Delray Beach history

This is a dated, sourced history of Delray Beach, Florida, built from the Delray Beach Historical Society, the Historical Society of Palm Beach County, the National Park Service and the National Civic League. Each section prints the source it relies on. Where sources disagree we say so. Where we could not verify something, such as a building’s architect, we leave it out.

1876: the Orange Grove House of Refuge

The Delray Beach Historical Society says the U.S. Lifesaving Service built the Orange Grove House of Refuge No. 3, a haven for the shipwrecked, in 1876. The City’s beach permit lots on A1A include one called Orange Grove/North Lot (see the beach page).

• The Delray Beach Historical Society says the Orange Grove House of Refuge No. 3, a haven for the shipwrecked, was built by the U.S. Lifesaving Service in 1876. Delray Beach Historical Society: History of Delray Beach 1845-1927

Linton and the railway

Palm Beach County History Online says Congressman William Seelye Linton of Michigan bought land near the House of Refuge and the settlement was officially recorded as the Town of Linton. The Historical Society says Henry Flagler’s Florida East Coast Railway route was completed through Linton in 1896.

• Palm Beach County History Online says Congressman William Seelye Linton of Michigan bought land near the Orange Grove House of Refuge No. 3 and the settlement was officially recorded as the Town of Linton. Historical Society of Palm Beach County, Palm Beach County History Online: Delray Beach
• The Delray Beach Historical Society says Henry Flagler's Florida East Coast Railway route was completed through the Town of Linton in 1896. Delray Beach Historical Society: History of Delray Beach 1845-1927

1898: Linton becomes Delray

After freezes destroyed the crops, the Town of Linton was renamed Delray in 1898. Both the Delray Beach Historical Society and Palm Beach County History Online give that year; some third-party sites say 1901. The Historical Society says W.W. Blackmer suggested the name, taken from a town near Detroit, Michigan.

• The Delray Beach Historical Society and Palm Beach County History Online both say the Town of Linton was renamed Delray in 1898, after crop-destroying freezes. The Historical Society says W.W. Blackmer suggested the name, taken from a town near Detroit, Michigan. Delray Beach Historical Society: History of Delray Beach 1845-1927

The Sands and the West Settlers

Palm Beach County History Online says African American families from northern Florida settled just west of Linton, in an area known as The Sands. Today it is the West Settlers’ Historic District. The Delray Beach Historical Society says those settlers built the first public school in what is now Palm Beach County in 1894: Dade County School No. 4, Colored, on Blackmer Street, now NW 5th Avenue.

• Palm Beach County History Online says African American families from northern Florida settled just west of Linton in an area known as The Sands, today the West Settlers' Historic District. Historical Society of Palm Beach County, Palm Beach County History Online: Delray Beach
• The Delray Beach Historical Society says the first public school in what is now Palm Beach County was built in Linton in 1894 by African American settlers: Dade County School No. 4, Colored, on Blackmer Street, now NW 5th Avenue in the West Settlers Historic District. Delray Beach Historical Society: An Old School Inspires a Town

The Spady Cultural Heritage Museum, at 170 NW Fifth Avenue in the same district, says it was established in 2001 and that the Spady House turns 100 in 2026. It lists hours of Tuesday to Saturday, 11 AM to 4 PM, or by appointment. General admission is $10, enhanced guided tours are $20, and members and children under 12 are free.

• The Spady Cultural Heritage Museum is at 170 NW Fifth Avenue in Delray Beach. It says it was established in 2001 and that the Spady House turns 100 in 2026. Spady Cultural Heritage Museum: home page
• The Spady Cultural Heritage Museum (170 NW 5th Ave) lists museum hours of Tuesday to Saturday, 11 AM to 4 PM, or by appointment, phone (561) 279-8883. General admission is $10 per person; enhanced guided tours are $20; members and children under 12 are free. Spady Cultural Heritage Museum: Connect With Spady

Schools at Swinton and Atlantic

The Delray Beach Historical Society traces the schools that became Old School Square:

• 1896: a one-room schoolhouse for white children opened at what is now Swinton and Atlantic Avenue, with 33 children attending in June 1896.
• 1913: Delray Elementary School was built. The building is the Cornell Museum. The DDA dates it 1913/14.
• 1925: a separate Delray High School building went up, now the Crest Theatre, with a gymnasium the same year. The Historical Society says Sam Ogren, Sr. designed both.
• 1950: Delray High School closed when Seacrest High School opened. The elementary school graduated its final class on June 7, 1988.

• The Delray Beach Historical Society says a one-room schoolhouse for white children was set up in 1896 at what is now Swinton and Atlantic Avenue, with 33 children attending in June 1896. Delray Beach Historical Society: An Old School Inspires a Town
• The Delray Beach Historical Society says Delray Elementary School was built in 1913 and is now the Cornell Museum. The DDA dates it 1913/14. Delray Beach Historical Society: An Old School Inspires a Town
• The Delray Beach Historical Society says a separate Delray High School building was built in 1925, now the Crest Theatre, and a gymnasium was built the same year. It says both were designed by Sam Ogren, Sr. Delray Beach Historical Society: An Old School Inspires a Town
• The Delray Beach Historical Society says Delray High School closed in 1950 when Seacrest High School opened, and the elementary school graduated its final class on June 7, 1988. Delray Beach Historical Society: An Old School Inspires a Town

A new county and the 1910 census

The Historical Society says Palm Beach County was created from the northern part of Dade County in 1909. Before that the area was part of Dade County. It also says Delray’s population was first counted in the 1910 U.S. Census, at 904 people. For the Census Bureau’s 2024 estimate, see living in Delray Beach.

