Margate is a city in Broward County, Florida, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 53,284. Margate is part of the Miami metropolitan area, which was home to an estimated 6,012,331 people in 2015.
Margate was founded in the 1950s, when much of it was still either part of the Everglades or farmland. It then became a town in 1955, when land development became prominent due to an influx of people moving to Margate. In 1961, it was officially incorporated as a city. The name of the city itself is a portmanteau of the first three letters of the founder's last name, Jack Marqusee, and the first four letters of gateway, since it was considered a "gateway" to western Broward County. The city also has a waterpark called Calypso Cove, and two golf courses, with one of them also a tennis court as well: The Carolina Golf Club, and the Oriole Golf and Tennis Club.
Geography
Oriole Golf Club - Here's an overview of Oriole Golf Course in Margate, FL.
Margate is located at 26°14′47″N 80°12′44″W., and it is seven and one-half miles from the Atlantic Ocean.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 8.98 square miles (23Â km2), of which 8.81 square miles (23Â km2) is land and 0.17 square miles (0Â km2) is water (1.89%).
Demographics
As of 2010, there were 24,863 households, with 13.6% being vacant. In 2000, there were 22,714 households out of which 25.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.1% were married couples living together, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.9% were non-families. 30.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.95.
In 2000, the city the population was spread out with 20.9% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 29.2% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 21.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.6 males.
In 2000, the median income for a household in the city was $38,722, and the median income for a family was $48,254. Males had a median income of $35,630 versus $26,624 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,308. About 5.5% of families and 8.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.7% of those under age 18 and 10.4% of those age 65 or over.
As of 2000, 75.9% of residents speak English as their first language, 13.8% speak Spanish, 2.85% French Creole, 1.69% French, and 1.20% Italian.
As of 2000, Margate was the sixty-sixth most Colombian-populated area in the US at 2.22% of residents. It was also the forty-ninth most Haitian-populated area (tied with Pleasantville, New Jersey) at 3.2% and forty-third most Jamaican-populated area (tied with Opa-locka) at 3% of the population.
Education
Margate is served by seven public schools operated by Broward County Public Schools.
Elementary schools
- Atlantic West Elementary (STEAM Magnet School)
- Liberty Elementary (STEM Magnet School) 2016 Magnet School of Excellence
- Margate Elementary
Middle school
- Margate Middle School (STEM Magnet School)
High schools
- Atlantic Technical High School (in neighboring Coconut Creek)
- Coconut Creek High School (in neighboring Coconut Creek)
- Coral Springs High School (in neighboring Coral Springs)
Charter Schools
- Broward Math and Science Schools (K-8)
- RISE Academy (K-8)
- West Broward Academy (K-8)
Charter High Schools
- Ascend Academy (9-12)
- SunEd High School of North Broward (9-12)
Private schools
- Abundant Life Christian Academy
- Faith Baptist Academy
- Hebrew Academy Community School
- Winfield Christian Academy
Notable people
- Shayne Gostisbehere, professional hockey player for Philadelphia Flyers
- Brandon Knight, who played basketball as a child in Margate's recreation league at Firefighter's Park, is now a point guard with the NBA Phoenix Suns. For the past three years, he has returned to Margate, where he gives free backpacks stuffed with school supplies to children before the start of the school year.
- Josh Smith, Margate native and Abundant Life Christian Academy student made his Major League debut on June 23, 2015 for the Cincinnati Reds, pitching a series opener against the Pittsburgh Pirates. He returned to the MLB on May 3, 2017 as a relief pitcher for the Oakland Athletics.
- Michael Palardy, punter for NFL's Carolina Panthers
- Kaye Stevens, singer and actress, lived in Margate for more than 45 years (from 1950s to 2004). She did public relations for Jack Marquesee, the City's developer. Many residents referred to Stevens as the "First Lady of Margate" because every time she appeared on game shows, she would place a sign next to her nameplate that read "Hello Margate." She promoted Margate as "a great place to live and raise a family." Stevens served as Grand Marshal in many of the City's Fourth of July parades, and a city park is named in her honor. Whenever Stevens was home for the Christmas holiday, she would gather her neighbors and friends and go to Margate Hospital to sing Christmas carols to the patients.
References
External links
- City of Margate official website
- MargateNews.net Independent news media. Launching its first edition online in 2009 MargateNews.net continues to be the city’s premiere news source for politics, government, business, people, places, schools and events in the City of Margate, Florida.
