Riviera Beach, Florida
Encyclopedia
Riviera Beach is a city in Palm Beach County
, Florida
, U.S.A.
which was incorporated September 29, 1922. Because of where its eastern boundary lies, it is also the easternmost municipality in the South Florida metropolitan area
. The population was 29,884 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population was estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau to be 32,522. Riviera Beach is predominantly an African American
city and it is on the List of U.S. cities with African American majority populations. It is home to the Port of Palm Beach
and a United States Coast Guard
station, and has its own marina. The city consistently has crime rates well in excess of the United States average and is also notable for its high levels of poverty.
, the city has a total area of 9.9 square miles (25.6 km²). 8.3 square miles (21.5 km²) of it is land and 1.5 square miles (3.9 km²) of it (15.33%) is water.
of 2000, there were 29,884 people, 11,387 households, and 7,526 families residing in the city. The population density
was 3,585.3 inhabitants per square mile (1,383.5/km²). There were 14,220 housing units at an average density of 1,706.0 per square mile (658.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 25.75% White (25.4% were Non-Hispanic White,) 67.81% African American, 0.14% Native American, 0.99% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 1.10% from other races
, and 2.14% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.51% of the population.
There were 11,387 households out of which 29.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.1% were married couples
living together, 27.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.3% were non-families. 22.3% 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 4.62.
In the city the population was spread out with 37.5% 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 107.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 105.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $28,715, and the median income for a family was $26,756. Males had a median income of $27,232 versus $22,410 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,159. About 29.6% of families and 32.3% of the population were below the poverty
line, including 35.1% 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 90.30% of all residents, while Spanish
consisted of 4.71%, French Creole was at 2.42%, and French
speakers made up 0.95% of the population.
In the 1930s, Riviera Beach was also known as the home of many Bahamian immigrants, known as "Conchs
".
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...
, U.S.A.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
which was incorporated September 29, 1922. Because of where its eastern boundary lies, it is also the easternmost municipality in the South Florida metropolitan area
South Florida metropolitan area
The South Florida metropolitan area, also known as the Miami metropolitan area, and designated the Miami–Fort Lauderdale–Pompano Beach, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area by the U.S...
. The population was 29,884 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population was estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau to be 32,522. Riviera Beach is predominantly an African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
city and it is on the List of U.S. cities with African American majority populations. It is home to the Port of Palm Beach
Port of Palm Beach
The Port of Palm Beach is located in Riviera Beach, Florida, in Palm Beach County. The Port is an independent taxing district, with a five-member board of commissioners elected at large by voters within the district. The Port district covers a land area of or approximately fifty percent of the...
and a United States Coast Guard
United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...
station, and has its own marina. The city consistently has crime rates well in excess of the United States average and is also notable for its high levels of poverty.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited 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 city has a total area of 9.9 square miles (25.6 km²). 8.3 square miles (21.5 km²) of it is land and 1.5 square miles (3.9 km²) of it (15.33%) 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 29,884 people, 11,387 households, and 7,526 families residing in the city. 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 3,585.3 inhabitants per square mile (1,383.5/km²). There were 14,220 housing units at an average density of 1,706.0 per square mile (658.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 25.75% White (25.4% were Non-Hispanic White,) 67.81% African American, 0.14% Native American, 0.99% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 1.10% 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 2.14% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.51% of the population.
There were 11,387 households out of which 29.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.1% 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, 27.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.3% were non-families. 22.3% 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 4.62.
In the city the population was spread out with 37.5% 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 107.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 105.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $28,715, and the median income for a family was $26,756. Males had a median income of $27,232 versus $22,410 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,159. About 29.6% of families and 32.3% of the population were below the poverty
Poverty
Poverty is the lack of a certain amount of material possessions or money. Absolute poverty or destitution is inability to afford basic human needs, which commonly includes clean and fresh water, nutrition, health care, education, clothing and shelter. About 1.7 billion people are estimated to live...
line, including 35.1% of those under age 18 and 21.4% of those age 65 or over.
As of 2000, speakers of 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 90.30% 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...
consisted of 4.71%, French Creole was at 2.42%, and 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...
speakers made up 0.95% of the population.
In the 1930s, Riviera Beach was also known as the home of many Bahamian immigrants, known as "Conchs
Conch (people)
Conch , was originally a slang term for native Bahamians of European descent.Several theories have been proposed for the origin of the term:*After the American Revolution, many loyalists migrated to the Bahamas...
".
Education
- Suncoast High School
- Inlet Grove High School
- John F Kennedy Middle School
- West Riviera Elementary School
- Lincoln Elementary School
- Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Elementary School
- Washington Elementary School
Notable residents
- Anthony Carter - NFL superstar All-Pro and Pro BowlPro BowlIn professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
wide receiver was born and attended school in Riviera Beach. - Devin HesterDevin HesterDevin Hester is an American football wide receiver and return specialist for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League . He played college football at the University of Miami, where he became the first person in the university’s recent history to play in all three phases of American football...
- NFL Pro BowlPro BowlIn professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
and record-holding kick returner was born and attended school in Riviera Beach. - Elizabeth JacobsonElizabeth JacobsonAirman 1st Class Elizabeth Jacobson was a member of the United States Air Force Security Forces who was killed in action in Iraq in 2005...
- USAF - Burt ReynoldsBurt ReynoldsBurton Leon "Burt" Reynolds, Jr. is an American actor. Some of his memorable roles include Bo 'Bandit' Darville in Smokey and the Bandit, Lewis Medlock in Deliverance, Bobby "Gator" McCluskey in White Lightning and sequel Gator, Paul Crewe and Coach Nate Scarborough in The Longest Yard and its...
American actor moved to Riviera Beach in 1946 at the age of 10.