South Bay, Florida

South Bay, Florida
City
City of South Bay
Seal
Motto:  "Cross Roads of South Florida" [1]
Location of South Bay, Florida
Coordinates: 26°39′59″N80°43′8″W / 26.66639°N 80.71889°W / 26.66639; -80.71889
Country	United States
State	Florida
County	Palm Beach
Incorporation	1941
Government
• Type	Commissioner-Manager
•  Mayor	Joe Kyles Sr.
•  Vice Mayor	Betty J. Barnard
•  Commissioners	Esther Berry, Taranza McKelvin, and Albert Polk IV
•  City Manager	Leondrae D. Camel
•  City Clerk	Vicky Del Bosquez
Area [2]
• Total	3.93 sq mi (10.17 km2)
• Land	2.86 sq mi (7.41 km2)
• Water	1.06 sq mi (2.76 km2)
Elevation	20 ft (6 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	4,860
• Density	1,698.11/sq mi (655.76/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	33493
Area code(s)	561, 728
FIPS code	12-67175 [3]
GNIS feature ID	0291340 [4]
Website	City of South Bay Florida

South Bay is a city in Palm Beach County, Florida, United States. It is the westernmost municipality in the South Florida metropolitan area. As of 2020, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau was 4,860 residents. While the current estimates place South Bay's population in the incorporated city limits at more than 4,000 people, surrounding areas increase the population figures to 54,000 people in a 25-mile (40 km) radius and more than 1.4 million in a 50-mile (80 km) radius.

History

South Bay was named for its location on Lake Okeechobee. ^[5] The town was incorporated in 1941. ^[6] The first mayor of South Bay was Aubrey (a.k.a. "Orb") Walker, who, along with his brother, Haughty D. Walker (a.k.a. "Haught"), survived the great hurricane of 1928 by gathering his family members onto a boat in the canal. ^[7]

Geography

South Bay is located at 26°39′59″N80°43′8″W / 26.66639°N 80.71889°W / 26.66639; -80.71889 (26.666487, –80.718985), ^[8] near the southern bank of Lake Okeechobee.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.7 square miles (9.6 km²), including 2.7 square miles (7.0 km²) of land and 1.0 square mile (2.6 km²) of (26.95%) water. The Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail runs through South Bay.

Climate

Climate data for South Bay 15 S, Florida, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 2002–present
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °F (°C)	87 (31)	89 (32)	92 (33)	95 (35)	94 (34)	97 (36)	98 (37)	98 (37)	96 (36)	93 (34)	92 (33)	89 (32)	98 (37)
Mean maximum °F (°C)	84.1 (28.9)	85.9 (29.9)	88.1 (31.2)	90.8 (32.7)	91.9 (33.3)	93.7 (34.3)	94.9 (34.9)	94.3 (34.6)	92.9 (33.8)	90.9 (32.7)	87.0 (30.6)	85.1 (29.5)	95.5 (35.3)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C)	75.6 (24.2)	78.1 (25.6)	80.4 (26.9)	84.0 (28.9)	87.3 (30.7)	89.6 (32.0)	91.3 (32.9)	91.3 (32.9)	89.5 (31.9)	86.3 (30.2)	81.5 (27.5)	77.6 (25.3)	84.4 (29.1)
Daily mean °F (°C)	63.8 (17.7)	66.3 (19.1)	68.7 (20.4)	72.5 (22.5)	76.8 (24.9)	80.7 (27.1)	82.1 (27.8)	82.5 (28.1)	81.0 (27.2)	76.9 (24.9)	70.8 (21.6)	66.5 (19.2)	74.0 (23.3)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C)	52.0 (11.1)	54.4 (12.4)	57.0 (13.9)	61.0 (16.1)	66.3 (19.1)	71.9 (22.2)	72.8 (22.7)	73.7 (23.2)	72.5 (22.5)	67.4 (19.7)	60.2 (15.7)	55.4 (13.0)	63.7 (17.6)
Mean minimum °F (°C)	34.9 (1.6)	38.5 (3.6)	42.5 (5.8)	50.1 (10.1)	57.7 (14.3)	67.5 (19.7)	69.9 (21.1)	70.7 (21.5)	68.2 (20.1)	55.5 (13.1)	45.1 (7.3)	41.6 (5.3)	32.6 (0.3)
Record low °F (°C)	26 (−3)	30 (−1)	35 (2)	42 (6)	50 (10)	64 (18)	67 (19)	69 (21)	64 (18)	43 (6)	35 (2)	28 (−2)	26 (−3)
Average precipitation inches (mm)	2.50 (64)	2.30 (58)	2.81 (71)	2.89 (73)	4.78 (121)	9.63 (245)	7.93 (201)	8.49 (216)	7.45 (189)	4.05 (103)	2.22 (56)	2.11 (54)	57.16 (1,452)
Source: NOAA (mean maxima/minima 2006–present) [9] [10]

Infrastructure

Transportation

Two major roads, East-West State Road 80 and North-South U.S. 27 intersect in the town.

