A Look at the History and Significance of the West Settlers Historic District in Delray Beach
The West Settlers Historic District, also known as The Set, is one of Delray Beach’s most historically significant neighborhoods. Established in 1894 as the city’s first African-American settlement, the district represents the deep roots of a community that helped shape the cultural, economic, and social fabric of Delray Beach. The area was home to a self-sufficient community long before much of the surrounding city had taken shape.
The earliest settlers of the district were African-Americans who came primarily from northern and western Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina — among the first non-Native Americans in the area. They established a strong agricultural economy and constructed their homes using local materials and their own building knowledge. The architectural character of the neighborhood, which includes frame vernacular styles alongside Bungalow and Mission Revival architecture, reflects that heritage.
From its earliest days, the district was a hub of community life. Educational and religious institutions played a central role, with a school, churches, and a Masonic Lodge established within the district in its early decades. NW 5th Avenue served as the commercial and social heart of the neighborhood, home to businesses including a pharmacy operated by Dr. Simon Barnes that served the African-American community.
The district was also home to several notable figures and landmarks. Isaiah Bruin, one of the community’s earliest builders, constructed many residences along NW 3rd and 4th Avenues, including the Susan Williams House, now located at the S.D. Spady Cultural Complex on NW 5th Avenue. Solomon D. Spady, Delray Beach’s most prominent Black educator and community leader, lived on NW 5th Avenue in a Mission Revival structure that now serves as the Spady Cultural Heritage Museum, dedicated to preserving African-American history in the region.
The La-France Hotel, established in 1949 and located at 140 NW 4th Avenue, was the only hotel in Delray Beach that welcomed African-Americans during segregation. Owned by Charles and Francenia Patrick, the hotel hosted celebrated Black musicians and civil rights figures. Among the district’s other notable landmarks are the Williams Cottage and Mount Olive Baptist Church, each contributing to the neighborhood’s enduring architectural and cultural character.
In 1997, the community was locally designated the West Settlers Historic District. The Florida Heritage Site markers installed in 2009 — sponsored by the City of Delray Beach, the Delray Beach CRA, and the Florida Department of State — stands as a permanent acknowledgment of that legacy.
Today, the Delray Beach CRA is actively engaged in preserving and building upon that legacy. Investment along the NW 5th Avenue corridor has included the development of affordable commercial spaces such as the Edmonds Baine Building located at 98 NW 5th Avenue, which has brought locally rooted businesses back to the historic heart of the district. The CRA continues to direct resources toward improving the built environment and ensuring that the West Settlers Historic District remains a place of opportunity for the community it has always served.
