Palm Beach County, Florida#Government

{{main|History of Palm Beach County, Florida}}

File:Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse Outstanding Natural Area (17237643489).jpg situated in the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse Outstanding Natural Area]]

File:1928 Okeechobee Aftermath 17.jpg]]

Around 12,000 years ago, Native Americans began migrating into Florida. An estimated 20,000 Native Americans lived in South Florida when the Spanish arrived. Their population diminished significantly by the 18th century, due to warfare, enslavement, and diseases from Europe.{{cite report|url=http://www.pbchistoryonline.org/page/native-americans|title=Native Americans|date=2009|publisher=Historical Society of Palm Beach County|access-date=February 19, 2014}} In 1513, Juan Ponce de León became the first European in modern-day Palm Beach County when he landed at the Jupiter Inlet.{{cite report|url=http://www.pbchistoryonline.org/page/timeline-10000-yrs-ad-1700|publisher=Historical Society of Palm Beach County|title=10000 yrs - A.D. 1700|access-date=March 12, 2014}} Among the first non-Native American residents were African Americans, many of whom were former slaves or immediate descendants of former slaves, arriving in what was then Spanish Florida in the late 17th century. Finding refuge among the Seminoles, the former slaves or descendants of former slaves fought alongside them against white settlers and bounty hunters during the Seminole Wars.{{cite book|author=Kevin M. McCarthy|title=African American Sites in Florida|publisher=Pineapple Press|date=January 1, 2007|page=23|chapter=Broward County|isbn=978-1-56164-385-1|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=A_bZhe4no8UC&q=blacks+slaves+seminole+indians+palm+beach&pg=PA23|access-date=February 19, 2014}}{{cite report|url=http://www.flheritage.com/preservation/markers/markers.cfm?ID=palm%20beach|title=Florida Historical Markers Programs - Marker: Palm Beach|publisher=Florida Department of State|access-date=February 19, 2014}} Portions of the Second Seminole War occurred in Palm Beach County, including the Battles of the Loxahatchee in 1838.{{cite report|url=http://www.pbchistoryonline.org/page/the-seminole-war-in-palm-beach-county|title=The 2nd Seminole War in Palm Beach County|date=2009|publisher=Historical Society of Palm Beach County|access-date=February 19, 2014}}

The county's oldest surviving structure, the Jupiter Lighthouse, was built in 1860, after receiving authorization to the land from President Franklin Pierce in 1854.{{cite report|url=http://www.jupiterlighthouse.org/pdf/2011History.pdf|title=History|date=January 2011|publisher=Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse & Museum|access-date=April 22, 2015|location=Jupiter, Florida|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120610113734/http://www.jupiterlighthouse.org/pdf/2011History.pdf|archive-date=June 10, 2012}} During the American Civil War, Florida was a member of the Confederate States of America. Two Confederate adherents removed the lighting mechanism from the lighthouse.{{cite report|url=http://www.pbchistoryonline.org/page/jupiter-lighthouse|title=Travelers' Aids: Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse|publisher=Historical Society of Palm Beach County|access-date=April 3, 2015}} One of the men who removed the light, Augustus O. Lang, was also the first white settler in Palm Beach County. He built a palmetto shack along the eastern shore of Lake Worth in 1863 after abandoning the cause of the Confederacy.{{cite report|url=http://www.pbchistoryonline.org/page/the-first-arrivals|title=The First Arrivals|date=2009|publisher=Historical Society of Palm Beach County|access-date=April 3, 2015}} After the Civil War ended, the Jupiter Lighthouse was relit in 1866.

In October 1873, a hurricane caused a shipwreck between Biscayne Bay and the New River. The crew survived the wreck but nearly died due to starvation because of the desolation of the area. In response, five Houses of Refuge were built along the east coast of Florida from the Fort Pierce Inlet southward to Biscayne Bay. Orange Grove House of Refuge No. 3 was built near Delray Beach in 1876.{{cite report|url=http://digitalcollections.fiu.edu/tequesta/files/1968/68_1_01.pdf|title=The Orange Grove House of Refuge No. 3|author=Gilbert L. Voss|date=February 18, 1968|publisher=Florida International University|access-date=April 22, 2015|archive-date=December 26, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141226025404/http://digitalcollections.fiu.edu/tequesta/files/1968/68_1_01.pdf}}

File:The Royal Poinciana, Palm Beach, Florida, 1900.jpg in 1900]]

Very few people lived in modern-day Palm Beach County prior to the arrival of Henry Flagler, who first visited in the early 1890s. A Standard Oil tycoon, Flagler was instrumental in the county's development around the turn of the century. First, he purchased land on both sides of Lake Worth. Other investors followed suit, causing a small boom and bringing in existing businesses and resulting in the establishment of many new businesses. The Royal Poinciana Hotel, constructed by Flagler and his constructed crews to accommodate wealthy tourists, opened for business in February 1894. About a month later, the Florida East Coast Railway, owned by Flagler, reached West Palm Beach. On November 5, 1894, Palm Beach County's oldest city, West Palm Beach, was incorporated. In 1896, another hotel built by Flagler was opened, the Palm Beach Inn, later renamed The Breakers.{{cite report |url=http://www.pbchistoryonline.org/page/flagler-era|publisher=Historical Society of Palm Beach County|title=Flagler Era|access-date=March 12, 2014}} He also constructed his own winter home, which he and his wife moved into in 1902.{{cite report |url=https://www.pbchistoryonline.org/page/flagler-timeline|publisher=Historical Society of Palm Beach County|title=Henry M. Flagler in Florida Timeline|access-date=November 1, 2021}} The arrivals of Major Nathan Boynton, Congressman William S. Linton, and railroad surveyor Thomas Rickards in the 1890s also proved important because they developed communities that later became Boynton Beach, Delray Beach, and Boca Raton, respectively.{{cite web |url=http://www.pbchistoryonline.org/page/timeline-1890-1899|title=1890 - 1898 [sic]|publisher=Historical Society of Palm Beach County|access-date=November 1, 2021}}

The Florida Legislature voted to establish Palm Beach County in 1909, carving it out of what was then the northern portion of Dade County and initially including all of Lake Okeechobee. The southernmost part of Palm Beach County was separated to create the northern portion of Broward County in 1915, the northwestern portion became part of Okeechobee County in 1917, and southern Martin County was created from northernmost Palm Beach County in 1925.{{cite web|url=http://www.pbcgov.com/courthouse/history.htm|title=Palm Beach County - County history |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402052523/http://pbcgov.com/courthouse/history.htm|publisher=Government of Palm Beach County |archive-date=April 2, 2015|access-date=November 1, 2021}} The boundaries remained the same until 1963, when the Florida Legislature reduced Palm Beach County's share of Lake Okeechobee from about 80 percent to less than 40 percent and divided the lake more equitably among Glades, Hendry, Martin, and Okeechobee counties.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/85414395/the-palm-beach-post/|date=July 9, 1964|title='Too Much Involved,' Says Bandlow|newspaper=The Palm Beach Post|page=1|access-date=August 16, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}} {{free access}} A final change to the county's boundaries occurred in 2009, when a small portion of land was given to Broward County.{{cite web |url=https://www.pbchistoryonline.org/page/evolution-of-palm-beach-county|title=Evolution of Palm Beach County|publisher=Historical Society of Palm Beach County|access-date=September 16, 2021}}

The 1910s and much of the 1920s brought prosperity and rapid population growth to South Florida, coinciding with the Florida land boom of the 1920s. Many local historic districts and landmarks listed in the National Register of Historic Places in Palm Beach County were designed and constructed during the 1920s, with the main contributors being architects Maurice Fatio, Addison Mizner, Marion Sims Wyeth, and the firm Harvey and Clarke, which included Gustav Maass.{{cite web|url=http://www.pbchistoryonline.org/page/architects-of-the-boom |title=Architects of the Boom & Bust|publisher=Historical Society of Palm Beach County|access-date=November 1, 2021}} Total property value in West Palm Beach skyrocketed from $13.6 million in 1920 to $61 million in 1925, before briefly reaching a pre-Great Depression peak of $89 million in 1929. The city's population quadrupled between 1920 and 1927.{{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|author=Dr. Sherry Piland|author2=Emily Stillings|author3=Ednasha 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}}

