Northwood Hills Historic Designation
The City Commission designated the Northwood Hills neighborhood as the 13th Historic District in the City of West Palm Beach. The Neighborhood Association has worked several years to achieve the distinction of historic designation. The Historic District will encompass 592 properties, 19 vacant lots, and City-owned Sullivan Park. This is the first district to be designated since 1996. Northwood Hills has a number of Mission Revival houses, a significant collection of Post-World War II architecture, a unique street layout, and one of the highest elevations in the City. The Northwood Hills neighborhood has also elected to allow the establishment of Bed and Breakfast establishments within the neighborhood.

Northwood Hills, the historic neighborhood bordered by 29th Street and 39th Court and Greenwood and Windsor Avenues in West Palm Beach was praised for "the most slightly residential lots in the city" by the Palm Beach Post in 1924. Formed millions of years ago, the "Hill" was once a coastal ridge. 

It is unclear when The Hills was established as a residential neighborhood but one of its early residents, Dr. Eldridge Gale, ran a farm here long before the building boom began according to an early Post article. Dr. Gale, a retired horticulture professor from Kansas State Agriculture College, planted the first mango tree in Florida here in what was called Mangonia. It was sent to him from India by a former student, David Fairchild, for whom Fairchild Tropical Garden is named. Seedlings from this tree were given to Captain John Hayden and the variety became known as the Hayden Mango, the first species to be raised commercially in Florida. 

Prior to the building boom in the 20's, most of The Hills were mango orchards. Some of the early residents remember being paid to gather mangos as children. Ole homeowner also distinctly remembers being kept awake nights by hammering. It was the sound of coffin builders in the Lainhardt and Potter lumber yards after the hurricane of 1928. Some of Northwood Hills early residents were laid to rest in the Greenlawn Cemetery. Located just south of 29th street, it is recognized as a historic site by the City of West Palm Beach. 

All of the streets of The Hills, many by other names or numbers, were completed before 1920, as many articles began to appear in the Post showing homes for sale and heralding the beautiful geography of Northwood Hills. Many of the early homes were built by development firms, some on land previously owned by Dr. Gale. The early homes built by companies like Pinewood Development, DaCamara and Chace, Sunshine Construction, CB Ewing, Theodore Eissfeldt and Lainhardt & Potter were in the popular Spanish style. Home building has continued to present making Northwood Hills a 3 dimensional history of Florida home design.

Legend has it the castle homes which stand atop the hill were constructed by "pirates" and "rum-runners". From there, they had an unobstructed view of the intracoastal and the sea. This allowed them to watch for the arrival of ships laden with their valuable cargoes. 

Today, The Hills is an eclectic neighborhood both architecturally and culturally. Rich in History, proud in spirit, Northwood Hills is returning to its once uncommon splendor. Each summer, our Mango Festival celebrates our history and pride and welcomes the public to one of the "most slightly" neighborhoods of the city.

 Contact Information: 
 Visit Northwood Hills Websites by clicking here:
 www.northwoodhills.net and www.mangofest.com

 Northwood Hills (NHNA,Inc)
 P.O. Box 8115 West Palm Beach, Florida 33407
 Email: info@northwoodhills.net