Palm Beach, Florida#Police

File:Palm Beach, Florida (1916).jpg

File:Aerial view of the Kennedy family home in Palm Beach, Florida (10999217183).jpg (c. 1965), the Winter White House of President John F. Kennedy]]

Native Americans previously inhabited the island of Palm Beach, with the Jaega people arriving at least 3,000 years ago.{{Cite web |date=October 5, 2022 |title=South Palm Beach |url=https://www.thepalmbeaches.com/explore-cities/south-palm-beach |publisher=Discover The Palm Beaches |access-date=April 23, 2024 |language=en-US |archive-date=April 23, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240423130601/https://www.thepalmbeaches.com/explore-cities/south-palm-beach |url-status=live }} Evidence for their inhabitation of the island are three pre-Columbian archaeological complexes.{{Cite web |last=Rogers |first=David |title=Archaeologist says Jeaga people part of early island life |url=https://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/story/news/2012/01/01/archaeologist-says-jeaga-people-part/6642354007/ |date=January 1, 2012 |access-date=April 23, 2024 |newspaper=Palm Beach Daily News |language=en-US |archive-date=April 23, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240423130600/https://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/story/news/2012/01/01/archaeologist-says-jeaga-people-part/6642354007/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |first=David |last=Castello |date=May 27, 2019 |title=The Jeaga – Palm Beach County's Indigenous Tribe |url=https://www.westpalmbeach.com/the-jeaga-palm-beach-countys-indigenous-tribe/ |access-date=April 23, 2024 |website=WestPalmBeach.com |language=en-US |archive-date=April 23, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240423130601/https://www.westpalmbeach.com/the-jeaga-palm-beach-countys-indigenous-tribe/ |url-status=live }} These complexes include a burial mound, six unmarked Native American cemeteries, and a more recent burial site which suggested interaction between indigenous people and Europeans.{{cite journal |url=http://www.pbchistoryonline.org/uploads/file/Precolumbian%20Palm%20Beachers.pdf |title=Pre-Columbian Palm Beachers |author=Block, Dorothy |journal=The Tustenegee |date=Fall 2013 |publisher=Historical Society of Palm Beach County |access-date=January 18, 2021 |pages=30–31 |archive-date=March 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309192508/http://www.pbchistoryonline.org/uploads/file/Precolumbian%20Palm%20Beachers.pdf |url-status=live }}

White settlers began arriving in modern-day Palm Beach by 1872. Hiram F. Hammon made the first homestead claim in 1873 along Lake Worth. At the time, the lake area had fewer than 12 people. By 1877, the Tustenegee Post Office was established in modern-day Palm Beach, becoming the lake area's first post office.{{cite web |url=http://www.pbchistoryonline.org/page/timeline-1860-1879 |title=1860 - 1879 |publisher=Historical Society of Palm Beach County |access-date=October 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230408143217/http://www.pbchistoryonline.org/page/timeline-1860-1879 |archive-date=April 8, 2023 }} Along the coast of Palm Beach, the Providencia wrecked in 1878 with a cargo of 20,000 coconuts, which were quickly planted. In 1880, Elisha Newton "Cap" Dimick converted his private residence to a hotel known as the Cocoanut Grove House. At the time of its opening, the Cocoanut Grove House was the only hotel along Florida's east coast between Titusville and Key West. A fire destroyed the hotel in October 1893.{{cite web |url=https://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WMRV5P |title=Cocoanut Grove House |date=August 8, 2016 |publisher=Waymarking.com |access-date=April 17, 2020 |archive-date=August 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806045026/https://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WMRV5P |url-status=live }} The Star Route, also known as the Barefoot Mailman route, began serving the area in 1885.{{cite web |url=http://www.pbchistoryonline.org/page/timeline-0 |title=1880 - 1889 |publisher=Historical Society of Palm Beach County |access-date=October 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230409114228/https://www.pbchistoryonline.org/page/timeline-0 |archive-date=April 9, 2023 }} Carriers delivered mail by foot or boat from Palm Beach and other nearby communities to as far south as Miami, a round trip of {{convert|136|mi|km}}.{{cite web |url=http://www.pbchistoryonline.org/page/mail-routes |title=Reaching Out: Mail Routes |publisher=Historical Society of Palm Beach County |access-date=October 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230409114227/https://www.pbchistoryonline.org/page/mail-routes |archive-date=April 9, 2023 }} The first schoolhouse in southeast Florida (also known as the Little Red Schoolhouse) opened in Palm Beach in 1886.

Henry Flagler, a Standard Oil tycoon, made his first visit to Palm Beach in 1893, and described the area as a "veritable paradise".{{cite web |url=http://www.pbchistoryonline.org/page/flagler-timeline |title=Henry M. Flagler in Florida Timeline |publisher=Historical Society of Palm Beach County |access-date=October 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230408082611/https://www.pbchistoryonline.org/page/flagler-timeline |archive-date=April 8, 2023 }} That same year, Flagler hired George W. Potter to plot 48 blocks for West Palm Beach, a city to house workers at his hotels, and construction began on the Royal Poinciana Hotel.{{cite web |url=http://www.pbchistoryonline.org/page/the-grand-hotels-royal-poinciana-hotel |title=The Grand Hotels: The Royal Poinciana |publisher=Historical Society of Palm Beach County |access-date=October 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230409015149/https://www.pbchistoryonline.org/page/the-grand-hotels-royal-poinciana-hotel |archive-date=April 9, 2023 }}{{cite web |url=http://www.pbchistoryonline.org/page/timeline-1890-1899 |title=1890 - 1899 |publisher=Historical Society of Palm Beach County |access-date=October 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230408082534/https://www.pbchistoryonline.org/page/timeline-1890-1899 |archive-date=April 8, 2023 }} The Royal Poinciana Hotel opened for business on February 11, 1894. Flagler, also the owner of the Florida East Coast Railway, extended the railroad southward to West Palm Beach by the following month.{{cite web |url=http://www.pbchistoryonline.org/page/flagler-era |title=Flagler Era |publisher=Historical Society of Palm Beach County |access-date=October 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230407002037/http://www.pbchistoryonline.org/page/flagler-era |archive-date=April 7, 2023 }} In 1896, Flagler opened a second hotel originally known as Wayside Inn, before being renamed Palm Beach Inn, and later becoming The Breakers.{{cite web |url=http://www.pbchistoryonline.org/page/the-grand-hotels-the-breakers |title=The Grand Hotels: The Breakers |publisher=Historical Society of Palm Beach County |access-date=October 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230409112715/https://www.pbchistoryonline.org/page/the-grand-hotels-the-breakers |archive-date=April 9, 2023 }} Fires later burned down the hotel in 1903 and 1925, but it was rebuilt each time. The Palm Beach Daily News began publication in 1897 originally under the name Daily Lake Worth News.

The first pedestrian bridge across the Intracoastal Waterway opened near the modern-day Flagler Bridge in 1901, replacing the original railroad spur.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/49496457/palm-beach-daily-news/ |title=Timeline |page=B6 |newspaper=Palm Beach Daily News |date=February 9, 1997 |access-date=April 24, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |archive-date=August 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806121929/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/49496457/palm-beach-daily-news/ |url-status=live }} Flagler's house lots were bought by the beneficiaries of the Gilded Age, and in 1902, Flagler himself built a Beaux-Arts mansion, Whitehall, designed by the New York-based firm Carrère and Hastings and helped establish the Palm Beach "winter season".{{cite web |url=https://www.flaglermuseum.us/history/whitehall |title=Whitehall |publisher=Flagler Museum |access-date=April 17, 2020 |archive-date=May 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200512045808/https://flaglermuseum.us/history/whitehall |url-status=live }} Telephone service was established in Palm Beach in 1908, with 18 customers initially.{{cite web |url=https://www.townofpalmbeach.com/346/Key-Historical-Dates-Events |title=Key Historical Dates & Events |publisher=Town of Palm Beach |access-date=April 17, 2020 |archive-date=August 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806125933/https://www.townofpalmbeach.com/346/Key-Historical-Dates-Events |url-status=live }} Prior to the 1910s, many African Americans in the area lived in a segregated section of Palm Beach called the "Styx",{{cite report |url=http://wpb.org/getmedia/95efd224-611b-43f2-a8f1-3e72f8744633/Historic-Preservation-A-Design-Guidelines-Handbook-full-color; |title=Historic Preservation: A Design Guidelines Handbook |first1=Sherry |last1=Piland |first2=Emily |last2=Stillings |first3=Ednasha |last3=Bowers |date=2005 |publisher=Historic Preservation Board, City of West Palm Beach |format=PDF |access-date=March 28, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190328050743/https://www.wpb.org/getmedia/95efd224-611b-43f2-a8f1-3e72f8744633/Historic-Preservation-A-Design-Guidelines-Handbook-full-color; |archive-date=March 28, 2019 |url-status=live }} with an estimated population of 2,000 at its peak. Between 1910 and 1912, though, African Americans were evicted from the Styx.{{cite news |url=https://www.staugustine.com/article/20120206/NEWS/302069983 |title=Henry Flagler, his town, and the fire |agency=McClatchy |date=February 6, 2012 |newspaper=The St. Augustine Record |access-date=March 30, 2019 |archive-date=March 30, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190330014150/https://www.staugustine.com/article/20120206/NEWS/302069983 |url-status=live }} Most of the displaced residents relocated to the northern West Palm Beach neighborhoods of Freshwater, Northwest, and Pleasant City.

In January 1911, it became known West Palm Beach intended to annex the island of Palm Beach in the upcoming Florida legislative session. Residents objected and hired an attorney from Miami to officially become incorporated.{{cite web |url=http://www.pbchistoryonline.org/page/town-of-palm-beach |title=Palm Beach |publisher=Historical Society of Palm Beach County |access-date=October 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404223303/https://www.pbchistoryonline.org/page/town-of-palm-beach |archive-date=April 4, 2023 }} Dimick, Louis Semple Clarke, and 31 other male property owners met at Clarke's house and signed a charter to officially incorporate the town of Palm Beach on April 17, 1911.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/48960452/the-palm-beach-post/ |title=Cap Dimick, Palm Beach's first mayor, a pioneer but no captain |date=February 7, 2001 |newspaper=The Palm Beach Post |first=Eliot |last=Kleinberg |page=14R |access-date=April 17, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |archive-date=August 3, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803235102/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/48960452/the-palm-beach-post/ |url-status=live }} Dimick became the first mayor, John McKenna became town clerk, and Joseph Borman became town marshal, while J. B. Donnelly, William Fremd, John Doe, Enoch Root, and J.J. Ryman served as the first council members. Also in 1911, Dimick built the Royal Park Bridge, with its first incarnation being a wooden structure. Passage from West Palm Beach to Palm Beach on the bridge originally required a toll – 25 cents per vehicle and 5 cents per pedestrian.

Between 1919 and 1924, American resort architect Addison Mizner designed 67 structures in Palm Beach.{{cite web |url=http://www.pbchistoryonline.org/page/mizner-in-palm-beach |title=Architects: Mizner in Palm Beach |publisher=Historical Society of Palm Beach County |access-date=October 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230409000905/https://www.pbchistoryonline.org/page/mizner-in-palm-beach |archive-date=April 9, 2023 }} Some of Mizner's clients included Anthony Joseph Drexel Biddle Jr., Paul Moore Sr., Gurnee Munn, John Shaffer Phipps, Edward Shearson, Eva Stotesbury, Rodman Wanamaker, and Barclay Harding Warburton II.{{cite book |isbn=978-0609605158 |publisher=Clarkson Potter |date=2001 |page=170 |title=Boca Rococo. How Addison Mizner Invented Florida's Gold Coast |first=Caroline |last=Seebohm |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/bocarococohowadd00seeb }} His designed works included the Costa Bella,{{rp|212}} El Mirasol, Everglades Club (in collaboration with Paris Singer), El Solano, La Bellucia,{{cite book |first=Donald W. |last=Curl |title=Mizner's Florida |publisher=The Architectural History Foundation and the MIT Press |year=1992 |quote=First published 1984 |isbn=978-0262530682 }} La Querida, Via Mizner,{{rp|238}} Villa Flora,{{rp|103}} and William Gray Warden House.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.oldhouseonline.com/house-tours/8-great-addison-mizner-buildings |magazine=Old House Journal |title=8 Great Addison Mizner Buildings |date=October 26, 2018 |access-date=April 20, 2020 |archive-date=June 29, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200629183852/https://www.oldhouseonline.com/house-tours/8-great-addison-mizner-buildings |url-status=live }}{{rp|236}} Via Mizner was the first shopping complex along Worth Avenue, which was then a mostly residential street.{{cite web |url=https://tclf.org/landscapes/worth-avenue |title=Worth Avenue |publisher=The Cultural Landscape Foundation |access-date=May 13, 2020 |archive-date=August 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806074111/https://tclf.org/landscapes/worth-avenue |url-status=live }}

In February 1924, the town council allotted $100,000 to construct a new municipal building. Harvey and Clarke architectural firm designed the building, while Newlon and Stephens built the structure after bidding $160,200 for the contract. The Palm Beach Town Hall opened on December 18, 1925, and is still used for town council meetings. Before its completion, the council meetings took place in a one-story wooden building on Royal Poinciana Way.{{cite report |url=https://npgallery.nps.gov/GetAsset/1fe71a36-ae37-4d2e-add3-d326aef4319c/ |title=National Register of Historic Places Registration Form |date=2005 |publisher=National Park Service |format=PDF |access-date=April 18, 2020 }} Also in 1925, citywide construction revenue reached $14 million, attributed to the Florida land boom.

