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79-525: The Palm Beach Town Hall is a historic site in Palm Beach , Florida . It is located at 360 South County Road. On January 28, 2005, it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places . It was built in 1925 to designs by Harvey and Clarke with additions and renovations later made by several notable architects. This article about a property in Palm Beach County, Florida on

158-608: A grand jury at the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida to indict him on 37 felony counts relating to the mishandling of classified documents on June 8, 2023. The January 1878 wreck of the Providencia is credited with giving Palm Beach its name. The Providencia was traveling from Havana to Cádiz, Spain , with a cargo of coconuts harvested in

237-544: A Ranger camp at the northern tip of the island, which could accommodate 200 men. The Palm Beach Civilian Defense Council ordered blackouts in Palm Beach beginning on April 11, 1942. Throughout the war, German U-boats sank 24 ships off Florida, with eight capsized off Palm Beach County between February and May 1942. The Army converted The Breakers into the Ream General Army Hospital, while

316-608: A book titled Landmark Architecture in Palm Beach in 1974. She personally photographed and summarized many older buildings in the town. The book also called for more awareness of and improvements to a system for protecting historic landmarks. The town council responded in 1979 by approving an ordinance establishing the Landmarks Preservation Commission, which identifies and works to protect historic structures. General Foods and Post Cereals heiress Marjorie Merriweather Post bequeathed Mar-a-Lago to

395-524: A botanical garden, and a sculpture garden. The two libraries serve as public libraries for the town of Palm Beach, one a children's library and the other a general public library. Officially named the Gioconda and Joseph King Library, the town's general public library has more than 70,000 items, including books, audiobooks, DVDs, and periodicals. The Dixon Education Building features art studio and classrooms, as well as an apartment for an artist visiting

474-725: A capacity of about 400 people upon its expected completion in 2024. Worth Avenue and its vicinity also has several art galleries, including DTR Modern Galleries, Evey Fine Art Gallery, Galeria of Sculpture, Gallerie Y, and the John H. Surovek Gallery. Additionally, the Norton Museum of Art and its sculpture gardens are just across the Intracoastal Waterway in West Palm Beach. The Hope for Depression Research Foundation hosts an annual 5K run/walk known as

553-540: A criminal referral by the National Archives and Records Administration relating to classified documents. Although former President Trump surrendered 235 classified documents by June 2022, the search at Mar-a-Lago yielded another 102 such documents. This discovery, along with allegations that Trump transported documents to his golf club in New Jersey and showed them to some guests there, led

632-596: A distance of roughly 3.5 miles (5.6 km). Palm Beach has several social and golf clubs , most notably the Everglades Club and Mar-a-Lago . The former, built by Addison Mizner and Paris Singer in 1918, had the original purpose of being a hospital for soldiers injured in World War I . However, the war soon ended and the facilities were restructured into a private club which opened in January 1919. Some of

711-501: A more recent burial site which suggested interaction between indigenous people and Europeans. White settlers began arriving in modern-day Palm Beach by 1872. Hiram F. Hammon made the first homestead claim in 1873 along Lake Worth . At the time, the lake area had fewer than 12 people. By 1877, the Tustenegee Post Office was established in modern-day Palm Beach, becoming the lake area's first post office. Along

790-773: A parade that began at the Flagler Museum (Whitehall). Between February and December 2015, the Town Square, which includes the Addison Mizner Memorial Fountain and the town hall, underwent a $ 5.7 million restoration. The fountain's restoration was named "project of the year" by the American Public Works Association 's Florida chapter. The FBI conducted a search warrant at Mar-a-Lago on August 8, 2022, approved by Magistrate Judge Bruce Reinhart after

869-596: A post office about five years later. Elisha Newton "Cap" Dimick , later the town's first mayor, established Palm Beach's first hotel, the Cocoanut Grove House, in 1880, but Standard Oil tycoon Henry Flagler became instrumental in transforming the island of jungles and swamps into a winter resort for the wealthy. Flagler and his workers constructed the Royal Poinciana Hotel in 1894, The Breakers in 1896, and Whitehall in 1902; extended

