Belle Glade, FL

Belle Glade was built in 1925 as part of a project by the federal government to drain land around Lake Okeechobee and make it fertile for growing sugarcane. The project proved successful, but in 1928, a hurricane slammed into the area, destroying the town and killing thousands of workers who were brought in to help with the land project.

The city showed its resilience by bouncing back, and its fertile soil remained an agricultural asset to the area for many decades. In the latter part of the 20th century, the declining demand for agricultural workers led to a concerted effort by city leaders in Belle Glade to begin diversifying the area's economy.

For history seekers, Belle Glades offers the Lawrence E. Will Museum, A Museum of the Glades which hosts an archive collection representing several centuries of the city's past.

Belle Glade still celebrates the end of harvest season each year by hosting the Black Gold Jubilee, featuring a parade, food and fireworks.

Belle Glade features the type of comfortable mom-and-pop eateries that are endemic to American small towns. These local favorites serve up a variety of cuisines including fried chicken, Chinese, and authentic Mexican. The city also houses numerous chain restaurants and fast food places.

Favored by locals and renowned enough to induce many to drive from West Palm Beach to satisfy their cravings, Dixie Fried Chicken on Martin Luther King Boulevard has served up Southern staples such as chicken, catfish and shrimp for many decades. First-time diners often play it safe and order fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and gravy. More adventurous souls branch out and try the frog legs or the catfish fingers. The restaurant's diverse menu and dedicated Southern cooks make it difficult to go wrong with any menu selection.

Martin Tacos on Canal Street hits the spot without hitting too hard in the wallet. Fill up on steak, chicken or ground beef tacos for under two dollars per, and feel free to add guacamole or queso fresco for another fifty cents. Because a craving for authentic Mexican can strike at all hours, Martin Tacos opens its doors at nine every morning and doesn't close them until ten at night. Bring cash, as this establishment doesn't accept checks or credit cards.

Many South Florida residents consider Belle Glade's Wah Lan Chinese Restaurant the best in the area. Located on South Main Street and locally owned and operated, Wah Lan offers an expansive menu of Chinese food served in a serene setting. Crowd favorites include the shrimp fried rice and the sweet and sour pork. Make sure to ask for an extra egg roll or two, as eating one almost invariably leaves you craving another.

Belle Glade features little in the way of bars or nightclubs. Five Star Sports Bar and Grill sits a few miles down the road in South Bay, while neighboring Pahokee houses a tiki bar, Pahokae Mo's. Otherwise, downtown West Palm Beach provides an abundance of nightlife options and can be reached in under an hour.

Cars remain the primary method of transportation in and around Belle Glade. Most of the streets contain light traffic, making it reasonably safe to travel by foot or bicycle. However, walking in Belle Glade brings a different set of risks after daylight hours. Though improving, the crime rate in the area remains significantly higher than the state and national averages; therefore, caution should be taken when traveling on foot at night.

The Palm Tran public bus system runs in and around Belle Glade and also shuttles passengers to and from neighboring Pahokee. The city houses at least two taxi companies, but a cab must be called for, not hailed. Uber does not currently maintain a presence in Belle Glade.

Belle Glade provides multiple city parks for outdoor recreation, exercise and family fun. Glades Pioneer Park stands as the largest public park in town. Shoot hoops on one of its four basketball courts, soak up rays while playing sand volleyball, or get in a workout on the park's one-mile exercise trail featuring 13 stations for training various muscle groups. Glades Pioneer Park welcomes kids and dogs, and the park also provides free parking and admission, though use of certain facilities, such as the aquatic center and baseball courts, carries a small fee.

The park system in Belle Glade lists no annual events, but it does provide summer camps and various sports leagues for children and teens.

Belle Glade's very low cost of living attracts many residents to the area. At $531 per month, the city's average rental rate sits much lower than the area's average. A beer in one of the bars near Belle Glade costs $2, and a bus ticket runs $1.75. Gas remains the only daily necessity for which Belle Glade residents pay a premium; average prices hover at 9 percent above the national average.

Belle Glade lacks a centralized shopping district and high-end retail stores, but it provides enough to take care of daily necessities as well as unexpected emergencies, such as car trouble. The city also features a few small, locally owned department stores that sell clothing necessities as well as the latest fashion trends. The Mall at Wellington Green, 45 minutes down the road in the town of Wellington, serves as the nearest large-scale shopping center to Belle Glade.

Stichworks Plus on Main Street represents your place to get T-shirts and casual apparel for local events. Whether you support Glades Day or the local Independence Day celebration, Stitchworks Plus has you covered with custom-made shirts and monograms for just about anything.

Royal's Furniture on West Canal Street supplies the best in home furnishings and appliances. Locally owned and operated since 1929, the shop maintains a diverse selection of inventory, including bedroom sets, living room sets, mattresses and chairs. Because the comfort of a new couch greatly increases when placed in view of a large LED television showing a great movie or sporting event, Royal's also provides electronics at competitive prices.

Bowling Supermarket on South Main Street provides residents with a convenient place to shop for a combination of traditional and Mexican groceries. It even features an attached full-service Mexican restaurant. The city contains no farmer's markets, but Pioneer Growers Cooperative on Northwest Avenue L offers fresh vegetables such as corn, green beans, radishes and celery.