Palm Beach County, Florida - info, facts, communities on Key to the City

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Information & Facts about Palm Beach County, Florida

Attractions & other Information - Climate - Economy - Genealogy - Geography -
Government - History Libraries - Location - Organizations & Groups -
Other Facts & Figures - Population - Schools

Government

Palm Beach County Government

The Palm Beach County Home Rule Charter became effective on January 1, 1985.

Palm Beach County Sheriff's office

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Population:

1909 - 5,300
1980 - 576,758
1990 - 863,503
2000 - 1,131,184
2003 - 1,211,167
2005 - 1,268,548 (estimate)

Housing Units
2000 - 556,428

The smallest town in the county in population is Cloud Lake with 167 residents

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Location:

The county is located in the subtropical, southeastern portion of the State known as the "Gold Coast" that consists of Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties.

A good map page for the county

Surrounding counties are: Martin County to the north, Broward County to the south, Hendry County to the West and Okeechobee County and Glades County both to the northwest. The Atlantic Ocean is to the East.

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Climate:

The balmy weather is a draw for residents and tourists alike. Winters are usually fairly dry while spring and summer bring most of the rainfall. The Gulf Stream comes nearly to the mainland in the county area bringing warm water up from the south. Outdoor activities both in and out of the water are available year-round. Throughout the summer, mild breezes cool down higher temperatures.

Average annual temperature: 75 degrees F.
Average summer temperature: 82 degrees F.
Average winter temperature: 66.7 degrees F.

Average yearly rainfall: 61.7 inches

Try this weather and climate page for the county

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Other Facts and Figures:

Average new home cost
2002 - $150,000

Income:

Per-capita - $28,801 (2000)

Median age: 41.8 years

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History:

Palm Beach County was created from Dade County in 1909. It was the 47th county to be created in the state. The county covered areas that are now include in Broward, Martin and Okeechobee Counties. Broward was created in 1915, Okeechobee in 1917 and Martin in 1925. Lake Okeechobee was included within the county boundaries until 1963 when the lake was divded up amonst all the bordering counties.

In 1838, the first non-Indian settlement was built here in the form of a U.S. Army fort. Later, in 1860, the first residents to care for the Jupiter Lighhouse came . When the Jupiter and Lake Worth "Celestial" Railroad and then the Florida East Coast Railroad came to the county in the late 1880s, many more residents began to arrive. By 1889, so many people came to vote in, then, Dade County, that the seat was moved to Juno until 1899. West Palm Beach incorporated in 1894 as the first official municipality in Palm Beach County.

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Geography:

Palm Beach County is the largest of the 67counties in the State of Florida. It is larger than the state of Delaware.

Total area: 2,386.50 square miles
Total land area: 1,974.20 square miles
Total water area: 412.30 square miles

Included in the water area is a portion of Lake Okeechobee, the largest freshwater lake in Florida and one of the largest in the country.

Atlantic Ocean coastline mileage is 45 linear miles.

County width: 53 linear miles
County average elevation: 15 feet above sea level

Largest lakes in the County:

Lake Okeechobee - 488,000 acres (northwest county border)
Lake Mangonia - 540 acres (West Palm Beach area)

Clear Lake - 401 acres (West Palm Beach area)

Lake Osborne - 356 acres (Lake Worth and Lantana)

The western county is a more rural area with much wetland in the southwestern portion and agriculture predominant in the northwestern portion.
The southern end of the county includes some of the Everglades in the Loxahatchee National Wildlife Preserve.

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Genealogy:

Florida GenWeb Project page for Palm Beach County

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Libraries:

Palm Beach County Library System
3650 Summit Blvd.,
West Palm Beach, FL, 33406
Phone: 561-233-2600;
Fax: 561-233-2627
South County and Glades: 1-888-780-4962

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Schools:

The School District of Palm Beach County

Palm Beach Community College
4200 Congress Avenue
Lake Worth, FL 33461
Phone: 866-576-7222

Florida Atlantic University
Palm Beach Atlantic University
Lynn University

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Economy:

Tourism, Construction and Agriculture make up the three largest sectors of the county's growing economy. Of course, many more industries are also represented. The western county accounts for much of the agriculture producing large crops for sugar. Tourists not only bring in funding for the county, but many in the county, over 60,000, are employed in the industry. Housing starts and business growth both contribute greatly to the general economy of the county.