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948-616: A spectrum, with many homesteaders creating foodstuffs or crafts to appeal to high-end niche markets in order to meet financial needs. Other homesteaders come to the lifestyle following successful careers which provide the funding for land, housing , taxes , and specialized equipment such as solar panels , farm equipment , and electric generators . Modern government regulation—in the form of property taxes, building codes , food safety codes , zoning regulations, minimum wage and social security for occasional labor, and town council restrictions on landscaping and animal keeping—can increase

1027-510: A town manager has the authority to appoint and supervise the senior management team, including the deputy town manager and department directors. The officeholder of town manager is appointed annually by the town council. Kirk Blouin, a former Palm Beach chief of police and later Director of Public Safety, has served as town manager since February 13, 2018. Palm Beach is part of Florida's 22nd congressional district , which has been represented by Democrat Lois Frankel since 2023. The town at

1106-481: A year, the Palm Beach Charity Register magazine publishes a guide to charitable events held in the town and other nearby localities. The magazine promoted 186 charity galas, luncheons, and parties scheduled between the fall of 2019 and summer of 2020. Whitehall reopened as the Flagler Museum on February 6, 1960, after Henry Flagler's granddaughter, Jean Flagler Matthews, purchased

1185-747: Is a 4.7 mile (7.6 km) path along the Intracoastal Waterway from Worth Avenue to near the Lake Worth Inlet. Another trail, the County Road Pedestrian Path/Bicycle Lane is around 1.1 miles (1.8 km) in length from Kawama Lane to Bahama Lane along North County Road. The third path is the Southern Pedestrian/Bicycle Path, running from Sloan's Curve to the town's southern boundaries along State Road A1A ,

1264-584: Is also designated a conservation area. According to the Köppen climate classification , Palm Beach has a tropical rainforest climate ( Af ) with hot, humid summers and warm, drier winters. The annual average precipitation is 62.3 in (1,580 mm), most of which occurs from May through October. In the wet summer season, short-lived heavy afternoon thunderstorms are common. Palm Beach reports more than 2,900 hours of sunshine annually. Although tropical cyclones can impact Palm Beach, strikes are rare, with

1343-661: Is essentially built out and cannot extend its boundaries. Conservation is mainly confined to Bingham Island, Fishermen's Island, and Hunter's Island. Functioning as bird sanctuaries and rookeries , the islands are leased by the National Audubon Society , though state trustees of the Internal Improvement Fund and the Blossom Estate hold the titles to the islands. A part of Blossom Estate Subdivision just south of Southern Boulevard

1422-592: Is known for upscale shopping districts, such as Worth Avenue , Royal Poinciana Plaza, and the Royal Poinciana Way Historic District . Native Americans previously inhabited the island of Palm Beach, with the Jaega people arriving at least 3,000 years ago. Evidence for their inhabitation of the island are three pre- Columbian archaeological complexes. These complexes include a burial mound, six unmarked Native American cemeteries, and

1501-543: Is not defined by where someone lives, such as the city or the country, but by the lifestyle choices they make. Historically, homesteading has been used by governmental entities (engaged in national expansion) to help settle what were termed unsettled areas, especially in the United States, Canada , and Australia . This resulted in the violent relocation of many Indigenous people. Guided by legal homestead principles , many of these "homestead acts" were instituted in

1580-552: Is on an 18-mile (29 km) long barrier island between the Intracoastal Waterway (locally known as the Lake Worth Lagoon ) on the west and the Atlantic Ocean on the east. At no point is the island wider than three-quarters of a mile (1.2 km), and in places it is only 500 feet (150 m) wide. The northern boundary of Palm Beach is the Lake Worth Inlet, though it adjoined with Singer Island until

