Palm Beach, Florida
Encyclopedia
The Town of Palm Beach (called Palm Beach Island or the Island of Palm Beach to differentiate between the town and the county) is an incorporated town
in Palm Beach County
, Florida
, United States
. The Intracoastal Waterway
separates it from the neighboring cities of West Palm Beach
and Lake Worth
. As of 2000, Palm Beach had a year-round population of 10,468, with an estimated seasonal population of 30,000.
, a founder of Standard Oil
, who made the Atlantic coast barrier island
accessible via his Florida East Coast Railway
. The nucleus of the community was established by Flagler's two luxury resort hotels, the Royal Poinciana Hotel
and The Breakers Hotel
. West Palm Beach
was built across Lake Worth as a service town and has become a major city in its own right.
Flagler's houselots 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" by constantly entertaining. The town was incorporated on April 17, 1911.
An area known as the Styx housed many of the servants, most of whom were black. The workers rented their small houses from the landowners. In the early 1900s the land owners agreed to evict all of the residents of the Styx (who moved to West Palm Beach, Florida
) and Edward R. Bradley
bought up much of this land. The houses were razed, according to the Palm Beach Daily News
:
.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 10.4 square miles (27.0 km2). 3.9 square miles (10.2 km2) of it is land and 6.5 square miles (16.9 km2) of it is water. The total area is 62.45% water.
, with mean temperatures any month never below 64.4 °F (18.0 °C).
The summer and wet period of May through October are hot, humid and wet with average high temperatures of 86 to 90 °F (30 to 32 °C) and lows of 70 to 75 °F (21 to 24 °C). 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 winter and dryer period of November through April are warm and mostly dry with average high temperatures of 75 to 82 °F (24 to 27 °C) and lows of 57 to 66 °F (14 to 19 °C). However, the city experiences occasional cold fronts during this period, bringing high temperatures of 50s and 60s (10 to 20 °C) and lows of 40s and 50s (5 to 15 °C) lasting only for few days.
The annual average precipitation is 61 in (1,549.4 mm), most of which occurs during the summer and wet period of May through October. However, rainfall can occur in any month, primarily as short-lived heavy afternoon thunderstorms. Palm Beach has an average of 133 wet days and 234 sunshine days annually. Hurricane season is officially from June 1 through November 30, with the peak months being August, September and October. The city has received direct or near direct hits from hurricanes in 1928, 1947, 1949, 1964, 1965, 1979, 1992, 1999, 2004, and 2006.
The per capita income
for the town is $109,219. Males have a median income of $71,685 versus $42,875 for females. 5.3% of the population and 2.4% of families are below the poverty line. 4.6% of those under the age of 18 and 2.9% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
The racial makeup of the town is 96% Euro American (93.8% were non-Hispanic White), 2.57% Black, 0.53% Asian, 0.04% Native American, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.21% from other races, and 0.63% from two or more races. 2.56% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
The 10,468 people in the town are organized into 5,789 households and 3,021 families. The population density
is 2,669.2 inhabitants per square mile (1,031.1/km2). There are 9,948 housing units at an average density of 2,536.6 per square mile (979.8/km2). 7.7% of the households have children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.1% are married couples
living together, 3.3% have a female householder with no husband present, and 47.8% are non-families. 42.6% of all households are made up of individuals and 27.6% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 1.81 and the average family size is 2.38.
Many of Palm Beach's residents are affluent, with a median household income of $124,562 and a median family income of $137,867. The town's affluence and its "abundance of pleasures" and "strong community-oriented sensibility" were cited when it was selected in June 2003 as America's
"Best Place to Live" by Robb Report
magazine.
As of 2000, English
was the first language
of 87.81% of all residents, while French
comprised 4.48%, Spanish
consisted of 3.65%, German
made up 2.16%, Italian
speakers made up 0.45%, Yiddish
made up 0.36%, Russian
was at 0.30% (even though those of Russia
n ancestry made up 10.30% of the population), Arabic
and Swedish
at 0.25%, and Polish
was the mother tongue of 0.24% of the population.
As of 2000, Palm Beach had the 40th highest percentage of Russia
n residents in the U.S., with 10.30% of the populace (tied with Pomona, NY
and the township
of Lower Merion, PA). It also had the 26th highest percentage of Austria
n residents in the US, at 2.10% of the town's population (which tied with 19 other US areas).
and Amtrak
, as well as Tri-Rail
-– all located in West Palm Beach and connecting Palm Beach to Miami.
Public transportation is available through Palm Tran
, and connects with the rest of the county.
The northern portion of Palm Beach is served by the Route 41 bus which travels from the northern most portion of Palm Beach at the inlet and then down to Royal Palm Way, across the Royal Park Bridge (Florida State Road 704) into West Palm Beach and up to the government center, and then follows the same route in reverse.
Palm Beach was served by the Route 42 Palm Tran bus from Lantana
in the south going along State Road A1A
up to Royal Poncianna Way and over the Flagler Memorial Bridge into West Palm Beach to the government center, and then back again for the southbound trip. Route 42 ended on May 10. 2008 due to low ridership. Effective July 9, 2008, the southern end of Palm Beach is served by the "Coral Link" operating only on Wednesdays, going between Hypoluxo Road and Lake Worth Road via US 1
and SR A1A
.
