SafekipediaPalm Beach County, Florida
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Palm Beach County is a place in the southeastern part of Florida, located in the Miami metropolitan area. It is the third-most populous county in Florida and the 24th-most populous in the United States, with 1,492,191 residents as of the 2020 census. The largest city and county seat is West Palm Beach, which had a population of 117,415 as of 2020.
The county was established in 1909 after being split from Miami-Dade County. Its current boundaries were set in 1963. Palm Beach County is one of the three counties that make up the Miami metropolitan area, home to over 6 million people in 2020.
Agriculture is very important to Palm Beach County, especially growing vegetables, nurseries, and sugar cane. The county is often called the "Winter Vegetable Capital" of the nation. In 2004, it was the wealthiest county in Florida, with a high average income.
History
Main article: History of Palm Beach County, Florida
Thousands of years ago, Native Americans moved into Florida. When the Spanish arrived, around 20,000 Native Americans lived in South Florida. Their numbers dropped a lot by the 1700s because of fighting, being taken away, and diseases from Europe. In 1513, Juan Ponce de León became the first European to arrive in what is now Palm Beach County when he landed at the Jupiter Inlet. Some of the first new residents were African Americans, including many who were freed from slavery or their descendants. They found safety among the Seminoles and fought with them against settlers and others looking for them during the Seminole Wars. Parts of the Second Seminole War happened in Palm Beach County, such as the Battles of the Loxahatchee in 1838.
The oldest building still standing in the county, the Jupiter Lighthouse, was built in 1860. During the American Civil War, Florida supported the Confederate States of America. Two men who supported the Confederacy took apart the lighthouse lights. One of them, Augustus O. Lang, became the first white person to settle in Palm Beach County. He built a small shelter along the east side of Lake Worth in 1863 after giving up on the war. After the war, the lighthouse lights were turned back on in 1866.
In 1873, a big storm caused a ship to crash between Biscayne Bay and the New River. The crew survived but almost starved because there was nothing to eat. To help, five special houses were built along Florida’s east coast to give people food and safety.
Very few people lived in Palm Beach County before Henry Flagler arrived in the 1890s. Flagler, a rich oil businessman, helped develop the area. He bought land around Lake Worth, and other people followed. He built big hotels, like the Royal Poinciana Hotel, and a train that reached West Palm Beach. In 1894, West Palm Beach became an official city. More hotels and homes were built, and towns like Boynton Beach, Delray Beach, and Boca Raton grew.
In 1909, Florida made Palm Beach County from part of another county. Over time, parts of it were split off to make new counties.
The 1920s were busy and full of growth, but then hard times came. In 1928, a big storm hit the area and caused a lot of damage and loss of life.
After World War II, many people came to work, visit, or live in Palm Beach County. The county kept growing into the 2000s and beyond.
Toponymy
The name “Palm Beach” comes from a place where many palm trees grew. These trees came from a ship called Providencia that crashed nearby in 1878. The ship was carrying coconuts from Havana to Cádiz, Spain. After the crash, many coconuts were saved and planted, and soon a big palm tree area grew up, which is how the place got its name.
Geography
Palm Beach County is found in southeastern Florida. It is the second-largest county in Florida by land area. The county has a lot of water, including parts of the Atlantic Ocean and Lake Okeechobee. Many areas in the east are busy and filled with buildings, while areas in the center and west are quieter and more open.
The county has many natural areas meant to protect wildlife and nature. Some of these places include parks and preserves where animals and plants can grow safely. There are also coral reefs near the coast that the county tries to keep healthy.
Demographics
2020 census
According to the 2020 census, Palm Beach County was home to 1,492,191 people. The average age of residents was 45.3 years. About 19% of the population was under 18 years old, and roughly 24% were 65 years or older. For every 100 females, there were about 92 males, and for every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were about 90 males.