1659-414: Is part of the 1st district, while the 7th district covers areas south of Worth Avenue. Palm Beach is a generally Republican town. In 2016, Donald Trump received 3,231 votes and Hillary Clinton received 2,612 votes. The School District of Palm Beach County operates one school in the town, Palm Beach Public Elementary School, on Cocoanut Row between Seaview Avenue and Royal Palm Beach and directly east of

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1738-470: Is the oldest church in Palm Beach. The church opened at its current location by Christmas 1926. Bethesda-by-the-Sea has hosted the weddings of a few notable individuals, including Donald and Melania Trump in 2005 and Michael Jordan and Yvette Prieto in 2013. The Palm Beach Chamber of Commerce identifies several other points of interest in the town, including: The Recreation Department of Palm Beach oversees several public recreation facilities, including

1817-549: The Mercedes I to crash into the seawall of Mollie Wilmot 's estate. Wilmot's staff served the 10 sailors sandwiches and freshly brewed coffee in her gazebo and offered martinis to journalists reporting on the incident. On October 31, 1991, the Perfect Storm produced waves 20 feet (6.1 m) in height in Palm Beach. About 1,200 feet (370 m) of seawall at Worth Avenue were destroyed, while some parts of

1896-575: The Barefoot Mailman route, began serving the area in 1885. Carriers delivered mail by foot or boat from Palm Beach and other nearby communities to as far south as Miami , a round trip of 136 miles (219 km). The first schoolhouse in southeast Florida (also known as the Little Red Schoolhouse) opened in Palm Beach in 1886. Henry Flagler , a Standard Oil tycoon, made his first visit to Palm Beach in 1893, and described

1975-680: The Crown Colony of Trinidad and Tobago in the British West Indies , when the ship wrecked near Palm Beach. Many of the coconuts naturalized or were planted along the Palm Beach coast. A lush grove of palm trees soon grew on what was later named Palm Beach. Palm Beach is one of the easternmost towns in Florida, though the state's easternmost point is in Palm Beach Shores , just north of Lake Worth Inlet . The town

2054-492: The Florida East Coast Railway southward to the area by 1894; and developed a separate city to house the hotel workers and other laborers. This later became West Palm Beach. The town of Palm Beach was incorporated on April 17, 1911. Addison Mizner also contributed significantly to the town's history, designing 67 structures between 1919 and 1924, including El Mirasol , the Everglades Club , La Querida ,

2133-775: The Navy converted the Palm Beach Biltmore Hotel into a U.S. Naval Special Hospital. The Biltmore Hotel would also become a training school for SPARS , the United States Coast Guard Women's Reserve. On September 15, 1950, the Southern Boulevard Bridge opened, the third and southernmost bridge linking Palm Beach and West Palm Beach. Palm Beach residents elected Claude Dimick Reese (son of former mayor T.T. Reese and grandson of Dimick) as mayor in 1953. He became

2212-853: The Palm Beach Hotel (now the Palm Beach Hotel Condominium), the Tideline Ocean Resort & Spa , and the Vineta Hotel . The Breakers alone employs more than 2,200 people from around the world. The town of Palm Beach also contains Worth Avenue , an upscale shopping and dining district. Known for selling high-quality merchandise since the 1920s, Worth Avenue includes about 250 high-end shops, boutiques, restaurants, and art galleries. Other commercial districts of note include Royal Poinciana Plaza and Royal Poinciana Way Historic District , with

2291-509: The William Gray Warden House , and Via Mizner , which is a section of Worth Avenue . Forbes reported in 2017 that Palm Beach had at least 30 billionaires, with the town ranking as the 27th-wealthiest place in the United States in 2016, according to Bloomberg News . Many famous and wealthy individuals have resided in the town, including United States presidents John F. Kennedy and Donald Trump . Palm Beach

2370-515: The ancient Greek god who protects and guards flocks. Another significant feature is the Casa Apava wall, a 1920s tile wall from the remnants of the Casa Apava estate. Encompassing approximately 0.5 acres (0.20 ha), the garden also features many endangered species of native vegetation. Bethesda-by-the-Sea , originally a mostly wooden structure built from lumber from the beach in April 1889,

