Here are some fun facts about Palm Beach County that you may not know.
Ocean & Beaches
The county has 47 miles of pristine Atlantic coastline with a close proximity to the Gulf Stream which gives the ocean a nice refreshing temperature year-round. A diver's dream, there are 20 natural reefs to explore near the shoreline plus dozens of artificial reefs and shipwrecks. The Atlantic coast is nicknamed the Gold Coast because of shipwrecks dating back to the 1800s which still lures treasure hunters in search of gold from sunken Spanish galleons. North Palm Beaches are important sea turtle nesting sites with anywhere from 14-17,000 nests counted every season. The four-mile stretch of Singer Island alone accounts for 5 percent of the world's Loggerhead population.
The Jupiter Lighthouse
The locally famed, 108-foot-tall Jupiter Lighthouse can be seen 24 miles away at sea and 50 miles by plane thanks to its 1,000-watt, 120-volt, a quartz-iodine bulb that flashes 1.2 seconds before eclipsing for 6.6 seconds. The lighthouse cast its first beam in 1860. The public can climb105 cast-iron stairs up a spiral counterclockwise staircase which lead to the magnificent Fresnel lens at the top. The lens is reportedly the only one in Florida.
Arts & Rec
Palm Beach County manages 81 parks that offer more than 8,000 acres of land to explore by bike, boat, foot or horse. The county also has more than 200 cultural organizations that count an average of 4 million members and guests annually by hosting 42,000 concerts, exhibitions, festivals and performances throughout the year. This gives the county an economic impact of $250 million.
Tech Starts
The modern-day PC was created in Boca Raton in 1981. It was called the "Acorn", which became the standard computer in the industry and was named “Machine of the Year” by Time magazine. Just south of Palm Beach County, Miami Beach was the first to install an ATM which was originally intended for rollerbladers.
Big Money
Some of the wealthiest people in the country live on Jupiter Island. It has some of the most expensive and luxurious houses and its private-lifestyle residents have the highest per capita income in the U.S. The island of Palm Beach is also home to Billionaire's Row, Worth Avenue and the Mar-a-lago. The county itself is home to 18 of the state's 42 wealthiest people according to Forbes. Tourism, exports and trade boost the local economy tremendously, for example, the Port of Palm Beach moves $7 billion worth of commodities each year and contributes $260 million in business revenue.
Golf & Sport Capitals
The Palm Beaches are the true golf capital of the world with more than 160 public and private courses. It's home to the famous annual PGA Tour and many pro players like Tiger Woods and Rickie Fowler. Thanks to Wellington, the area is also the equestrian capital of the world. The Winter Equestrian Festival is held at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center every year and is the largest and longest-running circuit in horse sport. The Delray Beach Tennis Center holds international tennis championships each year and the county has more than 1,000 tennis courts. The National Croquet Center located in West Palm Beach is the largest in the world, with a 19,000-square-foot clubhouse accommodating tournaments, lessons, parties and other events.
PBI
Just over 2 miles from high-class resorts and beaches, the Palm Beach International Airport has repeatedly been awarded for being one of the best, most convenient and stress-free airports in the world. It has a putting green, a doggy park, spa, 15 restaurants, 2 indoor playgrounds and even more. PBI operates 13 airlines and oversees approximately 200 non-stop arrivals and departures to more than 25 destinations in the US, Canada and the Caribbean on 13 domestic and international airlines. It sees six million passengers each year and was recently listed on both Conde Nast Traveler and Travel + Leisure magazines' Top Airports in the World.
Notable Demographics
Palm Beach County is larger in land size than both Rhode Island and Delaware. It's the second-largest county in Florida covering over 2,000 square miles. Within the Palm Beaches, there are 39 distinct cities and towns with the largest being West Palm Beach. Boca Raton comes in second, followed by Boynton Beach, Delray Beach, Jupiter and Wellington. The Palm Beach County School District has the highest graduation rate of Florida’s largest school districts and is home to over 330 award-winning student programs.