Private vehicles and taxis are the predominant means of transport in Palm Beach. Bicycles are a popular transport on the island, although most areas have no bicycle trails, so safe and comfortable travel is not always assured. The Lake Trail, exclusively for pedestrian and bike traffic, extends from Royal Palm Way (State Road 704) in the south up to the north end of the island. The trail follows the edge of the Lake Worth Lagoon
(part of the intercoastal waterway) except for a section between the Flagler Museum
and the Biltmore Condominiums, where the trail follows the streets. Another break occurs to pass around the Sailfish Yacht Club in the north end of the island. The Lake Trail is filled daily with bikers, rollerbladers, runners, and dog-walkers.
Traveling by bike along the ocean can be hazardous. Only a short section in the downtown area has sidewalks. The roads along the ocean are narrow and have small or no shoulders, making biking a potentially dangerous activity in those areas.
In the southern end of the island, south of Sloan's Curve, through South Palm Beach
to East Ocean Avenue (linking to Lantana) is a two-mile long, relatively wide pedestrian path that is popular with walkers, runners, and bikers alike.
Incorporated town
-Canada:Incorporated towns are a form of local government in Canada, which is a responsibility of provincial rather than federal government.-United States:...
in Palm Beach County
Palm Beach County, Florida
Palm Beach County is the largest county in the state of Florida in total area, and third in population. As of 2010, the county's estimated population was 1,320,134, making it the twenty-eighth most populous in the United States...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The Intracoastal Waterway
Intracoastal Waterway
The Intracoastal Waterway is a 3,000-mile waterway along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States. Some lengths consist of natural inlets, salt-water rivers, bays, and sounds; others are artificial canals...
separates it from the neighboring cities of West Palm Beach
West Palm Beach, Florida
West Palm Beach, is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and is the most populous city in and county seat of Palm Beach County, the third most populous county in Florida with a 2010 population of 1,320,134. The city is also the oldest incorporated municipality in South Florida...
and Lake Worth
Lake Worth, Florida
Lake Worth is a city in Palm Beach County, Florida, which takes its name from the body of water along its eastern border, originally called "Lake Worth", and now generally known as the Lake Worth Lagoon. The lake itself was named for General William J. Worth, who led U.S. forces during the last...
. As of 2000, Palm Beach had a year-round population of 10,468, with an estimated seasonal population of 30,000.
History
Palm Beach was established as a resort by Henry Morrison FlaglerHenry Morrison Flagler
Henry Morrison Flagler was an American tycoon, real estate promoter, railroad developer and partner of John D. Rockefeller in Standard Oil. He was a key figure in the development of the eastern coast of Florida along the Atlantic Ocean and was founder of what became the Florida East Coast Railway...
, a founder of Standard Oil
Standard Oil
Standard Oil was a predominant American integrated oil producing, transporting, refining, and marketing company. Established in 1870 as a corporation in Ohio, it was the largest oil refiner in the world and operated as a major company trust and was one of the world's first and largest multinational...
, who made the Atlantic coast barrier island
Barrier island
Barrier islands, a coastal landform and a type of barrier system, are relatively narrow strips of sand that parallel the mainland coast. They usually occur in chains, consisting of anything from a few islands to more than a dozen...
accessible via his Florida East Coast Railway
Florida East Coast Railway
The Florida East Coast Railway is a Class II railroad operating in the U.S. state of Florida; in the past, it has been a Class I railroad.Built primarily in the last quarter of the 19th century and the first decade of the 20th century, the FEC was a project of Standard Oil principal Henry Morrison...
. The nucleus of the community was established by Flagler's two luxury resort hotels, the Royal Poinciana Hotel
Royal Poinciana Hotel
The Royal Poinciana Hotel was a Gilded Age hotel in Palm Beach, Florida, United States. Enlarged twice and doubling in size each time, it became the largest wooden structure in the world, with 1,700 employees and accommodations for 2,000 guests...
and The Breakers Hotel
Breakers Hotel
The Breakers Hotel is an historic hotel in Palm Beach, Florida, United States. First known as The Palm Beach Inn, it was opened on January 16, 1896 by Henry Flagler, an oil, real estate and railroad tycoon, to accommodate travelers on his Florida East Coast Railway...
. West Palm Beach
West Palm Beach, Florida
West Palm Beach, is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and is the most populous city in and county seat of Palm Beach County, the third most populous county in Florida with a 2010 population of 1,320,134. The city is also the oldest incorporated municipality in South Florida...
was built across Lake Worth as a service town and has become a major city in its own right.
Flagler's houselots were bought by the beneficiaries of the Gilded Age
Gilded Age
In United States history, the Gilded Age refers to the era of rapid economic and population growth in the United States during the post–Civil War and post-Reconstruction eras of the late 19th century. The term "Gilded Age" was coined by Mark Twain and Charles Dudley Warner in their book The Gilded...
, and in 1902 Flagler himself built a Beaux-Arts mansion, Whitehall
Flagler Museum
Flagler Museum, also known as Whitehall, is a 55-room mansion open to the public in Palm Beach, Florida in the United States. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.-History:...
