Palm Beach County, Florida
Palm Beach
County,
Florida,
established in 1909, took its name in honor of its first
settled community,
Palm Beach.
Census
2000 data recorded a population of 1,131,184; however,
estimates in 2005 indicated the population now lies closer
to 1.29 million individuals. The massive South Florida
metropolitan area, located along the
Atlantic Coast, includes the population of Palm Beach
County. Numerous incorporated cities encompass the 2,386
square miles of Palm Beach County. The largest of these
include
Boca Raton,
Boynton Beach,
Delray Beach,
Palm Beach Gardens,
Wellington and
West Palm Beach.
West Palm Beach, (population 82,103 - 2000 Census), serves as the county seat of Palm Beach County, FL. Founded by hotel and railroad tycoon, Henry Flagler, the city’s initial purpose was to provide a community to house the workforce of Flagler’s hotels in nearby Palm Beach. At one point, during the 1920’s, West Palm Beach grew to such great proportions that it became a rival to Miami. This heyday left behind a wealth of historic buildings and neighborhoods; however, the Great Depression, hurricanes and wide scale suburbanization brought the city to a more moderate size.
Today, West Palm Beach, Florida is a vibrant city with a burgeoning cultural scene, and is home to several top-notch facilities for higher learning. These include Northwood University, Palm Beach Atlantic University and Palm Beach Community College. Palm Beach Community College is FL’s oldest community college and holds a listing on the National Register for Historic Places.
The School District of Palm Beach County serves the entire region, and as of 2006, was Florida’s 5th largest school district and the nation’s 11th largest district. Newsweek magazine ranked three local high schools among the 1,200 Top U.S. Schools. These include the following public magnet schools: Atlantic Community High School, Suncoast High School and the Alexander Dreyfoos School of the Arts. Options for higher learning in the area include Florida Atlantic University and Lynn University.
This delightful region is known for its interesting sites to see and things to do. In addition to the wide array of pristine beaches in the area, individuals have access to a multitude of Palm Beach County Beach Parks and developed parks that afford opportunities for boating, camping and fishing. These parks also offer a variety of summer camps and numerous sports and recreation facilities.
Other popular destinations in Palm Beach County, FL include the American Orchid Society Visitor Center and Botanical Garden, Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse, Kravis Center, Lion Country Safari, Morikami Museum and Roji-en Japanese Gardens, Mounts Botanical Garden and the Sandoway House Nature Center. Palm Beach County also boasts a thriving sports scene with several local teams. The Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter hosts the Florida Marlins and St. Louis Cardinals for spring training each year and is also home to the Jupiter Hammerheads and Palm Beach Cardinals.
Palm Beach County, Florida affords residents a wide variety of business and educational opportunities, with housing options that range from opulent waterfront homes in affluent neighborhoods to reasonably affordable family homes in every price range. Palm Beach County, FL also offers a pro-business atmosphere with easy access to the Port of Palm Beach and Palm Beach International Airport.
