Greenacres

About Greenacres

Greenacres is a small city in Florida's Palm Beach County, located just 5 miles from the Atlantic Ocean. In addition to diverse residential communities, Greenacres is also home to small but thriving commercial establishments that offer plenty of options for shopping, dining and entertainment.

The History of Greenacres

Lawrence Carter Swain founded the city of Greenacres, and it was originally incorporated in 1926. When Swain moved his family from Massachusetts, the resorts around Palm Beach were booming and the wealthy had their choice of housing. Swain, however, noticed a severe lack of options for the middle class. Motivated by his desire to give the middle class a community to call their own, he began buying property in the area and eventually ended up with around 1,000 acres that was divided into sections.

Unlike many other cities in this country, Greenacres wasn't named after a historical figure or landmark. Instead, Swain's office staff chose Greenacres off a list of potential names submitted as part of a naming contest, also choosing the city's slogan, "A Good Place to Live," at the same time. While a group of disgruntled residents were able to petition the Florida State Legislature to abolish the city's charter in 1945, the community was able to re-establish as a city during the same year, and eventually reincorporated in 1947.

Since then, Greenacres has continued to grow and prosper. Even though the city takes up only 6 square miles of land, today it's the eighth largest of Palm Beach County's 38 municipalities.

Living in Greenacres

Greenacres is a family-friendly city where you can take advantage of many different amenities. It has been designated as one of the "100 Best Communities for Young People" by The Alliance for Youth, and has also been named a Tree City USA for its commitment to maintaining a healthy population of trees in the city.

Despite its relatively small geographical size, the city has nearly 100 acres devoted to public parks and green spaces. The Greenacres Community Center offers a number of classes for children and adults, as well as special activities and events. You can also make the short drive to nearby Okeeheelee Park, which has hundreds of acres for hiking, exploring and enjoying the great outdoors.

If you'll need a job in Greenacres, it's helpful to know that the most common industries in the area are construction, administrative support and retail trade. Additionally, jobs in construction, grounds cleaning, maintenance and sales are the most common roles for locals, providing a variety of options for you to consider.

Greenacres Schools

The School District of Palm Beach County manages the public education of students living in Greenacres. In addition to the local public schools, you can also enroll your child in Greenacres Christian Academy, a private school serving Greenacres students in kindergarten through grade 12.

Resources for Moving to Greenacres

Here's some information to help you plan your move to Greenacres:

• Utilities: Florida Power & Light (FPL) and Florida Public Utilities Co. are the city's central energy providers, while water services are facilitated by Palm Beach County Water Utilities.
• Garbage and Recycling: The city provides scheduled collections for trash, recyclables, bulk items and green waste. Your neighborhood's location determines your specific schedule.
• Transportation: The Palm Tran bus service provides public transportation in and around Greenacres.

Greenacres Housing

Greenacres housing is very affordable when compared to the surrounding Miami-Fort Lauderdale metro area. The median home price in Greenacres is lower than the national average, making it a budget-friendly place to purchase a home.