Early on September 17, 1928, the Okeechobee hurricane made landfall near West Palm Beach as a category-4 storm and crossed Lake Okeechobee shortly thereafter.{{Atlantic hurricane best track}} While the hurricane caused catastrophic impact in eastern portions of the county, the Lake Okeechobee region suffered a much heavier loss of life. Wind-driven storm surge in the lake inundated hundreds of square miles, including the nearby communities of Belle Glade, Pahokee, and South Bay. At least 2,500 deaths occurred, many of whom were black migrant farmers. An assessment of impact throughout the county reported 552 businesses destroyed, 1,447 businesses damaged, 3,584 homes destroyed, and 11,409 homes damaged, leaving 4,008 families homeless. However, several cities were excluded, such as Boca Raton, Greenacres, Lantana, and South 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}}{{rp|3}} Damage in South Florida totaled roughly $25 million. In response to the storm, the Herbert Hoover Dike was constructed to prevent a similar disaster.{{cite report|url=http://www.srh.noaa.gov/mfl/?n=okeechobee|title=Memorial Web Page for the 1928 Okeechobee Hurricane|date=June 29, 2009|work=National Weather Service Miami, Florida|publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|access-date=February 19, 2014}}

As a result of 1926 Miami hurricane and the 1928 storm, Palm Beach County, along with the rest of South Florida, began suffering economic turmoil and pushed the region into the Great Depression, even before the Wall Street Crash of 1929. Housing prices dropped dramatically in the county, with the total real estate value in West Palm Beach falling to $41.6 million in 1930 and then to $18.2 million in 1935.{{cite report|url=http://www.pbchistoryonline.org/page/the-bust|title=The Bust|date=2009|publisher=Historical Society of Palm Beach County|access-date=November 1, 2021}} However, the decade also brought an airport to the county. Morrison Field, later renamed the Palm Beach International Airport, opened in 1936.

After the U.S. entered World War II, it was converted to an Air Force Base in 1942.{{cite report|url=http://www.airporthotelguide.com/west-palm-beach/airportinfo.html|title=Palm Beach International Airport Information|publisher=Airport Hotel Guide|access-date=February 19, 2014|archive-date=March 18, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140318005729/http://www.airporthotelguide.com/west-palm-beach/airportinfo.html}} During the war, thousands of servicemen arrived in Palm Beach County for training and supporting the war effort.{{cite report |url=http://www.pbchistoryonline.org/page/world-war-ii|title=World War II|date=2009|publisher=Historical Society of Palm Beach County|access-date=February 19, 2014}} Following the conclusion of World War II, a number of veterans returned to the area for work, vacation, or retirement. The base was closed and became a commercial airport again in 1962. Migration to the county by workers, tourists, and retirees continued into the 21st century.{{cite book|author=Lynn Lasseter Drake and Richard A. Marconi |title=West Palm Beach: 1893 to 1950|publisher=Arcadia Publishing|year=2006|page=8|isbn=0-7385-4272-5 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iUTQsXsbqUIC&q=West+Palm+Beach%3A+1893+to+1950|access-date=February 19, 2014}}

On August 28, 1949, a category-4 hurricane struck Lake Worth Beach with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph (215 km/h),{{Atlantic hurricane best track}} causing considerable damage. Throughout Palm Beach County, the hurricane destroyed 65 homes and damaged 13,283 others.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/18850077/the_palm_beach_post/|title=18,000 Homes Hit in 22-County Part Of State Raked By Storm|agency=Associated Press|date=August 30, 1949|newspaper=The Palm Beach Post|page=1|access-date=November 1, 2021}}

The area's first television station, WIRK-TV Channel 21, began broadcasting on September 13, 1953. It went off the air less than three years later. However, NBC affiliate WPTV-TV and CBS affiliate WPEC first aired in 1954 and 1955, respectively – both of which are still in existence today.{{cite report|url=http://www.pbchistoryonline.org/page/timeline-1950-1959|title=1950-1959|date=2009 |publisher=Historical Society of Palm Beach County|access-date=February 19, 2014}}

Richard Paul Pavlick nearly attempted to assassinate then President-elect John F. Kennedy while the family vacationed in Palm Beach in December 1960. On December 11, Pavlick forwent his attempt because Kennedy was with his wife, Jacqueline, and their two children.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=M9_BSXV_s_4C&q=richard+paul+pavlick&pg=PA164|isbn=978-0-313-36475-4|title=Killing the President: Assassinations, Attempts, and Rumored Attempts on U.S. Commanders-in-Chief: Assassinations, Attempts, and Rumored Attempts on U.S. Commanders-in-Chief|author=William Oliver and Nancy E. Marion|publisher=ABC-CLIO|year=2010}} Four days later, Pavlick's car, which had sticks of dynamite inside, was surrounded by police and he was arrested.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rFE7nTO-iLcC&q=richard+paul+pavlick&pg=PA89|isbn=978-1-60819-247-2|title=Brothers in Arms: The Kennedys, the Castros, and the Politics of Murder|author=Gus Russo and Stephen Molton|publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing USA|date=2010}} Charges against Pavolick were dropped on December 2, 1963, 10 days after Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas. Additionally, a secret blast shelter was built on Peanut Island during his presidency because escalating Cold War tensions.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/02/us/for-kennedy-a-secret-shelter-was-a-cold-war-camelot.html?_r=0|title=Long-Secret Fallout Shelter Was a Cold War Camelot|author=Lizette Alvarez|date=October 1, 2011|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=September 8, 2015|location=Peanut Island, Florida}}

Hurricane David struck near West Palm Beach late on September 3, 1979, with sustained winds of 100 mph (155 km/h). The storm's winds shattered windows in stores near the coast and caused property damage. A few roofs were torn off, and numerous buildings were flooded from over 6 in (150 mm) of rainfall. Damage in the county reached $30 million, most of which was incurred to agriculture.

File:Butterfly Ballot, Florida 2000 (large).jpg

The county became the center of controversy during the 2000 presidential election. Allegedly, the "butterfly ballot", designed by Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections Theresa LePore, led to an unexpectedly large number of votes for Reform Party candidate Pat Buchanan, rather than for Democrat Al Gore. Due to the aforementioned "butterfly ballot" and the closeness of the statewide results between Gore and Texas Governor George W. Bush, the Florida Supreme Court mandated manual recounts in all counties with disputed results. However, the Supreme Court of the United States overturned the decision in Bush v. Gore on December 12, allowing Florida Secretary of the State Katherine Harris to award the 25 electoral votes to Bush, as Harris's tally prior to the state-ordered recounts placed him ahead of Gore by 537 popular votes. In turn, this gave Bush victory in the national election.

Following the September 11 attacks in 2001, a Federal Bureau of Investigation investigation revealed that 12 of the 19 hijackers trained or resided in Palm Beach County during the months prior to the attacks.{{cite report |url=http://www.pbchistoryonline.org/page/national-spotlight|title=PBC in the National Spotlight|date=2009|publisher=Historical Society of Palm Beach County|access-date=April 3, 2015}}{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/11/04/national/04PLOT.html?pagewanted=2|title=Hijackers' Meticulous Strategy of Brains, Muscle and Practice|author=Don Van Natta Jr. and Kate Zernike|date=November 4, 2001|newspaper=The New York Times|page=2|access-date=February 19, 2014}} Later that month, during the anthrax attacks, a letter containing spores of this substance was mailed to the American Media, Inc. building in Boca Raton. Three people were exposed to the anthrax, including Robert Stevens, a photo editor who later died after an infection induced by exposure.

