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'''Palm Beach County''' is the largest [[County (United States)|county]] in the [[U.S. state|state]] of [[Florida]] in total area, and third in population.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stateofflorida.com/Portal/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=95 |title=Florida Quick Facts |publisher=State of Florida.com |date= |accessdate=2012-12-18}}</ref> As of 2010, the county's estimated population was 1,320,134,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://2010.census.gov/2010census/data/|title=2010 Census Data|year=2011|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=2011-08-22}}</ref> making it the twenty-eighth most populous in the [[United States]]. Over 40 percent of the county's population lives in [[unincorporated area]]s near the Atlantic coast.
'''Palm Beach County''' is the largest [[County (United States)|county]] in the [[U.S. state|state]] of [[Florida]] in total area, and third in population.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stateofflorida.com/Portal/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=95 |title=Florida Quick Facts |publisher=State of Florida.com |date= |accessdate=2012-12-18}}</ref> As of 2010, the county's estimated population was 1,320,134,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://2010.census.gov/2010census/data/|title=2010 Census Data|year=2011|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=2011-08-22}}</ref> making it the twenty-eighth most populous in the [[United States]]. Over 40 percent of the county's population lives in [[unincorporated area]]s near the Atlantic coast.


Palm Beach County is one of three counties comprising the [[Miami metropolitan area|South Florida metropolitan area]]. The county was formed in 1909, being separated from what was then the northern portion of Dade County. Its largest city and [[county seat]] is [[West Palm Beach, Florida|West Palm Beach]] (Central County), which has an incorporated population of over 105,000 and an approximate urban population of 250,000 when including adjacent unincorporated communities. [[Boca Raton, Florida|Boca Raton]] (South County), is the second largest, having a population approaching 90,000. [[Boynton Beach, Florida|Boynton Beach]] (South County), is the third largest city, with a population nearing 70,000 residents.<ref>[[County statistics of the United States#Twenty most populous counties in America|Twenty most populous counties in America]]</ref>
Palm Beach County is one of three counties comprising the [[Miami metropolitan area|South Florida metropolitan area]]. The county was formed in 1909, being separated from what was then the northern portion of Dade County. Its largest city and [[county seat]] is [[West Palm Beach, Florida|West Palm Beach]] (Central County), which has an incorporated population of over 105,000 and an approximate urban population of 250,000 when including adjacent unincorporated neighborhoods. [[Boca Raton, Florida|Boca Raton]] (South County), is the second largest, having a population approaching 90,000. [[Boynton Beach, Florida|Boynton Beach]] (South County), is the third largest city, with a population nearing 70,000 residents.<ref>[[County statistics of the United States#Twenty most populous counties in America|Twenty most populous counties in America]]</ref>


With wealthy coastal towns such as [[Palm Beach, Florida|Palm Beach]], [[Jupiter, Florida|Jupiter]], [[Manalapan, Florida|Manalapan]], and [[Boca Raton, Florida|Boca Raton]] within its limits, as well as equestrian mecca [[Wellington, Florida|Wellington]] and golfing haven [[Palm Beach Gardens]], Palm Beach County is Florida's wealthiest county, with a per capita personal income of $44,518 as of 2004.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/content/state/funanswers.html |title=Florida Fun Facts Q&A |publisher=[[The Palm Beach Post]] |accessdate=2008-10-18}}</ref>
With wealthy coastal towns such as [[Palm Beach, Florida|Palm Beach]], [[Jupiter, Florida|Jupiter]], [[Manalapan, Florida|Manalapan]], and [[Boca Raton, Florida|Boca Raton]] within its limits, as well as equestrian mecca [[Wellington, Florida|Wellington]] and golfing haven [[Palm Beach Gardens]], Palm Beach County is Florida's wealthiest county, with a per capita personal income of $44,518 as of 2004.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/content/state/funanswers.html |title=Florida Fun Facts Q&A |publisher=[[The Palm Beach Post]] |accessdate=2008-10-18}}</ref>

