Over more than half a century, West Palm Beach gained new neighborhoods, cultural landmarks, shopping destinations, and transportation connections. Century Village’s enduring appeal is a familiar idea: homes surrounded by recreation, friendship, and opportunities to enjoy the day.
West Palm Beach counted 57,375 residents in 1970 and 117,415 in the 2020 Census—about a 105% increase. These are city counts within the boundaries at each census, not a fixed-boundary measure of growth.
Sources: City historical timeline · 2020 Census
The city describes a downtown losing residents and shopping activity during the 1970s and 1980s, with surface parking replacing older structures. Later planning and redevelopment helped reshape the downtown people recognize today.
CityPlace introduced a major new downtown destination combining shops, dining, entertainment, and residential activity. It did not exist when Century Village’s first residents arrived.
The Kravis Center opened its doors in September 1992. Its arrival added a major regional performing arts destination more than two decades after Century Village began welcoming residents.
Sources: Kravis Center: history
Tri-Rail began passenger service on January 9, 1989. Brightline began South Florida operations in 2018 and opened its Orlando connection in 2023. These expanded the region’s transportation choices well after the Village’s early years.
Sources: Tri-Rail · Brightline: Orlando opening
The airport gained a second main terminal in 1974. The David McCampbell terminal was dedicated on October 23, 1988. The region’s air gateway was evolving while Century Village was becoming an established community.
Sources: Airport history
The former Palm Beach Mall property was redeveloped as Palm Beach Outlets, opening in 2014. It is one example of the surrounding shopping landscape being remade.
Sources: West Palm Beach Downtown Development Authority: history
A 1969 newspaper advertisement already promoted swimming, shuffleboard, a library, billiards, card rooms, music, and a workshop. These familiar interests still help define the Village experience.
That continuity does not mean buildings, equipment, residents, or facilities have stayed exactly the same. The comparison is about the lasting idea of an active community—not a claim that nothing has been renovated, replaced, or lost.
Historical source: FDOT historical study, Figure 30: Miami Herald advertisement, January 5, 1969. The advertisement documents what was marketed at the time; it does not independently establish when every advertised facility opened.
The stories behind our subdivision names · Historic photographs and good times · The 1971 promotional booklet
Compiled October 29, 2026. Population comparisons use the 1970 and 2020 censuses, rather than a current population estimate.