File:Wilma 2005-10-24 1245Z.jpg over South Florida on October 24, 2005]]

Three hurricanes severely impacted Palm Beach County in 2004 and 2005: Frances, Jeanne, and Wilma. On September 5, 2004, Frances made landfall in Martin County as a category-2 hurricane. With wind gusts in Palm Beach County peaking at {{convert|91|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}, the storm inflicted structural damage on about 15,000 houses and 2,400 businesses. Six deaths occurred in the county. Jeanne struck near the same location as a category-3 hurricane on September 26, 2004. The storm also brought strong winds, with an official wind gust of {{convert|94|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}. About 4,160 homes were damaged and 60 were destroyed. Jeanne left about $260 million in damage in the county. On October 24, 2005, Hurricane Wilma struck Collier County as a category-3 hurricane. The storm moved northeastward, directly crossing Palm Beach County. Several locations reported hurricane-force winds, including a wind gust of 117 mph (188 km/h) in Belle Glade.{{cite web |title=Wilma |url=https://www.weather.gov/mfl/wilma |website=National Weather Service |publisher=National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration |access-date=4 September 2022}}{{cite report|work=National Hurricane Center|publisher=National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration|date=September 9, 2014|title=Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Wilma|author1=Richard J. Pasch|author2=Eric S. Blake |author3=Hugh D. Cobb III |author4=David P. Roberts |url={{NHC TCR url|id=AL252005_Wilma}}|access-date=June 30, 2018|location=Miami, Florida|format=PDF}} Over 90% of Florida Power & Light customers lost electricity. Two deaths occurred in Palm Beach County.{{cite news|url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2005-10-25/news/0510240329_1_outages-palm-beach-county-hurricane-wilma|title=Hammered|date=October 25, 2005|author=Jennifer Peltz|page=1|newspaper=Sun-Sentinel|access-date=June 30, 2018|display-authors=etal|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304050143/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2005-10-25/news/0510240329_1_outages-palm-beach-county-hurricane-wilma}} The storm inflicted some degree of impact to more than 55,000 homes and 3,600 businesses. Palm Beach County suffered about $2.9 billion in damages.{{cite news|title=Adding Up Wilma's Fury: $2.9 Billion Countywide - More than 55,000 Homes, 3,600 Businesses Damaged|author1=Luis F. Perez|author2=Angel Streeter|author3=Ushma Patel|date=December 18, 2005|newspaper=Sun-Sentinel|url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2005-12-18/news/0512180026_1_damage-wellington-wind-speeds|access-date=June 30, 2018|archive-date=October 6, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151006011507/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2005-12-18/news/0512180026_1_damage-wellington-wind-speeds}}{{cite web |title=Frances |url=https://www.weather.gov/mfl/frances |website=National Weather Service}}{{cite web |title=Jeanne |url=https://www.weather.gov/mfl/jeanne |website=National Weather Service |access-date=4 September 2022}}{{cite web |last1=Kleinberg |first1=Eliot |title=Remembering the hurricanes of 2004's "Mean Season" |url=https://www.palmbeachpost.com/story/news/local/2019/08/29/post-time-remembering-hurricanes-of-2004s-mean-season/4354684007/ |website=Palm Beach Post |access-date=4 September 2022}}

In August 2012, the outer bands of Hurricane Isaac dropped at least {{convert|15.86|in|mm|abbr=on}} of rain near Lion Country Safari. The consequent flooding left neighborhoods in The Acreage, Loxahatchee, Loxahatchee Groves, Royal Palm Beach, and Wellington stranded for up to several days.{{cite report|url=https://www.weather.gov/mfl/isaac|title=Tropical Storm Isaac: August 26-27, 2012|publisher=National Weather Service Miami, Florida|date=2012|access-date=June 25, 2018}} As Hurricane Irma approached in September 2017, mandatory or voluntary evacuations were ordered for more than 290,000 residents of Palm Beach County.{{cite news|url=https://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/hurricane-irma-290k-pbc-residents-urged-evacuate/IW0I0DWZ7m8Qfq82YCGHfP/|title=Hurricane Irma: 290K PBC residents urged to evacuate|author=Jennifer Sorenture|date=September 7, 2017|newspaper=The Palm Beach Post|access-date=June 25, 2018|archive-date=June 25, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180625050611/https://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/hurricane-irma-290k-pbc-residents-urged-evacuate/IW0I0DWZ7m8Qfq82YCGHfP/}} Although the storm passed well west of the county, much of the area experienced hurricane-force wind gusts, with a peak gust of {{convert|91|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} in West Palm Beach. Impact was generally limited to widespread power outages and damaged trees and vegetation, though isolated property damage was reported. The storm left about $300 million in damage in the county,{{cite report|url=https://www.weather.gov/mfl/hurricaneirma|title=Hurricane Irma Local Report/Summary|date=2018|publisher=National Weather Service Miami, Florida|access-date=June 25, 2018}} as well as five fatalities.{{cite news|url=http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/weather/hurricane/fl-sb-deaths-irma-florida-20170920-story.html|title=The many ways people have died from Hurricane Irma|date=September 25, 2017|author=Dan Sweeney|author2=Lisa J. Hurias|newspaper=Sun-Sentinel|access-date=June 25, 2018}}

File:The ship Providencia, shipwrecked off Florida coast.jpg

The coconut palm, Cocos nucifera, is not native to Florida (nor anywhere else in the United States). Its presence in what is today Palm Beach County is due to the shipwreck of the Spanish ship Providencia in 1878, near today's Mar-a-Lago. It was traveling from Havana to Cádiz, Spain with a cargo of coconuts.{{cite journal |first=Harvey III |last=Oyer |title=The Wreck of the Providencia in 1878 and the Naming of Palm Beach County |journal=South Florida History |volume=29 |year=2001 |pages=24–27 |issn=1522-0281}} The shipwreck was within walking distance of the shore—the Florida State Archives conserves a picture of a painting{{cite web |url=https://www.floridamemory.com/items/show/8481 |title=Wreck of the 'Providencia' |website=www.floridamemory.com |access-date=February 3, 2017}}—and a deliberate grounding so as to obtain an insurance payout has been proposed.{{sfnp|Oyer|2001|p=26}} The coconuts were salvaged, too many to be eaten, and thousands were planted.{{sfnp|Oyer|2001|p=27}}{{cite web |publisher=Town of Palm Beach |title=History of Palm Beach |url=http://www.townofpalmbeach.com/Index.aspx?NID=343 |access-date=January 16, 2017}}{{cite web |publisher=Palm Beach County Historical Society |title=1860-1879 |url=http://www.pbchistoryonline.org/page/timeline-1860-1879 |access-date=January 12, 2017}} A lush grove of palm trees soon grew on what was later named Palm Beach.{{cite web |publisher=Town of Palm Beach |title=Story of the Town's Founding |url=http://www.townofpalmbeach.com/Index.aspx?NID=344 |access-date=January 16, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171229003514/http://www.townofpalmbeach.com/Index.aspx?NID=344 |archive-date=December 29, 2017}}

File:Lake Okeechobee.JPG from Pahokee]]

{{climate chart

| Palm Beach, FL{{cite web|url=http://www.usa.com/palm-beach-county-fl-weather.htm#HistoricalTemperature|title=Palm Beach County, FL Weather - USA.com™|website=www.usa.com}}

|56.3|75.1|2.4

|56.9|76.8|2.4

|58.6|79.3|3.8

|61.8|83.3|2.5

|66.8|87.6|4.0

|71.7|89.9|8.0

|72.7|91.3|6.7

|73.2|91.4|7.4

|72.4|89.6|7.4

|68.5|85.7|4.3

|62.4|80.5|3.2

|56.7|75.9|2.2

|units = imperial

|float = right

|clear = both }}According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of {{convert|2383|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|1970|sqmi}} are land and {{convert|413|sqmi}} (17.3%) are covered by water.{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}} It is the second-largest county in Florida by land area and third-largest by total area. Much of the water is the Atlantic Ocean and Lake Okeechobee. The county has an estimated {{convert|526000|acres}} of farmland.

