Delray Beach is celebrating the 109 anniversary of its incorporation and you can be a part of the fun! The City of Delray Beach, The Delray Beach Historical Society, and Spady Museum are working together with our community to share and enjoy pictures and memories from our city.
Send in your photographs to Info@DelrayBeachHistory.org
Like History? Here is a Quick view of Delray Beach's History thanks to the Delray Beach Historical Society
1841 - The first evidence of human habitation in this area is an 1841 military map drawn during the Second Seminole War that shows a Seminole camp in the area of a spread-out swampy lake now known as Lake Ida.
1876 -Orange Grove House of Refuge built by U.S. Life-Saving Service in area then known as the Orange Grove Haul-over. Hannibal D. Pierce is appointed first keeper.
1885 - Zion Post Office located at House of Refuge, an overnight stop for the “Barefoot Mailman.” Stephen Andrews and wife, Annie, were the second and last keepers of the House of Refuge, which closed in 1896.
1894 - 95-Town of Linton Settlement Begins
As many as 14 African American families already living in area petition Dade County School Board for school.
William S. Linton, US Congressman from Saginaw, Michigan, and David Swinton visit area to purchase land from the Gleason family and others.
Florida East Coast Canal completed to Miami.
Linton returns in October, 1895, with small party of settlers to develop town named for himself.
Survey of town completed by E. Burslem Thomson, civil engineer.
1896
First train arrives on tracks built by Florida East Coast RailwaySettlers establish farms to grow winter crop fruits and vegetables for shipping north on the railroad. (Agriculture and cattle ranching continue to be important facet of economy for over 7 decades.)
Henry J. Sterling and family arrive, and start first commissary (trading post or general store) Seminole Indians come to trade there. Trading helps settlers supplement their diet.
Adolf Hofman family moves into new home near the Intracoastal Waterway
African American families organize first church, Mt. Olive Baptist Church. Settlers (of European descent) petition school board and build a school.
Plat map of the Town of Linton recorded in Dade County records.
1897 -Mt. Tabor, now the St. Paul AME (African Methodist Episcopal) Church, established.
1898 - Town Changes Name
Linton’s mortgages are foreclosed; a few families remain; some purchase their land for a second time from Linton’s creditors.
In November, U.S. Post Office, at request of settlers, officially changes name of town to Delray.
1899 -Free & Accepted Masonic Lodge 275 established by African American citizens.
1902 -Ladies Improvement Association established Chapman Inn built by Frank W. and Lucy LaSalle Chapman
Frank Chapman appointed 1st postmaster
1903 - Methodist Church (now Cason United Methodist on N. Swinton Ave.) built at corner S. Swinton & Atlantic Ave.British Freighter, SS Inchulva, sinks off Delray in hurricane with loss of nine men.
1904 - Trinity Lutheran Church constructed
1905- St. Paul’s Episcopal Church established Japanese farmers from the nearby Yamato Colony begin to visit Delray and participate in Delray civic events
1906 - Ladies Improvement Association complete their clubhouse, which serves as first Town Hall.
1908 - Telephones become available, but hardly anyone has one.
1909 - Delray becomes part of the new Palm Beach County.
1910 - First U.S. Census counts population of 904 in Delray.
1911
Town of Delray incorporates with John Shaw Sundy as MayorBank of Delray chartered with J.L. Troop as president
Bridge built over the East Coast Canal (Intracoastal Waterway)
St. Mathews Episcopal Church organized by Bahamian settlers
1912 - Delray Progress, first newspaper, published by Mrs. J.M. Cromer and Mrs. T.A. Tasker
1913 - Larger combination elementary and high school built at school square.
1914 - Delray gets electricity and city water after passing the first bond issueBijou Theater built on Atlantic Avenue (silent films accompanied by piano).
1916 - Enlarged and remodeled school completed in African American community under the guidance of Principal Clarence Walker
1917 - Group of Delray men volunteer for World War I.