The 1928 Okeechobee hurricane made landfall in the town of Palm Beach, with sustained winds of 145 mph (235 km/h).{{Atlantic hurricane best track}} High winds and storm surge damaged 610 businesses, 60 homes, and 10 hotels, as well as to the Public Service Corporation and Ocean Boulevard. Damage in 1928 dollars totaled $10 million in Palm Beach.{{cite web |url=http://ufdc.ufl.edu/UF00001306/00001/1j |title=Palm Beach Hurricane—92 Views |date=1928 |publisher=American Autochrome Company |access-date=June 27, 2015 |location=Chicago, Illinois |archive-date=February 7, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160207155306/http://ufdc.ufl.edu/UF00001306/00001/1j |url-status=live }}

File:The old Biltmore on Palm Beach, Lake Worth , West Palm Beach, Florida - panoramio (1).jpg training school during World War II]]

Palm Beach's population grew from 1,707 in 1930 to 3,747 in 1940, a 119.5% increase. The Royal Poinciana Hotel, damaged heavily in the 1928 hurricane, also suffered greatly during the Great Depression, and was demolished in 1935. Around 4,000 people purchased the salvageable remains of the hotel. The Palm Beach-Post Times estimated some 500 homes could be built from the scraps of the hotel.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/49494078/the-palm-beach-post/ |title=Profiting from failure |first=Julie |last=Waresh |date=May 30, 1999 |newspaper=The Palm Beach Post |page=1F |access-date=April 24, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |archive-date=August 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806071002/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/49494078/the-palm-beach-post/ |url-status=live }} Residents of Palm Beach established the Society of the Four Arts on January 14, 1936, with Hugh Dillman as the first president.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/49495407/palm-beach-daily-news/ |title=Timeline |page=B7 |newspaper=Palm Beach Daily News |date=February 9, 1997 |access-date=June 5, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |archive-date=June 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200606033000/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/49495407/palm-beach-daily-news/ |url-status=live }} The 1930s decade also saw the construction of the Flagler Memorial Bridge, the northernmost bridge linking Palm Beach and West Palm Beach, completed on July 1, 1938.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88611550/the-palm-beach-post/ |title=This week in history: Flagler Memorial Bridge opens |date=June 27, 2011 |page=1B |newspaper=The Palm Beach Post |access-date=November 9, 2021 |via=Newspapers.com |archive-date=November 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211109085946/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88611550/the-palm-beach-post/ |url-status=live }} Palm Beach mayor James M. Owens acted as master of ceremonies for the bridge's opening, while then–U.S. senator Charles O. Andrews and former U.S. senator Scott Loftin gave speeches during the event.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/49347370/the-palm-beach-post/ |title=Flagler Bridge Dedication Program Will Open Formally Memorial Span To Traffic |date=July 1, 1938 |newspaper=The Palm Beach Post |page=1 |access-date=May 13, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |archive-date=August 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806115535/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/49347370/the-palm-beach-post/ |url-status=live }}

Early in World War II, the United States Army established a Ranger camp at the northern tip of the island, which could accommodate 200 men.{{cite web |url=http://www.pbchistoryonline.org/page/us-military-in-palm-beach |title=U.S. Military in Palm Beach |publisher=Historical Society of Palm Beach |access-date=October 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230405165658/https://www.pbchistoryonline.org/page/us-military-in-palm-beach |archive-date=April 5, 2023 }} The Palm Beach Civilian Defense Council ordered blackouts in Palm Beach beginning on April 11, 1942.{{cite web |url=http://www.pbchistoryonline.org/page/local-response-blackout-restrictions |title=Local Response: Blackout Restrictions |publisher=Historical Society of Palm Beach County |access-date=October 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230405094803/https://www.pbchistoryonline.org/page/local-response-blackout-restrictions |archive-date=April 5, 2023 }} Throughout the war, German U-boats sank 24 ships off Florida, with eight capsized off Palm Beach County between February and May 1942.{{cite web |url=http://www.pbchistoryonline.org/page/the-enemy-presence-german-u-boats |title=The Enemy Presence: German U-Boats |publisher=Historical Society of Palm Beach County |access-date=October 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230405221010/https://www.pbchistoryonline.org/page/the-enemy-presence-german-u-boats |archive-date=April 5, 2023 }} The Army converted The Breakers into the Ream General Army Hospital, while the Navy converted the Palm Beach Biltmore Hotel into a U.S. Naval Special Hospital. The Biltmore Hotel would also become a training school for SPARS, the United States Coast Guard Women's Reserve.

On September 15, 1950, the Southern Boulevard Bridge opened, the third and southernmost bridge linking Palm Beach and West Palm Beach.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88611562/the-palm-beach-post/ |title=Flagler Bridge: Sunday's breakdown caused by loose bolt |date=August 7, 2018 |first=Joe |last=Capozzi |newspaper=The Palm Beach Post |access-date=November 9, 2021 |via=Newspapers.com |archive-date=November 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211109085946/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88611562/the-palm-beach-post/ |url-status=live }} Palm Beach residents elected Claude Dimick Reese (son of former mayor T.T. Reese and grandson of Dimick) as mayor in 1953. He became the only native-born mayor of Palm Beach in its history. In the 1950s, the town's population grew around 56%, from 3,866 in 1950 to 6,055 in 1960.

John F. Kennedy was elected President of the United States in 1960, and selected as his Winter White House La Querida, which his father bought in 1933. In December 1960, police in Palm Beach averted a retired postal worker's attempt to assassinate then president-elect Kennedy. The president also spent the last weekend of his life in Palm Beach, several days before his assassination in November 1963. Yvelyne "Deedy" Marix became the first woman elected to the town council in February 1970, and later became the first woman elected mayor of Palm Beach in 1983. Between 1971 and 1977, Earl E.T. Smith served as mayor of Palm Beach. He was previously an Ambassador of the United States to Cuba.

Preservationist Barbara Hoffstot published a book titled Landmark Architecture in Palm Beach in 1974. She personally photographed and summarized many older buildings in the town. The book also called for more awareness of and improvements to a system for protecting historic landmarks.{{cite news |url=https://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/news/20181217/palm-beach-history-early-preservationists-passion-shines-throughout-exhibit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309195440/https://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/news/20181217/palm-beach-history-early-preservationists-passion-shines-throughout-exhibit |archive-date=March 9, 2021 |first=William |last=Kelly |title=Palm Beach history: Early preservationist's passion shines throughout exhibit |date=December 17, 2018 |newspaper=Palm Beach Daily News |access-date=April 25, 2020 |url-status=live }} The town council responded in 1979 by approving an ordinance establishing the Landmarks Preservation Commission, which identifies and works to protect historic structures.

General Foods and Post Cereals heiress Marjorie Merriweather Post bequeathed Mar-a-Lago to the United States upon her death in 1973,{{cite news |url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-1995-06-18-9506220187-story.html |title=Party Time at Mar-a-Lago |date=June 18, 1995 |first=Don |last=Sider |newspaper=Sun-Sentinel |access-date=April 22, 2020 |archive-date=August 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200808035940/https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-1995-06-18-9506220187-story.html |url-status=live }} hoping it would be used as a Winter White House.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/07/16/garden/post-home-for-sale-for-20.html |title=Post Home For Sale For $20 Million |first=Kerry |last=Gruson |date=July 16, 1981 |newspaper=The New York Times |access-date=April 22, 2020 |archive-date=April 9, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170409232053/http://www.nytimes.com/1981/07/16/garden/post-home-for-sale-for-20.html |url-status=live }} The residence was returned to the Post family in 1981, before being purchased by Donald Trump in 1985 for roughly $10 million. He converted the estate into a club by 1995 and would later use Mar-a-Lago as a Winter White House during his presidency from 2017 to 2021.{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2021/01/20/donald-trump-plans-end-his-presidency-mar-lago-florida/4210601001 |title=Donald Trump lands in Florida as first president in over 150 years to skip inauguration |author=David Jackson |date=January 20, 2021 |newspaper=USA Today |access-date=January 20, 2021 |archive-date=January 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120082858/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2021/01/20/donald-trump-plans-end-his-presidency-mar-lago-florida/4210601001/ |url-status=live }} A nor'easter in November 1984 caused the Mercedes I to crash into the seawall of Mollie Wilmot's estate. Wilmot's staff served the 10 sailors sandwiches and freshly brewed coffee in her gazebo and offered martinis to journalists reporting on the incident.{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-oct-07-me-wilmot7-story.html |title=Mollie Wilmot; Palm Beach Socialite Played Host to Cargo Ship in 1984 |first=Dennis |last=McLellan |date=October 7, 2002 |newspaper=The Los Angeles Times |access-date=May 14, 2020 |archive-date=August 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806040354/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-oct-07-me-wilmot7-story.html |url-status=live }}

On October 31, 1991, the Perfect Storm produced waves {{convert|20|ft|m}} in height in Palm Beach. About {{convert|1200|ft|m}} of seawall at Worth Avenue were destroyed, while some parts of the town experienced coastal flooding, especially along Ocean Boulevard.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/50915390/the-palm-beach-post/ |date=November 1, 1991 |first=Kirk |last=Brown |title=20-footers pummel shoreline, damage homes, sea walls, pier |newspaper=The Palm Beach Post |page=1A |access-date=May 13, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |archive-date=August 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806024006/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/50915390/the-palm-beach-post/ |url-status=live }} By that afternoon, police allowed only residents to enter the town. The trial of William Kennedy Smith, a member of the Kennedy family, drew international media attention in 1991. Smith had been accused of committing rape at La Querida, but a trial at the Palm Beach County Court resulted in his acquittal on December 11, 1991. Another notable mayor, Paul Ilyinsky, son of Grand Duke Dmitri Pavlovich of Russia and heiress Audrey Emery, was elected to the office in February 1993. The town's population peaked at 10,468 people in the 2000 census.{{cite news |url=https://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/news/palm-beach-tracking-down-reasons-census-shows-population-drop-for-town/oDo3zQ3m18XDkbn1bWpEZK/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309195437/https://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/news/palm-beach-tracking-down-reasons-census-shows-population-drop-for-town/oDo3zQ3m18XDkbn1bWpEZK/ |archive-date=March 9, 2021 |title=Palm Beach tracking down reasons Census shows population drop for town |first=David |last=Rogers |date=May 7, 2011 |newspaper=Palm Beach Daily News |access-date=April 25, 2020 |url-status=live }} In March 2005, the Palm Beach Police Department – under the guidance of Police Chief Michael Reiter – began the first inquiry into the crimes committed by sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, leading to his arrest and indictment in July 2006. Despite an FBI investigation discovering at least 40 victims, the state attorney of Palm Beach County only charged Epstein with soliciting a prostitute and soliciting a minor for prostitution in June 2008. He pleaded guilty on both counts and received a controversial plea deal.{{cite news |url=https://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/news/20191113/jeffrey-epstein-how-case-unfolded-in-palm-beach-county |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309193914/https://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/news/20191113/jeffrey-epstein-how-case-unfolded-in-palm-beach-county/ |archive-date=March 9, 2021 |title=Jeffrey Epstein: How the case unfolded in Palm Beach County |date=November 13, 2019 |newspaper=Palm Beach Daily News |access-date=May 14, 2020 |url-status=live }}

The town had a population of 8,348 people in 2010, a decrease of 20.3% from the previous census. Palm Beach celebrated its centennial on April 17, 2011. About 1,200 people attended a parade that began at the Flagler Museum (Whitehall).{{cite news |url=https://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/article/20110418/NEWS/304189966 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309193909/https://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/article/20110418/NEWS/304189966 |archive-date=March 9, 2021 |title=Promenade kicks off celebration with costumes, music, fancy cars |date=April 18, 2011 |first=Margie |last=Kacoha |newspaper=Palm Beach Daily News |page=1 |access-date=April 25, 2020 |url-status=live }} Between February and December 2015, the Town Square, which includes the Addison Mizner Memorial Fountain and the town hall, underwent a $5.7 million restoration. The fountain's restoration was named "project of the year" by the American Public Works Association's Florida chapter.