, designed by the New York–based firm Carrère and Hastings
Carrère and Hastings
Carrère and Hastings, the firm of John Merven Carrère and Thomas Hastings , located in New York City, was one of the outstanding Beaux-Arts architecture firms in the United States. The partnership operated from 1885 until 1911, when Carrère was killed in an automobile accident...
and helped establish the Palm Beach winter "season" by constantly entertaining. The town was incorporated on April 17, 1911.
An area known as the Styx housed many of the servants, most of whom were black. The workers rented their small houses from the landowners. In the early 1900s the land owners agreed to evict all of the residents of the Styx (who moved to West Palm Beach, Florida
West Palm Beach, Florida
West Palm Beach, is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and is the most populous city in and county seat of Palm Beach County, the third most populous county in Florida with a 2010 population of 1,320,134. The city is also the oldest incorporated municipality in South Florida...
) and Edward R. Bradley
Edward R. Bradley
Colonel Edward Riley Bradley was an American steel mill laborer, gold miner, businessman and philanthropist. As well as a race track proprietor, he was the preeminent owner and breeder of Thoroughbred racehorses in the Southern United States during the first three decades of the 20th Century...
bought up much of this land. The houses were razed, according to the Palm Beach Daily News
Palm Beach Daily News
The Palm Beach Daily News is a daily newspaper in Florida, serving the town of Palm Beach in Palm Beach County in South Florida. It is also known as "The Shiny Sheet" because of its heavy, slick newsprint stock. It was founded in 1897 as the Lake Worth Daily News, and it covers the social affairs...
:
Geography
Palm Beach is the easternmost town in Florida, located on a 16 miles (25.7 km) long barrier islandBarrier island
Barrier islands, a coastal landform and a type of barrier system, are relatively narrow strips of sand that parallel the mainland coast. They usually occur in chains, consisting of anything from a few islands to more than a dozen...
.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 10.4 square miles (27.0 km2). 3.9 square miles (10.2 km2) of it is land and 6.5 square miles (16.9 km2) of it is water. The total area is 62.45% water.
Climate
Palm Beach, and the rest of southern Florida has a tropical climateTropical climate
A tropical climate is a climate of the tropics. In the Köppen climate classification it is a non-arid climate in which all twelve months have mean temperatures above...
, with mean temperatures any month never below 64.4 °F (18.0 °C).
The summer and wet period of May through October are hot, humid and wet with average high temperatures of 86 to 90 °F (30 to 32 °C) and lows of 70 to 75 °F (21 to 24 °C). 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 winter and dryer period of November through April are warm and mostly dry with average high temperatures of 75 to 82 °F (24 to 27 °C) and lows of 57 to 66 °F (14 to 19 °C). However, the city experiences occasional cold fronts during this period, bringing high temperatures of 50s and 60s (10 to 20 °C) and lows of 40s and 50s (5 to 15 °C) lasting only for few days.
The annual average precipitation is 61 in (1,549.4 mm), most of which occurs during the summer and wet period of May through October. However, rainfall can occur in any month, primarily as short-lived heavy afternoon thunderstorms. Palm Beach has an average of 133 wet days and 234 sunshine days annually. Hurricane season is officially from June 1 through November 30, with the peak months being August, September and October. The city has received direct or near direct hits from hurricanes in 1928, 1947, 1949, 1964, 1965, 1979, 1992, 1999, 2004, and 2006.
| Monthly Normal and Record High and Low Temperatures | ||||||||||||
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rec High °F | 89 | 90 | 94 | 99 | 96 | 98 | 101 | 98 | 97 | 95 | 91 | 90 |
| Norm High °F | 75.1 | 76.3 | 79.2 | 82.1 | 85.9 | 88.5 | 90.1 | 90.1 | 88.7 | 85 | 80.4 | 76.4 |
| Norm Low °F | 57.3 | 58.2 | 61.9 | 65.4 | 70.5 | 73.8 | 75 | 75.4 | 74.7 | 71.2 | 65.8 | 60.1 |
| Rec Low °F | 27 | 32 | 30 | 43 | 51 | 61 | 66 | 65 | 66 | 46 | 36 | 28 |
| Precip (in) | 3.75 | 2.55 | 3.68 | 3.57 | 5.39 | 7.58 | 5.97 | 6.65 | 8.1 | 5.46 | 5.55 | 3.14 |
| Source: USTravelWeather.com | ||||||||||||
Demographics
As of the 2000 census, over half the population (52.7%) are 65 years of age or older, with a median age of 67 years. 9.4% are under the age of 18, 1.5% are from 18 to 24, 11.5% are from 25 to 44, and 25.0% from 45 to 64. For every 100 females there are 79.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 77.0 males.The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the town is $109,219. Males have a median income of $71,685 versus $42,875 for females. 5.3% of the population and 2.4% of families are below the poverty line. 4.6% of those under the age of 18 and 2.9% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
The racial makeup of the town is 96% Euro American (93.8% were non-Hispanic White), 2.57% Black, 0.53% Asian, 0.04% Native American, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.21% from other races, and 0.63% from two or more races. 2.56% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
The 10,468 people in the town are organized into 5,789 households and 3,021 families. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
is 2,669.2 inhabitants per square mile (1,031.1/km2). There are 9,948 housing units at an average density of 2,536.6 per square mile (979.8/km2). 7.7% of the households have children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.1% are married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 3.3% have a female householder with no husband present, and 47.8% are non-families. 42.6% of all households are made up of individuals and 27.6% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 1.81 and the average family size is 2.38.