The eastern third of Palm Beach County is highly urbanized, while the central and western portions of the county are suburban or rural. Palm Beach County is one of three counties in the Miami metropolitan area.{{cite news|url=http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/article68048512.html|title=South Florida population hits 6 million for first time|newspaper=Miami Herald|author=Charles Rabin|date=March 25, 2016|access-date=June 24, 2018}} However, the county's western communities along Lake Okeechobee, such as Belle Glade, South Bay, and Pahokee, have also been considered more part of the rural Florida Heartland.{{cite web|url=https://www.thepalmbeaches.com/explore-cities/lake-okeechobee-and-glades|title=Lake Okeechobee and the Glades|date=July 6, 2016|publisher=Discover the Palm Beaches|access-date=June 24, 2018}}

The Atlantic coastline of Palm Beach County is about {{convert|47|mi|km|abbr=on}} in length.{{cite web|url=https://discover.pbcgov.org/Pages/pbc_facts.aspx|title=Palm Beach County Interesting Facts and Figures|publisher=Palm Beach County, Florida, Government|access-date=June 24, 2018}} It consists mainly of barrier islands and peninsulas, including Jupiter Island, Singer Island, and Palm Beach Island. These islands are separated from the mainland by the Intracoastal Waterway, with much of the waterway locally known as the Lake Worth Lagoon. The main barrier landmasses are split by four inlets: the Jupiter Inlet, the Lake Worth Inlet, the South Lake Worth Inlet, and the Boca Raton Inlet. Two of the four inlets are natural, but significantly altered – the Jupiter and Boca Raton inlets – while the Lake Worth and South Lake Worth inlets are man-made, with the former dug in the 1890s and the latter created between 1926 and 1927.{{cite web|url=http://www.pbchistoryonline.org/page/barrier-islands|title=Barrier Islands|publisher=Historical Society of Palm Beach County|access-date=June 24, 2018}} Several other islands exist within the Intracoastal Waterway, including Hypoluxo Island, Munyon Island, and Peanut Island.{{cite report|url=http://www.lwli.org/pdfs/2013ManagementPlan/2011LWLEducatorsGuide.pdf|title=Lake Worth Lagoon Educators Guide|page=8|date=January 2011|publisher=Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners' Department of Environmental Resources Management|access-date=June 24, 2018}}

• Martin County – north
• Broward County – south
• Hendry County – west
• Glades County – northwest
• Okeechobee County- Northwest via 5 way county intersection in the middle of Lake Okeechobee

• Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge, a {{convert|147392|acre|adj=on}} refuge in Boynton Beach
• DuPuis Management Area, a {{convert|21875|acre|adj=on}} area of protected lands
• John D. MacArthur Beach State Park, a {{convert|348|acre|adj=on}} park in North Palm Beach, Florida
• J.W. Corbett Wildlife Management Area, a {{convert|60348|acre|adj=on}} area of protected lands
• Jupiter Ridge Natural Area, a {{convert|271|acre|adj=on}} preserve in Jupiter, Florida
• Juno Dunes Natural Area, a {{convert|576|acre|adj=on}} preserve in Juno Beach
• Frenchman's Forest Natural Area, a {{convert|158|acre|adj=on}} preserve in Palm Beach Gardens
• Pawpaw Preserve
• Sweetbay Natural Area, a {{convert|1094|acre|adj=on}} preserve in Palm Beach Gardens
• Royal Palm Beach Pines Natural Area, a {{convert|773|acre}} preserve in Royal Palm Beach.
• Hypoluxo Scrub Natural Area, a {{convert|97|acre|adj=on}} preserve in Hypoluxo
• Rosemary Scrub Natural Area, a {{convert|14|acre|adj=on}} preserve in Boynton Beach
• Seacrest Scrub Natural Area, a {{convert|54|acre|adj=on}} preserve in Boynton Beach
• Delray Oaks Natural Area a {{convert|25|acre|adj=on}} prairie and xeric hammock preserve with a small strand swamp and areas of flatwoods in Delray Beach
• Leon M. Weekes Environmental Preserve, a {{convert|12|acre|adj=on}} preserve in Delray Beach
• Grassy Waters Everglades Preserve, a {{convert|14720|acre|adj=on}} wetland in West Palm Beach, Florida

In addition, the county has an abundance of coral reef patches along its coastline and has made efforts to preserve them.{{cite web|url=https://www.thepalmbeaches.com/outdoor-recreation/coral-reef-ambassador-initiative|title=Coral Reef Protection Act (CRPA)|date=August 24, 2018|publisher=Discover The Palm Beaches|access-date=November 29, 2020|archive-date=May 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210510204524/https://www.thepalmbeaches.com/outdoor-recreation/coral-reef-ambassador-initiative}}

{{US Census population

|1910=5577

|1920=18654

|1930=51781

|1940=79989

|1950=114688

|1960=228106

|1970=348993

|1980=576863

|1990=863518

|2000=1131184

|2010=1320134

|2020=1492191

|estyear=2023

|estimate=1533801

|estref={{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.html|title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=March 31, 2024}}

|align-fn=center

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census

1910–1970{{cite web |title=Census Counts: 1830-2020 |url=http://edr.state.fl.us/Content/local-government/data/data-a-to-z/FLcountycensus.xls |website=Florida County Population Census Counts: 1830 to 2020 |publisher=Office of Economic and Demographic Research, The Florida Legislature |access-date=21 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220404171531/http://edr.state.fl.us/Content/local-government/data/data-a-to-z/FLcountycensus.xls |archive-date=4 April 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=21 June 2023}} 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=21 June 2023}}
2000{{cite web |title=PL002: HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT ... - Census Bureau Table |url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=PL002&g=050XX00US12099&tid=DECENNIALPL2000.PL002 |website=PL002 | HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE [73] |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |access-date=21 June 2023 }} 2010{{cite web |title=P2: HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT ... - Census Bureau Table |url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=P2&g=050XX00US12099&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2 |website=P2 | HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |access-date=21 June 2023 }} 2020 2022

}}

File:Ethnic Origins in Palm Beach County, FL.png

{{See also|List of companies based in Miami}}

Companies headquartered in Palm Beach County include Office Depot, The ADT Corporation, TBC Corporation, G4S Secure Solutions, NextEra Energy, The GEO Group, American Sugar Refining, Carrier, Globalsat Group, and Bluegreen Vacations.

There are a significant number of aerospace facilities in the county, operated by United Technologies, Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, Sikorsky Aircraft, General Dynamics, Lockheed Martin, and B/E Aerospace. Many of these companies rank among the top 100 employers for the county.{{cite web |url=http://www.bdb.org/clientuploads/Research/0_2010_data/Topemployers_2009.pdf |title=Top 100 Employers List |website=www.bdb.org }} The largest employer in Palm Beach County is the School District of Palm Beach County, with 27,168 employees, including more than 12,800 teachers.{{cite web |url=https://www.myboca.us/DocumentCenter/View/10432/Joint-Release---New-Elementary-School-Site-01262018-PDF?bidId= |title=City of Boca Raton to Provide Land for New Elementary School |format=PDF }}{{Dead link|date=March 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

Previously W. R. Grace and Company had its headquarters in unincorporated Palm Beach County, near Boca Raton, employing about 130 staff."[http://www.grace.com/media/NewsItem.aspx?id=138361 Grace Announces Relocation To Columbia, Maryland] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110703055556/http://www.grace.com/Media/NewsItem.aspx?id=138361 |date=2011-07-03 }}." W. R. Grace and Company. Retrieved on June 29, 2011. "The restructuring will entail a relocation of approximately 40 people, including senior management, from Grace's Boca Raton, Florida office to its Columbia, Maryland site. A few positions will be relocated to another Grace office in Cambridge, Massachusetts." and "Following the relocation, Grace will close its headquarters office at 1750 Clint Moore Road in Boca Raton, which currently employs approximately 130 people." On January 27, 2011, it announced it was closing the Boca headquarters and moving its administrative staff out of state along with some employees.to the Columbia, Maryland office. About 40 of the employees went to Columbia, and some employees went to Cambridge, Massachusetts Likewise, A360 Media, LLC, publisher of the National Enquirer, was headquartered in Boca Raton, but moved New York in 2014.

{{cite news

|url = http://bigstory.ap.org/article/national-enquirer-leaving-florida-headquarters

|title = National Enquirer leaving Florida headquarters

|last = Sedenksy

|first = Matt

|date = May 21, 2014

|agency = Associated Press

|archive-date=November 7, 2014 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141107093853/http://bigstory.ap.org/article/national-enquirer-leaving-florida-headquarters

|access-date = June 22, 2016

}}

For 2010, the median income for a household in the county was $53,242, and for a family was $64,445. Males had a median income of $44,324 versus $37,337 for females. The per capita income for the county was $33,610. About 8.6% of families and 12.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.5% of those under age 18 and 7.7% of those aged 65 or over.{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |title=Palm Beach County, Florida: SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS - 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=November 14, 2015 }}

The St. Louis Cardinals and the Miami Marlins conduct their spring training at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter. Two teams in the Class A-Advanced Florida State League also play their home games at Roger Dean Stadium: the Jupiter Hammerheads, an affiliate of the Miami Marlins, and the Palm Beach Cardinals, an affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals.