Revision as of 17:28, 8 May 2013

Palm Beach County
County
Official seal of Palm Beach County
Seal
Map of Florida highlighting Palm Beach County
Location within the U.S. state of Florida
Map of the United States highlighting Florida
Florida's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 26°43′N 80°03′W / 26.71°N 80.05°W / 26.71; -80.05
Country United States
State Florida
FoundedApril 30, 1909
Named forPalm Beach, Florida
SeatWest Palm Beach
Largest cityWest Palm Beach
Area
 • Total2,386.33 sq mi (6,180.6 km2)
 • Land1,974.11 sq mi (5,112.9 km2)
 • Water412.22 sq mi (1,067.6 km2)  17.27%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total1,320,134
 • Density669/sq mi (258.2/km2)
Websitewww.co.palm-beach.fl.us

Palm Beach County is the largest county in the state of Florida in total area, and third in population.[1] As of 2010, the county's estimated population was 1,320,134,[2] making it the twenty-eighth most populous in the United States. Over 40 percent of the county's population lives in unincorporated areas near the Atlantic coast.

Palm Beach County is one of three counties comprising the South Florida metropolitan area. The county was formed in 1909, being separated from what was then the northern portion of Dade County. Its largest city and county seat is West Palm Beach (Central County), which has an incorporated population of over 105,000 and an approximate urban population of 250,000 when including adjacent unincorporated neighborhoods. Boca Raton (South County), is the second largest, having a population approaching 90,000. Boynton Beach (South County), is the third largest city, with a population nearing 70,000 residents.[3]

With wealthy coastal towns such as Palm Beach, Jupiter, Manalapan, and Boca Raton within its limits, as well as equestrian mecca Wellington and golfing haven Palm Beach Gardens, Palm Beach County is Florida's wealthiest county, with a per capita personal income of $44,518 as of 2004.[4]

History

Among the first residents in Palm Beach County were African Americans, many of whom were former slaves or immediate descendants of former slaves who had escaped to the State of Florida from slave plantations located in Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina. Runaway African slaves started coming to what was then named Spanish Florida in the late 17th century and they found refuge among the Seminole Native Americans.

Henry Flagler, who made his home in Palm Beach, was instrumental in the county's development in the early 20th century with the extension of the Florida East Coast Railway through the county from Jacksonville to Key West.

Palm Beach County was created in 1909. It was named for its first settled community, Palm Beach, in turn named for the palm trees and beaches in the area. The County was carved out of what was then the northern portion of Dade County, comprising part of the areas now occupied by Okeechobee and Broward counties, part of Martin and all of Palm Beach county, initially including all of Lake Okeechobee. The southernmost part of Palm Beach County was separated to create the northern portion of Broward County in 1915, the northwestern portion became part of Okeechobee County 1917 and southern Martin County was created from northernmost Palm Beach County in 1925. About three-quarters of Lake Okeechobee was removed from Palm Beach County in 1963 and divided up among Glades, Hendry, Martin and Okeechobee counties.[5]

The African American population provided significant labor for the building of the county, its hotels, houses and Flagler's railroad.

Palm Beach County was among the last school districts in the nation to integrate, in 1971.

Geography

View of Lake Okeechobee from Pahokee.

According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 2,386.33 square miles (6,180.6 km2), of which 1,974.11 square miles (5,112.9 km2) (or 82.73%) is land (making it the second-largest Florida county by land area, after Collier County) and 412.22 square miles (1,067.6 km2) (or 17.27%) is water,[6] much of it in the Atlantic Ocean and Lake Okeechobee.

The boundaries of area code 561 exactly match the county's with 761 reserved for future use. Originally, it was part of area code 305, and later area code 407.