Many of Palm Beach's residents are affluent, with a median household income of $124,562 and a median family income of $137,867. The town's affluence and its "abundance of pleasures" and "strong community-oriented sensibility" were cited when it was selected in June 2003 as America's
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
"Best Place to Live" by Robb Report
Robb Report
The Robb Report is an American, English-language, luxury-lifestyle magazine featuring products — including automobiles, real estate and watches — for affluent connoisseurs.-History:...
magazine.
As of 2000, English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
was the first language
First language
A first language is the language a person has learned from birth or within the critical period, or that a person speaks the best and so is often the basis for sociolinguistic identity...
of 87.81% of all residents, while French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
comprised 4.48%, Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
consisted of 3.65%, German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
made up 2.16%, Italian
Italian language
Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
speakers made up 0.45%, Yiddish
Yiddish language
Yiddish is a High German language of Ashkenazi Jewish origin, spoken throughout the world. It developed as a fusion of German dialects with Hebrew, Aramaic, Slavic languages and traces of Romance languages...
made up 0.36%, Russian
Russian language
Russian is a Slavic language used primarily in Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. It is an unofficial but widely spoken language in Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, Turkmenistan and Estonia and, to a lesser extent, the other countries that were once constituent republics...
was at 0.30% (even though those of Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n ancestry made up 10.30% of the population), Arabic
Arabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
and Swedish
Swedish language
Swedish is a North Germanic language, spoken by approximately 10 million people, predominantly in Sweden and parts of Finland, especially along its coast and on the Åland islands. It is largely mutually intelligible with Norwegian and Danish...
at 0.25%, and Polish
Polish language
Polish is a language of the Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages, used throughout Poland and by Polish minorities in other countries...
was the mother tongue of 0.24% of the population.
As of 2000, Palm Beach had the 40th highest percentage of Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n residents in the U.S., with 10.30% of the populace (tied with Pomona, NY
Pomona, New York
Pomona is a village partly in the Town of Ramapo and partly in the Town of Haverstraw in Rockland County, New York, United States, located north of New Hempstead, east of Harriman State Park, north of Monsey and west of Mount Ivy. According to the 2010 Census, the population was 3,103, a 13 percent...
and the township
Township
The word township is used to refer to different kinds of settlements in different countries. Township is generally associated with an urban area. However there are many exceptions to this rule. In Australia, the United States, and Canada, they may be settlements too small to be considered urban...
of Lower Merion, PA). It also had the 26th highest percentage of Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
n residents in the US, at 2.10% of the town's population (which tied with 19 other US areas).
Transportation
The city is served by Palm Beach International AirportPalm Beach International Airport
Palm Beach International Airport is a public airport located 3 nautical miles west of Palm Beach, Florida, in West Palm Beach, Florida, and serves Palm Beach County. The airport is operated and maintained by Palm Beach County Department of Airports. Road access to the airport is available...
and Amtrak
Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
, as well as Tri-Rail
Tri-Rail
Tri-Rail is a commuter rail line linking Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach, Florida, United States. It is run by the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority. The system has 18 stations along the South Florida coast...
-– all located in West Palm Beach and connecting Palm Beach to Miami.
Public transportation is available through Palm Tran
Palm Tran
Palm Tran is a bus system run by the Palm Beach County Government, serving Palm Beach County, Florida. Standard one-way fare is $1.50 . For $3.55 an unlimited all-day pass . There are no free transfers except to Tri-Rail or Broward County Transit...
, and connects with the rest of the county.
The northern portion of Palm Beach is served by the Route 41 bus which travels from the northern most portion of Palm Beach at the inlet and then down to Royal Palm Way, across the Royal Park Bridge (Florida State Road 704) into West Palm Beach and up to the government center, and then follows the same route in reverse.
Palm Beach was served by the Route 42 Palm Tran bus from Lantana
Lantana, Florida
Lantana is a town in Palm Beach County, Florida, United States. The population was 9,437 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 10,389.-History:...
in the south going along State Road A1A
Florida State Road A1A
State Road A1A is a Florida State Road that runs mostly along the Atlantic Ocean, with sections from Key West at the southern tip of Florida, to Callahan, just south of Georgia. It is the main road through most oceanfront towns. SR A1A is designated the A1A Scenic and Historic Coastal Highway, a...
up to Royal Poncianna Way and over the Flagler Memorial Bridge into West Palm Beach to the government center, and then back again for the southbound trip. Route 42 ended on May 10. 2008 due to low ridership. Effective July 9, 2008, the southern end of Palm Beach is served by the "Coral Link" operating only on Wednesdays, going between Hypoluxo Road and Lake Worth Road via US 1
U.S. Route 1 in Florida
U.S. Route 1 in Florida runs along the state's east coast from Key West to its crossing of the St. Marys River into Georgia north of Boulogne, and south of Folkston. US 1 was designated through Florida when the U.S. Highway System was established in 1926.US 1 runs in the state of Florida, and...
and SR A1A
Florida State Road A1A
State Road A1A is a Florida State Road that runs mostly along the Atlantic Ocean, with sections from Key West at the southern tip of Florida, to Callahan, just south of Georgia. It is the main road through most oceanfront towns. SR A1A is designated the A1A Scenic and Historic Coastal Highway, a...