The racial makeup of the county included 57.3% White, 17.6% Black or African American, 0.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, and 3.0% Asian.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1910 | 5,577 | — | |
| 1920 | 18,654 | 234.5% | |
| 1930 | 51,781 | 177.6% | |
| 1940 | 79,989 | 54.5% | |
| 1950 | 114,688 | 43.4% | |
| 1960 | 228,106 | 98.9% | |
| 1970 | 348,993 | 53.0% | |
| 1980 | 576,863 | 65.3% | |
| 1990 | 863,518 | 49.7% | |
| 2000 | 1,131,184 | 31.0% | |
| 2010 | 1,320,134 | 16.7% | |
| 2020 | 1,492,191 | 13.0% | |
| 2025 (est.) | 1,575,726 |  | 5.6% |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1910–1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 2022 | |||
| Demographic characteristics | 2020 | 2010 | 2000 | 1990 | 1980 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Households | 705,988 | 664,594 | 556,428 | 365,558 | 234,339 |
| Persons per household | 2.11 | 1.99 | 2.03 | 2.36 | 2.46 |
| Sex Ratio | 92.3 | 93.8 | 93.5 | 92.3 | 91.1 |
| Ages 0–17 | 19.0% | 20.4% | 21.3% | 19.6% | 21.3% |
| Ages 18–64 | 56.7% | 58.0% | 55.6% | 56.1% | 55.4% |
| Ages 65 + | 24.3% | 21.6% | 23.2% | 24.3% | 23.3% |
| Median age | 45.3 | 43.5 | 41.8 | 39.8 | 39.7 |
| Population | 1,492,191 | 1,320,134 | 1,131,184 | 863,518 | 576,863 |
| Economic indicators | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017–21 American Community Survey | Palm Beach County | Florida | |
| Median income | $36,431 | $34,367 | |
| Median household income | $68,874 | $61,777 | |
| Poverty Rate | 11.6% | 13.1% | |
| High school diploma | 89.1% | 89.0% | |
| Bachelor's degree | 38.0% | 31.5% | |
| Advanced degree | 15.0% | 11.7% | |
| Language spoken at home | 2015 | 2010 | 2000 | 1990 | 1980 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| English only | 68.9% | 72.1% | 78.3% | 84.7% | 84.9% |
| Spanish or Spanish Creole | 18.4% | 16.5% | 11.9% | 7.2% | 4.3% |
| French or Haitian Creole | 6.3% | 5.5% | 4.0% | 2.4% | 1.0% |
| Other Languages | 6.4% | 5.9% | 5.8% | 5.7% | 9.8% |
| Nativity | 2015 | 2010 | 2000 | 1990 | 1980 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| % population native-born | 75.4% | 77.6% | 82.6% | 87.8% | 89.9% |
| ... born in the United States | 72.8% | 75.5% | 80.5% | 86.2% | 88.9% |
| ... born in Puerto Rico or Island Areas | 1.4% | 1.1% | 1.3% | 0.9% | 1.0% |
| ... born to American parents abroad | 1.2% | 1.0% | 0.8% | 0.8% | |
| % population foreign-born | 24.6% | 22.4% | 17.4% | 12.2% | 10.1% |
| ... born in Haiti | 4.2% | 3.6% | 2.5% | 1.2% | N/A |
| ... born in Cuba | 2.4% | 2.1% | 1.7% | 1.4% | 1.4% |
| ... born in Jamaica | 1.8% | 1.4% | 1.0% | 0.6% | 0.3% |
| ... born in Mexico | 1.7% | 1.8% | 1.5% | 0.7% | 0.1% |
| ... born in Colombia | 1.5% | 1.3% | 0.9% | 0.3% | N/A |
| ... born in Guatemala | 1.3% | 1.3% | 0.6% | 0.1% | N/A |
| ... born in Canada | 0.8% | 0.8% | 0.9% | 0.8% | 1.0% |
| ... born in Brazil | 0.8% | 0.6% | 0.3% | 0.1% | N/A |
| ... born in Honduras | 0.6% | 0.5% | 0.3% | 0.1% | N/A |
| ... born in the Dominican Republic | 0.5% | 0.5% | 0.3% | 0.1% | |
| ... born in Peru | 0.5% | 0.6% | 0.3% | 0.1% | N/A |
| ... born in the United Kingdom | 0.5% | 0.4% | 0.6% | 0.7% | 0.8% |
| ... born in Germany | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0.6% | 0.6% | 0.7% |
| ... born in Poland | 0.2% | 0.3% | 0.4% | 0.5% | 0.5% |
| ... born in Russia | 0.2% | 0.1% | 0.2% | 0.3% | 0.6% |
| ... born in other countries | 7.2% | 6.7% | 5.3% | 4.6% | 4.7% |
Economy
See also: List of companies based in Miami
Palm Beach County is home to many important companies. Some of these include Office Depot, The ADT Corporation, TBC Corporation, G4S Secure Solutions, NextEra Energy, The GEO Group, American Sugar Refining, Carrier, Globalsat Group, and Bluegreen Vacations.
