In 1923, Greenacres was founded by L. C. Swain and was officially incorporated in 1926, when Lawrence Carter Swain and his family moved to this area from Massachusetts.
During the 1920’s, the Town of Palm Beach and other coast resort areas were booming. The wealthy were well provided for in terms of housing and community services. However, there were few homes that were built or available for the middle class. Motivated by the desire to provide a community for the middle class, Mr. Swain began accumulating property in this area, ending up with approximately 1,000 acres of property. This land was divided into sections or "plats". Plat II laid out one-half mile west of Military Trail, became the "original section" of the City and still exists today.
The name "Greenacres City" was chosen by Mr. Swain’s office staff who voted on a list of ten (10) potential names. The City’s slogan, "A Good Place to Live" was also chosen at that time. However, Greenacres City was known as the "Town of Greenacres City" until September of 1980, when the City’s Charter was changed, dropping the "Town of" from the name.
During its history, Greenacres City has survived two (2) devastating hurricanes. The first storm hit on September 19. 1926. The second storm hit almost two (2) years later on September 16, 1928, both virtually destroying the City. The successful recovery efforts brought the community together in those early years.
The City was faced with a third disaster in April of 1945 when the Florida State Legislature abolished the City’s Charter. A group of disgruntled residents presented a petition to the Legislature, which resulted in the City losing its status as a municipality. However, the community was re-established as a City within the same year and was re-incorporated in 1947.
In the years following its re-incorporation, Greenacres City prospered and kept pace with a growing and diversified population, by continuing to increase it service delivery to its residents.
In the early 1960’s, the old City Hall complex (located at Perry Avenue and Fourth Street) and the Community Hall (located on Martin Avenue and Fourth Street) were built. The City Hall complex housed the public library and City departments, except the Fire Department and the Public Works Department.
In 1971, the City established a full time Police Department that replaced the Town Marshal. The City began providing full time fire protection in 1974 while hiring its first Fire Chief and six (6) full time firefighters.
Through the years, Greenacres has continued to grow and prosper. In the 1980’s, it was the seventh largest and fastest growing municipality in central Palm Beach County. Although the City continued to grow at a rapid pace, its government officials were very prudent and used effective management practices and governmental controls to keep the City ~ "A Good Place to Live".
Planning for the present City Hall (located at the intersection of Tenth Avenue North and Sherwood Forest Boulevard) began in 1980. It was determined that the old City Hall structure would not be able to accommodate future growth. During that period time, the City Council and staff worked diligently to plan and bring about the construction of the new City Hall.
In March of 1984, the residents voted in favor of a bond referendum that authorized the City to issue General Obligation bonds that financed the construction of the present City Hall. The Public Safety Complex, as well as the development and construction of park facilities were provided through the approval of the bond referendum. It was an era of time when there was interest in investing in the City’s future growth.
In 1985, the City embarked upon the implementation and development of the Department of Public Safety. This concept meshed together the traditional police and fire functions and provided a new concept of dual certified and cross-trained police and fire personnel. The emergency medical services were also housed within the Public Safety Complex. This new and innovative concept provided an improved emergency response time while also providing a tremendous cost savings to the City residents.
Once again, in 1990, the registered voters of the City, voted in favor of a referendum to change the City’s name to the "City of Greenacres" or "Greenacres".
During the 1990’s, the City continued to experience tremendous development and growth. Voluntary annexation of unincorporated Palm Beach County property has been encouraged over the years to "square off" the irregular boundaries of the City.
The 1990 Census population figure of 18,683 was much lower than expected for the City, which brought great concern to the City Officials. Therefore, the Council authorized the City to conduct a "Special Census" in 1993. The results of the public awareness campaign for the census and the re-count validated an additional 3,000 residents. The Special Census population count revised the City’s population to 21,966. With the increase in population numbers, the results of the Special Census provided additional revenue from the State of Florida for the remainder of the decade.
For the past ten (10) years, the City has continued its effort to provide safe recreational places for its residents and children to relax and play. The City’s neighborhood parks have been given a "face lift" with new and improved grounds and playground equipment. Residents can be very proud of the wonderful parks and recreational facilities that are provided today.
The City began making improvements in 1998 to the Ira Van Bullock Park by turning around the baseball fields and upgrading the centralized recreation area. The City has completed the construction of a new "Community Center" that provides additional recreational space and a brand new gym facility for the resident’s pleasure. Be sure to keep tabs on the improvements that are being made to our recreational complex.
Freedom Park, located in proximity to the new Okeeheelee Middle School on Pinehurst Drive, has been annexed into the City. The park provides an additional multi-purpose recreational field for all ages of youth in our community, as well as the students that attend Okeeheelee Middle School. Without a doubt, this park will be an enhancement to the City’s Neighborhood Park System as we begin the design and construction phases for this park.
Today, the City of Greenacres enjoys a population of approximately 31,270 residents and takes great pride in its sense of community, its improved neighborhood parks, impressive landscaped medians and landscaping programs, as well as the many other innovative programs that continue to make the City stand out as "A Good Place to Live, Work and Play!"
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