.
Private vehicles and taxis are the predominant means of transport in Palm Beach. Bicycles are a popular transport on the island, although most areas have no bicycle trails, so safe and comfortable travel is not always assured. The Lake Trail, exclusively for pedestrian and bike traffic, extends from Royal Palm Way (State Road 704) in the south up to the north end of the island. The trail follows the edge of the Lake Worth Lagoon
Lake Worth Lagoon
The Lake Worth Lagoon is a lagoon located in Palm Beach County, Florida. It runs parallel to the coast, and is separated from the Atlantic Ocean by barrier beaches, including Palm Beach Island. The lagoon is connected to the Atlantic Ocean by two permanent, man-made inlets.-Geography:Lake Worth...
(part of the intercoastal waterway) except for a section between the Flagler Museum
Flagler Museum
Flagler Museum, also known as Whitehall, is a 55-room mansion open to the public in Palm Beach, Florida in the United States. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.-History:...
and the Biltmore Condominiums, where the trail follows the streets. Another break occurs to pass around the Sailfish Yacht Club in the north end of the island. The Lake Trail is filled daily with bikers, rollerbladers, runners, and dog-walkers.
Traveling by bike along the ocean can be hazardous. Only a short section in the downtown area has sidewalks. The roads along the ocean are narrow and have small or no shoulders, making biking a potentially dangerous activity in those areas.
In the southern end of the island, south of Sloan's Curve, through South Palm Beach
South Palm Beach, Florida
South Palm Beach is a town located in Palm Beach County, Florida, United States. The town is situated on a barrier island between the Atlantic Ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S...
to East Ocean Avenue (linking to Lantana) is a two-mile long, relatively wide pedestrian path that is popular with walkers, runners, and bikers alike.
Schools
Palm Beach Public Elementary is located on the island and has kindergarten through fifth grade. It has a school grade of A and 477 students attend the school. It recently combined with the Palm Beach Day School to form the Palm Beach Day Academy.Points of interest
- Breakers HotelBreakers HotelThe Breakers Hotel is an historic hotel in Palm Beach, Florida, United States. First known as The Palm Beach Inn, it was opened on January 16, 1896 by Henry Flagler, an oil, real estate and railroad tycoon, to accommodate travelers on his Florida East Coast Railway...
- Four Arts GardensFour Arts GardensThe Four Arts Gardens, also known as the Four Arts Library, Gardens and Philip Hulitar Sculpture Gardens, are nonprofit botanical gardens located at 2 Four Arts Plaza, Palm Beach, Florida...
- Mar-A-LagoMar-A-LagoMar-A-Lago , built 1924-1927, is the name of the Marjorie Merriweather Post estate in Palm Beach, Florida. Post built the house with her husband, Edward F. Hutton. The house was designed by Joseph Urban. Upon her death in 1973 Marjorie Post willed the estate to the U.S. Government as a retreat...
- Whitehall, the Flagler MuseumFlagler MuseumFlagler Museum, also known as Whitehall, is a 55-room mansion open to the public in Palm Beach, Florida in the United States. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.-History:...
- Pan’s Garden, Preservation Foundation of Palm BeachPreservation Foundation of Palm BeachThe Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach is a private, nonprofit membership organization dedicated to the preservation of the historic, architectural, as well as cultural heritage of Palm Beach, Florida...
- Worth AvenueWorth AvenueWorth Avenue, sometimes referred to as the Rodeo Drive of Florida, is a famous upscale shopping district in Palm Beach, Florida, in the United States. The street stretches four blocks from Lake Worth to the Atlantic Ocean. The street first became fashionable after the construction in 1918 of the...
Notable residents — past and present
- Henry Morrison FlaglerHenry Morrison FlaglerHenry Morrison Flagler was an American tycoon, real estate promoter, railroad developer and partner of John D. Rockefeller in Standard Oil. He was a key figure in the development of the eastern coast of Florida along the Atlantic Ocean and was founder of what became the Florida East Coast Railway...
- founder of Palm Beach who built Whitehall. - Billy BishopBilly BishopAir Marshal William Avery "Billy" Bishop VC, CB, DSO & Bar, MC, DFC, ED was a Canadian First World War flying ace, officially credited with 72 victories, making him the top Canadian ace, and according to some sources, the top ace of the British Empire.-Early life:Bishop was born in Owen Sound,...
- World War I flying ace, he died while spending the winter of 1956 in Palm Beach. - Conrad BlackConrad BlackConrad Moffat Black, Baron Black of Crossharbour, OC, KCSG, PC is a Canadian-born member of the British House of Lords, and a historian, columnist and publisher, who was for a time the third largest newspaper magnate in the world. Lord Black controlled Hollinger International, Inc...
- a former Canadian media baron, author, and convicted fraudster lived on Palm Beach Island for over twenty years. - Paul IlyinskyPaul IlyinskyPaul R. Ilyinsky was a three-time mayor of Palm Beach, Florida, and the only child of Grand Duke Dmitri Pavlovich of Russia and his morganatic wife, Cincinnati heiress Audrey Emery...
or HH Paul Romanovsky-Ilynsky (1928–2005) - senior male of Romanov Dynasty, Head of House of Holstein-Gottorp, Prince of Holstein-Gottorp, Duke of Holstein - Gottorp, Prince Romanovsky - Ilynsky, U.S. Marine Corps colonel, son of HIH Grand Duke Dmitri Pavlovich of RussiaGrand Duke Dmitri Pavlovich of RussiaGrand Duke Dmitri Pavlovich of Russia was a Russian imperial dynast. He is known for being involved in the murder of the mystic peasant faith healer Grigori Rasputin, who he felt held undue sway over Tsar Nicholas II.-Early life:Grand Duke Dmitri Pavlovich was born at Ilinskoe near Moscow, the...