2449-856: The 1700s, the philosophy of physiocracy developed in France and by the 1800s and early 1900s the philosophy of Agrarianism had taken hold in many places around the world. The ideas of modern homesteading proponents, such as Ralph Borsodi , gained in popularity in the 1960s in the United States. Self-sufficiency movements in the 1990s and 2000s began to apply the concept to urban and suburban settings, known as urban homesteading . According to author John Seymour , "urban homesteading" incorporates small-scale sustainable agriculture and homemaking . In homesteading, social and government support systems are frequently eschewed in favor of self-reliance and relative deprivation in order to maximize independence and self-determination . The degree of independence occurs along

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2528-496: The 1910s, many African Americans in the area lived in a segregated section of Palm Beach called the "Styx", with an estimated population of 2,000 at its peak. Between 1910 and 1912, though, African Americans were evicted from the Styx. Most of the displaced residents relocated to the northern West Palm Beach neighborhoods of Freshwater, Northwest , and Pleasant City . In January 1911, it became known West Palm Beach intended to annex

2607-616: The 1928 hurricane, also suffered greatly during the Great Depression , and was demolished in 1935. Around 4,000 people purchased the salvageable remains of the hotel. The Palm Beach-Post Times estimated some 500 homes could be built from the scraps of the hotel. Residents of Palm Beach established the Society of the Four Arts on January 14, 1936, with Hugh Dillman as the first president. The 1930s decade also saw

2686-552: The 19th and 20th centuries and targeted specific areas, with most being discontinued after a set time-frame or goal. Renewed interest in homesteading was brought about by U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt 's program of Subsistence Homesteading in the 1930s and 1940s. The attractiveness of back-to-the-land movements dates from the Roman era , and has been noted in Asian poetry and philosophy tracts as well ( Agriculturalism ). In

2765-509: The Costa Bella, El Mirasol , Everglades Club (in collaboration with Paris Singer ), El Solano, La Bellucia, La Querida , Via Mizner , Villa Flora, and William Gray Warden House . Via Mizner was the first shopping complex along Worth Avenue , which was then a mostly residential street. In February 1924, the town council allotted $ 100,000 to construct a new municipal building. Harvey and Clarke architectural firm designed

2844-778: The Flagler Memorial Bridge stands today. The town also has many private beaches, while R. G. Kreusler Park (owned and operated by Palm Beach County) lies directly north of the Lake Worth Municipal Beach . In addition to Pan's Garden, the Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach also owns the Ambassador Earl T. Smith Memorial Park and Fountain, a small, 0.24 acre (0.097 ha) park near the town hall. The town has three bicycling and pedestrian paths. The Lake Trail

2923-548: The Intracoastal Waterway and South Palm Beach to its south. It is part of the South Florida metropolitan area . As of the 2020 census , Palm Beach had a year-round population of 9,245. The Jaega arrived on the modern-day island of Palm Beach approximately 3,000 years ago. Between 1816 and 1858, the Seminoles were expelled from the area . Americans settlers began to inhabit the area as early as 1872, and opened

3002-612: The Morton and Barbara Mandel Recreation Center, Palm Beach Docks, Par 3 Golf Course, and many tennis centers. The only public marina in the town, the Palm Beach Docks opened in the 1940s and is along the Intracoastal Waterway between the Royal Palm Bridge and Worth Avenue. Palm Beach Docks has three main docks and eighty-eight boat slips, along with many accommodations for boaters. There are three public beaches in

3081-548: The National Register of Historic Places is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Palm Beach, Florida Palm Beach is an incorporated town in Palm Beach County, Florida , United States. Located on a barrier island in east-central Palm Beach County, the town is separated from West Palm Beach and Lake Worth Beach by the Intracoastal Waterway to its west and a small section of