• The Delray Beach Historical Society says Palm Beach County was created from the northern portion of Dade County in 1909. Before that the area was part of Dade County. Delray Beach Historical Society: History of Delray Beach 1845-1927
• The Delray Beach Historical Society says Delray's population was first counted in the 1910 U.S. Census, at 904 people. Delray Beach Historical Society: History of Delray Beach 1845-1927

Two towns, then one city

The Intracoastal Waterway split the community in two, and the two halves incorporated separately. The Delray Beach Historical Society gives these steps:

• 1911: the first bridge over the canal, now the Intracoastal Waterway, linked the barrier island with the Town of Delray.
• 1911: the area west of the Intracoastal was incorporated as the Town of Delray. John Shaw Sundy became its first mayor and served seven terms.
• 1923: the area east of the Intracoastal was incorporated as the Town of Delray Beach. Palm Beach County History Online also gives 1923.
• May 11, 1927: the two towns united to form the City of Delray Beach.

• The Delray Beach Historical Society says the first bridge over the canal (the Intracoastal Waterway), connecting the barrier island with the Town of Delray, was built in 1911. Delray Beach Historical Society: History of Delray Beach 1845-1927
• The Delray Beach Historical Society says the area west of the Intracoastal Waterway was incorporated as the Town of Delray in 1911, and John Shaw Sundy became the first mayor and served seven terms. Delray Beach Historical Society: History of Delray Beach 1845-1927
• The Delray Beach Historical Society says the area east of the Intracoastal, the Town of Delray Beach, was incorporated in 1923. Palm Beach County History Online also gives 1923. Delray Beach Historical Society: History of Delray Beach 1845-1927
• The Delray Beach Historical Society says that on May 11, 1927 the two incorporated towns united to form the City of Delray Beach. Delray Beach Historical Society: History of Delray Beach 1845-1927

The Historical Society calls the 1911 town the Town of Delray, and in its 1927 sentence also calls it the City of Delray, so you will see both names.

National Register listings

The National Park Service’s NPGallery holds these Delray Beach records:

• Delray Beach Schools (the Old School Square buildings): NRIS 88000210, dated March 10, 1988, period of significance 1900 to 1924. NPS record
• Old School Square Historic District: NRIS 100002095, bounded by Lake Ida Road, Northeast 1st Avenue, Southwest 2nd Street and North Swinton Avenue, period of significance 1898 to 1960. The record as read shows no listing date, so we give none. NPS record
• Seaboard Airline Railroad Station, 1525 W. Atlantic Ave.: NRIS 86002172, dated Sept. 4, 1986, Mission/Spanish Revival style, period of significance 1925 to 1949. Sources disagree on who designed it, so we do not name an architect. NPS record

• The National Park Service's NPGallery record for "Delray Beach Schools" (Old School Square buildings) gives National Register Information System ID 88000210, a date of 3/10/1988, resource type building, period of significance 1900-1924, architects listed as "Multiple". National Park Service, NPGallery: Delray Beach Schools (NRIS 88000210)
• NPS also has a record for the Old School Square Historic District (NRIS 100002095), a district bounded by Lake Ida Road, Northeast 1st Avenue, Southwest 2nd Street and North Swinton Avenue, period of significance 1898 to 1960. The record as read did not show a listing date. National Park Service, NPGallery: Old School Square Historic District (NRIS 100002095)

All-America City

The National Civic League’s past-winners list shows Delray Beach, Florida as an All-America City in 1993, 2001 and 2017. We have not checked claims made elsewhere about how Delray compares with other Florida winners.

• The National Civic League's All-America City past-winners list shows Delray Beach, Florida as a winner in 1993, 2001 and 2017. National Civic League: All-America City Award, Past Winners

Timeline

Year	Event	Source
1876	Orange Grove House of Refuge No. 3 built	Delray Beach Historical Society
1894	Dade County School No. 4, Colored, built in Linton	Delray Beach Historical Society
1896	Florida East Coast Railway completed through Linton; one-room school at Swinton and Atlantic	Delray Beach Historical Society
1898	Linton renamed Delray	Delray Beach Historical Society; PBC History Online
1909	Palm Beach County created from Dade County	Delray Beach Historical Society
1910	Census counts 904 people	Delray Beach Historical Society
1911	Bridge to the barrier island; Town of Delray incorporated	Delray Beach Historical Society
1913	Delray Elementary School built (DDA: 1913/14)	Delray Beach Historical Society
1923	Town of Delray Beach incorporated	Delray Beach Historical Society; PBC History Online
1925	Delray High School and gymnasium built	Delray Beach Historical Society
1927	City of Delray Beach formed, May 11	Delray Beach Historical Society
1950	Delray High School closed	Delray Beach Historical Society
1986	Seaboard station record dated Sept. 4	National Park Service
1988	Delray Beach Schools record dated March 10	National Park Service
1993, 2001, 2017	All-America City	National Civic League
2001	Spady Cultural Heritage Museum established	Spady Museum

See it for yourself

The Delray Beach Historical Society is at 3 NE 1st St, beside the free Cason Cottage lot at 5 NE 1st St, per the DDA. We did not check its tour hours or fees. Old School Square and the Spady Museum are both open to visitors; see Old School Square and things to do for the details we could confirm, and parking before you drive.

Delray Beach history FAQ

Dates, rules and hours can change. The organisers have the final word: City of Delray Beach (official site)