, grandson of John J. Emery , nephew of John J. EmeryJohn J. EmeryJohn Josiah Emery , developer of the Carew Tower in Cincinnati, Ohio, at the time the tallest building west of the Alleghenies, and the Netherland Plaza Hotel, opened at the same time, was a major figure in the city's cultural life for more than four decades.He was a patrician of Cincinnati, the...
. Ilyinsky was elected to the Palm Beach town council in 1981. Two years later, Ilyinsky ran unopposed and spent another term as council president. He won the mayor's job in 1993, and served until 2000. - Horace Dodge - The Dodge automotive family and died December 1920 at his Palm Beach residence
- Addison MiznerAddison MiznerAddison Cairns Mizner was an American resort architect whose Mediterranean Revival and Spanish Colonial Revival style interpretations left an indelible stamp on South Florida, where it continues to inspire architects and land developers. In the 1920s Mizner was the best-known and most-discussed...
- influential architect of Palm Beach landmarks and residences in the 1920s. - Mark PattonMark PattonMark Patton is a former American actor who starred in 3 films in the 1980s.-Movie career:He is perhaps best known for his role in the 1985 horror film A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge as Jesse Walsh, a teen whose body becomes possessed by Freddy Krueger...
- 1980s television and film actor - Pari-Sima Pahlavi - sister-in-law to former IranIranIran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
ian shah Mohammad Reza PahlaviMohammad Reza PahlaviMohammad Rezā Shāh Pahlavi, Shah of Iran, Shah of Persia , ruled Iran from 16 September 1941 until his overthrow by the Iranian Revolution on 11 February 1979... - Marjorie Merriweather PostMarjorie Merriweather Post-External links:******...
- Post cereal heiress, socialite, and philanthropist who built Mar-A-LagoMar-A-LagoMar-A-Lago , built 1924-1927, is the name of the Marjorie Merriweather Post estate in Palm Beach, Florida. Post built the house with her husband, Edward F. Hutton. The house was designed by Joseph Urban. Upon her death in 1973 Marjorie Post willed the estate to the U.S. Government as a retreat...
wife of E.F. Hutton - Nancy BrinkerNancy BrinkerNancy Goodman Brinker is the founder and CEO of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, an organization named after her only sister, Susan, who died from breast cancer in 1980 at age 36. Brinker was also United States Ambassador to Hungary from 2001 to 2003 and Chief of Protocol of the United States from...
- former Chief of Protocol of the United States; former United States ambassador to Hungary 2001-09-06 to 2003-06-19; founder of Susan G. Komen for the Cure; sister of Susan G. Komen. - William S. Burroughs, Jr.William S. Burroughs, Jr.William Seward Burroughs III was an American novelist, also known as William S. Burroughs, Jr. and Billy Burroughs. He bears the name of both his father and his great grandfather, William Seward Burroughs I, the original inventor of the Burroughs adding machine...
- American novelist,son of famous beat writer William S. Burroughs and great-grandson to William Seward Burroughs I, the original inventor of the Burroughs adding machine. (b. 1947) - E.F. Hutton - Wall street broker who built Mar-A-LagoMar-A-LagoMar-A-Lago , built 1924-1927, is the name of the Marjorie Merriweather Post estate in Palm Beach, Florida. Post built the house with her husband, Edward F. Hutton. The house was designed by Joseph Urban. Upon her death in 1973 Marjorie Post willed the estate to the U.S. Government as a retreat...
husband of Marjorie Merriweather PostMarjorie Merriweather Post-External links:******... - Evelyn LauderEvelyn LauderEvelyn Lauder was an American socialite and philanthropist who has been credited as one of the creators and popularizers of the pink ribbon as a symbol for awareness of breast cancer....
- co-creater of the Pink RibbonPink ribbonThe pink ribbon is an international symbol of breast cancer awareness. Pink ribbons, and the color pink in general, identify the wearer or promoter with the breast cancer brand and express moral support for women with breast cancer....
breast cancer awareness campaign, creator of CliniqueCliniqueClinique is a manufacturer of skincare, cosmetics, toiletries and fragrances, owned by the Estée Lauder Corporation.- History :In 1967, American Vogue magazine published an article called “Can Great Skin Be Created?”, written by beauty editor Carol Phillips with Dr. Norman Orentreich, discussing... - Dina MerrillDina Merrill-Early life:Merrill was born Nedenia Marjorie Hutton in New York City, New York, the only child of Post Cereals heiress Marjorie Merriweather Post and her second husband, Wall Street stockbroker Edward Francis Hutton...
- American actress and socialite (daughter of E.F. Hutton & Marjorie Merriweather Post) - Donald TrumpDonald TrumpDonald John Trump, Sr. is an American business magnate, television personality and author. He is the chairman and president of The Trump Organization and the founder of Trump Entertainment Resorts. Trump's extravagant lifestyle, outspoken manner and role on the NBC reality show The Apprentice have...
