What began serendipitously in 1878, with the wreck of the ship Providencia, bound for Barcelona laden with a shipment of coconuts out of Havana, is today Palm Beach, the resort community of choice for the social elite, where life is unlike anywhere else.

Named for the graceful palms that sprang from those ill-fated coconuts, this barrier island boasts miles of pristine white sand beaches; exclusive golf, tennis and country clubs; incomparable estate compounds; world-class designer shopping and Michelin-star dining along famed Worth Avenue in town and midtown at The Royal Poinciana Plaza. Quiet opulence is the order of the day…and life often revolves around its unique village center.

Life in Palm Beach wasn’t always that way. Early settlers originally planted those shipwrecked coconuts to launch a commercial enterprise. The palm trees flourished, but the coconut business floundered. The area itself, however, proved so alluring that by 1880, word of this superlative location spread north. The development of the Coconut Grove House Hotel was a first response to incipient tourism.

By the mid 1890s with the arrival of the railroad, wealthy tourists flocked to the area and Henry M. Flagler opened both his Royal Poinciana Hotel, and oceanside Palm Beach Inn, which was destined to become The Breakers.

Over the years, Palm Beach has gracefully evolved into to an incorporated town separated from neighboring West Palm Beach by the Intracoastal Waterway. The easternmost town in Florida, Palm Beach covers about 10.4 square miles, of which only 3.9 square miles is land! It is home year-round to 9,000 fortunate few, with an additional 20,000 who winter there “in season.”

Luxury and sophistication have long defined the area, helped in great part by the signature architectural style attributed to the influence of four prominent architects…Addison Mizner, Maurice Fatio, Marion Sims Wyeth, and John Volk. The unmistakable architectural styles they created, from Mediterranean Revival to Tropical Georgian, became the hallmark and set the tone for the gracious luxury and ease that characterize the distinctive Palm Beach lifestyle.

How Many People Live in Palm Beach?

Population: Palm Beach has about 9,000 full-time residents and 20,000 part-time residents.

What Languages Are Spoken in Palm Beach?

Language: English, spoken with many regional dialects

What is the Currency in Palm Beach?

Currency: US dollars

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