Pahokee, Florida facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pahokee, Florida
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| Nickname(s):
Muck City (shared with nearby Belle Glade, Florida)
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Location in Palm Beach County and the state of Florida
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| Country | United States |
| State | Florida |
| County | Palm Beach |
| Area | |
| • Total | 5.32 sq mi (13.77 km2) |
| • Land | 5.32 sq mi (13.77 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 13 ft (4 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 5,524 |
| • Density | 1,039.32/sq mi (401.28/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
33476
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| Area code(s) | 561 |
| FIPS code | 12-53800 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0288376 |
Pahokee is a city located on the shore of Lake Okeechobee in Palm Beach County, Florida, United States. The population was 5,649 in the 2010 census.
Pahokee's residents, according to the 2010 Census, are 56% African-American; almost all the rest are Mestizo or American Indian, primarily Mexicans or descendants of Mexicans. In 2018, the Mayor, Kenneth W. Babb, and the other four members of the City Commission are all African-American.
Contents
History
Pahokee was incorporated in 1922. The name "Pahokee" means 'grassy waters' in the Creek language. Local residents refer to Pahokee as "The Muck", which refers to the mineral-rich dark soil in which sugar cane, citrus fruits and corn are grown by agribusinesses. It was known as the "Winter Vegetable Capital of the World" in its heyday, when the city enjoyed thriving commerce.
Pahokee in the media
American soul and gospel singer and actor Freddie Lee Peterkin was born and raised in Pahokee and now resides in London. He became an artist of particular note in the UK with the release of his album "Beyond Comprehension". He noted in a recent BBC interview that despite living in London and Europe for many years, he considers his hometown to be Pahokee.
On December 18, 2009, Damien Cave, Miami Bureau Chief of the New York Times, wrote an article describing Pahokee's economic plight and the town's hopes that a new marina project might help rejuvenate business. There has been a significant move towards regeneration with the re-opening of the Pahokee Marina Tiki Bar and Restaurant now known as 'Pahokee Mo's' and new General Dollar store. Governor Rick Scott also pledged $1.3 million towards the restoration of Pahokee's infrastructure in late 2014 [1]. This is in addition to $200,000 pledged by Senator Abruzzo in 2014 [2]. Colin Walkes has been Mayor of Pahokee since 2013 [3]. He succeeded the previous four-term Mayor J.P. Sasser.
Geography
Pahokee is located at 26°49′29″N 80°39′35″W / 26.82472°N 80.65972°W (26.824717, -80.659660).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.4 square miles (14 km2), all land.
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1930 | 2,256 | — | |
| 1940 | 4,766 | 111.3% | |
| 1950 | 4,472 | −6.2% | |
| 1960 | 4,709 | 5.3% | |
| 1970 | 5,663 | 20.3% | |
| 1980 | 6,346 | 12.1% | |
| 1990 | 6,822 | 7.5% | |
| 2000 | 5,985 | −12.3% | |
| 2010 | 5,649 | −5.6% | |
| 2020 | 5,524 | −2.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
2020 census
| Race | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (NH) | 457 | 8.27% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 3,136 | 56.77% |
| Native American or Alaska Native (NH) | 2 | 0.04% |
| Asian (NH) | 22 | 0.4% |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 1 | 0.02% |
| Some Other Race (NH) | 10 | 0.18% |
| Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) | 60 | 1.09% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 1,836 | 33.24% |
| Total | 5,524 |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 5,524 people, 1,860 households, and 1,291 families residing in the city.
Economy
Pahokee was founded on the produce grown in the muck, the fertile bottom of the Everglades after part of it was drained in the early 20th century. In 1939, the Federal Writers' Project guide said of Pahokee: "From Christmas until April, Pahokee is a 24-hour town; long trains of refrigerated cars roll out for northern markets day and night." "The streets are noisy and crowded; bars, restaurants and gambling places are never closed."
In 1963, with access to Cuban sugar restricted, a sugar plant was built, and agriculture shifted to the mechanized crop of sugar cane. The plant closed in 2009.
As a result, it is one of two Palm Beach County cities—the other is South Bay—on a list of 13 Florida municipalities in "a state of financial emergency." Records suggest it has been on the list continually since 1994. Unemployment exceeds 25%. Taxable property values dropped from about $99 million in 2007 to $66 million in 2014. A fifth of the population has migrated in the past 15 years. Dissolution of the city has been proposed.
On November 15, 1996, the old Pahokee High School building, built in 1928, was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.
Everglades Regional Medical Center
Everglades Regional Medical Center, at 200 S. Barfield Highway was founded in 1936 as Everglades General Hospital; the current building opened in 1950. The 63-bed general hospital, financially nonviable, closed in 1998 after years of contention, a change from public to private ownership, and three lawsuits.
Notable people
- Reidel Anthony, NFL wide receiver, 1996 Florida Gators football team, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Bill Bentley, NFL cornerback, Louisiana-Lafayette, Detroit Lions
- Anquan Boldin, NFL wide receiver, Florida State University, Baltimore Ravens
- Kevin Bouie, NFL running back, Mississippi State University
- Zabian Dowdell, basketball player for Phoenix Suns
- Rickey Jackson, NFL linebacker, New Orleans Saints and San Francisco 49ers, NFL Hall Of Fame
- Janoris Jenkins, NFL cornerback, St. Louis Rams, New York Giants, New Orleans Saints
- Pernell McPhee, linebacker, Baltimore Ravens
- Eric Moore, NFL Defensive End, New England Patriots
- Martavious Odoms, wide receiver, University of Michigan
- Freddie Lee Peterkin, minister, soul and gospel singer and actor He now resides in London. He noted in a recent BBC interview that despite living in Europe for many years, he considers his hometown to be Pahokee
- Alphonso Smith, NFL cornerback, Detroit Lions
- Antone Smith, NFL running back, Florida State and Atlanta Falcons
- Vincent Smith, running back, University of Michigan
- Fred Taylor, NFL running back, Jacksonville Jaguars
- Mel Tillis, country musician, born in Tampa, raised in Pahokee
- Andre Waters, defensive back, Philadelphia Eagles
- Damon Lazar Weaver, youngest person to interview a sitting President of the United States when, at the age of eleven, he interviewed Barack Obama in 2009
- Riquna Williams, basketball player, University of Miami and WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks
Images for kids
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The Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail in Pahokee
See also
In Spanish: Pahokee para niños