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

The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches, opened in February 2017 in West Palm Beach, accommodates both the Washington Nationals and the Houston Astros for spring training.

Also popular are the Florida Atlantic Owls, an NCAA Division I school that participates in American Athletic Conference. The FAU football team plays at FAU Stadium, and averaged 17,941 fans during the 2017 season.{{cite web |title=On The Lane Train: FAU Football Attendance Sets School Records In '17 Behind Kiffin |url=https://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Daily/Issues/2017/12/08/Colleges/FAU.aspx |website=SportsBusiness Daily |access-date=August 9, 2018 |date=December 8, 2017}} The FAU basketball team plays at FAU Arena, and averaged 1,346 fans during the 2013–14 season.[http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/m_basketball_RB/Reports/attend/2014.pdf 2014 NCAA Men's Basketball Attendance]. Retrieved August 30, 2014.

USL Palm Beach is an upcoming American professional soccer team based in Palm Beach County. Founded in 2023, the team plans to make its debut in the USL Championship.

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

Tourists can visit these attractions and annual events:{{cite web|url=https://www.bizbash.com/miami-south-floridas-top-100-events-2017/miami/story/33881/#.XBKCTK2ZPxg |title=South Florida's Top 100 Events 2017 |access-date=December 13, 2018}}

• South Florida Fair
• SunFest
• Boat Show
• Winter Equestrian Festival
• Lion Country Safari
• Rapids Water Park
• Kravis Center for the Performing Arts
• South Florida Science Museum
• Palm Beach Zoo at Dreher Park
• Palm Beach Shakespeare Festival
• Norton Museum of Art
• Flagler Museum
• Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse
• Worth Avenue
• Clematis Street Historic Commercial District
• CityPlace
• Peanut Island
• Society of the Four Arts
• Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens
• Mounts Botanical Garden
• Gumbo Limbo Environmental Complex
• Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens, including the Roji-en Japanese Gardens
• Palm Beach Maritime Museum{{cite web|url=http://www.pbmm.info/|title=Welcome to the Palm Beach Maritime Museum|access-date=June 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190604213131/http://www.pbmm.info/|archive-date=June 4, 2019}}
• Sandoway Discovery Center{{cite web|url=https://sandoway.org/|title=Sandoway Discovery Center|access-date=June 4, 2019}}
• Daggerwing Nature Center{{cite web|url=http://www.pbcparks.com/nature/daggerwing_nature_center |title=Parks & Recreation Home |publisher=Pbcparks.com |access-date=April 13, 2018}}

A number of shopping malls exist throughout Palm Beach County, including the Palm Beach Outlets, CityPlace, Boynton Beach Mall, The Gardens Mall, Town Center at Boca Raton, The Mall at Wellington Green and Mizner Park.{{cite report|url=http://www.palmbeachcounty.com/directory/Shopping_Centers_,038_Malls/Shopping_,038_Malls/|title=Shopping & Malls in Palm Beach County, Florida|publisher=PalmBeachCounty.com|access-date=November 8, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140406145022/http://www.palmbeachcounty.com/directory/Shopping_Centers_,038_Malls/Shopping_,038_Malls/|archive-date=April 6, 2014}} Formerly, the Palm Beach and Cross County Malls operated in the county, though they closed in 1997 and 2010, respectively.

• The Palm Beach Post
• Palm Beach Daily News
• New Times Broward-Palm Beach
• Sun-Sentinel
• WPTV-TV
• WPBF-TV
• WFLX
• WPEC
• WTVX

The Florida Department of Corrections operates the Glades Correctional Institution in an unincorporated area in Palm Beach County near Belle Glade."[http://www.dc.state.fl.us/facilities/region4/406.html Glades Correctional Institution] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110926231733/http://www.dc.state.fl.us/facilities/region4/406.html |date=2011-09-26 }}." Florida Department of Corrections. Retrieved on August 26, 2011.

Palm Beach County's revenue from property taxes, sales taxes and tourist development taxes reached record levels in Fiscal Year (FY) 2018, according to the [https://www.mypalmbeachclerk.com/ Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller, Palm Beach County]'s annual financial report, [https://www.mypalmbeachclerk.com/home/showdocument?id=1526 Checks & Balances: Your Guide to County Finances.]

The County collected $1.1 billion in property tax revenue in FY 2018, an increase of 6 percent over the previous year. Sales tax collections rose to $175.8 million, marking the eighth consecutive year of growth. Revenue from Tourist Development Tax receipts was $53.8 million, up from $48.5 million in FY 2017. Meanwhile, Local Option Gas Taxes paid by motorists for gasoline decreased for the first time in five years, partially due to higher gasoline prices, which reduced the number of miles driven, according to the Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller's [https://www.mypalmbeachclerk.com/home/showdocument?id=1526 Checks & Balances] report.{{cite web|url=https://www.mypalmbeachclerk.com/home/showdocument?id=1526|title=Checks & Balances: Your Guide to County Finances|website=Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller, Palm Beach County|language=en|access-date=July 23, 2019}}

The county is governed by a board of commissioners, consisting of seven commissioners, who are all elected from single-member districts. One of the commissioners is elected County Mayor and one of them is elected Vice Mayor.{{cite web|title=Overview of County Government - The Legislative Branch|url=https://discover.pbcgov.org/Pages/PBC-Gov-Overview.aspx|website=pbcgov.org|access-date=January 25, 2021}} Commissioners serve staggered terms, and commissioners from Districts 1, 3, 5, and 7 are elected during presidential election years, while the commissioners from Districts 2, 4, and 6 are elected in gubernatorial election years.

Elected county officers include a clerk of courts and comptroller, sheriff, property appraiser, tax collector, and supervisor of elections. State officers serving the Florida judicial district include the state attorney and public defender. All positions are 4-year terms, requiring direct election by voters in presidential election years.

Five former county commissioners have been accused or found guilty of corruption from 2006 to 2009. A grand jury recommended a strong inspector general. This position was approved by county voters in 2010. A county judge found that the mandate covered municipal government in 2015.{{cite news|title=Is Palm Beach County ready to retire its 'Corruption County' reputation?|url=http://opinionzone.blog.palmbeachpost.com/2015/03/22/is-palm-beach-county-ready-to-retire-its-corruption-county-reputation/|newspaper=Palm Beach Post|access-date=March 22, 2015|archive-date=July 21, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150721232603/http://opinionzone.blog.palmbeachpost.com/2015/03/22/is-palm-beach-county-ready-to-retire-its-corruption-county-reputation/}}

{{Infobox law enforcement agency

| agencyname = Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office

| nativename =

| nativenamea =

| nativenamer =

| commonname =

| abbreviation = PBSO

| fictional =

| patch = Palm_Beach_County_Sheriff_Office.jpg

| patchcaption =

| logo =

| logocaption =

| badgecaption =

| flag =

| flagcaption =

| imagesize =

| mottotranslated =

| formed = July 1, 1909

| preceding1 =

| dissolved =

| superseding =

| employees = 4,200+

| volunteers = 1,800+

| budget = 800,000,000+

| country = United States

| nongovernment =

| governingbody =

| governingbodyscnd =

| constitution1 =

| police = Yes

| local = Yes

| military =

| provost =

| gendarmerie =

| religious =

| speciality =

| secret =

| overviewtype =

| overviewbody =

| headquarters = 3228 Gun Club Road, West Palm Beach, Florida 33460

| hqlocleft =

| hqloctop =

| multinational =

| electeetype =

| minister1name =

| minister1pfo =

| chief1name = Sheriff Ric Bradshaw

| chief1position =

| parentagency =

| child1agency =

| unittype =

| unitname =

| officetype = Patrol District

| officename = 20{{cite web|title=PBSO District 16|url=http://www.pbso.org/index.cfm?fa=District16}}

