Learn More About Palm Beach, Florida
Learn More About Palm Beach, Florida
Palm Beach is a world-class, affluent community in Florida that is renowned for its natural beauty and small-town ambiance. The easternmost town in the state is placed in same-name Palm Beach County. Located on a 16-mile-long barrier island, Palm Beach is separated from Lake Worth and West Palm Beach by the Intracoastal Waterway. It is a popular destination in the region.
The present location of Palm Beach was within the original territory of Lake Worth. The natural beauty of this coastal community was what led to its establishment. Its first hotel, Coconut Grove Hotel, was opened in 1880 to cater to tourists visiting the area. However, Palm Beach establishment has been credited to Henry Morrison Flagler, who wanted to make it a resort. He was said to have made the island community accessible through his Florida East Coast Railway. Flagler opened two luxury hotels, the Royal Poinciana Hotel and Breakers Hotel, which were strategically built to receive passengers.
West Palm Beach, built across Lake Worth and serving as a service town, had become a major city of sort in the earlier years of Palm Beach. In January 1911, it was believed to be planning annexation of the resort community at a legislative session coming up that year. This made Palm Beach residents to quickly vote for incorporation. The town was incorporated in April 1911 and became Palm Beach County’s second recognized municipality. It is said to have received its name from coconuts from the shipwrecked “Providencia” which were salvaged and planted by early settlers.
Palm Beach is a very popular destination for tourists. While the number of year-round residents has been fluctuating around 9,000 and 10,000 for the better part of the past five decades, seasonal population is estimated at about 30,000. More than 20,000 people are believed to have winter homes in the community. Many of those who live here are wealthy individuals and the community is ranked among the best places to live in America. Palm Beach (South) and Palm Beach (Central) are two of the most popular communities here.
Since this is an affluent area, private vehicles are the major means of transport in Palm Beach. Public transportation is provided by Palm Tran, which connects the town to the rest of Palm Beach County. Bicycles are also popularly used by residents. There is a two-mile long path in the southern edge of the island used by bikers, walkers and runners. Rail service is provided by Tri-Rail and Amtrak while air transport is seen to by Palm Beach International Airport.
Founded as a tourist destination, it is no surprise that Palm Beach offers so much to see and do while there. It offers access to about three miles of well-maintained beaches and a wide variety of recreation facilities, including high-quality golf and tennis amenities. Points of interest include Breakers Hotel, the Flagler Museum, Pan’s Garden and Four Arts Gardens.
Selected as “Best Place to Live” in the United States by Robb Report magazine in June 2003, Palm Beach is a beautiful and peaceful place to own a home. It offers an alluring small-town feeling and is actively trying to preserve its natural beauty through strict zoning standards and a functioning preservation program.