The county also has many aerospace facilities run by companies such as United Technologies, Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, Sikorsky Aircraft, General Dynamics, Lockheed Martin, and B/E Aerospace. The biggest employer in Palm Beach County is the School District of Palm Beach County, with many teachers and staff working there.
Culture
Sports
Some famous baseball teams practice in Palm Beach County. The St. Louis Cardinals and the Miami Marlins hold their spring training at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter. Two other teams, the Jupiter Hammerheads and the Palm Beach Cardinals, also play there.
The Washington Nationals and the Houston Astros use The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches for spring training. The Florida Atlantic Owls is a college team that plays football and basketball here.
Tourism
Palm Beach County has many places to visit and fun events. You can go to the South Florida Fair, SunFest, and Lion Country Safari. There are also cool spots like the Rapids Water Park, Palm Beach Zoo at Dreher Park, and the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens.
There are also many shopping places, such as Palm Beach Outlets and CityPlace.
Media
Some newspapers and TV stations in Palm Beach County include:
- The Palm Beach Post
- Palm Beach Daily News
- New Times Broward-Palm Beach
- Sun-Sentinel
- WPTV-TV
- WPBF-TV
- WFLX
- WPEC
- WTVX
Government
The Florida Department of Corrections runs the Glades Correctional Institution in an area of Palm Beach County near Belle Glade that is not part of any city.
Palm Beach County collects money through taxes on property, sales, and tourists. In 2018, the county collected $1.1 billion from property taxes, $175.8 million from sales taxes, and $53.8 million from taxes meant to help tourists. These amounts were higher than the year before.
County government
The county is run by a group of seven commissioners, who are elected by voters. One of them is chosen as the County Mayor and another as the Vice Mayor. There are also important elected positions such as the clerk of courts, sheriff, and tax collector.
Legal and Judicial System
Palm Beach County is part of Florida’s 15th Judicial Circuit. This circuit handles bigger legal cases and criminal matters. There is also a county court for smaller cases and traffic tickets.
Law enforcement
The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office (PBSO) provides police services for areas not part of any city and for 13 cities. The Sheriff's Office also runs the county jails, secures the courthouses, and patrols Palm Beach International Airport.
Federal and state representation
Palm Beach County is represented in the United States House of Representatives by four members. It is also represented by nine members in the Florida House of Representatives and four members in the Florida Senate.
Politics
In recent years, Palm Beach County has tended to support Democratic candidates, though Republican support has been growing. The county has shifted from mostly supporting Republican presidential candidates in the past to supporting Democrats since 1992.
| Palm Beach County elected officials | ||
|---|---|---|
| Board of County Commissioners | ||
| Position | Incumbent | |
| District 1 Commissioner | Maria G. Marino | |
| District 2 Commissioner | Mayor Gregg Weiss | |
| District 3 Commissioner | Joel Flores | |
| District 4 Commissioner | Marci Woodward | |
| District 5 Commissioner | Vice Mayor Maria Sachs | |
| District 6 Commissioner | Sara Baxter | |
| District 7 Commissioner | Bobby Powell, Jr. | |
| County Administrator | Joseph Abruzzo | |
| Constitutional Officers | ||
| Position | Incumbent | |
| Sheriff | Ric Bradshaw | |
| State Attorney | Alexcia Cox | |
| Public Defender | Carey Haughwout | |
| Property Appraiser | Dorothy Jacks | |
| Tax Collector | Anne M. Gannon | |
| Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller | Mike Caruso | |
| Supervisor of Elections | Wendy Sartory Link | |
| Judiciary | Glenn Kelley | |
| School Board | ||
| Position | Incumbent | |
| District 1 | Matthew Lane | |
| District 2 | Virginia Savietto | |
| District 3 | Karen Brill | |
| District 4 | Erica Whitfield | |
| District 5 | Gloria Branch | |
| District 6 | Marcia Andrews | |
| District 7 | Edwin Ferguson | |
| Superintendent | Michael Burke | |
| Student Representative | Isabella Mirisola | |