| provideragency =

| uniformedas =

| stationtype =

| stations =

| airbases =

| lockuptype =

| vehicle1type =

| vehicles1 =

| animal1type =

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| website = {{URL|www.pbso.org}}

| footnotes =

| reference =

}}

The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office (PBSO) provides police services to the county's unincorporated areas and the 13 municipalities covered by PBSO.{{cite web|title=PBSO Official Site|url=http://www.pbso.org/index.cfm?fa=Staff}} PBSO also oversees the county jail system, provides security at all four of the county courthouses, and is the primary law enforcement agency covering Palm Beach International Airport.{{Cite web|last=PBSO|title=General Facts|url=https://www.pbso.org/inside-pbso/general/general-facts/|access-date=2021-09-12|website=Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office|language=en-US}} The Sheriff's Office is composed of roughly 4,200 employees, including approximately 1,600 sworn law enforcement personnel, 700 sworn corrections personnel, 1,900 civilian personnel and 1,800 volunteers.{{Cite web|url=http://www.pbso.org/inside-pbso/general/general-facts/|title=General Facts}} The annual operating budget for the PBSO is more than $800 million, as of 2023.{{Cite web |last=Beall |first=Pat |title=🚔 Sheriff's opening bid |url=https://www.stetnews.org/p/sheriff-bradshaw-budget-bid |access-date=2024-06-19 |website=www.stetnews.org |date=May 23, 2023 |language=en}} Ric Bradshaw has been sheriff for Palm Beach County since 2005.{{Cite web|url=http://www.pbso.org/sheriff-ric-bradshaw/|title = Sheriff Ric Bradshaw}}

There are two jail facilities operated by the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office. One is in Belle Glade, called the West Detention Center, which houses all custody levels from minimum to maximum security. At any one time it can contain up to 991 inmates (total bed capacity), with a staff of 188. The facility has a video visitation program which allows families to communicate with inmates remotely.PBSO [https://www.pbso.org/inside-pbso/corrections/inmate-management-bureau/west-detention-center/ West Detention Center] Access date 23 July 2021 The largest jail is the Main Detention Center. Three towers - South, East, and West, make up the center.{{Cite web|url=http://www.pbso.org/inside-pbso/corrections/inmate-management-bureau/main-detention-center/|title=Main Detention Center|last=PBSO|website=Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office|language=en-US|access-date=2019-10-23}} The largest is the South Tower, constructed in 1993 from concrete and steel at a cost of $52 million. The East and West Towers were built in 1983; they now flank the South Tower, completing the Main Detention Center. The Main Detention Center's primary function is to hold high risk inmates, federal inmates, and those inmates who are in need of special medical attention or are otherwise unable to operate at other facilities. The total number of beds at the facility is 2,166. The South Tower can hold 1,285 inmates, the East Tower has 418 beds, and the West Tower has 404 beds.

Since the founding of Palm Beach County in 1909, 16 people have served as county sheriff.{{cite news|url=http://historicpalmbeach.blog.palmbeachpost.com/2010/03/25/palm-beach-county-has-had-16-sheriffs/|newspaper=The Palm Beach Post|author=Eliot Kleinberg|title=Palm Beach County has had 16 sheriffs|date=March 25, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190422135730/http://historicpalmbeach.blog.palmbeachpost.com/2010/03/25/palm-beach-county-has-had-16-sheriffs/|archive-date=April 22, 2019}}

As of 2025, 24 Officers and 1 K9 of the PBSO have been killed in the line of duty.{{Cite web |title=Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office, FL |url=https://www.odmp.org/agency/2997-palm-beach-county-sheriffs-office-florida |access-date=2025-01-27 |website=The Officer Down Memorial Page (ODMP)}}

In the United States House of Representatives, Palm Beach County is represented by three Democrats and one Republican: Sheila Cherfillus-McCormick of the 20th district, Brian Mast of the 21st district, Lois Frankel of the 22nd district, and Jared Moskowitz of the 23rd district.{{cite web|url=https://discover.pbcgov.org/legislativeaffairs/Legislative_Delegation/Delegation-Roster.pdf|title=2020-2021 Palm Beach County Legislative Delegation|website=pbcgov.org|access-date=November 1, 2021}}

Nine districts of the Florida House of Representatives represent parts of Palm Beach County, with the seats held by Kelly Skidmore (D) of 81st district, John Snyder (R) of the 82nd district, Rick Roth (R) of the 85th district, Matt Willhite (D) of the 86th district, David Silvers (D) of the 87th district, Omari Hardy (D) of the 88th district, Mike Caruso (R) of the 89th district, Joseph Casello (D) of the 90th district, and Emily Slosberg (D) of the 91st district. Additionally, the county has four seats in the Florida Senate, which are represented by Gayle Harrell (R) of the 25th district, Tina Polsky (D) of the 29th district, Bobby Powell (D) of the 30th district, and Lori Berman of the 31st district.

{{PresHead|place=Palm Beach County, Florida|source={{cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|first=David|last=Leip|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=November 1, 2021}}}}

{{PresRow|2024|Democratic|366,836|372,512|9,141|Florida}}

{{PresRow|2020|Democratic|334,711|433,572|6,314|Florida}}

{{PresRow|2016|Democratic|272,402|374,673|19,137|Florida}}

{{PresRow|2012|Democratic|247,398|349,651|4,390|Florida}}

{{PresRow|2008|Democratic|226,037|361,271|4,128|Florida}}

{{PresRow|2004|Democratic|212,688|328,687|3,247|Florida}}

{{PresRow|2000|Democratic|152,964|269,754|10,504|Florida}}

{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|133,811|230,687|32,856|Florida}}

{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|140,350|187,869|77,032|Florida}}

{{PresRow|1988|Republican|181,495|144,199|1,523|Florida}}

{{PresRow|1984|Republican|186,811|116,091|29|Florida}}

{{PresRow|1980|Republican|143,639|91,991|17,300|Florida}}

{{PresRow|1976|Republican|98,236|96,705|3,716|Florida}}

{{PresRow|1972|Republican|108,670|40,825|708|Florida}}

{{PresRow|1968|Republican|62,191|32,837|21,894|Florida}}

{{PresRow|1964|Republican|49,614|43,836|0|Florida}}

{{PresRow|1960|Republican|45,337|29,871|0|Florida}}

{{PresRow|1956|Republican|35,746|14,321|0|Florida}}

{{PresRow|1952|Republican|28,595|13,723|0|Florida}}

{{PresRow|1948|Republican|10,996|9,408|3,711|Florida}}

{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|7,628|11,093|0|Florida}}

{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|7,371|11,884|0|Florida}}

{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|4,478|9,635|0|Florida}}

{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|4,006|7,734|0|Florida}}

{{PresRow|1928|Republican|5,298|2,652|298|Florida}}

{{PresRow|1924|Republican|1,726|1,543|472|Florida}}

{{PresRow|1920|Republican|1,892|1,488|506|Florida}}

{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|311|725|367|Florida}}

{{PresFoot|1912|Democratic|31|458|236|Florida}}

As of 2025, the county has a slight Democratic plurality, with large Republican and independent minorities, respectively.{{cite web|title=September District List Report.pdf|url=https://www.votepalmbeach.gov/Portals/PalmBeach/Month-End%20Voter%20Registration%20Statistics/2021/SEPT/September%20District%20List%20Report.pdf?ver=rmZl99c5LL50GvJwGO2KrQ%3d%3d|access-date=November 25, 2021|website=pbcelections.org|language=en}} In gubernatorial races, the county had been a stronghold for Democrats, a trend that began in 1990 and continued up until 2022, when Republican governor Ron DeSantis won the county with 51% of the vote against the backdrop of his landslide reelection.{{Cite web |date=November 10, 2022 |title=DeSantis-led red wave penetrates even once-blue Palm Beach County |url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/politics/fl-ne-florida-red-wave-palm-beach-broward-miami-dade-20221110-jxpzxv6mlzblflyequ6rbousiq-story.html |website=Sun Sentinel|first1=Anthony|last1=Man|first2=Wells|last2=Dusenbury|access-date=November 13, 2022}}[https://www.politico.com/2022-election/results/florida/statewide-offices/ "Ron DeSantis (R) won the race for Florida Governor"]. Politico. Retrieved January 18, 2025.

