lowchow and hatchee, thus translating to "river of turtles". Loxahatchee Groves is bounded on the east by Royal Palm Beach, on the south by Wellington, and on the west and north by The Acreage and Loxahatchee. It has an area of approximately.
History
The area now known as Loxahatchee Groves was originally a portion of the of land purchased by the Southern States Land and Timber Company in 1902. Shortly after completion of the West Palm Beach Canal - which connected downtown West Palm Beach to Lake Okeechobee at Canal Point for the purpose of transporting crops by water - in 1917, Southern States sales manager, and later president, George Frederick Bensel envisioned a "waterfront" farming community. Bensel and company engineer Torvald Garfield "T. G." Thorgesen both created the first topographical map of Loxahatchee Groves during the following three years. After Bensel, Thorgesen, and others established the Palm Beach Loxahatchee Company, they bought from the Southern States Land and Timber Company, naming the land "Loxahatchee Farms". The Palm Beach Loxahatchee Company would build almost of canals and roads, which were to be maintained by the Loxahatchee Groves Drainage District, now known as the Loxahatchee Groves Water Control District. In 1925, Bensel opened a combined gas station, grocery store, and post office. Loxahatchee Groves received extensive damage during the 1928 Okeechobee hurricane, with almost every home knocked off of their foundations. In the 1930s, Bensel's brother Thomas began a project which encouraged residents to plant citrus, resulting in about 56,000 new trees being planted. During that time, a water pump was built at State Road 80 and D Road, allowing water to be drawn from the West Palm Beach Canal. The Palm Beach Loxahatchee Company sold Loxahatchee Groves to Loxahatchee Investments in 1958. Production of citrus and tomatoes gradually ceased following George Bensel's death in 1961. With significant development in Royal Palm Beach and Wellington in the 1980s and 1990s, some residents of Loxahatchee Groves believed the rural lifestyle and landscape of the area was under threat. Consequently, a movement for incorporating Loxahatchee Groves for the purpose of preserving the rural lifestyle of the area began in 2003. On October 10, 2006, residents voted 458–350 in favor of incorporation, making Loxahatchee Groves the 38th municipality in Palm Beach County. The first election for town council members was held on March 13, 2007. Dave Autrey, David Browning, Marge Herzog, Bill Louda, and Dennis Lipp were the first elected council members, while Browning was selected to be mayor and Herzog was chosen to be vice mayor at the first town council meeting on March 29. Prior to the election, a political forum for the candidates was hosted at a naturist resort, drawing a crowd of about 100 people.
Demographics
As of the census of 2010, there were 1,105 households, out of which 9.6% were vacant. The 2010 census also indicated that 24.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.0% were married couples living together, 8.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.7% were non-families. Approximately 26.1% of households had an individual who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 3.02. As of the census of 2010, there were 3,180 people living in the town. The population density was 276.85 per square mile. The racial makeup of the town was 81.3% White, 3.1% African American, 0.3% Native American, 1.6% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 0.1% from other races, and 1.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 18.7% of the population.
Transportation
U.S. routes 98 and 441 and State Road 80 all jointly move east-to-west along the southern end of the town, a road which is locally known as Southern Boulevard. Okeechobee Boulevard, designated as State Road 704 to the east of Royal Palm Beach, also runs east-to-west through the town. Palm Tran Route 40, which runs from downtown West Palm Beach to Belle Glade, has a few stops along Southern Boulevard in Loxahatchee Groves and just outside the town limits.
opened a campus in Loxahatchee Groves in February 2017 to serve college students in The Acreage, Loxahatchee, Loxahatchee Groves, Royal Palm Beach, and Wellington. Named after former school president Dennis P. Gallon, the campus covers of space and features 20 classrooms and computer labs, a large multi-propose room, and a doctor's office simulation room. Although the campus does not include a cafe, library, or bookstore, those may be included in the construction of two additional buildings planned, depending on enrollment numbers.
Recreation
Loxahatchee Groves includes the following parks and recreational areas:
Additionally, Lion Country Safari is located just west of the town's boundaries. Lion Country Safari features a drive-through safari park and a walk-through amusement park.
