Belle Glade Tutors

About Belle Glade

Along the shore of Lake Okeechobee in Florida you will find the city of Belle Glade, a small city with a big personality. Even though it is located within Palm Beach County in the southern region of Florida, the city of Belle Glade identifies more with Florida’s central heartland, where farming is more popular and the lifestyle is a little more laid back.

With a nickname like “Muck City”, you might be confused, or even a little grossed out. No need for that, though! Belle Glade and the surrounding communities are often called “Muck City” because “muck” is the soil composition that best grows sugarcane, a very popular crop in the area. To count it as a very popular crop may not be generous enough – it is approximated that over half the sugarcane from the entire United States is grown in this area. “Muck City” isn’t so bad, after all.

How did Belle Glade come to be such a unique region in southern Florida? The land that encompasses the city of Belle Glade is the result of a Lake Okeechobee draining project in the early 1900s. After the lake was significantly drained, the surrounding land was built into what is modern day Belle Glade. The fertile soil left behind was perfect for sugarcane, and so the sugarcane farming industry took hold of the city.

As sugarcane has become a crop that is more easily (and conveniently) harvested by farming machinery, unemployment has risen in Belle Glade. A city that is comprised of many farming families and migrant workers, this loss of jobs has been a significant issue in the area.

If you’re looking for outdoor activities while visiting Belle Glade, you should definitely check out the Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail, which runs through the area. With over 100 miles of trail, this scenic path takes you around the lake and through surrounding cities. It’s actually a portion of the Florida National Scenic Trail, which runs through the state of Florida. Along the trail, you can find camping areas, which are popular for locals looking for a way to experience the great outdoors near their home. Visitors should note, however, that not all areas on the Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail are very safe, so everyone who walks the trail should take care. Some areas experience alligators, and others have sheer drop-offs. Children should be watched carefully and monitored, and everyone should stick together for safety.