The FBI conducted a search warrant at Mar-a-Lago on August 8, 2022, approved by Magistrate Judge Bruce Reinhart after a criminal referral by the National Archives and Records Administration relating to classified documents. Although former president Donald Trump surrendered 235 classified documents by June 2022, the search at Mar-a-Lago yielded another 102 such documents. This discovery, along with allegations that Trump transported documents to his golf club in New Jersey and showed them to some guests there, led a grand jury at the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida to indict him on 37 felony counts relating to the mishandling of classified documents on June 8, 2023.{{cite news |url=https://abc7.com/trump-classified-documents-timeline-indictment/13366744/ |title=Timeline of events leading to Donald Trump's indictment in classified documents case |agency=Associated Press |date=June 12, 2023 |newspaper=KABC-TV |location=Los Angeles, California |access-date=June 13, 2023 }}

The January 1878 wreck of the Providencia is credited with giving Palm Beach its name. The Providencia was traveling from Havana to Cádiz, Spain, with a cargo of coconuts harvested in the Crown Colony of Trinidad and Tobago in the British West Indies, when the ship wrecked near Palm Beach. Many of the coconuts naturalized or were planted along the Palm Beach coast.{{cite journal |first=Harvey |last=Oyer III |title=The Wreck of the Providencia in 1878 and the Naming of Palm Beach County |journal=South Florida History |volume=29 |date=November 4, 2001 }} A lush grove of palm trees soon grew on what was later named Palm Beach.

{{wide image|Palm Beach proper Florida photo by Don Ramey Logan.jpg|1000px|alt=Palm Beach|An aerial view of Palm Beach, looking northeast from downtown West Palm Beach in November 2014}}

Palm Beach is one of the easternmost towns in Florida, though the state's easternmost point is in Palm Beach Shores, just north of Lake Worth Inlet.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/49665554/the-palm-beach-post/ |title=Question: Why do you like Singer Island? |first=Dermot |last=O'Brien |date=June 1, 2014 |newspaper=The Palm Beach Post |page=R10 |access-date=April 27, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |archive-date=August 4, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804001717/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/49665554/the-palm-beach-post/ |url-status=live }} The town is on an {{convert|18|mi|adj=on}} long barrier island between the Intracoastal Waterway (locally known as the Lake Worth Lagoon) on the west and the Atlantic Ocean on the east. At no point is the island wider than three-quarters of a mile (1.2 km), and in places it is only 500 feet (150 m) wide.{{cite book |title=Florida. A Guide to the Southernmost State |date=1939 |author=Federal Writers' Project |publisher=Oxford University Press |page=227 }} The northern boundary of Palm Beach is the Lake Worth Inlet, though it adjoined with Singer Island until the permanent dredging of the inlet in 1918.{{cite web |url=http://www.palmbeachshoresfl.us/about_us/town_history/index.php |title=Town History Past and Present |publisher=Town of Palm Beach Shores |access-date=April 27, 2020 |archive-date=May 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200519135102/http://www.palmbeachshoresfl.us/about_us/town_history/index.php |url-status=live }} To the south, a section of Lake Worth Beach occupies the island in the vicinity of State Road 802, though an exclave of Palm Beach extends farther southward until the northern limits of South Palm Beach.{{cite web |url=https://www.bdb.org/clientuploads/Allie/Municipalities36x60-1.pdf |title=Municipalities of Palm Beach County, Florida |publisher=Palm Beach County Planning, Zoning and Building Department |access-date=April 27, 2020 |archive-date=October 31, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201031133347/https://www.bdb.org/clientuploads/Allie/Municipalities36x60-1.pdf |url-status=live }} According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town has an area of {{cvt|8.12|mi2|km2}}, with land accounting for {{cvt|4.20|mi2|km2}} and water covering the remaining {{cvt|3.92|mi2|km2}}.{{cite web |title=2016 U.S. Gazetteer Files |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2016_Gazetteer/2016_gaz_place_12.txt |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=July 7, 2017 |archive-date=August 24, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170824204414/https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2016_Gazetteer/2016_gaz_place_12.txt |url-status=live }} The average elevation of the town is {{cvt|7|ft|m}}; the highest point is {{cvt|30|ft|m}} above sea level on the golf course at the Palm Beach Country Club.{{rp|IX-4}}

File:Clarke Avenue Beach.png

Geologically, the island is a sand-covered ridge of coquina rock.{{rp|I-7}} Before settlement, the island was a pronounced coastal ridge bordering the Atlantic Ocean. The Intracoastal Waterway coast was primarily low-lying and swampy; marshy sloughs generally lay between the two features,{{rp|IX-4}} though an oolitic limestone ridge stood along some parts of the island's westward side. Since 1883, the environment has been significantly altered by developing land, the filling of the sloughs, and a receding coastline due to erosion, but the Atlantic ridge is still the dominating topographical feature of the island and acts as a seaward barrier. The former slough areas are flood-prone.{{rp|I-8}}

The town and entire barrier island are within Evacuation Zone B, and evacuations are often ordered if a hurricane is forecast to impact the area, most recently in anticipation of Hurricane Dorian in 2019.{{cite news |url=https://cbs12.com/news/local/palm-beach-county-ordering-evacuations-and-opening-shelters |title=Palm Beach County orders mandatory evacuations for Zones A and B |date=September 1, 2019 |newspaper=WPEC |access-date=April 27, 2020 |archive-date=August 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806030006/https://cbs12.com/news/local/palm-beach-county-ordering-evacuations-and-opening-shelters |url-status=live }} Palm Beach town officials may deploy law enforcement officers to strategically place roadblocks to limit access to the island during unsafe conditions.{{cite web |url=https://www.townofpalmbeach.com/582/Evacuation-and-Re-Entry |title=Evacuation and Re-Entry |publisher=Town of Palm Beach |access-date=April 27, 2020 |archive-date=August 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806035659/https://www.townofpalmbeach.com/582/Evacuation-and-Re-Entry |url-status=live }}

As of 2016, land use of the town is 60% residential, 13% rights-of-way, 10% private group uses, 3% recreational, 3% commercial, 2% public uses, 1% hotels (not including The Breakers), and less than 1% conservation, while The Breakers is a planned unit development accounting for 6% of land use. The remaining 2% of land was vacant.{{cite report |url=http://www.tcrpc.org/council_meetings/2017/May2017/Palm_Beach_EAR_Amendments.pdf |title=Town of Palm Beach Comprehensive Plan |date=March 30, 2017 |publisher=Town of Palm Beach Planning, Zoning, and Building Department |access-date=May 15, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806035525/http://tcrpc.org/council_meetings/2017/May2017/Palm_Beach_EAR_Amendments.pdf |archive-date=August 6, 2020 }}{{rp|I-9}} Palm Beach does not have any land dedicated to agricultural or industrial purposes. The town is essentially built out and cannot extend its boundaries.{{rp|I-11}}

Conservation is mainly confined to Bingham Island, Fishermen's Island, and Hunter's Island. Functioning as bird sanctuaries and rookeries, the islands are leased by the National Audubon Society, though state trustees of the Internal Improvement Fund and the Blossom Estate hold the titles to the islands. A part of Blossom Estate Subdivision just south of Southern Boulevard is also designated a conservation area.{{rp|I-11}}

According to the Köppen climate classification, Palm Beach has a tropical rainforest climate (Af) with hot, humid summers and warm, drier winters. The annual average precipitation is {{cvt|62.3|in|mm}}, most of which occurs from May through October.{{cite web |url=http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=30227&cityname=West+Palm+Beach%2C+Florida%2C+United+States+of+America&units= |title=West Palm Beach, Florida |publisher=Weatherbase |access-date=May 4, 2014 |archive-date=August 10, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140810220007/http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=30227&cityname=West+Palm+Beach%2C+Florida%2C+United+States+of+America&units= |url-status=live }} In the wet summer season, short-lived heavy afternoon thunderstorms are common.{{cite web |url=https://www.weather.gov/mfl/summer_season |title=Duration of Summer Season in South Florida |publisher=National Weather Service Miami, Florida |access-date=May 8, 2020 |archive-date=May 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210522184501/https://www.weather.gov/mfl/summer_season |url-status=live }} Palm Beach reports more than 2,900 hours of sunshine annually. Although tropical cyclones can impact Palm Beach, strikes are rare, with the last direct hit in 1928.{{cite news |url=http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sfl-ahurricane14sep14-story.html |title=Florida's forgotten storm: The Hurricane of 1928 |first=Nicole Sterghos |last=Brochu |date=September 14, 2003 |newspaper=Sun-Sentinel |access-date=September 3, 2018 |archive-date=May 4, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200504201438/https://www.sun-sentinel.com/sfl-ahurricane14sep14-story.html |url-status=live }}

The wet season is from May to October, when convective thunderstorms and downpours are common. Average high temperatures in Palm Beach are {{cvt|83|to|91|F|C}} with lows of {{cvt|68|to|76|F|C}}, though low temperatures at or above {{cvt|80|F|C}} are not uncommon. During this period, more than half of the summer days bring occasional afternoon thunderstorms and seabreezes that somewhat cool the rest of the day. The dry season (winter) brings dryer, sunny, and much less humid weather. Between December and March, average high temperatures range from {{cvt|74|to|82|F|C}} and low temperatures average between {{cvt|57|and|68|F|C}}. High temperatures occasionally drop below {{cvt|70|F|C}}, while at other times highs occasionally reach {{cvt|90|F|C}} in mid-winter. The highest recorded temperature, {{cvt|101|F|C}}, occurred on July 21, 1941, while the lowest observed temperature, {{convert|24|F|C}}, occurred on December 29, 1894, during the Great Freeze. In some years, the dry season can become quite dry, and water restrictions are imposed.{{cite news |url=https://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/20200410/driest-march-triggers-conservation-order-limits-on-watering-landscapes |title=Driest March triggers conservation order: Limits on watering landscapes |first=Kimberly |last=Miller |date=April 10, 2020 |newspaper=The Palm Beach Post |access-date=May 8, 2020 }}

{{weather box

|width = auto

|single line= = yes

|location = Palm Beach International Airport (West Palm Beach, Florida)

|Jan record high F=89

|Feb record high F=90

|Mar record high F=95

|Apr record high F=99

|May record high F=99

|Jun record high F=100

|Jul record high F=101

|Aug record high F=97

|Sep record high F=97

|Oct record high F=95

|Nov record high F=92

|Dec record high F=90

|Jan high F=75

|Feb high F=77

|Mar high F=79

|Apr high F=82

|May high F=86

|Jun high F=88

|Jul high F=90

|Aug high F=90

|Sep high F=88

|Oct high F=85

|Nov high F=80

|Dec high F=76

|Jan low F=57

|Feb low F=59

|Mar low F=62

|Apr low F=66

|May low F=71

|Jun low F=74

|Jul low F=76

|Aug low F=76

|Sep low F=75

|Oct low F=72

|Nov low F=66

|Dec low F=60

|Jan record low F=26

|Feb record low F=27

|Mar record low F=26

|Apr record low F=38

|May record low F=45

|Jun record low F=60

|Jul record low F=64

|Aug record low F=65

|Sep record low F=61

|Oct record low F=46

|Nov record low F=36

|Dec record low F=24

|precipitation colour=green

|Jan precipitation inch=3.13

|Feb precipitation inch=2.82

|Mar precipitation inch=3.66

|Apr precipitation inch=4.59

|May precipitation inch=4.51

|Jun precipitation inch=8.30

|Jul precipitation inch=5.76

|Aug precipitation inch=7.95

|Sep precipitation inch=8.35

|Oct precipitation inch=5.13

|Nov precipitation inch=4.75

|Dec precipitation inch=3.38

| source = National Weather Service{{cite web |url=https://www.weather.gov/media/mfl/climate/West%20Palm%20Beach%20Daily%20Normals%20(1981-2010).pdf |title=West Palm Beach |publisher=National Weather Service Miami, Florida |access-date=December 23, 2019 |archive-date=December 23, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191223192043/https://www.weather.gov/media/mfl/climate/Daily_Records_West_Palm_Beach.pdf |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://www.weather.gov/media/mfl/climate/Daily_Records_West_Palm_Beach.pdf |title=Climatological Records for West Palm Beach, FL Highlights 1888–2019 Daily Extremes |publisher=National Weather Service Miami, Florida |access-date=December 23, 2019 |archive-date=December 23, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191223192043/https://www.weather.gov/media/mfl/climate/Daily_Records_West_Palm_Beach.pdf |url-status=live }}

}}

{{US Census population

|1920=1135

|1930=1707

|1940=3747

|1950=3886

|1960=6055

|1970=9086

|1980=9729

|1990=9814

|2000=10468

|2010=8348

|2020=9245

|estimate=9258

|estyear=2023

|align-fn=center

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web |title=U.S. Census Bureau |url=https://www.census.gov/ |website=U.S. Census Bureau |access-date=June 16, 2017 |archive-date=December 27, 1996 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19961227012639/https://www.census.gov/ |url-status=live }}