After being carried by the Republican Party nominee in every election from 1948 to 1988, Palm Beach County has supported the Democratic Party nominee for the presidency since 1992. Republicans have been gaining an increasing share of the votes in Palm Beach County since 2000. That year, Al Gore defeated George W. Bush in the county by a margin of approximately 27 percent; two decades later, Joe Biden defeated Donald Trump (who is a resident of the county) by less than 13 percentage points in 2020 and in 2024, Kamala Harris carried the county over Trump by less than one percentage point.

An advocacy group has criticized

Palm Beach County's roadways for being dangerous for non-motorized users.{{cite web|url=http://www.smartgrowthamerica.org/documents/dangerous-by-design-2014/dangerous-by-design-2014.pdf|title=Dangerous by Design 2014|publisher=Smart Growth America|date=2014|access-date=July 19, 2015|archive-date=August 13, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150813093110/http://www.smartgrowthamerica.org/documents/dangerous-by-design-2014/dangerous-by-design-2014.pdf}} Local municipalities are working to increase safety, but county and state authorities have been hesitant to modify designs.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.citylab.com/design/2014/10/why-12-foot-traffic-lanes-are-disastrous-for-safety-and-must-be-replaced-now/381117/|title=Why 12-Foot Traffic Lanes Are Disastrous for Safety and Must Be Replaced Now |magazine=The Atlantic |date=October 6, 2014 |access-date=July 19, 2015}}{{cite news|url=http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/news/local-govt-politics/county-commissioners-critize-dda-chiefs-remarks/nf2Qk/|title=Pedestrian study prompts email spat|newspaper=Palm Beach Post|access-date=July 19, 2015}}

• 25px Interstate 95
• 25px Florida's Turnpike

I-95 and Florida's Turnpike are controlled-access expressways that serve Palm Beach county. Southern Boulevard (signed SR 80/US 98), which runs east–west through central Palm Beach County, is a partial freeway from Interstate 95 in West Palm Beach to US 441/SR 7 in Wellington and Royal Palm Beach. In the late 1980s, there were plans to construct two additional expressways in Palm Beach County. One was to be an {{convert|11.5|mi}} toll freeway from Royal Palm Beach to downtown West Palm Beach. It would have run between Belvedere Road and Okeechobee Boulevard; necessitating the destruction of several homes and churches along its path. The other proposed route was a northern extension of the Sawgrass Expressway which was to be called "University Parkway". The University Parkway would have snaked around suburban developments west of Boca Raton, Delray Beach, and Boynton Beach; its path bordering the Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge.{{cite web |url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1993-09-28/news/9309280170_1_four-lane-parkway-powerline-task-force |title=University Parkway Takes A Drubbing |work=Sun Sentinel |date=September 28, 1993 |access-date=December 18, 2012 |archive-date=June 9, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120609231122/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1993-09-28/news/9309280170_1_four-lane-parkway-powerline-task-force }}{{cite web |url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1993-09-14/news/9309140116_1_task-force-palm-beach-county-broward-county |title=Task Force Divided By Inter-county Road Proposal |work=Sun Sentinel |date=September 14, 1993 |access-date=December 18, 2012 |archive-date=June 9, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120609230733/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1993-09-14/news/9309140116_1_task-force-palm-beach-county-broward-county }} Ultimately, both expressways were canceled due to opposition from county residents.{{cite web |first=Fred |last=Lowery |url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1986-03-17/news/8601160782_1_corridor-study-central-county-authority-members |title=Detailed Road Study To Be Sought |work=Sun Sentinel |date=March 17, 1986 |access-date=December 18, 2012 |archive-date=June 9, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120609230517/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1986-03-17/news/8601160782_1_corridor-study-central-county-authority-members }}{{cite web |url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1986-10-16/news/8603020944_1_authority-members-routes-sansbury/2 |title=Concerns Aired Over Road Plan Westgate Seeks Delay On Decision |work=Sun Sentinel |date=October 16, 1986 |access-date=December 18, 2012 |archive-date=July 8, 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120708003149/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1986-10-16/news/8603020944_1_authority-members-routes-sansbury/2 }}{{cite web |first=Mike |last=Turnbell |url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2005-03-06/news/0503050284_1_new-interchange-lanes-palm-beach-county |title=Toll Expressway Halted In The '80s |work=Sun Sentinel |date=March 6, 2005 |access-date=December 18, 2012 |archive-date=June 9, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120609230602/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2005-03-06/news/0503050284_1_new-interchange-lanes-palm-beach-county }}

• {{jct|state=FL|US|441|SR|7|name2=Range Line Road}}
• Powerline/Jog Road
• {{jct|state=FL|SR|809|CR|809|county2=Palm Beach|name2=Military Trail}}
• {{jct|state=FL|SR|807|CR|807|county2=Palm Beach|name2=Congress Avenue}}
• {{jct|state=FL|US|1|SR|5|SR|805|name1=Federal Highway}}
• {{jct|state=FL|SR|A1A|name1=Ocean Boulevard}}
• {{jct|state=FL|US|98|SR|80|SR|700|name1=Southern Boulevard}}
• {{jct|state=FL|SR|710|name1=Bee Line Highway}}

File:Tri-Rail train at West Palm Beach station.jpgPalm Beach County is serviced by three railroad options:

• Tri-Rail runs along eastern Palm Beach County, adjacent to Interstate 95 for most of its length. It has stops in Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Boynton Beach, Lake Worth Beach, West Palm Beach, and Mangonia Park.
• The national intercity train system, Amtrak, offers the Silver Meteor and the Silver Star in West Palm Beach and Delray Beach.
• Brightline connects stations located in West Palm Beach and Boca Raton in Palm Beach County to Orlando to the north and to Fort Lauderdale, Aventura and Miami to the south.{{Cite web |date=2024 |title=Brightline |url=https://www.gobrightline.com/ |access-date=April 4, 2024}}

File:Palm Beach County Park Lantana Airport.jpg

• Palm Beach International Airport
• Palm Beach County Park Airport
• North Palm Beach County General Aviation Airport
• Boca Raton Airport
• Palm Beach County Glades Airport

• PalmTran provides bus service throughout Palm Beach county.

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

The Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail, a segment of the Florida National Scenic Trail, passes through the county.

All of Palm Beach County is served by the School District of Palm Beach County.{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st12_fl/schooldistrict_maps/c12099_palm_beach/DC20SD_C12099.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Palm Beach County, FL|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=2022-07-31}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st12_fl/schooldistrict_maps/c12099_palm_beach/DC20SD_C12099_SD2MS.txt Text list] As of 2006, it was the fourth largest school district in Florida and the 11th largest school district in the United States. As of August 2006, the district operated 164 schools, including 25 high schools, and, as of July 22, 2006, had an additional 33 charter schools, with seven more scheduled to open in August 2006.[http://www.palmbeachschools.org/PDFs/Just%20the%20Facts.pdf School District of Palm Beach County "Just the Facts" 2006-2007] - retrieved August 11, 2006 {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060923004241/http://www.palmbeachschools.org/PDFs/Just%2Bthe%2BFacts.pdf |date=September 23, 2006 }} Newsweek listed three Palm Beach County high schools in the top 50 schools in the list 1200 Top U.S. Schools - Atlantic Community High School, Suncoast High School and the Alexander Dreyfoos School of the Arts, all public magnet schools.[https://web.archive.org/web/20060509181509/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12532678/site/newsweek/ The Complete List: 1,200 Top U.S. Schools - Newsweek America's Best High Schools] - retrieved December 9, 2006 Private schools in the county include American Heritage School, Cardinal Newman High School, Jupiter Christian School, The King's Academy, The Benjamin School, Oxbridge Academy, Palm Beach Day Academy, Pope John Paul II High School, St Andrew's School and Weinbaum Yeshiva High School.

