Lantana, Florida
Encyclopedia
Lantana is a town in Palm Beach County
, Florida
, United States
. The population was 9,437 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 10,389.
during the Administration of President John Tyler
. The M.B. Lyman family is credited with founding the town. Lyman arrived with his family in 1888 and within a year started several enterprises including a general store, Indian Trading Post and a post office. As postmaster, Lyman named the post office – Lantana Point – for the wild Lantana
plants that grew in abundance in the area. The word Point was later dropped.
One of the other Lyman businesses was the Lantana Fish Company. In the early 1900s the gathering and marketing of oysters became the town's leading industry. The Town of Lantana was incorporated in 1921 with 22 residents voting in the first election. At the time of incorporation, the area of Lantana was one square mile with a population of 100 residents.
After World War II, Lantana, like the rest of South Florida experienced a tremendous building boom which continues to this day. Interstate Highway 95, which was completed through Lantana in the mid-1970s, brought a surge of commercial development to the town.
Since 1950, the town has been the home of the A. G. Holley Hospital, the last of the old state-run sanitariums for patients with tuberculosis
. The facility now treats about fifty patients at a time, those with the most obdurate
forms of the disease.
From 1974 until 1988, Lantana was home to the tradition of hosting the largest decorated Christmas Tree
in the World. Every year, a huge tree would be shipped from the Pacific Northwest
to Lantana by rail to the grounds of the National Enquirer, adjacent to the Florida East Coast Railway
tracks. The event would attract thousands of visitors every night, and grew to be one of the most spectacular and celebrated holiday events in South Florida. This annual festivity ended in 1989 due to the sale of the National Enquirer following the death of founder Generoso Pope Jr.
at age of 61 in October 1988.
Today, Lantana covers 2.25 square miles (5.8 km²) and boasts a year round population of about 10,000 residents. During the winter, the population swells to around 14,000 residents.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 2.9 square miles (7.5 km²). 2.3 square miles (6 km²) of it is land and 0.6 square miles (1.6 km²) of it (21.31%) is water.
of 2000, there were 9,437 people, 3,850 households, and 2,294 families residing in the town. The population density
was 4,134.9 inhabitants per square mile (1,598.1/km²). There were 4,432 housing units at an average density of 1,941.9 per square mile (750.5/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 80.33% White (69.8% were Non-Hispanic White,) 10.72% African American, 0.37% Native American, 0.83% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 4.67% from other races
, and 2.99% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 16.14% of the population. The ancestry of a portion of the population was 10.9% Irish
, 10.7% German, 8.0% West Indian, 7.6% English
, 7.0% Finnish, 6.9% American
and 5.8% Italian
ancestry according to Census 2000. Lantana has the largest Finnish population in Florida.
There were 3,850 households out of which 28.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.4% were married couples
living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.4% were non-families. 31.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 3.06.
In the town the population was spread out with 23.7% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 33.5% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 13.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 104.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.4 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $35,645, and the median income for a family was $40,089. Males had a median income of $29,443 versus $25,050 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $21,204. About 5.9% of families and 8.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.8% of those under age 18 and 12.6% of those age 65 or over.
As of 2000, English
as a first language
accounted for 73.24% of all residents, while Spanish
was found to be the first language of 13.95%, French Creole made up 6.82%, and Finnish
was the mother tongue of 5.01% of the population (the highest percentage in Florida.) Also, French
was spoken by 0.62% of residents and German
was spoken by 0.34% of the populace.
As of 2000, Lantana had the 111th highest percentage of Finns
in the US, which accounted for 5.4% of all residents (tied with two US areas in Michigan
,)
while Haiti
ans had the thirty-fifth highest percentage, with 5.20% of the population.
Palm Beach County, Florida
Palm Beach County is the largest county in the state of Florida in total area, and third in population. As of 2010, the county's estimated population was 1,320,134, making it the twenty-eighth most populous in the United States...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 9,437 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 10,389.
History
The first settlers came to the area after Congress passed the Armed Occupation Act of 1842 at the end of the Seminole WarsSeminole Wars
The Seminole Wars, also known as the Florida Wars, were three conflicts in Florida between the Seminole — the collective name given to the amalgamation of various groups of native Americans and Black people who settled in Florida in the early 18th century — and the United States Army...
during the Administration of President John Tyler
John Tyler
John Tyler was the tenth President of the United States . A native of Virginia, Tyler served as a state legislator, governor, U.S. representative, and U.S. senator before being elected Vice President . He was the first to succeed to the office of President following the death of a predecessor...
. The M.B. Lyman family is credited with founding the town. Lyman arrived with his family in 1888 and within a year started several enterprises including a general store, Indian Trading Post and a post office. As postmaster, Lyman named the post office – Lantana Point – for the wild Lantana
Lantana
Lantana is a genus of about 150 species of perennial flowering plants in the verbena family, Verbenaceae. They are native to tropical regions of the Americas and Africa but exist as an introduced species in numerous areas, especially in the Australian-Pacific region. The genus includes both...
plants that grew in abundance in the area. The word Point was later dropped.