1920–1970{{cite web |title=Census Counts: 1890-2020 |url=http://edr.state.fl.us/Content/local-government/data/data-a-to-z/FLmunicipalcensus.xls |website=Florida Municipal Population Census Counts: 1890 to 2020 |publisher=Office of Economic and Demographic Research, The Florida Legislature |access-date=June 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220404171529/http://edr.state.fl.us/Content/local-government/data/data-a-to-z/FLmunicipalcensus.xls |archive-date=April 4, 2022 |date=2023 |url-status=live }} 1980{{cite web |title=General Population Characteristics FLORIDA 1980 Census of Population |url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1980a_flABCs1-02.pdf |website=07553445v1chA-Cpt11sec1ch002.pdf |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |access-date=June 11, 2023 |archive-date=March 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326101558/https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1980a_flABCs1-02.pdf |url-status=live }} 1990{{cite web |title=1990 Census of Population General Population Characteristics Florida Section 1 of 2 |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1990/cp-1/cp-1-11-1.pdf |website=Florida: 1990, Part 1 |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |access-date=June 11, 2023 |archive-date=March 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326024908/https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1990/cp-1/cp-1-11-1.pdf |url-status=live }}
2000{{cite web |title=PL002: HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT ... - Census Bureau Table |url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=PL002&g=160XX00US1254025&tid=DECENNIALPL2000.PL002 |website=PL002 | HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE [73] |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |access-date=June 11, 2023 |archive-date=June 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230611225020/https://data.census.gov/table?q=PL002&g=160XX00US1254025&tid=DECENNIALPL2000.PL002 |url-status=live }} 2010{{cite web |title=P2: HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT ... - Census Bureau Table |url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=P2&g=160XX00US1254025&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2 |website=P2 | HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |access-date=June 11, 2023 |archive-date=June 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230611225022/https://data.census.gov/table?q=P2&g=160XX00US1254025&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2 |url-status=live }} 2020 2023{{cite web |title=United States Census Bureau |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/palmbeachtownflorida/INC110222 |website=census.gov |access-date=June 12, 2024 }}

}}

The town's population peaked at 10,468 people in the 2000 census but fell by 20.3% to 8,348 people in 2010. However, during the "winter season", defined as November through April, the population of Palm Beach swells to around 25,000.{{cite web |url=https://townofpalmbeach.com/DocumentCenter/View/7965/2018-Final-Budget?bidId= |title=Town of Palm Beach, Florida, Comprehensive Annual Budget Fiscal Year 2018 |page=34 |publisher=Town of Palm Beach |access-date=May 8, 2020 |format=PDF |archive-date=August 3, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803150631/https://townofpalmbeach.com/DocumentCenter/View/7965/2018-Final-Budget?bidId= |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Gordon |first1=Amanda L. |title=What Happens When the Top 1% of New York Converge on Your Town |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2022-04-29/new-yorkers-moving-to-florida-city-s-richest-1-converge-on-west-palm-beach |access-date=May 4, 2022 |work=Bloomberg Businessweek |date=April 29, 2022 |language=en |archive-date=May 4, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220504232700/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2022-04-29/new-yorkers-moving-to-florida-city-s-richest-1-converge-on-west-palm-beach |url-status=live }} The town's affluence and its recreational facilities, shops, restaurants, social scene, and "community-oriented sensibility" were cited when it was selected in June 2003 as America's "Best Place to Live" by Robb Report magazine.{{cite magazine |url=https://robbreport.com/shelter/home-design/robb-reports-best-places-to-live-242835/ |title=Robb Report's Best Places to Live |first=Shelia Gibson |last=Stoodley |date=July 1, 2003 |magazine=Robb Report |access-date=May 8, 2020 |archive-date=August 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806012127/https://robbreport.com/shelter/home-design/robb-reports-best-places-to-live-242835/ |url-status=live }}

Palm Beach ranked as the 27th-wealthiest place in the United States in 2016 according to Bloomberg News.{{cite web |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2018-hundred-richest-places/ |first1=Shelly |last1=Hagan |first2=Wei |last2=Lu |title=Bloomberg - America's 100 Richest Places |newspaper=Bloomberg News |date=March 5, 2018 |access-date=May 13, 2020 |archive-date=June 13, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180613000053/https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2018-hundred-richest-places/ |url-status=live }} In the following year, Forbes reported the town had 30-plus billionaires.{{cite news |url=https://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/news/local/forbes-billionaires-list-has-plus-palm-beachers-trump-worth-drops/Coy8vJKVyHuKlqCukWKsWN/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191109091711/https://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/news/local/forbes-billionaires-list-has-plus-palm-beachers-trump-worth-drops/Coy8vJKVyHuKlqCukWKsWN/ |archive-date=November 9, 2019 |title=Forbes' billionaires list has 30-plus Palm Beachers; Trump's worth drops |date=March 21, 2017 |first=Darrell |last=Hofheinz |newspaper=Palm Beach Daily News |access-date=May 13, 2020 |url-status=live }}

Palm Beach had the 40th-highest percentage of Russian residents in the United States in 2000, with 10.30% of the populace – tied with Pomona, New York, and the township of Lower Merion, Pennsylvania.{{cite web |url=http://www.epodunk.com/ancestry/Russian.html |title=Ancestry Map of Russian Communities |website=Epodunk.com |access-date=May 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191029162946/http://www.epodunk.com/ancestry/Russian.html |archive-date=October 29, 2019 }} It also had the 26th highest percentage of Austrian residents in the United States, at 2.10% of the town's population, tied with 19 other municipalities in the United States.{{cite web |url=http://www.epodunk.com/ancestry/Austrian.html |title=Ancestry Map of Austrian Communities |website=Epodunk.com |access-date=May 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190329195201/http://www.epodunk.com/ancestry/Austrian.html |archive-date=March 29, 2019 }}

In 2000, the town's household income was $109,219. Males had a median income of $71,685 versus $42,875 for females; 5.3% of the population and 2.4% of families were below the poverty line. About 4.6% of those under the age of 18 and 2.9% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line. Palm Beach had a median household income of $124,562 and a median family income of $137,867.{{cite web |url=http://www.tcrpc.org/publications/census/palm_beach/palmbch2000census.pdf |title=Table DP-1. Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 |publisher=Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council |access-date=April 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806045026/https://tcrpc.org/publications/census/palm_beach/palmbch2000census.pdf |archive-date=August 6, 2020 }}

File:Worth Avenue by Volkan Yuksel 2012-06-17 DSC02060.jpg

In 2018, the town of Palm Beach had an estimated labor force of 2,788 people. Palm Beach had an unemployment rate of just 2.3%, although 66% of the town's population was not in the labor force. The most common professions among the town's labor force are finance, insurance, real estate, rental, and leasing (24.1%); professional, scientific, management, administrative, and waste management services (23.6%); retail (12.2%); and educational services, health care, and social assistance (10.5%).{{cite web |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=DP03&tid=ACSDP5Y2018.DP03&hidePreview=true&g=1600000US1254025 |title=Selected Economic Characteristics |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=April 17, 2020 |archive-date=August 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806050843/https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=DP03&tid=ACSDP5Y2018.DP03&hidePreview=true&g=1600000US1254025 |url-status=live }} However, as of 2017, only 4.1% of jobs in Palm Beach were held by residents of the town, with the most common other home destinations being West Palm Beach (15.4%), Palm Beach Gardens (3.9%), Lake Worth Beach (3.7%), Wellington (3.3%), and Greenacres (3.1%).{{cite web |url=https://onthemap.ces.census.gov/ |title=Home Destination Analysis |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=April 17, 2020 }}

Tourism is a major industry in the town, bringing in around $5 billion in annual revenue.{{cite news |url=https://cbs12.com/news/local/town-wide-curfew-issued-in-palm-beach-as-city-declares-state-of-emergency |title=Town-wide curfew issued in Palm Beach as city declares state of emergency |first1=Lizandra |last1=Portal |first2=Luli |last2=Ortiz |date=March 16, 2020 |publisher=WPEC |access-date=April 17, 2020 |archive-date=April 23, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200423220916/https://cbs12.com/news/local/town-wide-curfew-issued-in-palm-beach-as-city-declares-state-of-emergency |url-status=live }} Palm Beach has several historical and luxurious hotels and lodgings, most notably The Brazilian Court, The Breakers, the Palm Beach Hotel (now the Palm Beach Hotel Condominium),{{cite web |url=http://www.palmbeachhotelfl.com/about-us/ |title=About Us |publisher=Palm Beach Hotel Condominium |access-date=May 14, 2020 |archive-date=February 25, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200225185255/http://www.palmbeachhotelfl.com/about-us/ |url-status=live }} the Tideline Ocean Resort & Spa, and the Vineta Hotel.{{cite web |url=http://business.palmbeachchamber.com/list/category/hotels-60 |title=Hotels |publisher=Palm Beach Chamber Of Commerce |access-date=May 9, 2020 |archive-date=May 5, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200505150540/http://business.palmbeachchamber.com/list/category/hotels-60 |url-status=live }} The Breakers alone employs more than 2,200 people from around the world.{{cite web |url=https://www.thebreakers.com/careers/workplace-information/ |title=Workplace Information |publisher=The Breakers Palm Beach |access-date=April 17, 2020 |archive-date=August 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806042616/https://www.thebreakers.com/careers/workplace-information/ |url-status=live }} The town of Palm Beach also contains Worth Avenue, an upscale shopping and dining district. Known for selling high-quality merchandise since the 1920s, Worth Avenue includes about 250 high-end shops, boutiques, restaurants, and art galleries.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/12/business/12palm.html?_r=0 |title=Recession Pain, Even in Palm Beach |first=David |last=Segal |date=April 11, 2009 |newspaper=The New York Times |access-date=April 17, 2020 |archive-date=July 5, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210705071239/https://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/12/business/12palm.html?_r=0 |url-status=live }} Other commercial districts of note include Royal Poinciana Plaza and Royal Poinciana Way Historic District, with the latter being listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2015 due to its status as "the town's original Main Street", as noted by the Palm Beach Daily News.{{cite news |url=https://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/business/check-out-new-luxury-shops-coming-palm-beach-plaza-this-fall/fRyNX9WmeoKQoaDzu0kqnM/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309193925/https://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/business/check-out-new-luxury-shops-coming-palm-beach-plaza-this-fall/fRyNX9WmeoKQoaDzu0kqnM/ |archive-date=March 9, 2021 |title=Check out 12 new luxury shops coming to Palm Beach's Royal Poinciana Plaza this fall |date=August 31, 2017 |first=Aleese |last=Kopf |newspaper=Palm Beach Daily News |access-date=April 17, 2020 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |url=https://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/news/local/royal-poinciana-way-added-national-register-historic-places/72oX6VNgm8l1Ap6Wl1L9vN/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309193912/https://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/news/local/royal-poinciana-way-added-national-register-historic-places/72oX6VNgm8l1Ap6Wl1L9vN/ |archive-date=March 9, 2021 |title=Royal Poinciana Way added to National Register of Historic Places |date=September 24, 2016 |first=David |last=Rogers |newspaper=Palm Beach Daily News |access-date=April 17, 2020 |url-status=live }}

File:Society Of The 4 Arts Garden Palm Beach Florida.jpg]]

The Society of the Four Arts is a nonprofit charity organization established in 1936. Located on the north side of Royal Palm Way near the Royal Park Bridge, the Four Arts Plaza has an art gallery, a concert hall auditorium, two libraries, a botanical garden, and a sculpture garden. The two libraries serve as public libraries for the town of Palm Beach, one a children's library and the other a general public library. Officially named the Gioconda and Joseph King Library, the town's general public library has more than 70,000 items, including books, audiobooks, DVDs, and periodicals. The Dixon Education Building features art studio and classrooms, as well as an apartment for an artist visiting the Society of the Four Arts.{{cite web |url=https://www.fourarts.org/about/ |title=About The Society of the Four Arts |date=April 20, 2020 |publisher=The Society of the Four Arts |access-date=April 21, 2020 |archive-date=August 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806044932/https://www.fourarts.org/about/ |url-status=live }}

Royal Poinciana Playhouse, near Cocoanut Row and Royal Poinciana Way, formerly hosted ballets, Broadway plays, opera, and other cultural events.{{rp|VI-8}} Although the venue has been closed since 2004, it remains structurally sound. Up Markets acquired control of the playhouse in 2014 via a long-term lease.{{cite news |url=https://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/entertainment/20200115/council-members-grow-impatient-with-search-for-playhouse-tenant |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309193921/https://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/entertainment/20200115/council-members-grow-impatient-with-search-for-playhouse-tenant |archive-date=March 9, 2021 |title=Council members grow impatient with search for playhouse tenant |first=Jan |last=Sjostrom |date=January 15, 2020 |newspaper=Palm Beach Daily News |access-date=May 15, 2020 |url-status=live }} In December 2022, extensive renovations began on the building's interior, which will have a capacity of about 400 people upon its expected completion in 2024.{{cite news |url=https://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/story/news/local/2022/12/18/construction-underway-on-royal-poinciana-playhouse/10805075002/ |title=Construction underway on Royal Poinciana Playhouse redevelopment project |author=Wagner, Jodie |date=December 18, 2022 |newspaper=Palm Beach Daily News |access-date=June 19, 2023 |archive-date=June 19, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230619221523/https://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/story/news/local/2022/12/18/construction-underway-on-royal-poinciana-playhouse/10805075002/ |url-status=live }}

Worth Avenue and its vicinity also has several art galleries, including DTR Modern Galleries, Evey Fine Art Gallery, Galeria of Sculpture, Gallerie Y, and the John H. Surovek Gallery. Additionally, the Norton Museum of Art and its sculpture gardens are just across the Intracoastal Waterway in West Palm Beach.{{cite web |url=http://worth-avenue.com/directory/?category=art-and-art-galleries |title=Directory |publisher=Worth Avenue |access-date=April 24, 2020 }}