| Year | County Commission | Commission Makeup | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| District 1 | District 2 | District 3 | District 4 | District 5 | District 6 | District 7 | ||
| 1991 | Karen Marcus (R) | Carol Roberts (D) | Carol Elmquist (R) | Mary McCarty (R) | Carole Phillips (D) | Ken Foster (R) | Maude Ford Lee (D) | 4R, 3D |
| 1992 | ||||||||
| 1993 | Warren Newell (R) | Burt Aaronson (D) | ||||||
| 1994 | ||||||||
| 1995 | ||||||||
| 1996 | ||||||||
| 1997 | ||||||||
| 1998 | ||||||||
| 1999 | Tony Masilotti (R) | |||||||
| 2000 | ||||||||
| 2001 | Addie Greene (D) | |||||||
| 2002 | ||||||||
| 2003 | Jeff Koons (D) | |||||||
| 2004 | ||||||||
| 2005 | ||||||||
| 2006 | ||||||||
| 2007 | Jess Santamaria (D) | 4D, 3R | ||||||
| 2008 | Bob Kanjian (R) | |||||||
| 2009 | Shelley Vana (D) | Steven Abrams (R) | 5D, 2R | |||||
| 2010 | Paulette Burdick (D) | Priscilla Taylor (D) | ||||||
| 2011 | ||||||||
| 2012 | ||||||||
| 2013 | Hal Valeche (R) | Mary Lou Berger (D) | ||||||
| 2014 | ||||||||
| 2015 | Melissa McKinlay (D) | |||||||
| 2016 | ||||||||
| 2017 | Dave Kerner (D) | Mack Bernard (D) | ||||||
| 2018 | ||||||||
| 2019 | Gregg Weiss (D) | Robert Weinroth (D) | 6D, 1R | |||||
| 2020 | ||||||||
| 2021 | Maria Marino (R) | Maria Sachs (D) | ||||||
| 2022 | ||||||||
| 2023 | Michael Barnett (R) | Marci Woodward (R) | Sara Baxter (R) | 4R, 3D | ||||
| 2024 | ||||||||
| 2025 | Joel Flores (D) | Bobby Powell Jr. (D) | 4D, 3R | |||||
| Year | District 1 | District 2 | District 3 | District 4 | District 5 | District 6 | District 7 | Commission Makeup |
| County Commission | ||||||||
| Number of registered voters (March 31, 2024) | % | |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic | 322,997 | 37.73% |
| Republican | 270,826 | 31.64% |
| No party affiliation | 237,172 | 27.71% |
| Minor parties | 24,990 | 2.92% |
| 855,985 | 100.00 |
Transportation
Roadways
An advocacy group has pointed out that roads in Palm Beach County can be risky for people who are not in cars. Local cities are working to make things safer, but bigger authorities have been slow to change road designs.
Expressways
Two major highways, Interstate 95 and Florida's Turnpike, run through the county. Southern Boulevard (also called SR 80/US 98) is another important road that goes from West Palm Beach to Wellington and Royal Palm Beach. In the past, there were ideas to build two new highways, but people in the area did not like the plans, so they were stopped.
Major highways
Some of the main roads include:
- US 441 / SR 7 (Range Line Road)
- Powerline/Jog Road
- SR 809 / CR 809 (Military Trail)
- SR 807 / CR 807 (Congress Avenue)
- US 1 (Federal Highway) / SR 5 / SR 805
- SR A1A (Ocean Boulevard)
- US 98 (Southern Boulevard) / SR 80 / SR 700
- SR 710 (Bee Line Highway)
Railroads
Palm Beach County has several train services:
- Tri-Rail runs along the east side of the county, with stops in places like Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Boynton Beach, Lake Worth Beach, West Palm Beach, and Mangonia Park.
- Amtrak has trains called the Silver Meteor and Silver Star stopping in West Palm Beach and Delray Beach.
- Brightline connects West Palm Beach and Boca Raton to cities like Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, Aventura, and Miami.
Airports
The county has several airports:
- Palm Beach International Airport
- Palm Beach County Park Airport
- North Palm Beach County General Aviation Airport
- Boca Raton Airport
- Palm Beach County Glades Airport
Public transit
Bus service is provided by PalmTran and runs all over the county.
Seaport
The Port of Palm Beach is in Riviera Beach, where Celebration Cruise Line runs short trips to the Bahamas.
Trails
The Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail, part of the bigger Florida National Scenic Trail, goes through the county.
Education
Primary and secondary schools
All of Palm Beach County is served by the School District of Palm Beach County. It is one of the largest school districts in the state and country, teaching over 180,000 students in more than 180 schools. Some special schools in the area, called magnet schools, are very well known. Three of them—Atlantic Community High School, Suncoast High School, and the Alexander Dreyfoos School of the Arts—were named among the top 50 schools in the United States by Newsweek. The county also has many private schools, such as American Heritage School, Cardinal Newman High School, and Jupiter Christian School.