3160-476: The Race of Hope to Defeat Depression. In 2020, the event raised about $ 400,000 for depression research. The Palm Beach International Film Festival had been hosted in the town in the months of March and April since 1996. However, the festival has been on hiatus since 2018, following the resignation of CEO Jeff Davis. Various events are hosted on Worth Avenue, including historical walking tours held year-round. Once

3239-484: The Society of the Four Arts. Royal Poinciana Playhouse, near Cocoanut Row and Royal Poinciana Way, formerly hosted ballets, Broadway plays, opera, and other cultural events. Although the venue has been closed since 2004, it remains structurally sound. Up Markets acquired control of the playhouse in 2014 via a long-term lease. In December 2022, extensive renovations began on the building's interior, which will have

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3318-605: The Society of the Four Arts. Opened in 1929, Palm Beach Public Elementary School has a school grade of A and an attendance of 362. Palm Beach Day Academy is a private school in the area. It was formed in 2006 from a merger between Palm Beach Day School and the Academy of the Palm Beaches. The school has one campus in Palm Beach and another in West Palm Beach. Most public middle school students attend Conniston Community Middle School in West Palm Beach, while students who live in

3397-518: The United States upon her death in 1973, hoping it would be used as a Winter White House. The residence was returned to the Post family in 1981, before being purchased by Donald Trump in 1985 for roughly $ 10 million. He converted the estate into a club by 1995 and would later use Mar-a-Lago as a Winter White House during his presidency from 2017 to 2021. A nor'easter in November 1984 caused

3476-424: The United States. In 2000, the town's household income was $ 109,219. Males had a median income of $ 71,685 versus $ 42,875 for females; 5.3% of the population and 2.4% of families were below the poverty line . About 4.6% of those under the age of 18 and 2.9% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line. Palm Beach had a median household income of $ 124,562 and a median family income of $ 137,867. In 2018,

3555-434: The amenities include a golf course, tennis courts, and reception halls. Everglades Club has nearly 1,000 members. The club, which is very exclusive, does not have a website and prohibits cellphones. Mar-a-Lago is 126-room, 62,500-square-foot (5,810 m ) mansion that features many hotel-style amenities. Built between 1924 and 1927, General Foods and Post Cereals heiress Marjorie Merriweather Post originally owned

3634-409: The area as a "veritable paradise". That same year, Flagler hired George W. Potter to plot 48 blocks for West Palm Beach , a city to house workers at his hotels, and construction began on the Royal Poinciana Hotel . The Royal Poinciana Hotel opened for business on February 11, 1894. Flagler, also the owner of the Florida East Coast Railway , extended the railroad southward to West Palm Beach by

3713-531: The building, while Newlon and Stephens built the structure after bidding $ 160,200 for the contract. The Palm Beach Town Hall opened on December 18, 1925, and is still used for town council meetings. Before its completion, the council meetings took place in a one-story wooden building on Royal Poinciana Way. Also in 1925, citywide construction revenue reached $ 14 million, attributed to the Florida land boom . The 1928 Okeechobee hurricane made landfall in

3792-507: The coast of Palm Beach, the Providencia wrecked in 1878 with a cargo of 20,000 coconuts, which were quickly planted. In 1880, Elisha Newton "Cap" Dimick converted his private residence to a hotel known as the Cocoanut Grove House. At the time of its opening, the Cocoanut Grove House was the only hotel along Florida's east coast between Titusville and Key West . A fire destroyed the hotel in October 1893. The Star Route, also known as

3871-544: The construction of the Flagler Memorial Bridge, the northernmost bridge linking Palm Beach and West Palm Beach, completed on July 1, 1938. Palm Beach mayor James M. Owens acted as master of ceremonies for the bridge's opening, while then– U.S. senator Charles O. Andrews and former U.S. senator Scott Loftin gave speeches during the event. Early in World War II , the United States Army established