The Hope for Depression Research Foundation hosts an annual 5K run/walk known as the Race of Hope to Defeat Depression. In 2020, the event raised about $400,000 for depression research.{{cite news |url=https://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/news/20200215/race-of-hope-raises-400k-for-depression-research |title=Race of Hope raises $400K for depression research |date=February 15, 2020 |first=Gabrielle |last=Mayer |newspaper=Palm Beach Daily News |access-date=May 9, 2020 |archive-date=February 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200218135715/https://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/news/20200215/race-of-hope-raises-400k-for-depression-research |url-status=live }} The Palm Beach International Film Festival had been hosted in the town in the months of March and April since 1996. However, the festival has been on hiatus since 2018, following the resignation of CEO Jeff Davis.{{cite news |url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/entertainment/theater-and-arts/sf-palm-beach-international-film-festival-hiatus-20180119-story.html |title=Palm Beach International Film Festival calls off 2018 event |first=Phillip |last=Valys |date=January 19, 2018 |newspaper=Sun-Sentinel |access-date=May 9, 2020 |archive-date=August 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806023948/https://www.sun-sentinel.com/entertainment/theater-and-arts/sf-palm-beach-international-film-festival-hiatus-20180119-story.html |url-status=live }} Various events are hosted on Worth Avenue, including historical walking tours held year-round.{{cite web |url=https://worth-avenue.com/event/ |title=Events |publisher=Worth Avenue |access-date=May 9, 2020 |archive-date=May 13, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200513181507/https://worth-avenue.com/event/ |url-status=live }} Once a year, the Palm Beach Charity Register magazine publishes a guide to charitable events held in the town and other nearby localities. The magazine promoted 186 charity galas, luncheons, and parties scheduled between the fall of 2019 and summer of 2020.{{cite magazine |url=https://issuu.com/pbmg/docs/pbcr_2020 |title=Good Neighbors |first=Liz |last=Petoniak |date=October 2019 |magazine=Palm Beach Charity Register |page=8 |access-date=May 9, 2020 |archive-date=August 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806063239/https://issuu.com/pbmg/docs/pbcr_2020 |url-status=live }}

File:PB_FL_Flagler_Whitehall02.jpg, also known as Flagler Museum]]

Whitehall reopened as the Flagler Museum on February 6, 1960, after Henry Flagler's granddaughter, Jean Flagler Matthews, purchased the property in 1959 to prevent its demolition. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972 and the National Historic Landmark list in 2000,{{cite news |url=https://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/news/local/thousands-take-founder-day-flagler-museum/gNyEdhU4P5NisUqFN7XlPK/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309193916/https://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/news/local/thousands-take-founder-day-flagler-museum/gNyEdhU4P5NisUqFN7XlPK/ |archive-date=March 9, 2021 |title=Thousands take in Founder's Day at Flagler Museum |date=September 4, 2016 |first=Aleese |last=Kopf |newspaper=Palm Beach Daily News |access-date=April 21, 2020 |url-status=live }} the museum replicates the original appearance of the house and has exhibits about Flagler himself,{{cite web |url=https://flaglermuseum.us/exhibits/past-exhibits |title=Past Exhibitions |publisher=Flagler Museum |access-date=April 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201202003433/https://flaglermuseum.us/exhibits/past-exhibits |archive-date=December 2, 2020 }} Flagler's personal railcar (built in 1886), the Florida East Coast Railway, life in the Gilded Age, and the early history of Palm Beach. Almost 100,000 people visit the museum annually. Adjacent to the Flagler Museum and behind the Royal Poinciana Chapel is a giant, almost 200-year old kapok tree, which also attracts visitors.{{cite news |url=https://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/news/news/local/a-gorgeous-piece-of-sculpture/nkBD9/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309193920/https://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/news/news/local/a-gorgeous-piece-of-sculpture/nkBD9/ |archive-date=March 9, 2021 |title=Historic kapok 'a magnificent piece of living art' |date=September 26, 2016 |newspaper=Palm Beach Daily News |access-date=April 21, 2020 |url-status=live }}

The Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach established Pan's Garden in 1994 along Hibiscus Avenue between Chilean Avenue and Peruvian Avenue. The garden has a statue of Pan (originally designed in 1890 by Frederick William MacMonnies), the ancient Greek god who protects and guards flocks. Another significant feature is the Casa Apava wall, a 1920s tile wall from the remnants of the Casa Apava estate. Encompassing approximately {{convert|0.5|acres}}, the garden also features many endangered species of native vegetation.{{cite web |url=https://www.palmbeachpreservation.org/visit/pans-garden |title=Pan's Garden |publisher=Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach |access-date=April 21, 2020 |archive-date=May 20, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200520072513/https://www.palmbeachpreservation.org/visit/pans-garden |url-status=live }}

Bethesda-by-the-Sea, originally a mostly wooden structure built from lumber from the beach in April 1889, is the oldest church in Palm Beach. The church opened at its current location by Christmas 1926.{{cite news |url=https://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/article/20140622/news/306229913 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309193927/https://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/article/20140622/news/306229913 |archive-date=March 9, 2021 |title=Celebrating 125 years: 'Faithful people' built Bethesda-by-the-Sea |date=June 22, 2014 |first=Michele |last=Dargan |newspaper=Palm Beach Daily News |access-date=May 9, 2020 |url-status=live }} Bethesda-by-the-Sea has hosted the weddings of a few notable individuals, including Donald and Melania Trump in 2005 and Michael Jordan and Yvette Prieto in 2013.{{cite news |url=https://www.palmbeachpost.com/article/20150625/ENTERTAINMENT/812031334 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309192403/https://www.palmbeachpost.com/article/20150625/ENTERTAINMENT/812031334 |archive-date=March 9, 2021 |title=Which 5 celebrities got married in Palm Beach (and Jupiter)? |date=June 25, 2015 |first=Staci |last=Sturrock |newspaper=The Palm Beach Post |access-date=May 9, 2020 |url-status=live }}

The Palm Beach Chamber of Commerce identifies several other points of interest in the town, including:{{cite book |url=http://passportpublications.com/palm_beach_town_lilly_map.html |title=A Visitor's Map of Palm Beach |chapter=Points of Interest |publisher=Palm Beach Chamber of Commerce |page=4 |access-date=May 9, 2020 |archive-date=August 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806030027/http://passportpublications.com/palm_beach_town_lilly_map.html |url-status=live }}

• Major Alley - Located on Peruvian Avenue just one block north of the western terminus of Worth Avenue, Major Alley (named after architect Howard Major) has six Georgian revival-style cottages built in the 1920s.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/travel-guide/a4323/palm-beach-chic-book/ |title=A Look Inside Some of the Most Whimsical Homes in Palm Beach |date=November 17, 2015 |first=Pilar |last=Viladas |magazine=Town & Country |access-date=May 9, 2020 }}
• Royal Poinciana Chapel - Built in 1897 by Henry Flagler, he intended for the interdenominational chapel to be used by guests at his hotels. The chapel expanded to 400 seats about a year later. It is adjacent to the Whitehall property.{{cite news |url=https://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/news/20170227/royal-poinciana-chapel-reflects-on-120-years-in-palm-beach |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309193905/https://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/news/20170227/royal-poinciana-chapel-reflects-on-120-years-in-palm-beach |archive-date=March 9, 2021 |title=Royal Poinciana Chapel reflects on 120 years in Palm Beach |date=February 27, 2017 |newspaper=Palm Beach Daily News |first=Robert |last=Norris |access-date=May 9, 2020 |url-status=live }}
• Seagull Cottage - Situated between the Royal Poinciana Chapel and Whitehall, Seagull Cottage is the oldest surviving home in the Palm Beach, constructed in 1886 by R.R. McCormick, a railroad and land developer from Denver. Flagler purchased Seagull Cottage from McCormick in 1893 for $75,000, and it remained his winter residence until 1902, when Whitehall was completed.{{cite web |url=https://royalpoincianachapel.org/about/buildings-and-grounds/ |title=Buildings & Grounds |publisher=Royal Poinciana Chapel |access-date=May 9, 2020 |archive-date=August 5, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200805101859/https://royalpoincianachapel.org/about/buildings-and-grounds/ |url-status=live }}
• Phipps Plaza Historic District - Described by the Palm Beach Daily News as a "picturesque ensemble" of buildings, the Phipps Plaza Historic District is a tight ring of structures built between the 1920s and the 1940s. Located just north of the intersection of Royal Palm Way and South County Road, the buildings at Phipps Plaza were mostly constructed by the Palm Beach Company, with the assistance of Addison Mizner and Marion Sims Wyeth.{{cite news |url=https://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/business/real-estate/architects-gave-phipps-plaza-distinctive-look/RdQytgi95D5w83hmfGSu2K/ |archive-date=March 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309193922/https://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/business/real-estate/architects-gave-phipps-plaza-distinctive-look/RdQytgi95D5w83hmfGSu2K/ |title=Architects gave Phipps Plaza distinctive look |date=March 22, 2017 |first=Augustus |last=Mayhew |newspaper=Palm Beach Daily News |access-date=May 9, 2020 |url-status=live }}
• The Colony Hotel Palm Beach - A British Colonial-style hotel at South County Road and Hammond Avenue, just one block south of Worth Avenue. Opened in 1947, the six floor hotel has eighty-nine rooms and three penthouses.{{cite news |url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/travel/fl-hotel-colony-20100216-story.html |title=Checking In: Colony Hotel in Palm Beach has historic pedigree |date=February 16, 2010 |newspaper=Sun-Sentinel |access-date=May 9, 2020 |archive-date=August 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806071711/https://www.sun-sentinel.com/travel/fl-hotel-colony-20100216-story.html |url-status=live }}
• Addison Mizner Memorial Fountain - Erected by Mizner himself in 1929, the fountain is in the middle of South County Road directly north of the town hall and to the west of the police department headquarters. The fountain is constructed of double-bowl cast stone. In 2017, the restoration of the fountain was named the project of the year by the American Public Works Association's Florida chapter.{{cite news |url=https://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/news/local/palm-beach-mizner-fountain-named-project-the-year/MewMvYnef6XwAYeDYQsGNI/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309193915/https://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/news/local/palm-beach-mizner-fountain-named-project-the-year/MewMvYnef6XwAYeDYQsGNI/ |archive-date=March 9, 2021 |title=Palm Beach's Mizner Fountain named 'project of the year' |date=March 14, 2017 |first=William |last=Kelly |newspaper=Palm Beach Daily News |access-date=May 9, 2020 |url-status=live }}

File:Clock tower in Palm Beach, FL, US.jpg

The Recreation Department of Palm Beach oversees several public recreation facilities, including the Morton and Barbara Mandel Recreation Center, Palm Beach Docks, Par 3 Golf Course, and many tennis centers.{{cite web |url=https://www.townofpalmbeach.com/269/RecreationDepartment |title=Recreation Department |publisher=Town of Palm Beach |access-date=April 24, 2020 |archive-date=August 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806050918/https://www.townofpalmbeach.com/269/RecreationDepartment |url-status=live }} The only public marina in the town, the Palm Beach Docks opened in the 1940s and is along the Intracoastal Waterway between the Royal Palm Bridge and Worth Avenue.{{cite web |url=https://www.townofpalmbeach.com/282/Town-Docks |title=Town Docks |publisher=Town of Palm Beach |access-date=April 24, 2020 }} Palm Beach Docks has three main docks and eighty-eight boat slips, along with many accommodations for boaters.

