Once again, the editor(s) at The Palm Beach Post miss the major point about “Lake Worth Beach”.

Back in July this year the City of Lake Worth held an all-day public “Visioning Work Session” but no one from The Palm Beach Post bothered to show up. And not once since has this news been reported in the Post. So this goes a long way in explaining why the editor(s) at the Post are so far behind in understanding the concept of “Lake Worth Beach”.

“Where We’re Going . . . Themes  →  Priorities”

Marketing  ↔  Communication

No one’s zip code will change! The initial change to “Lake Worth Beach” will be mostly social media and marketing. Hard changes to signage, for example, would happen over many months to years and be very gradual.

This appeared in the paper last Monday on p. B3 ‘LOCAL’ under the heading, “A name-change proposal for the city”:


We’ll know on March 12 as city commissioners in November [sic] agreed to let voters decide on changing the city’s name to Lake Worth Beach, mostly to capitalize on the prized coastline and to distance itself from unincorporated [suburban] Lake Worth crime stats.


It’s worth noting second reading at the City Commission to send this question to the voters was on December 13th, not ‘in October’ as reported. To read about what happened two weeks ago click on this link which includes a video from that Commission meeting.

Yes. The “Beach” is significant and does indeed make this City a special place.

And yes, it is most certainly because of ‘news’ like this published in The Palm Beach Post that the City’s image has been tarnished and damaged so badly.

But the editor(s) miss the mark.

The major point about “Lake Worth Beach” is about a thing called “Branding” and how places out west are plundering our unique brand.

The region called ‘Lake Worth’ is no longer a special place any more. It used to be about ninety years ago. But not any more. If you have a ‘Lake Worth’ zip code 33462, 33463, 33466, 33467, 33449 or 33454 you are not “in Lake Worth”. You are living in what used to be called the Florida Everglades after it was drained and paved over.


Here is just one very recent example of such a place:


There is a ‘community’ using the Lake Worth Casino as a backdrop to promote it’s condos on Twitter:


As a local landmark and tourist destination, the Lake Worth Casino is the perfect place to take in the sites and enjoy the brisk South Florida weather. Stop by today to get a taste of Lake Worth living. #LakeWorth #LakeWorthCasino


This ‘community’ called Colony Reserve is located at 5299 Lantana Rd. It has a ‘Lake Worth’ zip code 33463. The actual City of Lake Worth uses zip code 33460 and part of 33461 (see map below).

And whilst on the topic of businesses actually in this City versus those outside the City read about Kilwins Chocolate and another chocolate shop with a ‘Lake Worth’ zip code in the City of Atlantis.

Most unincorporated areas west of the City of Lake Worth (un-shaded) have a ‘Lake Worth’ zip code.

Ergo the reason for “Lake Worth Beach” and differentiating this City from places out west.

Now one can understand why the “City of Lake Worth Beach” makes sense. And just wonder . . .

Maybe if the editor(s) at the Post understood a long time ago about, “Where exactly are places, cities, towns and villages in Palm Beach County?
And why it matters.”