ROOTED HERE
The history of Delray Beach
Atlantic Avenue connects Delray Beach’s downtown streets with its Atlantic oceanfront. Pineapple Grove and Old School Square add art and history, while local cafés and independent shops offer stops along the way.
People who shaped Delray Beach
These milestones are an introduction, not a complete local history. Follow the linked city and museum sources to explore the people and places behind them.Read the local historical account.
Watch the city’s history
FROM THE ARCHIVES
Delray Beach Historical Society | On the Town in the Palm Beaches
South Florida PBS visits the historical society to explore architect Sam Ogren and early Delray Beach homes.
Watch on YouTube ↗- 1876
A refuge on the coast
The U.S. Lifesaving Service built the Orange Grove House of Refuge to shelter shipwreck survivors. It formed part of the coastal landscape before the later town was platted.
Delray Beach Historical Society ↗ - 1894
Black settlers establish a school
African American settlers petitioned for a school, creating one on what is now Historic Fifth Avenue. Farming, fishing and family networks were central to this early community.
Delray Beach Historical Society ↗ - 1895–1896
Linton takes shape
A town plat was drawn in 1895 and recorded the next year. The Florida East Coast Railway reached Linton in 1896, giving local farmers a vital transportation connection.
Delray Beach Historical Society ↗ - 1898
The Delray name
After damaging freezes and William Linton's financial default, residents changed the town's name to Delray. The name was suggested by town leader W. W. Blackmer.
Delray Beach Historical Society ↗ - 1911–1927
Two towns become one city
Delray incorporated west of the Intracoastal Waterway in 1911; Delray Beach incorporated east of it in 1923. On May 11, 1927, the two joined as the City of Delray Beach.
Delray Beach Historical Society ↗
See the history for yourself.
Check current opening hours and visitor information before you go: Spady Cultural Heritage Museum.
For local services and public information, the local government website is a starting point. For historical research, consult local libraries, archives and museums and check collection-specific image permissions.
Selected milestones from the linked historical sources. This is an introduction, not a complete account of the city’s history.