In a unanimous decision, Palm Beach County commissioners have moved to honor former President Donald J. Trump by renaming a significant roadway after him. The street in question, Southern Boulevard, is not only the primary access route to Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence but also the path frequently taken by his motorcade when traveling to and from Palm Beach International Airport.
The decision to rename the road "President Donald J. Trump Boulevard" reflects a tradition of honoring past presidents in the region. Notably, Southern Boulevard is a familiar sight for Trump supporters, who often line the route to welcome the president upon his returns from Washington, D.C.
This gesture of recognition is not without precedent in Palm Beach County. In the early 1990s, Delray Beach, located approximately 20 miles south of Mar-a-Lago, dedicated a street as George Bush Boulevard to pay tribute to former President George H.W. Bush. Similarly, Democratic presidents have been commemorated: Riviera Beach named a street President Barack Obama Highway in 2015, and the city of Pahokee followed suit with Barack Obama Boulevard in 2013.
The practice of naming streets after presidents is widespread across the United States. A 1993 list from the U.S. Census Bureau revealed that George Washington holds the record for the president with the most streets named in his honor. Following him are Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Jackson, with a significant number of streets bearing their names nationwide. Other presidents, including Thomas Jefferson, Woodrow Wilson, John Adams, Zachary Taylor, and James Madison, have also been honored similarly.
More recent presidents have seen this tribute extended to them as well. John F. Kennedy, Ronald Reagan, and Barack Obama have roads named after them in various states. Reagan's name graces parkways, highways, and freeways in states like Georgia, Indiana, Ohio, and California, while Obama has avenues and boulevards in states including Florida, Illinois, Mississippi, and Missouri. Kennedy is remembered with an expressway in Chicago, a boulevard in Philadelphia, and a street in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
The move to rename roadways in honor of President Trump is not confined to Florida. Nearly 24 miles of a U.S. highway in Oklahoma were renamed for Trump in 2021, and states such as Arizona and Kentucky have proposed similar legislation.
However, before the new name for Southern Boulevard can be officially adopted, the municipalities of West Palm Beach and Palm Beach must approve the renaming, as the road passes through both jurisdictions. This requirement is in accordance with Florida law, which mandates that if a road or bridge up for renaming crosses multiple cities or counties, each affected local government must pass a supporting resolution before new signage is installed.