There are three public beaches in the town, the Palm Beach Municipal Beach, Phipps Ocean Park, and R. G. Kreusler Park.{{cite web |url=https://www.thepalmbeaches.com/palm-beach/beaches-watersports |title=Palm Beach – Beaches & Watersports |date=April 6, 2017 |publisher=Discover The Palm Beaches |access-date=April 24, 2020 |archive-date=August 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806063332/https://www.thepalmbeaches.com/palm-beach/beaches-watersports |url-status=live }} The former, also known as Midtown Beach,{{cite news |url=https://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/news/local/beach-access-palm-beach-remains-source-confusion/m7HWZZuN86Hn3qx4mTRUyI/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126031623/https://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/news/local/beach-access-palm-beach-remains-source-confusion/m7HWZZuN86Hn3qx4mTRUyI/ |archive-date=January 26, 2021 |title=Beach access in Palm Beach remains a source of confusion |date=November 28, 2017 |first=William |last=Kelly |newspaper=Palm Beach Daily News |access-date=April 24, 2020 |url-status=live }} has metered parking spots along South Ocean Boulevard from Royal Palm Way southward to Hammon Avenue.{{cite web |url=https://wpbparks.com/beaches/palm-beach-public-beach/ |title=Palm Beach Public Beach |publisher=City of West Palm Beach |access-date=April 24, 2020 |archive-date=August 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806040356/https://wpbparks.com/beaches/palm-beach-public-beach/ |url-status=live }} Phipps Ocean Park includes the Little Red Schoolhouse, the first school building in southeast Florida (built in 1886), restored and moved from its original location near where the Flagler Memorial Bridge stands today.{{cite web |url=http://www.pbchistoryonline.org/page/teaching-and-preaching |title=Teaching and Preaching |publisher=Historical Society of Palm Beach County |access-date=October 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230409000902/https://www.pbchistoryonline.org/page/teaching-and-preaching |archive-date=April 9, 2023 }} The town also has many private beaches, while R. G. Kreusler Park (owned and operated by Palm Beach County) lies directly north of the Lake Worth Municipal Beach. In addition to Pan's Garden, the Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach also owns the Ambassador Earl T. Smith Memorial Park and Fountain, a small, 0.24 acre (0.097 ha) park near the town hall.{{rp|VI-8}}

The town has three bicycling and pedestrian paths. The Lake Trail is a 4.7 mile (7.6 km) path along the Intracoastal Waterway from Worth Avenue to near the Lake Worth Inlet. Another trail, the County Road Pedestrian Path/Bicycle Lane is around {{convert|1.1|mi|km}} in length from Kawama Lane to Bahama Lane along North County Road. The third path is the Southern Pedestrian/Bicycle Path, running from Sloan's Curve to the town's southern boundaries along State Road A1A, a distance of roughly {{convert|3.5|mi|km}}.{{rp|VI-7}}

Palm Beach has several social and golf clubs, most notably the Everglades Club and Mar-a-Lago. The former, built by Addison Mizner and Paris Singer in 1918, had the original purpose of being a hospital for soldiers injured in World War I. However, the war soon ended and the facilities were restructured into a private club which opened in January 1919.{{cite web |url=http://www.pbchistoryonline.org/page/private-clubs |title=Private Clubs |publisher=Historical Society of Palm Beach County |access-date=October 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230408143132/https://www.pbchistoryonline.org/page/private-clubs |archive-date=April 8, 2023 }} Some of the amenities include a golf course, tennis courts, and reception halls. Everglades Club has nearly 1,000 members. The club, which is very exclusive, does not have a website and prohibits cellphones.{{cite news |url=https://www.palmbeachpost.com/article/20110417/ENTERTAINMENT/812034354 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309193741/https://www.palmbeachpost.com/article/20110417/ENTERTAINMENT/812034354 |archive-date=March 9, 2021 |title=An exclusive look inside the mysterious Everglades Club |date=April 17, 2011 |first=Barbara |last=Marshall |newspaper=The Palm Beach Post |access-date=April 22, 2020 |url-status=live }} Mar-a-Lago is 126-room, 62,500-square-foot (5,810 m²) mansion that features many hotel-style amenities.{{cite news |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/nation-world/ct-hurricane-irma-mar-a-lago-20170908-story.html |title=For Irma vs. Mar-a-Lago, the smart money is on Trump's house |date=September 8, 2017 |first=Terry |last=Spencer |newspaper=Chicago Tribune |access-date=April 22, 2020 |archive-date=February 26, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200226045144/https://www.chicagotribune.com/nation-world/ct-hurricane-irma-mar-a-lago-20170908-story.html |url-status=live }}{{cite news |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2017/01/25/mar-a-lago-membership-fee-doubles-to-200000.html |title=Mar-a-Lago membership fee doubles to $200,000 |first=Robert |last=Frank |date=January 25, 2017 |newspaper=CNBC |access-date=February 13, 2017 |archive-date=February 13, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170213030639/http://www.cnbc.com/2017/01/25/mar-a-lago-membership-fee-doubles-to-200000.html |url-status=live }} Built between 1924 and 1927, General Foods and Post Cereals heiress Marjorie Merriweather Post originally owned the estate, but willed it to the United States government prior to her death in 1973 in hopes the residence would be used as a Winter White House. Mar-a-Lago was returned to the Post family in 1981, before being sold to future United States president Donald Trump in 1985 for approximately $10 million.

File:Palm_Beach_Town_Hall.jpg]]

Palm Beach operates under a council–manager form of government. The town's legislative body, the town council, is composed of five members, who serve two-year terms and seek office in staggered, at-large, non-partisan elections. Once a month, the town council meets at the Palm Beach Town Hall, though special meetings may be conducted as needed. The mayor, also elected to two year terms, acts as ombudsman and an intergovernmental figure.{{cite web |url=https://www.townofpalmbeach.com/384/TownOfficials |title=Town Officials |publisher=Town of Palm Beach |access-date=April 21, 2020 |archive-date=April 22, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200422175909/https://www.townofpalmbeach.com/384/TownOfficials |url-status=live }} Danielle Moore, a former three-term member of the town council,{{cite news |url=https://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/story/news/2020/12/31/council-member-moore-makes-bid-mayor-seat/4094149001/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210418121355/https://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/story/news/2020/12/31/council-member-moore-makes-bid-mayor-seat/4094149001/ |archive-date=April 18, 2021 |title=Council member Danielle Moore makes bid for Palm Beach mayor's seat |author=Delgado, Adriana |date=December 31, 2020 |newspaper=Palm Beach Daily News |access-date=April 15, 2021 |url-status=live }} has served as mayor since April 13, 2021.{{cite news |url=https://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/story/news/local/2021/04/13/bittersweet-emotions-town-bids-farewell-longtime-mayor-coniglio/7139551002/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210418211752/https://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/story/news/local/2021/04/13/bittersweet-emotions-town-bids-farewell-longtime-mayor-coniglio/7139551002/ |archive-date=April 18, 2021 |title='Bittersweet emotions': Palm Beach bids farewell to longtime mayor Coniglio |author=Wagner, Jodie |date=April 14, 2020 |newspaper=Palm Beach Daily News |access-date=April 15, 2021 |url-status=live }} Additionally, a town manager has the authority to appoint and supervise the senior management team, including the deputy town manager and department directors. The officeholder of town manager is appointed annually by the town council. Kirk Blouin, a former Palm Beach chief of police and later Director of Public Safety, has served as town manager since February 13, 2018.{{cite web |url=https://www.townofpalmbeach.com/394/Town-Manager |title=Kirk Blouin, Town Manager |publisher=Town of Palm Beach |access-date=April 16, 2021 |archive-date=April 17, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417023652/https://www.townofpalmbeach.com/394/Town-Manager |url-status=live }}

Palm Beach is part of Florida's 22nd congressional district, which has been represented by Democrat Lois Frankel since 2023.{{cite web |url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/FL/22 |title=Florida's 22nd Congressional District |publisher=GovTrack |access-date=June 19, 2023 |archive-date=June 19, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230619220729/https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/FL/22 |url-status=live }} The town at the state level is part of the 89th district of the Florida House of Representatives, which covers many of the immediate coastal cities in Palm Beach County from Palm Beach Shores southward.{{cite web |url=https://www.myfloridahouse.gov/FileStores/Web/District/2013_Districts/large/H000H9049_district_89wmap.pdf |title=H000H9049 (2012 House), District 89 |date=2013 |publisher=Florida House of Representatives Redistricting Committee |access-date=May 9, 2020 |archive-date=October 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201018093124/https://www.myfloridahouse.gov/FileStores/Web/District/2013_Districts/large/H000H9049_district_89wmap.pdf |url-status=live }} Palm Beach is also part of the 30th district of the Florida Senate, which includes northeastern and some of east-central Palm Beach County.{{cite web |url=https://www.flsenate.gov/PublishedContent/Session/Redistricting/Districts/sd2016/Letter/sd30_Lettersize.pdf |title=Florida State Senate District 30 |publisher=Florida Senate |access-date=May 9, 2020 |archive-date=January 2, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200102222756/https://www.flsenate.gov/PublishedContent/Session/Redistricting/Districts/sd2016/Letter/sd30_Lettersize.pdf |url-status=live }} Two districts represent the town at the Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners. The town north of Worth Avenue is part of the 1st district,{{cite web |url=http://discover.pbcgov.org/countycommissioners/DistrictMaps/D1-Map.pdf |title=Palm Beach County District 1 |date=December 6, 2016 |publisher=GIS Service Bureau |access-date=May 15, 2020 |archive-date=September 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200918171506/https://discover.pbcgov.org/countycommissioners/DistrictMaps/D1-Map.pdf |url-status=live }} while the 7th district covers areas south of Worth Avenue.{{cite web |url=http://discover.pbcgov.org/countycommissioners/DistrictMaps/D7-Map.pdf |title=Palm Beach County District 7 |date=December 6, 2016 |publisher=GIS Service Bureau |access-date=May 15, 2020 |archive-date=September 24, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200924042120/https://discover.pbcgov.org/countycommissioners/DistrictMaps/D7-Map.pdf |url-status=live }} Palm Beach is a generally Republican town. In 2016, Donald Trump received 3,231 votes and Hillary Clinton received 2,612 votes.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/upshot/election-2016-voting-precinct-maps.html |title=An Extremely Detailed Map of the 2016 Presidential Election |first1=Matthew |last1=Bloch |first2=Larry |last2=Buchanan |first3=Josh |last3=Katz |first4=Kevin |last4=Quealy |date=July 25, 2018 |newspaper=The New York Times |access-date=May 17, 2020 |archive-date=December 9, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201209223746/https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/upshot/election-2016-voting-precinct-maps.html |url-status=live }}

The School District of Palm Beach County operates one school in the town, Palm Beach Public Elementary School, on Cocoanut Row between Seaview Avenue and Royal Palm Beach and directly east of the Society of the Four Arts. Opened in 1929, Palm Beach Public Elementary School has a school grade of A and an attendance of 362.{{cite web |url=https://pbp.palmbeachschools.org/school_info |title=School Information |publisher=School District of Palm Beach County |access-date=May 9, 2020 |archive-date=August 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806030017/https://pbp.palmbeachschools.org/school_info |url-status=live }} Palm Beach Day Academy is a private school in the area. It was formed in 2006 from a merger between Palm Beach Day School and the Academy of the Palm Beaches. The school has one campus in Palm Beach and another in West Palm Beach.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/50608602/palm-beach-daily-news/ |title=Thompson retirement may mean move to Maryland |page=A12 |date=June 7, 2007 |newspaper=Palm Beach Daily News |access-date=May 9, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com }} Most public middle school students attend Conniston Community Middle School in West Palm Beach, while students who live in the southern portions of the town attend Lake Worth Middle School.{{cite web |url=https://www.palmbeachschools.org/UserFiles/Servers/Server_270532/File/Students%20%26%20Parents/Student%20Registration/Boundaries/Middle%20Schools%20Maps/SY2019-20_MiddleAttendanceBoundary.pdf |title=Middle School Attendance Boundaries SY2019–20 |date=2019 |publisher=School District of Palm Beach County |access-date=May 9, 2020 |archive-date=August 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806014946/https://www.palmbeachschools.org/UserFiles/Servers/Server_270532/File/Students%20%26%20Parents/Student%20Registration/Boundaries/Middle%20Schools%20Maps/SY2019-20_MiddleAttendanceBoundary.pdf |url-status=live }} Public high school students in northern Palm Beach attend Palm Beach Gardens Community High School and students residing elsewhere in the town attend Forest Hill Community High School. Palm Beach is also near Dreyfoos School of the Arts, though that school has no attendance boundaries.{{cite web |url=https://www.palmbeachschools.org/UserFiles/Servers/Server_270532/File/Students%20%26%20Parents/Student%20Registration/Boundaries/High%20Schools%20Maps/SY2019-20_HighAttendanceBoundary.pdf |title=High School Attendance Boundaries SY2019–20 |date=2019 |publisher=School District of Palm Beach County |access-date=May 9, 2020 |archive-date=August 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806021518/https://www.palmbeachschools.org/UserFiles/Servers/Server_270532/File/Students%20%26%20Parents/Student%20Registration/Boundaries/High%20Schools%20Maps/SY2019-20_HighAttendanceBoundary.pdf |url-status=live }}

There are no colleges or universities in Palm Beach. However, the nearby cities of Lake Worth Beach and West Palm Beach have a few public and private higher education institutes, including Keiser University, Palm Beach Atlantic University, and Palm Beach State College.{{cite web |url=http://www.pbcedu.org/college-and-universities/ |title=Colleges & Universities |publisher=Business Development Board of Palm Beach County |access-date=May 9, 2020 |archive-date=May 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200512210050/http://www.pbcedu.org/college-and-universities/ |url-status=live }}

File:PB FL Daily News Bldg06.jpg where the Palm Beach Daily News was published from 1925 to 1974]]

The town is served by the Palm Beach Daily News, with a daily circulation of approximately 4,500.{{cite news |url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/fl-pn-gatehouse-media-buys-palm-beach-post-20180328-story.html |title=Palm Beach Post to be sold to GateHouse in $49M deal |date=March 28, 2018 |agency=Associated Press |newspaper=Sun-Sentinel |access-date=May 10, 2020 }} The Palm Beach Daily News began publishing in 1897 under the name Daily Lake Worth News.{{cite news |url=https://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/news/20170202/shiny-sheet-celebrates-120-years |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309195434/https://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/news/20170202/shiny-sheet-celebrates-120-years |archive-date=March 9, 2021 |title='Shiny Sheet' celebrates 120 years |date=February 2, 2017 |first=Eliot |last=Kleinberg |newspaper=Palm Beach Daily News |access-date=May 10, 2020 |url-status=live }} Between 1925 and 1974, the newspaper was published in a building that has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1985. Owned by Cox Enterprises since 1969, GateHouse Media purchased the newspaper and The Palm Beach Post in May 2018. The Palm Beach Daily News is also known as "The Shiny Sheet" due to its former heavy, slick newsprint stock.