Municipalities and census-designated places

Incorporated

The county has 38 municipalities in total. The municipalities are numbered corresponding to the attached image. Municipality populations are based on the 2010 Census.[7]

Map of incorporated cities.
Southeastern Palm Beach County (from Boca Raton to Boynton Beach), seen from the International Space Station
# Incorporated Community Designation Date incorporated Population
24 Atlantis City 1959 2,005
2 Belle Glade City April 9, 1928 17,467
37 Boca Raton City May 1925 84,392
30 Boynton Beach City 1920 68,217
33 Briny Breezes Town March 19, 1963 601
18 Cloud Lake Town 1947 135
35 Delray Beach City 1911 60,522
17 Glen Ridge Town 1948 219
32 Golf Village 1957 252
23 Greenacres City 1926 37,573
34 Gulf Stream Town 1925 786
16 Haverhill Town 1950 1,873
36 Highland Beach Town 1949 3,539
29 Hypoluxo Town 1955 2,588
7 Juno Beach Town June 4, 1953 3,176
6 Jupiter Town February 9, 1925 55,156
5 Jupiter Inlet Colony Town 1959 400
20 Lake Clarke Shores Town 1957 3,376
10 Lake Park Town 1923 8,155
25 Lake Worth City 1913 34,910
27 Lantana Town 1921 10,423
38 Loxahatchee Groves Town November 1, 2006 3,180
28 Manalapan Town 1931 406
13 Mangonia Park Town 1947 1,888
9 North Palm Beach Village 1956 12,015
31 Ocean Ridge Town 1931 1,786
1 Pahokee City 1922 5,649
14 Palm Beach Town April 17, 1911 8,348
8 Palm Beach Gardens City 1959 48,452
12 Palm Beach Shores Town 1951 1,142
19 Palm Springs Village 1957 18,928
11 Riviera Beach City September 29, 1922 32,488
21 Royal Palm Beach Village June 18, 1959 34,140
3 South Bay City 1941 4,876
26 South Palm Beach Town 1955 1,171
4 Tequesta Village 1957 5,629
22 Wellington Village December 31, 1995 56,508
15 West Palm Beach City November 5, 1894 99,919

Unincorporated census-designated places

Adjacent counties

Palm Beach County borders Martin County to the North, the Atlantic Ocean to the East, Broward County to the South, Hendry County to the West, and extends into Lake Okeechobee in the Northwest, where it borders Okeechobee County and Glades County at one point in the center of the lake.

Natural areas

Demographics

2000 Census

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
19105,577—
192018,654234.5%
193051,781177.6%
194079,98954.5%
1950114,68843.4%
1960228,10698.9%
1970348,75352.9%
1980576,86365.4%
1990863,51849.7%
20001,131,18431.0%
20101,320,13416.7%

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 1,131,184 people, 474,175 households, and 303,946 families residing in the county. The population density was 573 people per square mile (221/km²). Approximately 41% of Palm Beach County's population resides in unincorporated areas within the county. There were 556,428 housing units at an average density of 282 per square mile (109/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 80.05% White (70.6% were Non-Hispanic White,)[8] 13.80% Black or African American, 0.22% Native American, 1.51% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 2.98% from other races, and 2.38% from two or more races. 12.44% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race. In relation to ancestry (excluding the various Hispanic and Latino ancestries), 10% were Italian, 9% German, 8% Irish, 8% American, 6% English, 4% Russian, and 4% Polish ancestry according to Census 2000.[9]

There were 474,175 households out of which 24.90% reported children under the living in the household, 50.80% were married couples living together without children, 9.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.90% were non-related individuals. 29.20% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.89.

Age ranges found in the county were 21.30% under the age of 18, 6.60% aged 18 to 24, 27.00% aged 25 to 44, 22.00% aged 45 to 64, and 23.20% 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. Overall, the female to male ratio was 100:93. The female to male ratio for those over the was 100:91.

The median household income was $45,062, and the median income for a family was $53,701. Males had a median income of $36,931 versus $28,674 for females. The per capita income for the county was $28,801. About 6.90% of families and 9.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.30% of those under age 18 and 6.60% of those age 65 or over.

