|
|
Loxahatchee Groves Early History |
 |
Founded in 1917, Loxahatchee Groves is the oldest of the western communities. The area is made up of 7,867 acres and gets its name from both an Indian dialect translation meaning “turtle creek” [Loxahatchee] and the acres of citrus groves that occupied the land prior to settlement. While the U.S. Census does not separately give a population for the area, the population is estimated at 4,000 residents living on 1,600 parcels of land.
Loxahatchee Groves was built on the vision of an ambitious and eager sales manager by the name of George Bensel, who founded the community in 1917 and stuck around until his death in 1961.
View this gallery |
Founders of our Town |
 |
After the U.S. Congress passed the Swamp Land Act of 1850, which allowed for the subsidized sale of swamps and overflow lands to private investors, prospective buyers flocked to South Florida with hopes of making large profits from the buying and selling of land. Among these transactions was the transfer of a large area from the Trustee of the Internal Improvement Fund to the Disston Land Company on March 21, 1850. Following several more transactions, two million acres of land, including Loxahatchee, was eventually sold to New Orleans-based Southern States Land and Timber Company on July 19, 1902, at the bargain price of 25 cents/acre.
Shortly after the sale, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers started work on the West Palm Beach (C-51) Canal, opening it for travel in February 1917. As the West Palm Beach branch sales manager for Southern States Land, Bensel yearned to build a community along the route of the new waterway. The result of his dream — Loxahatchee Groves — was established in 1917.
View this gallery |
Election 2007 Images |
 |
On Tuesday, March 12, 2007 the inaugural Loxahatchee Groves Town Council race elected its candidates.
Members of the town’s first council that were elected were Dave Autrey in Seat 1, Dr. Bill Louda in Seat 2, Marge Herzog in Seat 3, David Browning in Seat 4 and Dennis Lipp in Seat 5.
About 840 voters cast ballots, slightly more than the 808 who voted in the October incorporation referendum.
View this gallery |
Ice Cream Social |
 |
The Loxahatchee Groves Landowners’ Association hosted an ice cream social on Saturday, Aug. 11 at Good Earth Farm (2141 B Road, Loxahatchee Groves). The event was organized after Sharyn Browning, wife of Mayor David Browning, submitted an essay to Edy’s ice cream explaining why Loxahatchee Groves should win their contest to host an ice cream social. As part of the prize, Edy’s sent 12 half-gallon containers of ice cream, as well as cups, spoons, napkins and other necessary items. In addition, the event also featured a tour of the animal rescue facility.
View this gallery |
Town Clean-Up Day |
 |
On September 15, 2007, Vice Mayor Marge Herzog and a handful of dedicated volunteers, participated in Palm Beach County Beautifuls Coastal Clean-Up Day by doing their part by cleaning up our Town.
View this gallery |
Logo Contest Entries (2007) |
 |
These are the logo contest entries that appear on Don Williams LGLA website. The contest entry period has expired and the winner will be chosen at the 11-6-07 Town Council Meeting.
(Please visit loxgroves.com for more information on voting, etc.)
View this gallery |
|
Home 
Contact Us
