Lake Worth Real Estate has a Special History
After Henry Flagler extended his rail line south from West Palm Beach to Miami in 1896, a land development scheme was created to plant a townsite between the railroad and the lake. Purchasers of lots within the townsite would also receive a larger plot of land west of town for agricultural use. The initial name proposed for the new town was Lucerne, however the U.S. Post Office refused to accept the name because there was already a “Lake Lucerne” in Dade County. The city fathers decided on the name Lake Worth, for the lake on which the fledgling town was located, and one of the main streets was named Lucerne Avenue. The city was officially incorporated in 1912. Many of the first residents were farmers from other parts of the American south and mid-west, looking to benefit from the growing winter vegetable market of the time. The city benefited with the rest of South Florida during the Florida land boom of the 1920’s. A wooden automobile traffic bridge over Lake Worth was completed in 1919. The first casino and municipal beach complex was completed shortly thereafter. The 1920’s also saw the completion of the Gulf Stream Hotel, which is presently be renovated and is on the National List of Historic Places.
