In the southeast corner of Palm Beach County on the Atlantic seashore, a village by the sea that began as an agricultural community in 1895 has become one of Florida’s most popular destinations for visitors, new families and seasonal residents. The City of Delray Beach encompasses slightly over 16 square miles with a permanent population of nearly 65,000 and growing. Over the past decade, renewal and re-development efforts in Delray Beach have resulted in recognition as the All-America City in 1993 and 2001, the Blue Wave designation for our clean and beautiful beaches and hailed by city planners around the nation as a model for growth management. All these accolades can be attributed to the significant involvement of the residents of Delray Beach. Every citizen of this City can claim authorship to an unparalleled quality of life in a very diverse community that works in concert for an even better future.
The City of Delray Beach has a Commission-Manager form of local government. The people elect a Mayor every two years who presides over four commission members who are elected to two year terms in alternating years. The City Commission appoints a City Manager who is the Chief Operational Officer for the City and the City Attorney who acts on all legal matters pertaining to the City. The City Manager is charged with overseeing the business of the City and is responsible to the City Commission for the supervision of the City’s various departments and employees. The Mayor and the City Commission make policy, pass on ordinances and regulations, confer with Palm Beach County officials on regional issues and meet regularly each month at meetings attended by and participated in by the public at large.
Why Delray?
Of course, one of our main attractions is our beaches! Beach-goers have access to two miles of public beach-front for sunbathing, recreational events, swimming and other activities. Collectively, one of the two miles of beach is lifeguard supervised daily. For info on beach conditions call 561-27BEACH or the City’s Beach Conditions page.
Cultural Attractions & Things to Do
Visual and performing arts opportunities as well as lectures, historic tours and nature center are available through the Delray Beach Cultural Alliance.
Blood’s Hammock Groves 6117 Lawrence Road, Lantana Florida 33462 |
American Orchid Society 16700 AOS Lane, Delray Beach 561-404-2000 |
Boomer’s Family Recreation 3100 Airport Rd in Boca Raton 561-347-1888 |
Bucky Dent Baseball School 490 Dotterel Rd, Delray Beach 561-265-0280 |
Caldwell Theatre Company 7873 N Federal Hwy, Boca Raton 561-241-7380 |
Cason Cottage Museum Swinton Ave. and N.E. First St. 561-243-0223 |
The Cornell Museum – Old School Square 51 N. Swinton Ave. 561-243-7922 |
Crest Theatre – Old School Square 51 N. Swinton Ave., Delray Beach 561-243-3183 |
Delray Beach Historical Society 20 N. Swinton Ave., Delray Beach 561-243-7922 |
Delray Beach Playhouse 950 NW 9th St., Delray Beach 561-272-1281 |
Delray Beach Public Library 29 SE 4th Ave. 561-266-0194 |
Milagro Center 101 SE 2nd Ave. 561-279-2970 |
Morikami Park & Museum 400 Morikami Park Rd. off Jog/Carter Rd. 561-495-0233 |
Old School Square Cultural Arts Center & Entertainment Pavilion 51 N.Swinton Ave. 561-243-7922, ext 1 |
Palm Beach Photographic Centre 55 NE 2nd Ave, Delray Beach 561-276-9797 |
Pineapple Grove Main Street & Artwalk 298 Pineapple Grove Way (NE 2nd Ave.) 561-279-9952 |
Roots Cultural Festival P.O. Box 2654, Delray Beach, 33447 |
Sandoway House Nature Center 142 S. Ocean Blvd., Delray Beach 561-274-SAND |
S.D. Spady Museum 170 N.W. 5th Ave., P.O. Box 3077, Delray Beach, 33447 561-279-8487 |
Women in the Visual Arts Pineapple Grove 330 NE 2nd Avenue, Delray Beach Website features current and upcoming exhibitions, classes, and workshops. |
Palm Beach Zoo Dreher Park 1301 Summit Blvd., West Palm Beach 561-533-0887 |
Delray Beach Water Sports Rentals 401 S. Ocean Blvd. 561-279-0008 |
Henry Morrison Flagler Museum Cocoanut Row, Palm Beach 561-655-2833 |
Lion Country Safari 18 miles west of I-95 on Southern Blvd., W. Palm Beach 561-793-1084 |
Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge U.S. 441 between Delray and Boynton 561-732-3684 |
Loxahatchee Everglades Air Boat Tours West End Lox Rd., Boca Raton 561-482-6107 |
Hoffman’s Chocolate Shoppes and Gardens 5190 Lake Worth Rd., Greenacres 561-967-2213 |
Norton Gallery 1415 S. Olive Ave. 561-832-5174 |
Palm Beach Kennel Club Belvedere Rd. & Congress Ave. Dog Racing 561-683-2222 |
Pottery Playhouse 812 E Atlantic Ave, Delray Beach 561-279-1397 |
Rapids Water Park 6566 N. Military Trail, W.P.B. 561-842-8756 |
Regal Cinemas Delray 18 1660 S Federal Hwy, Delray Beach 561-272-0510 |
Sports Immortals 6830 N Federal Hwy, Delray Beach 561-997-2575 |
Historic Wreck of the S.S. Inchulva Sits in about 25 ft. of water approximately 150 yards off-shore from the south end of Delray’s public beach. 561-243-7352 |
Destination…Shopping!
Atlantic Avenue Delray Beach’s own charming Atlantic Avenue is a treasure trove for the recreational shopper and showcases more than 150 different boutiques and galleries. Get merchants and gift card information. |
Blood’s Hammock Groves Delray Beach. 5 minutes from downtown. Established in the 1940s. Features citrus sales, plant boutique, flowers, ornamentals, fresh herbs, decorative pots. 561-498-3400 |
Levenger Outlet 5 minutes from downtown. Levenger’s only retail outlet. “A Purveyor of Tools for the Serious Readers” sells heirloom quality reading accessories at reasonable prices including lamps, leather goods, “reading furniture”. |
Ocean City Lumber Company Just north of Atlantic Ave. between NE 2nd Ave. & Pineapple Grove Way. Tucked in the historic Pineapple Grove district of downtown Delray Beach is Ocean City Lumber Company. This one time lumber yard is now a great shopping, dining, and entertainment center with galleries, boutiques, and trendy cafes that spill out onto the brick-paved sidewalks. 276-2323 |
ABC Carpet & Home – The Outlet 5 minutes from downtown. An outlet version of the famous New York City original. Deluxe home furnishings and accessories including Persian Rugs, eclectic furnishings, luxury linen, and bath items –the unusual and trendy sometimes at bargain prices. |
Sawgrass Mills Outlet 40 minutes. Featuring 260 stores including Saks Fifth Avenue Outlet, Ann Taylor, and more. |
Mizner Park Boca Raton – 10 minutes from downtown Delray Beach. A unique shopping destination featuring courtyards with fountains, beautiful landscaping, gourmet restaurants. Unique designer clothing & accessories and art galleries. |
Worth Avenue Palm Beach – 30 minutes. Renowned for world class shopping with 200 luxury stores such as Cartier, Chanel, and Tiffany, with many of the historical buildings designed in Mediterranean Revival style. |
Regional Malls
- Boynton Beach Mall
Boynton Beach, 15 minutes north - The Gardens
North Palm Beach – 45 minutes north - Town Center Mall
Boca Raton – 20 minutes south