Residents of the town are also served by The Palm Beach Post, which is actually published in West Palm Beach.{{cite web |url=https://www.bdb.org/bdb-member-directory/publishing/palm-beach-post-the/ |title=Company Profile |publisher=Business Development Board of Palm Beach County |access-date=May 10, 2020 |archive-date=August 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806014720/https://www.bdb.org/bdb-member-directory/publishing/palm-beach-post-the/ |url-status=dead }} The Palm Beach Post had the 5th largest circulation for a newspaper in Florida as of November 2017 and is served to subscribers throughout Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast.{{cite web |url=https://marketing-advertising.tampabay.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Market-Penetration-Map.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190714003708/https://marketing-advertising.tampabay.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Market-Penetration-Map.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 14, 2019 |title=Daily Times Circulation |date=November 2017 |page=2 |work=Tampa Bay Times |access-date=July 14, 2019 }}

Palm Beach is part of the West Palm Beach–Fort Pierce television market, ranked as the 38th largest in the United States by Nielsen Media Research.{{cite web |url=https://thevab.com/storage/app/media/Toolkit/DMA_Map_2019.pdf |title=Nielsen DMA–Designated Market Area Regions 2018-2019 |access-date=May 10, 2020 |archive-date=April 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200419220332/https://thevab.com/storage/app/media/Toolkit/DMA_Map_2019.pdf |url-status=live }} The market is served by stations affiliated with major American networks including WPTV-TV/5 (NBC), WPEC/12 (CBS), WPBF/25 (ABC), WFLX/29 (FOX), WTVX/34 (CW), WXEL-TV/42 (PBS), WTCN-CD/43 (MYTV),{{cite web |title=Local DIRECTV Packages and Channels in West Palm Beach |url=https://www.directstartv.com/city/west-palm-beach-florida/ |publisher=DIRECTV |access-date=May 10, 2020 |archive-date=August 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806012129/https://www.directstartv.com/city/west-palm-beach-florida/ |url-status=live }} WWHB-CD/48 (TBD),{{cite web |url=https://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=print_market&mktid=46 |title=Stations for West Palm Beach, Florida |publisher=RabbitEars |access-date=May 10, 2020 |archive-date=August 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806033805/https://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=print_market&mktid=46 |url-status=live }} WHDT/59 (Court TV), WFGC/61 (CTN), WPXP-TV/67 (ION), as well as local channel WBWP-LD/57 (Ind.). Since 2017, the Palm Beach Civic Association has produced weekly video newscasts, known as Palm Beach TV, which have a weekly viewership of approximately 12,000.{{cite web |url=https://palmbeachcivic.org/palm-beach-tv/ |title=This Week in Palm Beach Newscasts |date=November 12, 2018 |publisher=Palm Beach Civic Association |access-date=May 10, 2020 |archive-date=June 2, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200602230438/https://palmbeachcivic.org/palm-beach-tv/ |url-status=live }}

Many radio stations are within range of the town. Radio stations WRMF (97.9 FM) and WPBV-LP (98.3 FM) are both based in the town of Palm Beach.{{cite web |url=https://radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/locate?select=city&city=Palm+Beach&state=FL |title=City search (Palm Beach, Florida) |publisher=radio-locator.com |access-date=May 10, 2020 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200514055700/https://radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/locate?select=city&city=Palm+Beach&state=FL |archive-date=May 14, 2020 }}

The Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC), established by an ordinance approved by the town council in 1979, studies and protects historic structures in Palm Beach. The LPC has a list of 328 properties, sites, and vistas it works to protect under the 1979 ordinance.{{cite web |url=https://www.townofpalmbeach.com/289/HistoricPreservation |title=Historic Preservation |publisher=Town of Palm Beach |access-date=April 24, 2020 |archive-date=July 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200708230906/https://www.townofpalmbeach.com/289/HistoricPreservation |url-status=live }} Similarly, the Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach is "dedicated to preserving the architectural and cultural heritage and the unique scenic quality of the Town of Palm Beach", according to its mission statement.{{cite web |url=https://www.palmbeachpreservation.org/Mission |title=Mission |publisher=Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach |access-date=April 24, 2020 |archive-date=August 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806113528/https://www.palmbeachpreservation.org/Mission |url-status=live }} The town of Palm Beach also conducts historic sites surveys in collaboration with preservation organizations, historians, and local officials, with the most recent survey completed in December 2020.{{cite report |url=https://www.townofpalmbeach.com/DocumentCenter/View/14050/Palm-Beach-Report-REV-FINAL-12142020_pdj-reduced |title=Town of Palm Beach 2020 Historic Site Survey |date=December 2020 |publisher=Environmental Services, Inc. |access-date=September 16, 2022 |format=PDF |archive-date=July 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220709130158/https://townofpalmbeach.com/DocumentCenter/View/14050/Palm-Beach-Report-REV-FINAL-12142020_pdj-reduced |url-status=live }} The 2010 survey identified 50 structures that had been demolished since the previous survey in 2004 and others that had been altered significantly.{{cite report |url=https://www.townofpalmbeach.com/DocumentCenter/View/167/Historic-Sites-Survey?bidId= |title=Town of Palm Beach, Florida 2010 Historic Sites Survey |page=52 |date=December 2010 |publisher=Research Atlantica, Inc. |access-date=April 24, 2020 |format=PDF |archive-date=August 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806031552/https://www.townofpalmbeach.com/DocumentCenter/View/167/Historic-Sites-Survey?bidId= |url-status=live }}{{rp|52}}

Federally, thirteen structures and one historic district have been listed on the National Register of Historic Places.{{rp|24}} However, two of the designated buildings have since been destroyed.{{rp|24}} A fire and subsequent burglaries at the Bingham-Blossom House likely contributed to the owner's decision to have it demolished in 1974,{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/49483455/the-palm-beach-post/ |title=Bingham-Blossom House To Be Torn Down in Fall |date=August 15, 1974 |newspaper=The Palm Beach Post |first=Joyce |last=Heard |page=C3 |access-date=April 24, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com }} while construction crews razed the Brelsford House in 1975 after trustees at the Royal Poinciana Chapel (the property where the building was located) believed "the aging structure was more of a liability than an asset" and also cited its high costs of renovation for public use, according to The Palm Beach Post.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/49482255/the-palm-beach-post/ |title=Historic Crash |page=C1 |date=August 22, 1975 |newspaper=The Palm Beach Post |access-date=April 24, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |archive-date=August 4, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804002155/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/49482255/the-palm-beach-post/ |url-status=live }}

File:Town of Palm Beach - lake bikeway.JPG

Three bridges traverse the Intracoastal Waterway, linking Palm Beach and West Palm Beach by roadway.{{cite web |url=https://discover.pbcgov.org/PDF/Publications/Draw_Bridge_Schedule.pdf |title=Drawbridge openings in Palm Beach County |publisher=Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners |access-date=May 11, 2020 |archive-date=January 13, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200113142132/http://discover.pbcgov.org/PDF/Publications/Draw_Bridge_Schedule.pdf |url-status=live }} The northernmost bridge, the Flagler Memorial Bridge, is along State Road A1A, which is locally known as Royal Poinciana Way in Palm Beach and Quadrille Boulevard in West Palm Beach.{{cite web |url=http://discover.pbcgov.org/engineering/Atlas/MapPages/pg60.pdf |title=Roadway Atlas (Page 60) |publisher=Palm Beach County Engineering and Public Works |access-date=May 11, 2020 |archive-date=March 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210316060600/https://discover.pbcgov.org/engineering/Atlas/MapPages/pg60.pdf |url-status=live }} First opening in 1938, the bridge underwent a 5-year reconstruction and renovation between 2012 and 2017 at a cost of $106 million.{{cite news |url=https://cbs12.com/news/local/flagler-memorial-bridge-reopens |title=Flagler Memorial Bridge reopens |first=Thomas |last=Forester |date=July 31, 2017 |work=WPEC |access-date=May 2, 2020 |archive-date=August 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806042447/https://cbs12.com/news/local/flagler-memorial-bridge-reopens |url-status=live }} State Road 704, also known as Royal Palm Way in Palm Beach and Lakeview Avenue and Okeechobee Boulevard in West Palm Beach is the location of the middle bridge. Named the Royal Park Bridge, it first opened in 1911 and was most recently replaced in 2005. The Southern Boulevard Bridge at the conjunction of U.S. Route 98 and State Road 80 (locally known as Southern Boulevard) is the southernmost bridge.{{cite web |url=http://discover.pbcgov.org/engineering/Atlas/MapPages/pg72.pdf |title=Roadway Atlas (Page 72) |publisher=Palm Beach County Engineering and Public Works |access-date=May 11, 2020 |archive-date=March 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210316055708/https://discover.pbcgov.org/engineering/Atlas/MapPages/pg72.pdf |url-status=live }} First completed in 1950,{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108957960/the-palm-beach-post/ |title=New Bridge Open To Traffic |date=September 15, 1950 |page=1 |newspaper=The Palm Beach Post |access-date=September 4, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com |archive-date=September 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220905035054/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108957960/the-palm-beach-post/ |url-status=live }} the bridge underwent a $97 million replacement project between April 2017 and September 2022.{{cite news |url=https://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/story/news/local/2022/09/01/new-southern-boulevard-bridge-connecting-west-palm-palm-beach-opens/7933835001/ |author=Wagner, Jodie |date=September 1, 2022 |title='A milestone for the community': New Southern Boulevard Bridge opens to traffic |newspaper=Palm Beach Daily News |access-date=September 4, 2022 |archive-date=September 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220905035046/https://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/story/news/local/2022/09/01/new-southern-boulevard-bridge-connecting-west-palm-palm-beach-opens/7933835001/ |url-status=live }}

State Road A1A also runs northward through much of Palm Beach, beginning at the southern limits of the town as South Ocean Boulevard until being redirected onto South County Road, which later becomes North County Road. At Royal Poinciana Way, A1A turns westward onto that road and across the Flagler Memorial Bridge.{{cite web |title=Straight-Line Diagrams Online GIS Web Application - Roadway: 93060000 SR A1A |url=https://fdotewp1.dot.state.fl.us/slogis/blank.aspx?docId=102698 |pages=11–15 |publisher=Florida Department of Transportation |access-date=May 11, 2020 |archive-date=August 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806125936/https://fdotewp1.dot.state.fl.us/slogis/blank.aspx?docId=102698 |url-status=live }} State Roads 80 and 704 and U.S. Route 98 all terminate shortly after entering the town after intersecting with A1A. The town has no interstate highways, though Interstate 95 passes through the nearby city of West Palm Beach.{{cite web |url=http://discover.pbcgov.org/engineering/Atlas/MapPages/pg59.pdf |title=Roadway Atlas (Page 59) |publisher=Palm Beach County Engineering and Public Works |access-date=May 11, 2020 |archive-date=March 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210316060834/https://discover.pbcgov.org/engineering/Atlas/MapPages/pg59.pdf |url-status=live }} Private vehicles and taxis are the predominant means of transport in Palm Beach. Incidents of profiling of lower-cost cars and minorities have occurred, sometimes resulting in tense relations between visitors and the town.{{cite news |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2013/07/racially-profiled-in-palm-beach/278047/ |title=Racially Profiled in Palm Beach |first=Kevin Noble |last=Maillard |date=July 23, 2013 |newspaper=The Atlantic |access-date=May 11, 2020 |archive-date=June 26, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200626122131/https://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2013/07/racially-profiled-in-palm-beach/278047/ |url-status=live }}

The nearby city of West Palm Beach has two train stations. Tri-Rail and Amtrak serve the Tamarind Avenue station,{{cite web |url=http://www.pbia.org/ground/public-transportation/ |title=PBI Public Transportation |publisher=Palm Beach International Airport |access-date=May 11, 2020 }} while the higher speed Brightline serves the Evernia Street station.{{cite web |url=https://www.gobrightline.com/west-palm-beach |title=West Palm Beach |publisher=Brightline |access-date=May 11, 2020 |archive-date=May 7, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200507215632/http://www.gobrightline.com/west-palm-beach |url-status=live }} Palm Beach is about {{convert|4.5|mi|km}} east of the Palm Beach International Airport.{{cite web |url=https://www.townofpalmbeach.com/Faq.aspx?QID=143 |title=How close is the nearest airport? |publisher=Town of Palm Beach |access-date=May 11, 2020 |archive-date=August 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806044500/https://www.townofpalmbeach.com/Faq.aspx?QID=143 |url-status=live }} The northern and central portions of Palm Beach are served by Palm Tran Route 41, which travels to places in the town such as the Lake Worth Inlet, North County Road and Wells Road, Publix (Bradley Place and Sunrise Avenue), Royal Palm Way (State Road 704) and South County Road (State Road A1A), and various points between. The route returns to the Intermodal Transit Center in West Palm Beach, which connects to several other bus routes and is adjacent to the train station on Tamarind Avenue.{{cite web |url=https://tripplan.palmtran.org/img/pdf/41.pdf |title=West Palm Beach to Palm Beach Inlet - Route 41 |publisher=Palm Beach County Government |date=2020 |access-date=December 25, 2020 |archive-date=March 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309193220/https://tripplan.palmtran.org/img/pdf/41.pdf |url-status=live }}