Mayors

Image	Mayor	Years of service	Notes
	John Deaton	?–1974
	Vernita Cox	1974 1974–1975	First African American mayor in Palm Beach county [11] Named mayor by the City Council after then-mayor John Deaton resigned in January 1974 [12]
	Jay S. Smith	1975–1976	[13]
	Donald Tanner	1976–1977	[14]
	Billy Wells	1977–1978	[15]
		?–?
		?–?
	Donald Tanner	?–1984
	Clarence E. Anthony	1984–2008
	Shirley Walker Turner	2008–2012
	Shanique Scott	2012–2016
	Joe Kyles	2016–Present

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1950	1,050		—
1960	1,631		55.3%
1970	2,958		81.4%
1980	3,886		31.4%
1990	3,558		−8.4%
2000	3,859		8.5%
2010	4,876		26.4%
2020	4,860		−0.3%
U.S. Decennial Census [16]

2020 census

South Bay racial composition
(Hispanics excluded from racial categories)
(NH = Non-Hispanic) ^[17]

Race	Number	Percentage
White (NH)	580	11.93%
Black or African American (NH)	3,097	63.72%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH)	2	0.04%
Asian (NH)	2	0.04%
Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian (NH)	1	0.02%
Some other race (NH)	7	0.14%
Two or more races/Multiracial (NH)	73	1.50%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	1,098	22.59%
Total	4,860

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 4,860 people, 787 households, and 614 families residing in the city. ^[18]

2010 census

South Bay Demographics
2010 Census	South Bay	Palm Beach County	Florida
Total population	4,876	1,320,134	18,801,310
Population, percent change, 2000 to 2010	+26.4%	+16.7%	+17.6%
Population density	1,819.4/sq mi	670.2/sq mi	350.6/sq mi
White or Caucasian (including White Hispanic)	24.6%	73.5%	75.0%
(Non-Hispanic White or Caucasian)	11.4%	60.1%	57.9%
Black or African-American	64.0%	17.3%	16.0%
Hispanic or Latino (of any race)	23.2%	19.0%	22.5%
Asian	0.5%	2.4%	2.4%
Native American or Native Alaskan	0.1%	0.5%	0.4%
Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian	0.0%	0.1%	0.1%
Two or more races (Multiracial)	0.6%	2.3%	2.5%
Some Other Race	0.0%	3.9%	3.6%

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 4,876 people, 843 households, and 746 families residing in the city. ^[19]

2000 census

As of the census ^[3] of 2000, there were 3,859 people, 805 households, and 644 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,425.4 inhabitants per square mile (550.4/km²). There were 935 housing units at an average density of 345.4 per square mile (133.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 12.5% White (non-Hispanic), 66.93% Black or African American, 19.56% Hispanic or Latino of any race, 0.29% Native American, 0.26% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 5.83% from other races, and 2.44% from two or more races. ^[20]

In 2000, there were 805 households, out of which 41.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.5% were married couples living together, 32.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.0% were non-families. 15.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.39 and the average family size was 3.76.

In 2000, in the city, the population was spread out, with 27.0% under the age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 37.3% from 25 to 44, 20.4% from 45 to 64, and 6.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 172.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 210.6 males.

In 2000, the median income for a household in the city was $23,558, and the median income for a family was $26,944. Males had a median income of $21,087 versus $22,321 for females. The per capita income for the city was $9,126. About 29.2% of families and 36.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 48.4% of those under age 18 and 27.4% of those age 65 or over.

As of 2000, speakers of English made up 77.76% of all residents, while Spanish comprised 21.51%, and French as a mother tongue accounted for 0.72% of the population. ^[21]

References

1. "City of South Bay Florida". City of South Bay Florida. Retrieved September 22, 2012.
2. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
3. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
4. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
5. Eliot Kleinberg (September 16, 1987). "What's in a name? Lots of history if it's a town". The Palm Beach Post. p. 7D. Retrieved March 9, 2021– via Newspapers.com.
6. "South Bay". Palm Beach Historical Society. Retrieved May 30, 2015.
7. Will, Lawrence (1964). A Cracker History of Okeechobee (First ed.). Great Outdoors. p. 212.
8. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
9. "NOWData - NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration . Retrieved May 14, 2021.
10. "Summary of Monthly Normals 1991–2020". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration . Retrieved May 14, 2021.
11. Like A Banyan. p. 29.
12. "Deaton Resignation rescinded". The Palm Beach Post . March 11, 1974 – via Newspapers.com.
13. "Smith Replaces Cox as Mayor". The Palm Beach Post . September 19, 1975 – via Newspapers.com.
14. "Everad reappointed South Bay Attorney". The Palm Beach Post . January 5, 1977 – via Newspapers.com.
15. "South Bay Police Chief Arrested on Drug, Prostitution Charges". The Miami Herald . November 24, 1977 – via Newspapers.com.
16. "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades". US Census Bureau.
17. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved February 11, 2022.
18. "S1101 HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES - 2020: South Bay city, Florida". United States Census Bureau .
19. "S1101 HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES - 2010: South Bay city, Florida". United States Census Bureau .
20. "Demographics of South Bay, FL". MuniNetGuide.com. Retrieved November 12, 2007.
21. "MLA Data Center Results of South Bay, FL". Modern Language Association . Retrieved November 12, 2007.

External links

• Official City Website for South Bay, Florida Portal style website, Government, Business, Library, Recreation and more
• City-Data.com Comprehensive Statistical Data and more about South Bay