The area that is now referred to as Lake Worth was settled a few years after Congress passed the Homestead Act of 1862. In 1896 Henry Flagler extended his rail line south from West Palm Beach; making Lake Worth much more accessible for new settlers. Much of present-day Lake Worth was once owned by Samuel and Fannie James, two former slaves. While the James’ where in possession of the property, the future townsite was referred to as Jewel. In 1911 Fannie James sold the core area of her land to Palm Beach Farms Company.

The name Jewel was subsequently changed to the townsite of Lucerne, and platting began shortly thereafter. Lake Worth was formally incorporated in 1912, and in January of that year Lake Avenue became the first street to be graded and rocked. As the townsite began to grow, residents saw the need to construct a dock at the foot of Lake Avenue that extended 1,000 feet into the Lake Worth Lagoon. Shortly thereafter Bryant Park was established, a park that remains beautifully active today; complete with a modern bandshell where people enjoy festivals, concerts, and recreation.

As settlers moved to Lake Worth in the early twentieth century, they built homes, grocery stores, churches and restaurants. During the summer of 1912, a survey of the townsite was completed that laid out 55 miles of streets, and nearly as many miles of alleys, as well as 7,000 residential lots ranging in size from 25 to 50 feet wide. The small lot sizes were part of a sales tactic that coupled the purchase of multiple acres of western farm land with a small town lot in present-day Lake Worth.  

In October of 1914, moving pictures of Lake Worth were taken to advertise the City and surrounding area. The idea was originated by the Lake Worth Herald, and the work was donated by H.J. Bryant of Bryant and Greenwood. The pictures were shown in hundreds of cities and towns in the United States to attract new settlers. Between 1914 and 1915, the first municipal building was constructed that served as a multi-purpose City Hall, Fire Station, Jail and Library.

By the end of World War I, City Commissioners, with a firm belief in Lake Worth's future, levied higher assessments against properties to pay for the many improvements. The first bridge across the Intracoastal Waterway was built in July 1919, and was one of the longest wooden toll- free bridges in the United States.

A permanent Fire Chief was appointed in 1921, and in 1922 the famous Lake Worth Casino opened where travelers came from across the region to recreate and bathers enjoyed a salt-water swimming pool. Lake Worth High School was also dedicated in 1922.

In 1924, the Oakley Theatre opened on the site of the current Lake Worth Playhouse. The first stop light was installed in 1925 at Lake Avenue and Dixie Highway. During the 1920’s Lake Worth saw tremendous development; the Lake Worth Golf Course opened and the Gulfstream Hotel was dedicated during that decade. The hurricane of 1928 destroyed much of the City, and claimed the life of one Lake Worth resident.

In 1934, the WPA Auditorium was dedicated at 7 North Dixie Highway, and today the Moorish-Mediterranean style building serves as the Lake Worth City Hall. In 1937, the second bridge was constructed in concrete over the Intracoastal Waterway replacing the wooden structure that was destroyed in the hurricane.

In 1939, the Lake Theatre opened on Lake Avenue, and the art deco building is now the home of the Palm Beach Cultural Council. In 1941, the Lake Worth Post Office and the fourth home of the Lake Worth Library were dedicated. In 1954 the Lake Worth Pier, one of the longest municipal piers on Florida's Atlantic coast, was opened to the public. In 1961, the Tom G. Smith Municipal Power Plant was placed into operation and in 1970, the shuffleboard courts moved to the location of the first power plant.

In 1982, the Museum of the City of Lake Worth was established with Helen Greene as its curator on the second floor of the City Hall Annex. The Osborne Community Center was dedicated in 1990, and in 1991 the Second Avenue North Utilities Complex was dedicated. In 1996, Lake Worth voters approved a bond issue for a new Public Safety Complex which now houses District 14 of the Palm Beach County Sherriff’s Office and the City of Lake Worth’s Information Technology Department.

Over the past few decades the City of Lake Worth’s downtown and historic neighborhoods have undergone a cultural renaissance. The City is home to several famous art galleries, cultural facilities, and world renowned restaurants. Lake Worth has also become an extremely diverse community that welcomes people of all religions, ethnicities, and lifestyle choices.

Courtesy of: Lake Worth Org