3950-409: The estate, but willed it to the United States government prior to her death in 1973 in hopes the residence would be used as a Winter White House . Mar-a-Lago was returned to the Post family in 1981, before being sold to future United States president Donald Trump in 1985 for approximately $ 10 million. Palm Beach operates under a council–manager form of government . The town's legislative body,

4029-712: The first council members. Also in 1911, Dimick built the Royal Park Bridge , with its first incarnation being a wooden structure. Passage from West Palm Beach to Palm Beach on the bridge originally required a toll – 25 cents per vehicle and 5 cents per pedestrian. Between 1919 and 1924, American resort architect Addison Mizner designed 67 structures in Palm Beach. Some of Mizner's clients included Anthony Joseph Drexel Biddle Jr. , Paul Moore Sr. , Gurnee Munn , John Shaffer Phipps , Edward Shearson , Eva Stotesbury , Rodman Wanamaker , and Barclay Harding Warburton II . His designed works included

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4108-427: The following month. In 1896, Flagler opened a second hotel originally known as Wayside Inn, before being renamed Palm Beach Inn, and later becoming The Breakers . Fires later burned down the hotel in 1903 and 1925, but it was rebuilt twice. The Palm Beach Daily News began publication in 1897 originally under the name Daily Lake Worth News . The first pedestrian bridge across the Intracoastal Waterway opened near

4187-455: The following year, Forbes reported the town had 30-plus billionaires. Palm Beach had the 40th-highest percentage of Russian residents in the United States in 2000, with 10.30% of the populace – tied with Pomona, New York , and the township of Lower Merion, Pennsylvania . It also had the 26th highest percentage of Austrian residents in the United States, at 2.10% of the town's population, tied with 19 other municipalities in

4266-474: The island and acts as a seaward barrier. The former slough areas are flood-prone. The town and entire barrier island are within Evacuation Zone B, and evacuations are often ordered if a hurricane is forecast to impact the area, most recently in anticipation of Hurricane Dorian in 2019. Palm Beach town officials may deploy law enforcement officers to strategically place roadblocks to limit access to

4345-470: The island during unsafe conditions. As of 2016, land use of the town is 60% residential, 13% rights-of-way , 10% private group uses, 3% recreational, 3% commercial, 2% public uses, 1% hotels (not including The Breakers), and less than 1% conservation, while The Breakers is a planned unit development accounting for 6% of land use. The remaining 2% of land was vacant. Palm Beach does not have any land dedicated to agricultural or industrial purposes. The town

4424-532: The island of Palm Beach in the upcoming Florida legislative session . Residents objected and hired an attorney from Miami to officially become incorporated. Dimick, Louis Semple Clarke , and 31 other male property owners met at Clarke's house and signed a charter to officially incorporate the town of Palm Beach on April 17, 1911. Dimick became the first mayor, John McKenna became town clerk, and Joseph Borman became town marshal, while J. B. Donnelly, William Fremd, John Doe, Enoch Root, and J.J. Ryman served as

4503-469: The last direct hit in 1928 . The wet season is from May to October, when convective thunderstorms and downpours are common. Average high temperatures in Palm Beach are 83 to 91 °F (28 to 33 °C) with lows of 68 to 76 °F (20 to 24 °C), though low temperatures at or above 80 °F (27 °C) are not uncommon. During this period, more than half of the summer days bring occasional afternoon thunderstorms and seabreezes that somewhat cool

4582-501: The last weekend of his life in Palm Beach, several days before his assassination in November 1963 . Yvelyne "Deedy" Marix became the first woman elected to the town council in February 1970, and later became the first woman elected mayor of Palm Beach in 1983. Between 1971 and 1977, Earl E.T. Smith served as mayor of Palm Beach. He was previously an Ambassador of the United States to Cuba . Preservationist Barbara Hoffstot published

4661-681: The latter being listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2015 due to its status as "the town's original Main Street ", as noted by the Palm Beach Daily News . The Society of the Four Arts is a nonprofit charity organization established in 1936. Located on the north side of Royal Palm Way near the Royal Park Bridge , the Four Arts Plaza has an art gallery, a concert hall auditorium, two libraries,

