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Palm Beach County is a county located in the state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 1,131,184. Its estimated 2004 population is 1,243,230, making it the third most populous county in the state. Its county seat is West Palm Beach, Florida6.
Palm Beach County is one of three counties that comprise the South Florida metropolitan area.
History
Palm Beach County was created in 1909. It was named for its first established town, Palm Beach, in turn named for the palm trees and beaches in the area.
Henry Flagler was instrumental in the county's development in the early 1900s with the extension of the Florida East Coast Railway through the county from Jacksonville to Key West.
It was one of the counties at the center of the 2000 U.S. Presidential election recount controversy.
Palm Beach County, specifically the city of Boca Raton, was the site of the first of the 2001 anthrax attacks.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 6,181 km² (2,386 mi²). 5,113 km² (1,974 mi²) of it is land and 1,068 km² (412 mi²) of it is water, much of it in the Atlantic Ocean and Lake Okeechobee. The total area is 17.27% water.
The boundaries of area code 561 exactly match the county's. Originally, it was part of area code 305, and later area code 407.
Adjacent Counties
- Martin County, Florida - north
- Broward County, Florida - south
- Hendry County, Florida - west
- Glades County, Florida - northwest corner
Controversies & crime
Year 2000 crime in Palm Beach County was as follows (2006 report indicates that robbery in Palm Beach County was up 20%)
- Crime | Number
- Total | 72,211
- Murder | 85
- Rape | 428
- Robbery | 2,369
- Aggravated Assault | 5,288
- Burglary | 14,770
- Larceny - theft | 41,801
- Motor vehicle thefts | 7,239
- Population | 1,097,962
- Coverage indicator | 100%
Data provided by the Federal Bureau of Investigation to the National Archive of Criminal Justice Data, University of Michigan.
The most dangerous cities are Riviera Beach, West Palm Beach, Belle Glade and Lake Worth.
Demographics
As of the census² of 2000, there were 1,131,184 people, 474,175 households, and 303,946 families residing in the county. The population density was 221/km² (573/mi²). There were 556,428 housing units at an average density of 109/km² (282/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 69.05% White, 29.80% Black or African American, 0.22% Native American, 1.51% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 2.98% from other races, and 2.38% from two or more races. 18.44% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 474,175 households out of which 24.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.80% were married couples living together, 9.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.90% were non-families. 29.20% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.89.
In the county the population was spread out with 21.30% under the age of 18, 6.60% from 18 to 24, 27.00% from 25 to 44, 22.00% from 45 to 64, and 23.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 93.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.50 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $45,062, and the median income for a family was $53,701. Males had a median income of $36,931 versus $28,674 for females. The per capita income for the county was $28,801. About 6.90% of families and 9.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.30% of those under age 18 and 6.60% of those age 65 or over. As with other factors very rich enclaves distort entire county averages. Many in Palm Beach County are poor and working poor which surprises some not from the area.
The median home price in Palm Beach County as of May 2006 is realistically around $350,000 (fallen from its real estate bubble high of over $400K) many today are sitting on properties they are finding hard to sell. The current figure above national average is due to two factors: the rampant recent real estate speculation caused by the low interest rates set over the past few years; and the average figures distorted by the enclaves of the Town of Palm Beach where very expensive barrier island real estate has distorted the overall county average figure.
Borders
Palm Beach County borders Martin County to the North, the Atlantic Ocean to the East, Broward County to the South, Hendry County to the West, and Lake Okeechobee to the Northwest.
Municipalities and census-designated places
Incorporated
- City of Pahokee
- City of Belle Glade
- City of South Bay
- Village of Tequesta
- Town of Jupiter Inlet Colony
- Town of Jupiter
- Town of Juno Beach
- City of Palm Beach Gardens
- Village of North Palm Beach
- Town of Lake Park
- City of Riviera Beach
- Town of Palm Beach Shores
- Town of Mangonia Park
- Town of Palm Beach
- City of West Palm Beach
- Town of Haverhill
- Town of Glen Ridge
- Town of Cloud Lake
- Village of Palm Springs
- Town of Lake Clarke Shores
- Village of Royal Palm Beach
- Village of Wellington
- City of Greenacres
- City of Atlantis
- City of Lake Worth
- Town of South Palm Beach
- Town of Lantana
- Town of Manalapan
- Town of Hypoluxo
- City of Boynton Beach
- Town of Ocean Ridge
- Village of Golf
- Town of Briny Breezes
- Town of Gulf Stream
- City of Delray Beach
- Town of Highland Beach
- City of Boca Raton
Unincorporated areas and census-designated places
- Belle Glade Camp(l)
- Boca Del Mar(c)
- Boca Pointe(a)
- Canal Point(bb)
- Century Village(u)
- Cypress Lakes(w)
- Dunes Road(cc)
- Fremd Village-Padgett Island(aa)
- Golden Lakes(r)
- Gun Club Estates(m)
- Hamptons at Boca Raton(e)
- High Point(i)
- Juno Ridge(z)
- Kings Point(g)
- Lake Belvedere Estates(o)
- Lake Harbor(p)
- Lake Worth Corridor(k)
- Lakeside Green(x)
- Limestone Creek(y)
- Mission Bay(d)
- Plantation Mobile Home Park(s)
- Royal Palm Estates(n)
- Sandalfoot Cove(b)
- Schall Circle(v)
- Seminole Manor(j)
- Stacey Street(q)
- Villages of Oriole(h)
- Westgate-Belvedere Homes(t)
- Whisper Walk(f)
Education
All of Palm Beach County is served by the School Distict of Palm Beach County. As of the 2000-2001 school year, it was the 4th largest school district in Florida and the 14th or 15th largest school district in the United States (depending on whether Puerto Rico is included in the list). As of January, 2006, the district operated 163 schools, including 23 high schools, and had an additional 39 charter schools.
Colleges/Universities
- Palm Beach Community College *
- Florida Atlantic University *
- Palm Beach Atlantic College *
- Lynn University *
Points of interest
- American Orchid Society Visitor Center and Botanical Garden
- Lion Country Safari
- Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens
- Mounts Botanical Garden
- Roji-en Japanese Gardens
- Norton Museum of Art
- Kravis Center
References
- School District of Palm Beach County - retrieved February 3 2006
- National Center for Education Statistics - retrieved February 3 2006
External links
Government links/Constitutional offices
- Palm Beach County Government / Board of County Commissioners official website
- Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections
- Palm Beach County Property Appraiser
- Palm Beach County Tax Collector
- Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office
Special districts
Judicial branch
- Palm Beach County Clerk of Courts
- Palm Beach County Public Defender
- Palm Beach County State Attorney's Office, 15th Judicial Circuit
- 15th Judicial Circuit of Florida
Tourism links
South Florida metropolitan area | Florida counties | Charter counties in Florida | Palm Beach County, Florida
Palm Beach County | Condado de Palm Beach (Florida) | Condado de Palm Beach
"Palm Beach County, Florida"