DELRAY BEACH

city, Palm Beach county, southeastern Florida, U.S. It lies along the Atlantic Ocean about 15 miles (24 km) south of West Palm Beach. Settlers from Michigan arrived by boat in 1895, when the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway reached the site. The town was laid out in 1896 and about 1901 took the name Delray, after a district of Detroit. The part on the west (mainland) side of the waterway was incorporated as a town in 1911, while the area along the east (beach) side remained unincorporated until 1923, when it became the town of Delray Beach. The two communities were amalgamated in 1927 as Delray Beach. The automotive industry is the city's largest employer, and tourism, based on extensive public beaches, is also a major industry. Other economic activities include commercial flower growing and the cultivation of citrus fruits and vegetables. Pop. (1992 est.) 49,186.