4740-468: The lowest observed temperature, 24 °F (−4 °C), occurred on December 29, 1894, during the Great Freeze . In some years, the dry season can become quite dry, and water restrictions are imposed. The town's population peaked at 10,468 people in the 2000 census but fell by 20.3% to 8,348 people in 2010. However, during the "winter season", defined as November through April,

4819-561: The modern-day Flagler Bridge in 1901, replacing the original railroad spur. Flagler's house lots 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". Telephone service was established in Palm Beach in 1908, with 18 customers initially. Prior to

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4898-485: The museum annually. Adjacent to the Flagler Museum and behind the Royal Poinciana Chapel is a giant, almost 200-year old kapok tree , which also attracts visitors. The Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach established Pan's Garden in 1994 along Hibiscus Avenue between Chilean Avenue and Peruvian Avenue. The garden has a statue of Pan (originally designed in 1890 by Frederick William MacMonnies ),

4977-466: The only native-born mayor of Palm Beach in its history. In the 1950s, the town's population grew around 56%, from 3,866 in 1950 to 6,055 in 1960. John F. Kennedy was elected President of the United States in 1960 , and selected as his Winter White House La Querida , which his father bought in 1933. In December 1960, police in Palm Beach averted a retired postal worker's attempt to assassinate then president-elect Kennedy. The president also spent

5056-438: The permanent dredging of the inlet in 1918. To the south, a section of Lake Worth Beach occupies the island in the vicinity of State Road 802 , though an exclave of Palm Beach extends farther southward until the northern limits of South Palm Beach . According to the U.S. Census Bureau , the town has an area of 8.12 sq mi (21.0 km ), with land accounting for 4.20 sq mi (10.9 km ) and water covering

5135-455: The population of Palm Beach swells to around 25,000. The town's affluence and its recreational facilities, shops, restaurants, social scene, and "community-oriented sensibility" were cited when it was selected in June 2003 as America's "Best Place to Live" by Robb Report magazine. Palm Beach ranked as the 27th-wealthiest place in the United States in 2016 according to Bloomberg News . In

5214-433: The property in 1959 to prevent its demolition. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972 and the National Historic Landmark list in 2000, the museum replicates the original appearance of the house and has exhibits about Flagler himself, Flagler's personal railcar (built in 1886), the Florida East Coast Railway , life in the Gilded Age , and the early history of Palm Beach. Almost 100,000 people visit

5293-423: The remaining 3.92 sq mi (10.2 km ). The average elevation of the town is 7 ft (2.1 m); the highest point is 30 ft (9.1 m) above sea level on the golf course at the Palm Beach Country Club. Geologically, the island is a sand-covered ridge of coquina rock . Before settlement, the island was a pronounced coastal ridge bordering the Atlantic Ocean. The Intracoastal Waterway coast

5372-523: The rest of the day. The dry season (winter) brings dryer, sunny, and much less humid weather. Between December and March, average high temperatures range from 74 to 82 °F (23 to 28 °C) and low temperatures average between 57 and 68 °F (14 and 20 °C). High temperatures occasionally drop below 70 °F (21 °C), while at other times highs occasionally reach 90 °F (32 °C) in mid-winter. The highest recorded temperature, 101 °F (38 °C), occurred on July 21, 1941, while

5451-581: The southern portions of the town attend Lake Worth Middle School. Public high school students in northern Palm Beach attend Palm Beach Gardens Community High School and students residing elsewhere in the town attend Forest Hill Community High School . Palm Beach is also near Dreyfoos School of the Arts , though that school has no attendance boundaries. Homesteading Modern homesteaders often use renewable energy options including solar and wind power . Many also choose to plant and grow heirloom vegetables and to raise heritage livestock. Homesteading