Languages

As of 2000, 78.36% of all residents spoke English as a primary language, while 11.89% spoke Spanish, 2.81% French Creole, 1.12% French, 0.76% Italian, 0.68% German, and 0.52% of the population spoke Yiddish. In total, 78.36% spoke English as a primary language, while 21.64% spoke languages other than English.[10]

Elections

Palm Beach County has trended towards the Democratic Party since the 1992 presidential election.[citation needed]

It was the center of a nationwide media storm in 2000, when it appeared to have impacted the presidential election that year between eventual winner George W. Bush and Al Gore. A major source of controversy was the butterfly ballot used in Palm Beach County, a confusing ballot design which caused many voters to mistakenly vote for Reform Party candidate Pat Buchanan instead of Al Gore. Buchanan had an unexpectedly strong showing in the county.[11] In the end, Gore carried the county, but Bush captured the state by just 537 votes (out of nearly 5 million cast, a difference of .009%) after the recount was effectively halted by the US Supreme Court. (Bush vs. Gore)[citation needed]

Presidential Election Results 1960-2012[12]
Year Democratic Republican
2012 58.21% 349,651 41.18% 247,398
2008 61.08% 361,271 38.22% 226,037
2004 60.35% 328,687 39.05% 212,688
2000 62.27% 269,754 35.31% 152,964
1996 58.06% 230,687 33.68% 133,811
1992 46.36% 187,869 34.63% 140,350
1988 44.07% 144,199 55.47% 181,495
1984 38.32% 116,091 61.67% 186,811
1980 36.37% 91,991 56.79% 143,639
1976 48.68% 96,705 49.45% 98,236
1972 27.18% 40,825 72.35% 108,670
1968 28.08% 32,837 53.19% 62,191
1964 46.91% 43,836 53.09% 49,614
1960 39.72% 29,871 60.28% 45,337

Economy

Previously W. R. Grace and Company had its headquarters in unincorporated Palm Beach County, near Boca Raton.[13][14] Prior to its closing, the Boca Raton headquarters had about 130 employees. On January 27, 2011 it announced it was closing the Boca headquarters and moving its administrative staff out of state along with some employees.[13][15]

Government

The Florida Department of Corrections operates the Glades Correctional Institution in an unincorporated area in Palm Beach County near Belle Glade.[16]

Transportation

Expressways

I-95 and Florida's Turnpike are controlled-access expressways that serve Palm Beach county. Southern Boulevard (signed FL 80/US 98), which runs east-west through central Palm Beach County, is a partial freeway from Interstate 95 in West Palm Beach to US 441/FL 7 in Wellington and Royal Palm Beach. In the late 1980s, there were plans to construct two additional expressways in Palm Beach County. One was to be an 11.5 miles (18.5 km) toll freeway from Royal Palm Beach to downtown West Palm Beach. It would have run between Belvedere Road and Okeechobee Boulevard; necessitating the destruction of several homes and churches along its path. The other proposed route was a northern extension of the Sawgrass Expressway which was to be called "University Parkway". The University Parkway would have snaked around suburban developments west of Boca Raton, Delray Beach, and Boynton Beach; its path bordering the Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge.[17][18] Ultimately, both expressways were canceled due to opposition from county residents.[19][20][21]

Major highways

Federal Highway:

Range Line Road:

Southern Boulevard:

Other major highways:

Railroads

Airports

Public transit

  • PalmTran provides bus service throughout Palm Beach county.

Seaport

The Port of Palm Beach is located in Riviera Beach, where Celebration Cruise Line operates 2-day cruises to the Bahamas.

Education

Primary and secondary schools

All of Palm Beach County is served by the School District of Palm Beach County. As of 2006, it was the 4th largest school district in Florida and the 11th largest school district in the United States. As of August 2006, the district operated 164 schools, including 25 high schools, and, as of July 22, 2006 had an additional 33 charter schools, with seven more scheduled to open in August 2006.[22] Newsweek listed three Palm Beach County high schools in the top 50 schools in the list 1200 Top U.S. Schools - Atlantic Community High School, Suncoast High School and the Alexander Dreyfoos School of the Arts, all public magnet schools.[23] Private schools in the county include Cardinal Newman High School, Jupiter Christian School, The King's Academy, Oxbridge Academy, Pope John Paul II High School, St Andrew's School and Weinbaum Yeshiva High School.

Colleges and universities

Public libraries

Palm Beach County Library System operates public libraries, the main one being the West Palm Beach Public Library.

Sports

The Palm Beach Imperials are an American Basketball Association 2006 expansion franchise.