1920
End of Settlement/Pioneer Period
U.S. Census counts 1,501 people in Delray
Kentucky House Hotel constructed on Atlantic Avenue
1921-26
First real estate boom
1923 - Area east of Intracoastal Waterway incorporated as Town of Delray Beach
1923-24 Seacrest Hotel and Delray Theatre built
1925 - Chamber of Commerce formed Kiwanis Club of Delray chartered
Hotel Casa Del Rey built on Atlantic Avenue
Town has 4 newspapers
First Presbyterian Church is formally organized
1926 - New high school and gymnasium, designed by Delray’s first registered architect, Sam Ogren Sr., completedAlterepp Hotel (Colony Hotel) developed by Albert T Repp
Destructive September hurricane damages town
1926 - 41 Real Estate Bust and Great Depression
1927 City of Delray and Town of Delray Beach merge to form City of DELRAY BEACH
Seaboard Train Station built
School principal S.D. Spady builds Mission Style home in the “Sands” neighborhood.
1928 - Destructive September hurricane damages town and surrounding area.
1930 - Census counts population of 2,333
1930-39 Gladiolus become one of Delray’s largest crops. Architecture flourishes with the building of resort cottage homes for Winter Colony.
Town’s reputation as Artists & Writers Winter Colony grows.
1940 - Census population is 3,737
1941- 45 World War II
Local citizens volunteer for the war effort.
Delray is crowded with people stationed at Boca Raton Airfield.
Shipping attacks can be seen from coast.
1946
Postwar
Naciremas (American spelled in reverse with s added) Club and Delray Voters League founded by African American citizens.
1947
Destructive hurricane damages and floods the town.
Gladioli Festivals begin.
1949 - LaFrance Hotel built by Charles & Francenia Patrick provides only public lodging for African Americans.
1950 - Census population is 6,312
1954- 70 Civil Rights Era
1955 - Delray Beach citizens of African descent organize civil rights campaigns.
1960 Census population is 12,230
1962 - Peaceful demonstrations by African Americans attempting to use the beach and golf club.
Delray Affair (art & crafts show) begins.
1964- End of passenger service on FEC Railroad
Delray Beach Historical Society established
Several high-rise condominiums built on Intracoastal-height limits are initiated.
1970 - Census population is 19,915
Seacrest High School and George Washington Carver High School merge to become Atlantic High School.
Development grows west of city limits.
1974 - Temple Emeth, the first Synagogue in Delray Beach, is founded by a group of new residents of the Jewish faith living at the Kings Point Development..
1980 - Census population is 34,325
Haitian emigration begins in earnest; thousands come to Delray Beach
1980 - 1989 Old neighborhoods in decline; property values fall
1980 - 2000 Decline & Renaissance
1985 - 86 CRA formed
1986
Citizens and city staff begin working on revitalization. City celebrates Diamond Jubilee (75 years since incorporation).
1987 Four Historic Districts are formed. Pineapple Grove concept is established for N.E. 2nd Ave.
1989 Cason Cottage Museum operated by Delray Beach Historical Society opens in January. Decade of Excellence Bond issue passes (for infrastructure improvements)
1990 - Census population is 47,748
Sharing for Excellence in Schools begins.
Restoration of Old School Square begins.
1992 -Heritage Month is established.
1993
Delray Beach wins All-America City Award. Art & Jazz Event begins monthly on Atlantic Ave.
1994
Visions 2005 Assembly
1995
Delray Beach celebrates Centennial of Settlement. DBHS restores surviving portion of F.E.C. Railway Depot.
1996
Expanding & Preserving Our Cultural Heritage (EPOCH) is founded. Sandoway House Nature Center is established.
2000
Census population is 60,020
2001
City wins second All America City award.S. D. Spady Museum opens.
Property values soar, creating pressures on Historic Districts & Historic sites.
Atlantic Avenue becomes a night-time destination.
Increased pedestrian traffic on Atlantic Avenue.
Increased development, such as “New Urbanism” Town House, blocks and mansionization on waterfront property.
2004-5 Hurricanes damage city.
2005 - 8 Property values peak; decline in value begins
2010 - Census counts 60,522
2011 - Delray Beach celebrates its Centennial of Incorporation
2014 - The Delray Beach Historical Society celebrates its first fifty years