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Organizations & Groups

American Red Cross - Greater Palm Beach Area Chapter
825 Fern Street,
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
Phone: 561.833.7711 -
Fax: 561-833-8771

Boca Raton Historical Society
71 North Federal Highway
Boca Raton, FL 33432
Phone: (561) 395-6766
On the National Register of Historic Places, Town Hall houses archival information, exhibitions on Boca�s history and a gift shop.
Free admission - open Monday-Friday 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Also available for touring are two 1947 streamline rail cars - call for hours.

Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches
401 North Flagler Drive
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
Phone: (561) 833-3711
Fax: (561) 833-5582

Historical Society of Palm Beach County
The Paramount Building
139 North County Road, Suite 25
Palm Beach, Florida 33480
Phone: 561-832-4164
Fax: 561-832-7965

North Palm Beach County Chamber of Commerce
3970 RCA Boulevard, Suite 7010
Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410-4231
Phone: (561) 694-2300
Fax: (561) 694-0126

Palm Beach County Convention and Visitors Bureau
1555 Palm Beach Lakes Blvd. Suite 800 �
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
Phone: (561) 233-3000 |
Toll-free: (800) 833-5733
Fax: (561) 233-3009

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Attractions & Other Information

American Orchid Society Visitors Center and Botanical Garden
16700 AOS Lane
Delray Beach, FL 33446
Phone: (561) 404-2010
The American Orchid Society Visitors Center and Botanical Garden is one of the County�s newest cultural jewels. The campus features a world-class botanical garden, spectacular greenhouse, incredible water features and thousands of orchids, and is available for weddings, meetings and party rentals.

Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse
In Lighthouse Park,
500 Captain Armour's Way (Beach Road/C-707 and U.S. Highway One)
Jupiter, FL 33477
Phone: (561) 747-8380
Children must be 4 feet tall to climb. Admission is $6 per person. Video room, gift shop and lighthouse tours.
Starting September 2006, "Station J� will also house a new museum.

Lion Country Safari
2003 Lion Country Safari Road
West Palm Beach, FL 33470
Phone: (561) 793-1084
Lion Country Safari-West Palm Beach. Drive through safari with hundreds of animals roaming free and amusement park with animal encounters and demonstrations, rides, shopping, food and thrills. Voted �Best Local Attraction� year after year.

Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens
Delray Beach, FL 33446

Mounts Botanical Garden
531 North Military Trail
West Palm Beach, Fl 33415
Phone 561-233-1757

Palm Beach International Airport
1000 Turnage Boulevard
West Palm Beach, FL 33406
Phone: (561) 471-7420

Palm Beach Zoo at Dreher Park
1301 Summit Boulevard
West Palm Beach, FL 33405
(561) 533-0887
Enjoy 23 acres of tropical splendor with over 1,200 animals from North, Central, South America, Asia and Australia.
Interactive fountain, carousel, waterfront Tropics Caf�, new Siamang habitat!

Port of Palm Beach
PO Box 9935
Riviera Beach, FL 33419
Phone: 561-842-4201
Fax: 561-842-4240

South Florida Science Museum
4801 Dreher Trail North
West Palm Beach, FL 33405
Phone: (561) 832-1988
Hands-on science center, aquarium, planetarium, museum store, special weekend programs, observatory, laser concerts, science trail, Egypt gallery and miniature galaxy golf. Permanent and traveling exhibits. Family-oriented activities for all ages including adult lecture series throughout the year. Open 363 days a year.

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This page was created on 16 August 2006 and was last updated on 15 June 2012 at 4:02 pm

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