A Brief History of Deerfield Beach
This city’s story dates back to 1890 when a settlement was established named Hillsborough along the Hillsboro River. By 1898, the population of the settlement had increased to 20. At this point it had its own post office and the city was renamed Deerfield because of the high numbers of deer that grazed along the river.
In the early twentieth century, the town’s population started to grow when the Florida East Coast Railroad places tracks leading to Miami that ran through Deerfield. The early settlers here were farmers who grew things like pineapples, tomatoes, green beans, squash, and other crops. They also fished along the Intracoastal Waterway.
Up until the 1940’s, Deerfield was still a largely agricultural community. In 1947, the Lions Club was established. This is one of the city’s most influential civic organizations. Their first major project was along the Hillsboro Canal where they established Pioneer Park. After clearing away the scrub growth, they built a baseball diamond with stands and barbeque pits.
Since then the park has continued to expand. It now includes recreational buildings, boat ramps, and lighted tennis courts. To raise money, the club has also hosted several barbeques. The tradition became so popular that it was turned into an annual event known as Founders’ Day.
The city’s name was changed to Deerfield Beach in 1951. At this time the economy slowly shifted from agriculture to tourism. Today the city has a diversified economy that also includes distribution, manufacturing, and office industries, in addition to tourism. The population remains above 50,000 year-round which is a testament to how strong the city is.
Today the city is host to the Women’s Professional Volleyball Association Tour and the Superboat Power Race. The focus is providing a quality of life that encourages residents to enjoy South Florida’s natural wonders, while also prospering in an ever-growing city.
