Palm Beach County, Florida
U.S. County|
county = Palm Beach County|
state = Florida |
seal = Palm Beach County Seal.png |
map = Map of Florida highlighting Palm Beach County.svg |
founded =
30 April 1909 | seat =
West Palm Beach | area = 6,181
km² (2,386
mi²) |
area water = 1,068 km² (412 mi²) |
area land = 5,113 km² (1,974 mi²) |
area percentage = 17.27% |
census yr = 2000|
pop = 1,131,184 |
density = 221|
web = www.co.palm-beach.fl.us/|}}
Palm Beach County is a
county located in the
state of
Florida. As of 2000, the population was 1,131,184. Its estimated 2004 population is 1,243,230, making it the third most populous county in the state. Its
county seat is
West Palm Beach, Florida6.
Palm Beach County is one of three counties that comprise the
South Florida metropolitan area.
Palm Beach County was created in
1909. It was named for its first established town,
Palm Beach, in turn named for the
palm trees and
beaches in the area.
Henry Flagler was instrumental in the county's development in the early
1900s with the extension of the
Florida East Coast Railway through the county from
Jacksonville to
Key West.
It was one of the counties at the center of the
2000 U.S. Presidential election recount controversy.
Palm Beach County, specifically the city of
Boca Raton, was the site of the first of the
2001 anthrax attacks.
According to the
U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 6,181
km² (2,386
mi²). 5,113 km² (1,974 mi²) of it is land and 1,068 km² (412 mi²) of it is water, much of it in the
Atlantic Ocean and
Lake Okeechobee. The total area is 17.27% water.
The boundaries of
area code 561 exactly match the county's. Originally, it was part of
area code 305, and later
area code 407.
Adjacent Counties
*
Martin County, Florida - north
*
Broward County, Florida - south
*
Hendry County, Florida - west
*
Glades County, Florida - northwest corner
Year 2000 crime in Palm Beach County was as follows (2006 report indicates that robbery in Palm Beach County was up 20%)
*Crime | Number
*Total | 72,211
*Murder | 85
*Rape | 428
*Robbery | 2,369
*Aggravated Assault | 5,288
*Burglary | 14,770
*Larceny - theft | 41,801
*Motor vehicle thefts | 7,239
*Population | 1,097,962
*Coverage indicator | 100%
Data provided by the
Federal Bureau of Investigation to the National Archive of Criminal Justice Data,
University of Michigan.
The most dangerous cities are
Riviera Beach,
West Palm Beach,
Belle Glade and
Lake Worth.
As of the
census² of 2000, there were 1,131,184 people, 474,175 households, and 303,946 families residing in the county. The
population density was 221/km² (573/mi²). There were 556,428 housing units at an average density of 109/km² (282/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 69.05%
White, 29.80%
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. 18.44% of the population were
Hispanic or
Latino of any race.
There were 474,175 households out of which 24.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.80% were
married couples living together, 9.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.90% were non-families. 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.
In the county the population was spread out with 21.30% under the age of 18, 6.60% from 18 to 24, 27.00% from 25 to 44, 22.00% from 45 to 64, and 23.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 93.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.50 males.
The median income for a household in the county 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 9.90% 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. As with other factors very rich enclaves distort entire county averages. Many in Palm Beach County are poor and working poor which surprises some not from the area.
The median home price in Palm Beach County as of May 2006 is realistically around $350,000 (fallen from its real estate bubble high of over $400K) many today are sitting on properties they are finding hard to sell. The current figure above national average is due to two factors: the rampant recent real estate speculation caused by the low interest rates set over the past few years; and the average figures distorted by the enclaves of the Town of Palm Beach where very expensive barrier island real estate has distorted the overall county average figure.
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
Lake Okeechobee to the Northwest.
Incorporated
# City of
Pahokee # City of
Belle Glade # City of
South Bay # Village of
Tequesta # Town of
Jupiter Inlet Colony # Town of
Jupiter # Town of
Juno Beach # City of
Palm Beach Gardens # Village of
North Palm Beach # Town of
Lake Park # City of
Riviera Beach # Town of
Palm Beach Shores # Town of
Mangonia Park # Town of
Palm Beach # City of
West Palm Beach# Town of
Haverhill # Town of
Glen Ridge # Town of
Cloud Lake # Village of
Palm Springs # Town of
Lake Clarke Shores # Village of
Royal Palm Beach # Village of
Wellington # City of
Greenacres # City of
Atlantis # City of
Lake Worth # Town of
South Palm Beach# Town of
Lantana # Town of
Manalapan # Town of
Hypoluxo # City of
Boynton Beach # Town of
Ocean Ridge # Village of
Golf # Town of
Briny Breezes # Town of
Gulf Stream # City of
Delray Beach # Town of
Highland Beach# City of
Boca RatonUnincorporated census-designated places
*
Belle Glade Camp(l)
*
Boca Del Mar(c)
*
Boca Pointe(a)
*
Canal Point(bb)
*
Century Village(u)
*
Cypress Lakes(w)
*
Dunes Road(cc)
*
Fremd Village-Padgett Island(aa)
*
Golden Lakes(r)
*
Gun Club Estates(m)
*
Hamptons at Boca Raton(e)
*
High Point(i)
*
Juno Ridge(z)
*
Kings Point(g)
*
Lake Belvedere Estates(o)
*
Lake Harbor(p)
*
Lake Worth Corridor(k)
*
Lakeside Green(x)
*
Limestone Creek(y)
*
Mission Bay(d)
*
Plantation Mobile Home Park(s)
*
Royal Palm Estates(n)
*
Sandalfoot Cove(b)
*
Schall Circle(v)
*
Seminole Manor(j)
*
Stacey Street(q)
*
Villages of Oriole(h)
*
Westgate-Belvedere Homes(t)
*
Whisper Walk(f)
All of Palm Beach County is served by the
School Distict of Palm Beach County. As of the 2000-2001 school year, it was the 4th largest school district in Florida and the 14th or 15th largest school district in the
United States (depending on whether
Puerto Rico is included in the list). As of January, 2006, the district operated 163 schools, including 23 high schools, and had an additional 39
charter schools.
Colleges/Universities
*
Palm Beach Community College [
1]
*
Florida Atlantic University [
2]
*
Palm Beach Atlantic College [
3]
*
Lynn University [
4]
*
American Orchid Society Visitor Center and Botanical Garden*
Lion Country Safari*
Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens*
Mounts Botanical Garden*
Roji-en Japanese Gardens*
Norton Museum of Art*
Kravis Center*
School District of Palm Beach County - retrieved
February 3 2006*
National Center for Education Statistics - retrieved
February 3 2006Government links/Constitutional offices
*
Palm Beach County Government / Board of County Commissioners official website
*
Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections*
Palm Beach County Property Appraiser*
Palm Beach County Tax Collector*
Palm Beach County Sheriff's OfficeSpecial districts
*
Palm Beach County School District*
South Florida Water ManagementJudicial branch
*
Palm Beach County Clerk of Courts*
Palm Beach County Public Defender*
Palm Beach County State Attorney's Office, 15th Judicial Circuit*
15th Judicial Circuit of FloridaTourism links
*
Palm Beach County Convention and Visitors Bureau