The town has its own police department, established on October 17, 1922. Prior to then, town marshal Joseph Borman served in the capacity of chief law enforcer as outlined in the 1911 charter.{{cite web |url=https://www.townofpalmbeach.com/299/Historyof-thePolice-Department |title=History of the Police Department |publisher=Town of Palm Beach |access-date=April 18, 2020 |archive-date=August 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806050217/https://www.townofpalmbeach.com/299/Historyof-thePolice-Department |url-status=live }} The department employed 61 officers in 2018. With a population of 8,295 people in 2018 according to the Florida Bureau of Economic and Business Research, this translated to 7.35 officers per 1,000 people, compared to the Florida average of 2.49 officers per 1,000 people. In the same year, the department made 2,039 arrests – equal to about 24,581 arrests per 100,000 people, the highest arrest rate in Florida and over sevenfold the state average. However, many arrests were in relation to non-violent crimes, such as those involving auto theft, criminal traffic citations, fraud, and scams. The police department reported no rapes or homicides in Palm Beach in 2018.{{cite news |url=https://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/news/20190819/palm-beach-police-dept-has-highest-arrest-rate-in-florida-but-what-does-that-actually-mean |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309195435/https://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/news/20190819/palm-beach-police-dept-has-highest-arrest-rate-in-florida-but-what-does-that-actually-mean |archive-date=March 9, 2021 |title=Palm Beach Police Dept. has the highest arrest rate in Florida, but what does that actually mean? |date=August 19, 2019 |first=Wendy |last=Rhodes |newspaper=Palm Beach Daily News |access-date=April 23, 2020 |url-status=live }}

In its early days, the town of Palm Beach depended heavily on the city of West Palm Beach for firefighting efforts. The Flagler Alerts, a volunteer firefighting group which later became the West Palm Beach Fire Department, responded to fires in Palm Beach by traversing the Intracoastal Waterway via ferry or railroad. Delayed response times and high insurance rates eventually led Palm Beach to establish its own fire-rescue department in December 1921.{{cite web |url=https://www.townofpalmbeach.com/810/Expanded-History |title=Expanded History |publisher=Town of Palm Beach |access-date=April 23, 2020 |archive-date=July 20, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200720013938/https://www.townofpalmbeach.com/810/Expanded-History |url-status=live }} Today, the Palm Beach Fire Rescue has three stations, retains 82 employees – 75 full-time and 7 part-time, and annually responds to approximately 2,600 calls.{{cite web |url=https://www.townofpalmbeach.com/226/About-the-Department |title=About the Department |publisher=Town of Palm Beach |access-date=April 23, 2020 |archive-date=July 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200719145753/https://www.townofpalmbeach.com/226/About-the-Department |url-status=live }}

Florida Power & Light (FPL) provides electricity to the town of Palm Beach, along with much of the state's east coast. As of December 31, 2019, FPL serves 5 million customers statewide, which is approximately 10 million people.{{cite report |url=http://www.investor.nexteraenergy.com/~/media/Files/N/NEE-IR/investor-materials/shareholder-resources/2019%20NEE%20Annual%20Report.pdf |title=NextEra Energy Annual Report 2019 |date=December 31, 2019 |publisher=NextEra Energy |archive-date=December 19, 2020 |access-date=April 26, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201219224448/http://www.investor.nexteraenergy.com/~/media/Files/N/NEE-IR/investor-materials/shareholder-resources/2019%20NEE%20Annual%20Report.pdf |url-status=live }}{{rp|5}} Much of the electricity supplied by FPL is sourced from natural gas, followed by nuclear energy.{{rp|8}} The nearest FPL power plant is in Riviera Beach,{{cite web |url=https://www.fpl.com/clean-energy/natural-gas/riviera.html |title=Riviera Beach Next Generation Clean Energy Center |publisher=Florida Power & Light Company |access-date=April 25, 2020 |archive-date=August 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806040634/https://www.fpl.com/clean-energy/natural-gas/riviera.html |url-status=live }} while the closest nuclear power station is the St. Lucie Nuclear Power Plant, on Hutchinson Island.{{rp|8}} Palm Beach officials have considered undergrounding at least since commissioning a 2006 study on the burial of electrical lines. In the subsequent years, undergrounding projects were initially performed by neighborhood on a "as requested" basis. However, following a 2014 town council meeting with FPL workers and a related voter-approved ballot question in 2016, it was decided a town-wide undergrounding project would be undertaken at a cost of approximately $90 million.{{cite web |url=https://www.townofpalmbeach.com/376/UndergroundUtilities |title=Underground Utilities |publisher=Town of Palm Beach |access-date=April 25, 2020 |archive-date=August 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806074111/https://www.townofpalmbeach.com/376/UndergroundUtilities |url-status=live }} The project is ongoing as of March 2020.{{cite web |url=http://undergrounding.info/undergrounding-program-status-update-as-of-march-30-2020/ |title=Undergrounding Program - Status Update As of March 30, 2020 |publisher=Town of Palm Beach |access-date=June 1, 2020 |archive-date=March 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309193504/http://undergrounding.info/undergrounding-program-status-update-as-of-march-30-2020/ |url-status=live }}

The town government provides and oversees sewage systems and wastewater treatment. Sewage is collected via {{convert|41|mi|km}} of mainline pipes at the more than 40 pumping stations, which are capable of transporting over {{convert|100000|gal}} of water each minute. The sewage is then pumped into a regional wastewater treatment facility in West Palm Beach.{{cite web |url=https://www.townofpalmbeach.com/362/Water-Resources |title=Water Resources |publisher=Town of Palm Beach |access-date=April 26, 2020 |archive-date=August 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806071002/https://www.townofpalmbeach.com/362/Water-Resources |url-status=live }} Tap water has been supplied by the city of West Palm Beach since 1955, when the city purchased Palm Beach's water system, then owned by the Flagler Water Company. West Palm Beach provided tap water services to the town at no cost until the beginning of 1995.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/49580826/the-palm-beach-post/ |title=Town set to pursue suit over water fee |first=Tim |last=O'Meilia |date=August 13, 1997 |page=1B |newspaper=The Palm Beach Post |access-date=April 26, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |archive-date=August 3, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803235523/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/49580826/the-palm-beach-post/ |url-status=live }}

Recycling and garbage collection services are also provided by the town of Palm Beach. The former is taken to a transfer station, where the Palm Beach County Solid Waste Authority transports the garbage to a landfill in West Palm Beach.{{rp|IV-3–IV-4}} Vegetative yard trash is taken to two different sites in West Palm Beach.{{rp|IV-5}}

{{Main|List of people from Palm Beach, Florida}}

File:MaralagoLoC.jpg, the residence of president Donald Trump]]

The town of Palm Beach is also known for its many famous part-time and full-time residents. Prior to the arrival of Henry Flagler in the 1890s, a few wealthy or otherwise notable people already resided in Palm Beach, including businessman and Autocar Company founder Louis Semple Clarke and scientist Thomas Adams, a pioneer of the chewing gum industry. Earl E. T. Smith and Paul Ilyinsky, both of whom formerly held the office of Mayor of Palm Beach, were notable for other reasons. Smith previously served as an Ambassador of the United States to Cuba, while Ilyinsky was the son of Grand Duke Dmitri Pavlovich of Russia and heiress Audrey Emery.

Two United States Presidents have been part-time residents, John F. Kennedy and Donald Trump, with both designating their respective Palm Beach properties as a Winter White House. Kennedy's Winter White House, La Querida, was built by Addison Mizner in 1923 and previously owned by department store magnate Rodman Wanamaker of Philadelphia before Joseph P. Kennedy Sr. purchased the property in 1933.{{cite news |url=https://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/article/20150529/BUSINESS/305299929 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309193911/https://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/article/20150529/BUSINESS/305299929 |archive-date=March 9, 2021 |title=Updated: Former Kennedy estate in Palm Beach sells for $31M |date=May 29, 2015 |first=Darrell |last=Hofheinz |newspaper=Palm Beach Daily News |access-date=May 12, 2020 |url-status=live }} Trump has owned Mar-a-Lago since 1985, purchasing the property from the family of the late Marjorie Merriweather Post, heiress of Post cereal. In October 2019, Trump and first lady Melania Trump filed to switch their primary domicile from New York City to Mar-a-Lago, officially establishing residency in Palm Beach.{{cite news |url=https://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/20191031/trump-leaving-new-york-making-mar-a-lago-his-permanent-residency |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309201719/https://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/20191031/trump-leaving-new-york-making-mar-a-lago-his-permanent-residency |archive-date=March 9, 2021 |first=Eliot |last=Kleinberg |title=Trump leaving New York, making Mar-a-Lago his permanent residency |date=October 31, 2019 |newspaper=The Palm Beach Post |access-date=May 12, 2020 |url-status=live }} Following the conclusion of his first term as president in January 2021, Donald and Melania Trump resided at Mar-a-Lago amidst a dispute from some neighbors about the legality of them taking up permanent residence at the club.{{cite news |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-mar-a-lago-neighbors-palm-beach/ |title=Trump's Mar-a-Lago move draws criticism from some wealthy neighbors in "extremely Democratic" Palm Beach |date=January 19, 2021 |newspaper=CBS |access-date=January 20, 2021 |archive-date=January 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120001759/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-mar-a-lago-neighbors-palm-beach/ |url-status=live }} Donald Trump used Mar-a-Lago as a Winter White House again when his second, non-consecutive term as President of the United States began in January 2025.{{cite news |url=https://www.palmbeachpost.com/story/news/politics/2025/01/31/trump-returns-to-palm-beach-as-president-will-golf-tariffs-follow/78084275007/ |title=Trump returns to Winter White House. Past trips have been eventful. What about this time? |author=Fins, Antonio |date=January 31, 2025 |newspaper=The Palm Beach Post |accessdate=February 1, 2025 }} Additionally, former Canadian prime minister Brian Mulroney was a resident of Palm Beach from 1997 until his death in 2024.{{cite news |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/rob-magazine/the-prime-of-brian-mulroney/article998044/ |title=The prime of Brian Mulroney |first=Konrad |last=Yakabuski |date=April 30, 2024 |newspaper=The Globe and Mail |access-date=June 2, 2024 |archive-date=June 2, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240602204044/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/rob-magazine/the-prime-of-brian-mulroney/article998044/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |url=https://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/story/entertainment/society/2024/03/01/obituary-former-canadian-prime-minister-brian-mulroney-dies-at-84/72806502007/ |first=Shannon |last=Donnelly |title=Obituary: Former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney dies at 84; had suffered a fall |date=March 1, 2024 |newspaper=Palm Beach Daily News |access-date=June 2, 2024 |archive-date=June 2, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240602204045/https://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/story/entertainment/society/2024/03/01/obituary-former-canadian-prime-minister-brian-mulroney-dies-at-84/72806502007/ |url-status=live }}

The 2024 American television miniseries Palm Royale, a period comedy-drama, portrays the upscale society of Palm Beach in 1969 as insulated from the Vietnam War and the counterculture of the 1960s.{{Cite magazine |last=Berman |first=Judy |date=March 18, 2024 |title=Kristen Wiig's 'Palm Royale' Is Delightfully Deranged |url=https://time.com/6957413/palm-royale-review-kristen-wiig/ |access-date=December 26, 2024 |magazine=TIME |language=en |archive-date=January 22, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250122030530/https://time.com/6957413/palm-royale-review-kristen-wiig/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |date=March 19, 2024 |title=Ricky Martin talks livin' la vida high society in 'Palm Royale,' new comedy series |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/ricky-martin-returns-to-acting-palm-royale-miniseries-apple-tv-rcna144030 |access-date=January 30, 2025 |website=NBC News |language=en }}{{Cite magazine |last=Sepinwall |first=Alan |date=March 19, 2024 |title='Palm Royale' Is a Waste of A-List Talent -- and Your Precious Time |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-reviews/palm-royale-review-kristen-wiig-carol-burnett-1234989348/ |access-date=January 30, 2025 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US |archive-date=January 13, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250113184320/https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-reviews/palm-royale-review-kristen-wiig-carol-burnett-1234989348/ |url-status=live }}

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{{wikivoyage|Palm Beach (Florida)|Palm Beach, Florida}}

• {{Official website|http://townofpalmbeach.com}}

{{Palm Beach County, Florida}}

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Category:Towns in Palm Beach County, Florida

Category:Populated coastal places in Florida on the Atlantic Ocean

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Category:1911 establishments in Florida

Category:Russian communities in the United States

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Category:Addison Mizner