One of the other Lyman businesses was the Lantana Fish Company. In the early 1900s the gathering and marketing of oysters became the town's leading industry. The Town of Lantana was incorporated in 1921 with 22 residents voting in the first election. At the time of incorporation, the area of Lantana was one square mile with a population of 100 residents.
After World War II, Lantana, like the rest of South Florida experienced a tremendous building boom which continues to this day. Interstate Highway 95, which was completed through Lantana in the mid-1970s, brought a surge of commercial development to the town.
Since 1950, the town has been the home of the A. G. Holley Hospital, the last of the old state-run sanitariums for patients with tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
. The facility now treats about fifty patients at a time, those with the most obdurate
Multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis
Multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis is defined as TB that is resistant at least to isoniazid and rifampicin , the two most powerful first-line anti-TB drugs...
forms of the disease.
From 1974 until 1988, Lantana was home to the tradition of hosting the largest decorated Christmas Tree
Christmas tree
The Christmas tree is a decorated evergreen coniferous tree, real or artificial, and a tradition associated with the celebration of Christmas. The tradition of decorating an evergreen tree at Christmas started in Livonia and Germany in the 16th century...
in the World. Every year, a huge tree would be shipped from the Pacific Northwest
Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest is a region in northwestern North America, bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the west and, loosely, by the Rocky Mountains on the east. Definitions of the region vary and there is no commonly agreed upon boundary, even among Pacific Northwesterners. A common concept of the...
to Lantana by rail to the grounds of the National Enquirer, adjacent to the Florida East Coast Railway
Florida East Coast Railway
The Florida East Coast Railway is a Class II railroad operating in the U.S. state of Florida; in the past, it has been a Class I railroad.Built primarily in the last quarter of the 19th century and the first decade of the 20th century, the FEC was a project of Standard Oil principal Henry Morrison...
tracks. The event would attract thousands of visitors every night, and grew to be one of the most spectacular and celebrated holiday events in South Florida. This annual festivity ended in 1989 due to the sale of the National Enquirer following the death of founder Generoso Pope Jr.
Generoso Pope Jr.
For Generoso Pope Jr.'s father, the political powerbroker, see Generoso PopeGeneroso Paul "Gene" Pope, Jr. was an American Media mogul, best known for creating The National Enquirer....
at age of 61 in October 1988.
Today, Lantana covers 2.25 square miles (5.8 km²) and boasts a year round population of about 10,000 residents. During the winter, the population swells to around 14,000 residents.
Geography
Lantana is located at 26°34′58"N 80°3′27"W (26.582797, -80.057587).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the town has a total area of 2.9 square miles (7.5 km²). 2.3 square miles (6 km²) of it is land and 0.6 square miles (1.6 km²) of it (21.31%) is water.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 9,437 people, 3,850 households, and 2,294 families residing in the town. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 4,134.9 inhabitants per square mile (1,598.1/km²). There were 4,432 housing units at an average density of 1,941.9 per square mile (750.5/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 80.33% White (69.8% were Non-Hispanic White,) 10.72% African American, 0.37% Native American, 0.83% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 4.67% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 2.99% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 16.14% of the population. The ancestry of a portion of the population was 10.9% Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
, 10.7% German, 8.0% West Indian, 7.6% English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
, 7.0% Finnish, 6.9% American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and 5.8% Italian
Italian people
The Italian people are an ethnic group that share a common Italian culture, ancestry and speak the Italian language as a mother tongue. Within Italy, Italians are defined by citizenship, regardless of ancestry or country of residence , and are distinguished from people...
ancestry according to Census 2000. Lantana has the largest Finnish population in Florida.
There were 3,850 households out of which 28.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.4% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.4% were non-families. 31.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 3.06.
In the town the population was spread out with 23.7% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 33.5% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 13.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 104.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.4 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $35,645, and the median income for a family was $40,089. Males had a median income of $29,443 versus $25,050 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the town was $21,204. About 5.9% of families and 8.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.8% of those under age 18 and 12.6% of those age 65 or over.
As of 2000, English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
as a first language
First language
A first language is the language a person has learned from birth or within the critical period, or that a person speaks the best and so is often the basis for sociolinguistic identity...
accounted for 73.24% of all residents, while Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
was found to be the first language of 13.95%, French Creole made up 6.82%, and Finnish
Finnish language
Finnish is the language spoken by the majority of the population in Finland Primarily for use by restaurant menus and by ethnic Finns outside Finland. It is one of the two official languages of Finland and an official minority language in Sweden. In Sweden, both standard Finnish and Meänkieli, a...
was the mother tongue of 5.01% of the population (the highest percentage in Florida.) Also, French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
was spoken by 0.62% of residents and German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
was spoken by 0.34% of the populace.
As of 2000, Lantana had the 111th highest percentage of Finns
Finnish American
Finnish Americans are Americans of Finnish descent, who currently number about 700,000.-History:Some Finns, like the ancestors of John Morton, came to the Swedish colony of New Sweden, that existed in mid-17th century....
in the US, which accounted for 5.4% of all residents (tied with two US areas in Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
,)
while Haiti
Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
ans had the thirty-fifth highest percentage, with 5.20% of the population.