- Business magnate and television personality - Ivana TrumpIvana TrumpIvana Trump is a former Olympic athlete, socialite, and fashion model noted for her marriage to mogul Donald Trump.-Early years:...
- Ex-wife of Donald Trump - Michael JacksonMichael JacksonMichael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
- Late pop icon, received many awards, and broke many records. Lived there briefly in 2003 until 2005. - James PattersonJames PattersonJames B. Patterson is an American author of thriller novels, largely known for his series about American psychologist Alex Cross...
- Best Selling Author - Ronald PerelmanRonald PerelmanRonald Owen Perelman is an American business magnate. Through his company MacAndrews & Forbes Holdings Inc., he has invested in various companies in grocery, cigar, licorice, makeup, car, photography, television, camping, security, lottery, jewelry, banks, and comic book industries.-Early...
- Corporate Raider, Chairman of RevlonRevlonRevlon is an American cosmetics, skin care, fragrance, and personal care company founded in 1932.-History:Revlon was founded in the midst of the Great Depression, 1932, by Charles Revson and his brother Joseph, along with a chemist, Charles Lachman, who contributed the "L" in the Revlon name...
who sold his Palm Beach house in 2004 for $70 million - Barney FamilyBarney FamilyThe Barney Family are important American financiers, equally famous for their pervasion in the society pages as they are for economic journals. For the last 300 years the Barney clan has been lauded for their for their patronage of the arts and philanthropic pursuits. From Barney's Department...
- heirs to the Smith Barney banking and brokerage fortune - Ann CoulterAnn CoulterAnn Hart Coulter is an American lawyer, conservative social and political commentator, author, and syndicated columnist. She frequently appears on television, radio, and as a speaker at public events and private events...
- Syndicated columnist, author, and political commentator - Rush LimbaughRush LimbaughRush Hudson Limbaugh III is an American radio talk show host, conservative political commentator, and an opinion leader in American conservatism. He hosts The Rush Limbaugh Show which is aired throughout the U.S. on Premiere Radio Networks and is the highest-rated talk-radio program in the United...
- Radio show host, and conservative political commentator - Jimmy BuffettJimmy BuffettJames William "Jimmy" Buffett is a singer-songwriter, author, entrepreneur, and film producer. He is best known for his music, which often portrays an "island escapism" lifestyle. Together with his Coral Reefer Band, Buffett's musical hits include "Margaritaville" , and "Come Monday"...
- Singer - John Kluge - Chairman of MetromediaMetromediaMetromedia was a media company that owned radio and television stations in the United States from 1956 to 1986 and owned Orion Pictures from 1986-1997.- Overview :...
, estimated net worth is $11 Billion - Malcolm GlazerMalcolm GlazerMalcolm Irving Glazer is an American businessman and sports team owner. He is the president and chief executive officer of First Allied Corporation, a holding company for his varied business interests, most notably in the food processing industry...
- CEO of First Allied Corporation and sports team owner (Manchester United of the English Premier League and the Tampa Bay BuccaneersTampa Bay BuccaneersThe Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
of the National Football LeagueNational Football LeagueThe National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
) - James H. ClarkJames H. ClarkJames H. Clark is an American entrepreneur and computer scientist. He founded several notable Silicon Valley technology companies, including Silicon Graphics, Inc., Netscape Communications Corporation, myCFO and Healtheon...
- Founder of Netscape - S. Daniel AbrahamS. Daniel AbrahamS. Daniel Abraham is an American businessman who was born and raised in Long Beach, New York. He is frequently included in Forbes 400 list of the 400 wealthiest Americans, and is notable for his introduction of the Slim-Fast line of diet products in the late 1970s. Forbes estimates his net worth...
- Creator of Slim FastSlim FastSlim•Fast is a brand of shakes, bars, snacks, packaged meals, and other dietary supplement foods sold in the U.S., UK, Ireland, Canada, France, Germany, Iceland and Latin America by Unilever. Slim Fast promotes diets and weight loss plans featuring its food products. Its U.S...
, Jewish PhilanthropistPhilanthropistA philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes... - Madeleine AstorMadeleine AstorMadeleine Astor Dick was the second wife and widow of millionaire John Jacob Astor IV and a survivor of RMS Titanic.-Early life:...
- Titanic Survivor, and widow of John Jacob Astor IVJohn Jacob Astor IVJohn Jacob Astor IV was an American businessman, real estate builder, investor, inventor, writer, lieutenant colonel in the Spanish-American War and a member of the prominent Astor family... - Kennedy familyKennedy familyIn the United States, the phrase Kennedy family commonly refers to the family descending from the marriage of the Irish-Americans Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr. and Rose Elizabeth Fitzgerald that was prominent in American politics and government. Their political involvement has revolved around the...
- Political Family - Charles Peter McColoughCharles Peter McColoughCharles Peter Philip Paul McColough was the joint creater, founder, and owner of the Xerox Corporation , and was a former Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board at Xerox. He retired in the late 1980s, after serving over 14 years as CEO...
- Former Chairman and CEO of the Xerox Corporation - Rod StewartRod StewartRoderick David "Rod" Stewart, CBE is a British singer-songwriter and musician, born and raised in North London, England and currently residing in Epping. He is of Scottish and English ancestry....
