[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 147 (Tuesday, October 4, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1763]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  RESOLUTION COMMEMORATING THE CITY OF DELRAY BEACH, FLORIDA, ON ITS 
                           100TH ANNIVERSARY

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                         HON. ALCEE L. HASTINGS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, October 4, 2011

  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to the 
city of Delray Beach on the occasion of its centennial celebration. For 
100 years, the city of Delray Beach has symbolized the American spirit: 
looking ahead in times of prosperity; enduring in times of difficulty; 
and always rising to meet the challenges that have at times weighed on 
our country's history.
  From its modest beginnings as an agricultural area in 1894, Delray 
Beach quickly grew, attracting many visitors in the winter months. On 
October 9, 1911, with a population of nearly 300, the area of Delray 
was chartered by the State of Florida as an incorporated town. 
Industrial plants for the canning of pineapples and tomatoes were 
built, bringing in new residents and ushering in an era of prosperity. 
By 1920, Delray's population had reached over 1000 residents. Today, it 
is estimated that more than 65,000 people call the city of Delray Beach 
home.
  The city has seen its share of highs and lows throughout the years. 
The early 1900s saw Delray prosper, only to experience economic 
hardships by the Great Depression. By the 1930s, Delray was again 
flourishing, only to find itself in engulfed in the unrest faced by our 
nation during the civil rights movement. But Delray Beach, like our 
country, endured.
  In the 1980s, prosperity was again seen changed to decay, as many of 
the small mom-and-pop stores that lit the downtown area were forced to 
close their doors. But today, even in the face of economic hardships, 
Delray Beach has united to create a plan for redevelopment and 
revitalization that has transformed and continues to transform its 
commercial center.
  Mr. Speaker, I am proud to honor the history of the city of Delray 
Beach, and I look forward to working with my colleagues in the House of 
Representatives to ensure that Delray Beach, along with the countless 
other cities and towns across our great nation, experience growth, 
prosperity, and success in the next 100 years.

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