South Creek

South Creek

The History of Coconut Creek

South Creek, the real Coconut Creek

In 1513 Juan Ponce de Leon was exploring this part of the New World searching for the “Fountain of Youth”. Through subsequent years, the Florida territory was claimed by Spain, France, England, the Seminole Indians, who were here first and the United States. The region was documented only as part of the Everglades’ “Sea of Grass”. The Treaty of 1819 with Spain ceded Florida to the United States. In 1845, Congress granted statehood to Florida. During the Civil War it came under the flag of the Confederate States of America, thus Florida has lived under five flags, in addition to the Seminoles.
The first deed of land specifically located in what is now the Coconut Creek area took place in 1890. The tract became a part of Broward County with the latter’s creation by the State Legislature in 1915. R.E. Bateman acquired the properties in 1957 for development purposes under the title to the Hillsboro Land Company, of which Mr. Bateman was president. The area was platted and sub-divided. Canals and streets were laid out and utilities brought in. As work progressed, the picturesque coconut palms predominated this waterway laced landscape suggested the name needed to identify this distinctive community. So, fittingly, it was christened “ Coconut Creek” In fact Jack Brown put a 10’ coconut tree in front of each house he sold. We would have more coconut trees but in the 80s there came a disease called “yellow lethaling” which wiped out a lot of them.
Most of the homes in the area and all of them South of about 9th Street were built by Jack Brown Properties. The two-story model was called the Virginian, 4 -3/1/2. The Tangiers, The Sierra and The Pines were 3-2 models and The Sabals, a 4-2. These were built from about 1965 to 1975.
The first City Hall and Police and volunteer fire department were located on 45 Ave just South of Coconut Creek Parkway in portable buildings. Coconut Creek Parkway was 2 lanes and Lyons road was just a narrow road with a canal on each side mostly used by the farmers who grew tomatoes, strawberries, beans and peppers. Everything West of Lyons and South of CC pkwy was a U-Pick. 441 was a two-lane road and there was no road to Atlantic Blvd.
A couple of other things of interest, originally the entrance to Coconut Creek was at what is now the Broward Community College, formerly Broward Junior College. That was where Coconut Creek Boulevard starts and was the only entrance. Later that piece of land was sold to the Government. We used to have our very own library, the Jack Brown Public Library located at the SE corner of Coconut Creek Boulevard and 39th Ave. Wynmoor Village used to be Rossmor. The name was changed when Canadian developer Tartan sold it to Minto builders. Originally 43 Ave was supposed to connect to Atlantic Blvd but there was such a delay in getting Atlantic Blvd through because of the Palm Aire and the complaining of it going to ruin the golf course. That is one of the reasons why there is a big curve in the road there.
Well that is enough for today, maybe we will come up with more of Coconut Creeks history and don’t forget South Creek is the Real Coconut Creek!

Best Wishes,
Bruce Phegley

e-mail me if you have some history you want to share

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bphegley@bellsouth.net