5530-420: The state attorney of Palm Beach County only charged Epstein with soliciting a prostitute and soliciting a minor for prostitution in June 2008. He pleaded guilty on both counts and received a controversial plea deal . The town had a population of 8,348 people in 2010, a decrease of 20.3% from the previous census. Palm Beach celebrated its centennial on April 17, 2011. About 1,200 people attended

5609-458: The state level is part of the 89th district of the Florida House of Representatives , which covers many of the immediate coastal cities in Palm Beach County from Palm Beach Shores southward. Palm Beach is also part of the 30th district of the Florida Senate , which includes northeastern and some of east-central Palm Beach County. Two districts represent the town at the Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners. The town north of Worth Avenue

5688-550: The town council, is composed of five members, who serve two-year terms and seek office in staggered, at-large, non-partisan elections. Once a month, the town council meets at the Palm Beach Town Hall , though special meetings may be conducted as needed. The mayor, also elected to two year terms, acts as ombudsman and an intergovernmental figure. Danielle Moore, a former three-term member of the town council, has served as mayor since April 13, 2021. Additionally,

5767-660: The town experienced coastal flooding , especially along Ocean Boulevard. By that afternoon, police allowed only residents to enter the town. The trial of William Kennedy Smith , a member of the Kennedy family , drew international media attention in 1991. Smith had been accused of committing rape at La Querida, but a trial at the Palm Beach County Court resulted in his acquittal on December 11, 1991. Another notable mayor, Paul Ilyinsky , son of Grand Duke Dmitri Pavlovich of Russia and heiress Audrey Emery ,

5846-571: The town of Palm Beach had an estimated labor force of 2,788 people. Palm Beach had an unemployment rate of just 2.3%, although 66% of the town's population was not in the labor force. The most common professions among the town's labor force are finance, insurance, real estate, rental, and leasing (24.1%); professional, scientific, management, administrative, and waste management services (23.6%); retail (12.2%); and educational services, health care, and social assistance (10.5%). However, as of 2017, only 4.1% of jobs in Palm Beach were held by residents of

5925-519: The town of Palm Beach, with sustained winds of 145 mph (235 km/h). High winds and storm surge damaged 610 businesses, 60 homes, and 10 hotels, as well as to the Public Service Corporation and Ocean Boulevard. Damage in 1928  dollars totaled $ 10 million in Palm Beach. Palm Beach's population grew from 1,707 in 1930 to 3,747 in 1940, a 119.5% increase. The Royal Poinciana Hotel, damaged heavily in

6004-562: The town, the Palm Beach Municipal Beach, Phipps Ocean Park, and R. G. Kreusler Park. The former, also known as Midtown Beach, has metered parking spots along South Ocean Boulevard from Royal Palm Way southward to Hammon Avenue. Phipps Ocean Park includes the Little Red Schoolhouse, the first school building in southeast Florida (built in 1886), restored and moved from its original location near where

6083-407: The town, with the most common other home destinations being West Palm Beach (15.4%), Palm Beach Gardens (3.9%), Lake Worth Beach (3.7%), Wellington (3.3%), and Greenacres (3.1%). Tourism is a major industry in the town, bringing in around $ 5 billion in annual revenue. Palm Beach has several historical and luxurious hotels and lodgings, most notably The Brazilian Court , The Breakers ,

6162-581: Was elected to the office in February 1993. The town's population peaked at 10,468 people in the 2000 census. In March 2005, the Palm Beach Police Department – under the guidance of Police Chief Michael Reiter – began the first inquiry into the crimes committed by sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein , leading to his arrest and indictment in July 2006. Despite an FBI investigation discovering at least 40 victims,

6241-458: Was primarily low-lying and swampy; marshy sloughs generally lay between the two features, though an oolitic limestone ridge stood along some parts of the island's westward side. Since 1883, the environment has been significantly altered by developing land, the filling of the sloughs, and a receding coastline due to erosion, but the Atlantic ridge is still the dominating topographical feature of

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