West Palm Beach - Florida - 4K Downtown Drive

Wednesday afternoon drive in and around the downtown area of West Palm Beach, FL.
Filmed: March 2021

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West Palm Beach is a city in and the county seat of Palm Beach County, Florida, United States. It is located immediately to the west of the adjacent Palm Beach, which is situated on a barrier island across the Lake Worth Lagoon. The population was 99,919 at the 2010 census. West Palm Beach is a principal city of the Miami metropolitan area, which was home to an estimated 6,158,824 people in 2017.

It is the oldest incorporated municipality in the South Florida area, having been incorporated as a city two years before Miami in November 1894. West Palm Beach is located approximately 68 miles (109 km) north of Downtown Miami.

The city grew rapidly in the 1920s as part of the Florida land boom. The population of West Palm Beach quadrupled from 1920 to 1927, and all kinds of businesses and public services grew along with it. Many of the city's landmark structures and preserved neighborhoods were constructed during this period. Originally, Flagler intended for his Florida East Coast Railway to have its terminus in West Palm, but after the area experienced a deep freeze, he chose to extend the railroad to Miami instead.

The land boom was already faltering when city was devastated by the 1928 Okeechobee hurricane. The Depression years of the 1930s were a quiet time for the area, which saw slight population growth and property values lower than during the 1920s. The city only recovered with the onset of World War II, which saw the construction of Palm Beach Air Force Base, which brought thousands of military personnel to the city. The base was vital to the allied war effort, as it provided an excellent training facility and had unparalleled access to North Africa for a North American city. Also during World War II, German U-Boats sank dozens of merchant ships and oil tankers just off the coast of West Palm Beach. Nearby Palm Beach was under blackout conditions to minimize night visibility to German U-boats.

The 1950s saw another boom in population, partly due to the return of many soldiers and airmen who had served in the vicinity during the war. Also, the advent of air conditioning encouraged growth, as year-round living in a tropical climate became more acceptable to northerners. West Palm Beach became one of the nation's fastest-growing metropolitan areas during the 1950s; the city's borders spread west of Military Trail and south to Lake Clarke Shores. However, many of the city's residents still lived within a narrow six-block wide strip from the south to north end. The neighborhoods were strictly segregated between White and African-American populations, a legacy that the city still struggles with today. The primary shopping district remained downtown, centered around Clematis Street.

In the 1960s, Palm Beach County's first enclosed shopping mall, the Palm Beach Mall, and an indoor arena were completed. These projects led to a brief revival for the city, but in the 1970s and 1980s crime continued to be a serious issue and suburban sprawl continued to drain resources and business away from the old downtown area. By the early 1990s there were very high vacancy rates downtown, and serious levels of urban blight.

[tameikabrown]

Hellavue Lotta Boats 🛥 Sitting In The Water Ready To Be Driven Around The Lake

[JVernon]

Great video. Would love to see a drive around the island of Palm Beach too.

[tameikabrown]

Man O Man West Palm Beach, Florida Definitely Has A Lotta Beautiful 😍 Hotel’s To Stay @

[JustDrivingK]

Thanks for sharing, greetings from Just Driving 4K🥰🥰🥰

[chrism]

48:35 That is my Publix where I worked at the time you filmed. Depending on what exact day you filmed, I very well could be in there right now working, should have stopped by.

[jelanimclean]

History Of West Palm Beach, FL Timeline Is Cityplace & Rosemary Square.

[JVernon]

When you're in Miami-Dade county, a good drive for a video would be the whole length of Krome Avenue, also known as State Road 997. It starts at U.S. 27 just south of the Broward/Miami-Dade county line. Krome Avenue ends at U.S.1 in Florida City right at the gateway to the Florida Keys.

[MarvinEhlers]

Do you think you will ever make it Key West? I have family there, and never been

[JejblessAnointed]

Awesome video enjoy the drive keep up the great work 👍.

[silverhawk_]

Great video mike keep it up hey how do you usually sleep do you get a hotel or do u have family

[tameikabrown]

Man O Man West Palm Beach, Florida Definitely Has A Lotta Shop’s To Shop @ Happy Shopping Folk’s

[Wtfjit]

be careful going down parker ave the father you go down the worse it gets its a dangerous neighbor hood