A Brief History of the Town
In the late 1920’s two brothers, R.W. and Henry G. Ralston, surveyed a 1.8-mile-long swath of mangroves and sand dunes. They were immediately inspired by the serene crystal-clear coastline and the prospect of opportunity. That opportunity would later become known as the Town of Golden Beach, which is one of Miami-Dade County’s oldest municipalities.
During that time, South Florida saw no shortage of investors and developers looking to get a piece of prime waterfront real estate, but the Ralston brothers had a different vision. Their goal was to build an intimate community nestled on the ocean that was close to the larger urban areas of Fort Lauderdale and Miami but far enough away to ensure suburban tranquility. It was meant to be an elite escape for those seeking a break from all the hustle, bustle, and congestion of city life up north; and of those that longed for the peace and quiet that oceanside living would offer them. Their community was to be strictly residential, no businesses or hotels were to be built.
The Town of Golden Beach was incorporated, under its present status, by a special act of the Legislature of the State of Florida in 1929. Upon approval, it became a legalized community on May 23, 1929. When originally developed the oceanfront plots sold for $7,500, and the Ocean Boulevard plots were sold for $2,000. In the initial phases, the interior islands and peninsulas in Town were still being developed and were not available for sale.
Developing the town was no simple undertaking, the brothers and their associates in the “Golden Beach Corporation” spent millions of dollars transforming the mangrove swamps and hauling in fill to build the iconic silhouette of the town. The west side of Town, on the Intracoastal Waterway, encompassed three islands with a separate bridge leading to each one. In between the islands were peninsulas which met the existing oceanfront. With the foundations of the Town laid, infrastructure quickly followed. During the initial development period, streets in town were given Italian names, a nod to another famed canal city, Venice. Some of these monikers remain today including those of Terracina, Verona, Ravenna, Palermo, Navona, and Massini Avenues. North Island was once known as Avellino Island, South Island as Terranova, and Center Island held the name Riviera Island. These former names were changed sometime later, most likely for ease of navigation. The Beach Pavilion, when built in 1924, was originally known as the “Florentine Loggia” due to its Italian influenced Mediterranean Revival style.
- Once noted in Ripley’s “Believe It or Not” as the only Town with a jail that you could fish from by simply placing a pole out of the window, Golden Beach is now renowned for its prosperous tight-knit community and upscale image.
The same qualities that once drew in families such as the Firestones, DuPonts, and Roosevelts are still drawing in current celebrities as well as several other prominent and affluent individuals from all around the world. With the old mangrove swamps having been replaced by stately homes, the Town presently stands at 390 single-family residences.
Even today, the Town continues to build and improve on the vision of the Ralston brothers. Its current Mayor, Town Council, and Town Administration have an unwavering dedication to enriching their community. In the past 17 years, the Town has undergone over $70 million in Capital Improvement Projects and upgrades have been made to secure the Town’s standing as a forefront community in South Florida. Light, cable and phone utility lines have all been undergrounded, new water lines laid, high-speed 5G fiber internet was provided to all residents, and a comprehensive storm water system has been installed. Renovations and reconstruction have occurred on the Town’s bridges, ensuring their integrity and durability; a one-of-a-kind state-of-the-art security system and motion detectors, that will monitor the shoreline as well as the roadways within Town, has almost been fully installed; and new street lighting has been installed throughout Town for improved security and aesthetics. Other projects that are focused on beautification include the installation of sidewalks throughout Town, growing the Town’s parks from two to nine, a complete modernization of our landscaping using Florida-native plants, and a recent reimagining of the Town’s main entrance at The Strand along with a new wayfinding system along A1A
On May 23, 2024, coinciding with the 95th Anniversary of the Town, there was a ribbon cutting ceremony commencing the grand opening of the Town’s new state-of-the-art Civic Center and Landfall Team Bunker (which was featured in Trend Magazine). This bunker was the first of its kind in the nation and can withstand a Category 5 hurricane. It provides first responders with a shelter to ride out storms without having to evacuate the area which, once deemed safe, allows them to render immediate aid to affected areas
As we focus on the future, the Town has several exciting projects still on the horizon. Ground was broken on our new state-of-the-art Wellness Center with a planned completion date at the end of 2026. Our Reimagined Tweddle Park Master Plan is well underway having already delivered on the new tennis and pickle ball courts; and with a junior basketball court, padel court, dog park, tot lot, and playground that are still on the way
In the past fifteen years, the assessed value of homes in Golden Beach has more than quadrupled from $479 million to $2.086 billion. The Ralston brothers would undoubtedly be proud of the way their coastal dream Town has evolved and grown, meeting the ever-increasing expectations of modernity while holding onto their original vision of a tranquil enclave of oceanside opulence.
Updated 7-30-25