Our local history is all over the map

Independence Day is near, and it’s a good time to reflect on the heritage of not only our nation, but our community.

For a decade, we’ve been privileged to answer your questions about historic people, places and events in Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast.

But there’s been a pleasant side benefit we hadn’t envisioned when we started: Those 500-plus columns have generated a remarkable database.

Here’s more from staff researcher Michelle Quigley:

“Over the years, the Post Time column has told us how Delray Beach, Boca Raton, Hypoluxo and other places got their names.

“The columns were printed in Neighborhood Post, then compiled into a database, but we didn’t have a good way to store and display that information.

“Now we can share stories with you in a way that makes them easier to find, and more fun to browse. All the columns are on historicpalmbeach.com. Look for the “Place Names Map” link on the main menu. This feature lets you click on a map for links to place name origins. There are already 100, with more to come.

“For example, if you click on Lake Osborne you’ll find a short description of the connection to the Osborn (no ‘e’) family, among the first settlers to the area, and links to two columns with more detail about the family and how the lake had been called Metalkaoska by Native American residents.”

Tell us what you think!

Update: Our June 17 and June 24 columns on Chief Ho-Ti-Pi brought this from Jim Anderson of West Palm Beach:

“I once attended a performance of his, which was held (for lack of a better venue, I guess) at the old Lake Worth American Legion Arena on Lucerne Avenue. The arena was set up to hold boxing and/or wrestling matches as there was a ring in the center with seats on all four sides. The ‘chief’ arrived in full Indian regalia and sang to the accompaniment of an upright piano, which had been laboriously hauled up into the ring, for the performance. As I remember, Chief Ho did have a fine voice, but the event was sparsely attended. My recollection is that this took place in the late 1940s or very early ’50s. (No wrestlers attended.)”

Lake Osborne in May 1965 (Palm Beach Post file photo)

Tags: map, Native Americans, place names

Update on the Palm Beach County place names map

The Palm Beach County place names map now includes name origins for 37 cities, 12 parks, five streets, four places, three lakes, and one island. The map includes notes about the names, and links to Eliot Kleinberg’s Post Time columns and other sources that provide more background about the people and stories behind the names. Click on the image below to browse the map (and check back later for more as we update the map).

Tags: map, place names

Palm Beach County toponymy*: How local places got their names

Browse our interactive map to learn about the people and stories behind the names of Palm Beach County cities, parks, roads, schools, and other places.

View Palm Beach County Place Names in a larger map

Click on the place markers to see more information about a specific place.
Blue markers are for cities and towns.
Yellow markers are streets and roads, and green markers are bridges.
Green building icons are schools.
The green picnic table and tree icons are for parks, and the blue waves are for lakes.

Click and drag the map to see other areas, and use zoom controls at the upper left corner of the map to zoom in or out.

Update note: All the PBC cities are on the map, and dozens of parks, roads, schools and other places. More to come.

* Toponymy is the study of the origins and meanings of place names. The word ‘toponymy’ is from the Greek words tópos (place) and ónoma (name). If you’re a toponymist who has something to add to our map, please let us know in the comments below.

Tags: map, place names

This week in history: Florida admitted to the Union as 27th state

By Michelle Quigley

On March 3, 1845, Florida became a state. William D. Moseley was the first governor, and the population was about 66,000, almost half of whom were African-American slaves on cotton and sugar plantations.

Map of Florida in 1845, showing the state’s geographical boundary lines and internal divisions that had been established at that time. (United States Geological Survey map)

Tags: map, This Week in History