Colleges and universities
Palm Beach County has many places for students to continue their education after high school. These include:
- Florida Atlantic University
- Florida International University
- Lynn University
- Nova Southeastern University
- South University
- Palm Beach Atlantic University
- Palm Beach State College
- Keiser University
Some of these schools work with local law groups to help students learn about law and become involved in the community.
Public libraries
The Palm Beach County Library System provides books and information to everyone in the county. It started in 1967 and now has 17 libraries and a bookmobile that visits many places each month. The system is growing to meet the needs of more people moving to the area. The main library is in West Palm Beach and has many books and resources. Some cities in the county also run their own libraries, and they all work together to share books and information. The first library in the area began in 1895 in a church, and today there are many modern libraries to visit.
Communities
The largest city and county seat of Palm Beach County is West Palm Beach, with a population of 117,415 as of the 2020 US census. Boca Raton is the southernmost and second-largest city, with 97,422 people in 2020. Boynton Beach is the third-largest city, with nearly 80,380 residents in 2020.
The county has 39 municipalities in total. Some places in the county were once counted separately in earlier censuses but are no longer listed in the same way. There are also many smaller areas and former communities throughout the county. Palm Beach County is next to Martin County, the Atlantic Ocean, Broward County, Hendry County, and touches Okeechobee County and Glades County at one spot by Lake Okeechobee.
| # | Incorporated community | Designation | Date incorporated | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pahokee | City | 1922 | 5,524 |
| 2 | Belle Glade | City | April 9, 1928 | 16,698 |
| 3 | South Bay | City | 1941 | 4,860 |
| 4 | Tequesta | Village | 1957 | 6,158 |
| 5 | Jupiter Inlet Colony | Town | 1959 | 405 |
| 6 | Jupiter | Town | February 9, 1925 | 61,047 |
| 7 | Juno Beach | Town | June 4, 1953 | 3,858 |
| 8 | Palm Beach Gardens | City | June 20, 1959 | 59,182 |
| 9 | North Palm Beach | Village | August 13, 1956 | 13,162 |
| 10 | Lake Park | Town | 1923 | 9,047 |
| 11 | Riviera Beach | City | September 29, 1922 | 37,604 |
| 12 | Palm Beach Shores | Town | 1951 | 1,330 |
| 13 | Mangonia Park | Town | 1947 | 2,142 |
| 14 | Palm Beach | Town | April 17, 1911 | 9,245 |
| 15 | West Palm Beach | City | November 5, 1894 | 117,415 |
| 16 | Haverhill | Town | 1950 | 2,187 |
| 17 | Glen Ridge | Town | 1948 | 217 |
| 18 | Cloud Lake | Town | 1947 | 134 |
| 19 | Palm Springs | Village | July 4, 1957 | 26,890 |
| 20 | Lake Clarke Shores | Town | 1957 | 3,564 |
| 21 | Royal Palm Beach | Village | June 18, 1959 | 38,932 |
| 22 | Wellington | Village | December 31, 1995 | 61,637 |
| 23 | Greenacres | City | May 24, 1926 | 43,990 |
| 24 | Atlantis | City | 1959 | 2,142 |
| 25 | Lake Worth Beach | City | June 14, 1913 | 42,219 |
| 26 | South Palm Beach | Town | 1955 | 1,471 |
| 27 | Lantana | Town | July 20, 1921 | 11,504 |
| 28 | Manalapan | Town | 1931 | 419 |
| 29 | Hypoluxo | Town | 1955 | 2,687 |
| 30 | Boynton Beach | City | 1920 | 80,380 |
| 31 | Ocean Ridge | Town | 1931 | 1,830 |
| 32 | Golf | Village | 1957 | 255 |
| 33 | Briny Breezes | Town | March 19, 1963 | 502 |
| 34 | Gulf Stream | Town | 1925 | 954 |
| 35 | Delray Beach | City | October 9, 1911 | 66,846 |
| 36 | Highland Beach | Town | 1949 | 4,295 |
| 37 | Boca Raton | City | May 26, 1925 | 97,422 |
| 38 | Loxahatchee Groves | Town | November 1, 2006 | 3,355 |
| 39 | Westlake | City | 2016 | 906 |
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