West Palm Beach, Florida

The city of West Palm Beach is located in the Fort Lauderdale-Miami metropolitan area and is popularly known as the "middle class neighbor" of ritzy Palm Beach.

Founded in 1894, West Palm Beach was originally planned as a community to house servants working in next-door Palm Beach's grand hotels. The city boomed in the 1920s, its population quadrupling, but the crash of Florida's speculative real estate market soon checked its sudden growth.

West Palm Beach recovered, and is today known for its beautiful waterfronts, palm-lined streets, and year-round festivals. Among the more popular festivals held in the city are the South Florida Fair, which takes place in January, and Sunfest, held every April.

The city's downtown is a vibrant mixture of shops, first-class restaurants, and a number of cultural venues – including a movie theatre that was built to resemble the Paris Opera House! West Palm Beach is, in fact, a leader in Florida in investment in the arts, and is home to the Norton Museum of Art and the Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens. Other well-known attractions in the city include the South Florida Science Museum and the Palm Beach Zoo.

The city's Okeeheelee Park offers nature trails and picnic areas for those wishing to enjoy the region's natural beauty. And for those looking for beauties of another sort, there are always the nearby Atlantic coast beaches.

See our 7 Jobs in West Palm Beach, Florida