- Singer - Butch Trucks - Founding member of The Allman Brothers Band
- John SculleyJohn SculleyJohn Sculley is an American businessman. Sculley was vice-president and president of PepsiCo , until he became CEO of Apple on April 8, 1983, a position he held until leaving in 1993...
- former CEO of Apple, Inc and former president of PepsiCoPepsiCoPepsiCo Inc. is an American multinational corporation headquartered in Purchase, New York, United States, with interests in the manufacturing, marketing and distribution of grain-based snack foods, beverages, and other products. PepsiCo was formed in 1965 with the merger of the Pepsi-Cola Company... - Vera WangVera WangVera Ellen Wang is a Chinese American fashion designer based in New York City and former figure skater. She is known for her wide clientele of couture bridesmaid gowns and wedding gown collections.-Personal life:...
- Fashion designer (has recently sold the $9m mansion she owned on the Palm Beach coast and moved to NYC) - Jonathan AdlerJonathan AdlerJonathan Adler is a Jewish-American designer renowned for his "happy chic" approach to home furnishings and interior design...
- Interior designer & television personality. - Curt GowdyCurt GowdyCurtis Edward "Curt" Gowdy was an American sportscaster, well known as the longtime "voice" of the Boston Red Sox and for his coverage of many nationally-televised sporting events, primarily for NBC Sports in the 1960s and 1970s.-Early years:The son of a manager for the Union Pacific railroad,...
- Sportscaster - Christopher Sinclair - Former CEO of Pepsi
- Edgar F. LuckenbachEdgar F. LuckenbachEdgar Frederick Luckenbach, Sr. was an American shipping magnate who inherited his father's steamship company, which he incorporated in 1913 under the name the Luckenbach Steamship Company, Inc. .-Personal life:Commodore Luckenbach was born in Kingston, New York...
- Shipping magnate. - Henry PaulsonHenry PaulsonHenry Merritt "Hank" Paulson, Jr. is an American banker who served as the 74th United States Secretary of the Treasury. He previously served as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Goldman Sachs.-Early life and family:...
- Former US Treasury Secretary - Dmitri NabokovDmitri NabokovDmitri Vladimirovich Nabokov is an American opera singer and translator. He is the only child of writer Vladimir Nabokov and his wife Vera Nabokov, and is currently executor of his father's literary estate.-Background:...
- son and literary heir of famed novelist Vladimir NabokovVladimir NabokovVladimir Vladimirovich Nabokov was a multilingual Russian novelist and short story writer. Nabokov wrote his first nine novels in Russian, then rose to international prominence as a master English prose stylist... - Lana J. Marks - Designer
- Laurence LeamerLaurence LeamerLaurence Leamer is a best-selling author and journalist. Leamer is a former Ford Fellow in International Development at the University of Oregon and a former International Fellow at Columbia University. He is regarded as an expert on the Kennedy family and has appeared in numerous media outlets...
- Writer - Bernard MadoffBernard MadoffBernard Lawrence "Bernie" Madoff is a former American businessman, stockbroker, investment advisor, and financier. He is the former non-executive chairman of the NASDAQ stock market, and the admitted operator of a Ponzi scheme that is considered to be the largest financial fraud in U.S...
- Former NASDAQ chairman and convicted felon (securities fraud etc.) - The Duke and Duchess of Windsor frequently holidayed in Palm Beach after their marriage in 1937.
- Gabriela SpanicGabriela SpanicGabriela Spanic , or Gaby Spanic, is an award-winning Venezuelan actress best known for her roles in telenovelas. Her twin sister is model/actress Daniela Spanic. She has a younger sister Patricia, and two brothers Antonio and Adiel...
- International Spanish Novela actress/singer - Candace KitaCandace KitaCandace Kita real name Candace Bender, is a Japanese-American actress and former fashion model, who has appeared in roles in TV shows such as Complete Savages, Two and a Half Men, According to Jim, and Ugly Betty.-Acting:...
- actress and model - John LennonJohn LennonJohn Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music...
- Musician most famous with his work with The BeatlesThe BeatlesThe Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
. Lennon bought Harold Vanderbilt's former home, El Solano, in 1980 shortly before his murder. - Joseph GurwinJoseph GurwinJoseph Gurwin was a Lithuanian-born American textile executive who became a philanthropist who contributed to Jewish causes in the United States and Israel. Gurwin arrived in the U.S...
(1920–2009), philanthropist. - Dan BorislowDan BorislowDaniel M. Borislow is an American entrepreneur, sports team owner, inventor, and thoroughbred horse breeder. Originating in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania area, Borislow attended Widener University and worked in cable construction and landscaping before going into the telephone business. He...
- Founder of magicJackMagicJackMagicJack is a device that plugs into a USB port on the user's computer and that has a standard RJ-11 phone jack into which any standard phone can be plugged. This allows the user to make phone calls to almost any phone in the U.S... - Ted BellTed BellTed Bell is an American author of suspense novels such as Hawke and Assassin, Pirate, and Spy. He is best known for his New York Times Bestselling series of spy thriller novels featuring the character Alex Hawke. Before becoming a novelist, he was President and Chief Creative Officer of the Leo...
- Bestselling American author of suspense and espionage novels