The Jupiter Hammerheads are a Single-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins and the Palm Beach Cardinals are a Single High-A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals. Both teams play their games at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter.

Currently, the St. Louis Cardinals and Miami Marlins conduct their spring training at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter.

Prior to the construction of Roger Dean Stadium, the Montreal Expos and Atlanta Braves held their spring training at Municipal Stadium in West Palm Beach. The West Palm Beach Expos, a Single-A affiliate of the Montreal Expos, also played their games there.

Annual events of interest

Places of interest

Media

See also

References

  1. ^ "Florida Quick Facts". State of Florida.com. Retrieved 2012-12-18.
  2. ^ "2010 Census Data". United States Census Bureau. 2011. Retrieved 2011-08-22.
  3. ^ Twenty most populous counties in America
  4. ^ "Florida Fun Facts Q&A". The Palm Beach Post. Retrieved 2008-10-18.
  5. ^ Palm Beach County - County history - Accessed August 14, 2009
  6. ^ "Census 2000 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Counties". United States Census. Retrieved 2011-02-13.
  7. ^ "See "Population and Housing Occupancy Status: 2010 - County -- County Subdivision and Place" for Florida". 2010 Census. United States Census Bureau, Population Division.
  8. ^ "Demographics of Palm Beach County, FL". MuniNetGuide.com. Retrieved 2008-03-11.
  9. ^ "Palm Beach County, FL Detailed Profile". city-data.com. Retrieved 2008-06-23.
  10. ^ "MLA Data Center Results for Palm Beach County, Florida". Modern Language Association. Retrieved 2007-12-08.
  11. ^ [1]
  12. ^ [2] - URL retrieved November 7, 2012
  13. ^ a b "Grace Announces Relocation To Columbia, Maryland." W. R. Grace and Company. Retrieved on June 29, 2011. "The restructuring will entail a relocation of approximately 40 people, including senior management, from Grace's Boca Raton, Florida office to its Columbia, Maryland site. A few positions will be relocated to another Grace office in Cambridge, Massachusetts." and "Following the relocation, Grace will close its headquarters office at 1750 Clint Moore Road in Boca Raton, which currently employs approximately 130 people."
  14. ^ "Boca Raton city, Florida." U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on June 29, 2011.
  15. ^ to the Columbia, Maryland office. About 40 of the employees went to Columbia, and some employees went to Cambridge, Massachusetts
  16. ^ "Glades Correctional Institution." Florida Department of Corrections. Retrieved on August 26, 2011.
  17. ^ "University Parkway Takes A Drubbing — Sun Sentinel". Articles.sun-sentinel.com. 1993-09-28. Retrieved 2012-12-18.
  18. ^ "Task Force Divided By Inter-county Road Proposal — Sun Sentinel". Articles.sun-sentinel.com. 1993-09-14. Retrieved 2012-12-18.
  19. ^ March 17, 1986 (1986-03-17). "Detailed Road Study To Be Sought — Sun Sentinel". Articles.sun-sentinel.com. Retrieved 2012-12-18. {{cite web}}: Text "By Fred Lowery, Transportation Writer" ignored (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  20. ^ "Concerns Aired Over Road Plan Westgate Seeks Delay On Decision — Sun Sentinel". Articles.sun-sentinel.com. 1986-10-16. Retrieved 2012-12-18.
  21. ^ March 6, 2005 (2005-03-06). "Toll Expressway Halted In The '80s — Sun Sentinel". Articles.sun-sentinel.com. Retrieved 2012-12-18. {{cite web}}: Text "MIKE TURNBELL Transportation Writer" ignored (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  22. ^ School District of Palm Beach County "Just the Facts" 2006-2007 - retrieved August 11, 2006 Template:Wayback
  23. ^ The Complete List: 1,200 Top U.S. Schools - Newsweek America's Best High Schools - retrieved December 9, 2006 Template:Wayback
  24. ^ http://www.pbmm.org
  25. ^ PBC Library System

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Palm Beach County, Florida.

Government links/Constitutional offices

Special districts

Emergency services

Judicial branch

Tourism links

26°43′N 80°03′W / 26.71°N 80.05°W / 26.71; -80.05

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