• Florida Atlantic University
• Florida International University
• Lynn University
• Nova Southeastern University
• South University
• Palm Beach Atlantic University
• Palm Beach State College
• Keiser University{{cite web |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/news/2015/03/18/keiser-university-to-take-over-northwood.html |title=Keiser University to take over Northwood University's West Palm Beach campus |last= Bandell|first=Brian |date= March 18, 2015|website= www.bizjournals.com}}
• Roosevelt Junior College (closed)
• Southeastern College

Palm Beach County is served by the Palm Beach County Library System, established in 1967 through a Special Act of the Florida Legislature, and operates as a department of county government. It is currently made up of 17 library branches, as well as a bookmobile which travels to more than 40 stops each month. As Palm Beach County continues to see population growth, the library system will also need to plan for continued expansion.{{cite web |url=http://www.pbclibrary.org/using-the-library/find/about-us|title=About Us | Palm Beach County Library System|website=www.pbclibrary.org|access-date=November 1, 2021|archive-date=November 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211107114901/http://www.pbclibrary.org/using-the-library/find/about-us}} Presently, the county is building a new 33,000-square-foot branch in the Canyon Town Center, located in western Boynton Beach.{{cite web|title=The Canyon Branch Library |website=Under Development|url=https://cobwra.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Canyon-Branch-Flyer.pdf|access-date=1 September 2021}}{{cite web|author=Mike Diamond |date=Feb 17, 2023|title=West of Boynton, new library at Canyon Town Center is taking shape|website=Palm Beach Post |url=https://www.palmbeachpost.com/story/news/local/boynton/2023/02/17/west-of-boynton-beach-canyon-library-branch-takes-shape/69792371007/}} This new branch is projected to be completed in 2024. The system's Main Library is located on Summit Boulevard in an unincorporated section of West Palm Beach. It is the largest provider of library services in the county, serving an area that is comparable to the size of the state of Delaware, with holdings of over 1.88 million items.{{cite web |url=http://www.pbclibrary.org/sites/all/documents/other/LRP.pdf|date=July 2020|title=Strategic and Long-Range Plan FY 2021-2023|website=www.pbclibrary.org |access-date=November 1, 2021|archive-date=November 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211127194102/http://www.pbclibrary.org/sites/all/documents/other/LRP.pdf}}

Unlike many county library systems, including neighboring Broward and Miami-Dade counties, several municipalities continue to operate their own libraries. The county library systems works together in a cooperative system model which allows interoperation between the county system and the 13 city libraries in Boca Raton, Boynton Beach, Delray Beach, Highland Beach, Lake Park, Lake Worth Beach, Lantana, Manalapan (J. Turner Moore Public Library), North Palm Beach, Palm Springs, Palm Beach (Society of the Four Arts), Riviera Beach, and West Palm Beach (Mandel Public Library of West Palm Beach).{{cite web|url=https://www.pbcla.org/libraries|title=Libraries|website=Palm Beach County Library Association|access-date=November 1, 2021}}

The county's first library began as a Free Reading Room in 1895 in West Palm Beach's first church, the Union Congregational Church, when Reverend Asbury Caldwell began collecting books for a reading club he hoped would keep construction workers out of the city's many drinking establishments located along First Street, or "Thirst Street" as it was known.{{cite book |last1=DeVires |first1=Janet |last2=Brunk |first2=Graham |last3=Pedersen |first3=Ginger |last4=Labell |first4=Shellie |last5=Sophia |first5=Rosa |title=Overdue in Paradise |date=2017 |publisher=Palmango Press |location=West Palm Beach}}{{rp|53}} The reading club floundered when Caldwell left West Palm Beach, but in 1899, the West Palm Beach Public Library got its official start, housed in a two-story former Palm Beach Yacht Club building donated by Commodore Charles John Clarke, a Palm Beach yachtsman, with the collection of books from the Reading Room and a $100 donation from Henry Flagler. A permanent building was constructed in 1924 in Flagler Park along the Intracoastal Waterway. Two additional buildings have also housed the library – one at 100 Clematis Street, a state-of-art building complete with a 250-seat auditorium that opened to much fanfare in 1964. The second, located at 411 Clematis Street, is a four-story building in the West Palm Beach City Center complex, which houses both city hall and the library, is two and one-half times the size of the previous building. In 2012, the West Palm Beach Public Library Foundation formally changed its name to the Mandel Public Library of West Palm Beach after receiving a $5 million grant from the Mandel Foundation.{{rp|62}}

File:Cities of Palm Beach County.svg

File:BoyntonBeach&BocaRatonFromTheISS.jpg to Boynton Beach, including Town Center Mall), seen from the International Space Station]]

The largest city and county seat is West Palm Beach, with a population of 117,415 as of the 2020 US census. Boca Raton, is the southernmost and second-largest, bordering Broward County and having 97,422 people in 2020 within its city limits. Boynton Beach (between Boca Raton and West Palm Beach), is the third-largest city, with a 2020 population nearing 80,380 residents.Twenty most populous counties in America

The county has 39 municipalities in total.{{cite news|url=https://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/report-westlake-become-palm-beach-county-39th-city/c79EX1AieEBEaWP0w86SgJ/|title=Report: Westlake to become Palm Beach County's 39th city|author=Julius Whigham II|date=June 20, 2016|newspaper=The Palm Beach Post|access-date=June 24, 2018|archive-date=June 24, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180624040110/https://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/report-westlake-become-palm-beach-county-39th-city/c79EX1AieEBEaWP0w86SgJ/}} The municipalities are numbered corresponding to the attached image, except for the newest municipality, Westlake. Municipality populations are based on the 2020 census.{{cite web | url = https://www.census.gov| title = See "Population and Housing Occupancy Status: 2020 - County -- County Subdivision and Place" for Florida| work = 2020 Census| publisher = United States Census Bureau, Population Division}}

Golfview was an incorporated town in Palm Beach County from 1936 until 1997.

{{div col|colwidth=15em}}

• Acacia Villas
• Cabana Colony
• Canal Point (bb)
• Gun Club Estates (m)
• Juno Ridge (z)
• Jupiter Farms
• Kenwood Estates
• Lake Belvedere Estates (o)
• Lake Harbor (p)
• Limestone Creek (y)
• Pine Air
• Plantation Mobile Home Park (s)
• Royal Palm Estates (n)
• San Castle
• Schall Circle (v)
• Seminole Manor (j)
• Stacey Street (q)
• The Acreage
• Watergate
• Westgate (t)

{{div col end}}

Several unincorporated parts of Palm Beach County were listed as census-designated places for the 2000 census, but were not listed for the 2010 census:

{{div col|colwidth=15em}}

• Belle Glade Camp (l)
• Boca Del Mar (c)
• Boca Pointe (a)
• Cypress Lakes (w)
• Dunes Road (cc)
• Fremd Village-Padgett Island (aa)
• Golden Lakes (r)
• Hamptons at Boca Raton (e)
• High Point (i)
• Kings Point (g)
• Lakewood Gardens
• Lake Worth Corridor (k)
• Lakeside Green (x)
• Mission Bay (d)
• Sandalfoot Cove (b)
• Villages of Oriole (h)
• Whisper Walk (f)

{{div col end}}

• West Boca Raton

Palm Beach County borders Martin County to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, Broward County to the south, Hendry County to the west, and extends into Lake Okeechobee in the northwest, where it borders Okeechobee County and Glades County at one point in the center of the lake.

• Century Village (u)

• Apix
• Bean City
• Bryant
• Chosen
• Fruitcrest
• Gardena
• Geerworth
• Gladecrest
• Kreamer Island
• Okeelanta
• Sand Cut
• Venus
• Yamato Colony

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Palm Beach County, Florida
• List of municipalities in Florida

{{notelist}}

{{reflist}}

{{Commons category}}

{{Wikivoyage|Palm Beach County}}

• [http://www.co.palm-beach.fl.us/ Palm Beach County Government / Board of County Commissioners] official website

{{Geographic location

|Centre = Palm Beach County, Florida

|North = Martin County

|Northeast =

|East = Atlantic Ocean

|Southeast =

|South = Broward County

|Southwest =

|West = Hendry County

|Northwest = Okeechobee County and Glades County

}}

{{Palm Beach County, Florida}}

{{Miami metropolitan area}}

{{Greater Miami}}

{{Geography of Florida}}

{{authority control}}

Category:1909 establishments in Florida

Category:Charter counties in Florida

Category:Counties in the Miami metropolitan area

Category:Populated places established in 1909

Category:Florida counties