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Palm Beach Facts

Palm Beach Facts
Palm Beach is a town located in Florida's Palm Beach County on a 16-mile long barrier island, separated from West Palm Beach by the Intracoastal Waterway. Palm Beach was originally part of Lake Worth, until Henry Morrison Flagler built the Florida East Coast Railway and established Palm Beach as a resort. Palm Beach was incorporated as the Town of West Palm Beach in 1911. Palm Beach encompasses an area of 8.12 square miles, of which 3.92 square miles are water. The population in 2016 was estimated at over 8,690. Palm Beach is named after the coconut palm, a tree that did not exist in the United States until a Spanish shipwreck occurred in 1878 near Mar-a-Lago which resulted in the planting of a palm tree grove in Palm Beach.
Interesting Palm Beach Facts:
Pioneers planted approximately 15,000 pineapples on the island which became Palm Beach, in 1879 in an attempt to create a pineapple farm.
Palm Beach's first school can still be seen today at Phipps Ocean Park, where it was built in 1886.
There was once a 1,000 foot long pier on the island that stretched into the Atlantic Ocean built by Henry Flagler. It was destroyed in 1928 by a hurricane.
In the early 1900s a man named Hoe had an alligator farm at the west end of Worth Avenue. He entertained tourists by wrestling alligators.
Palm Beach is Florida's most eastern town.
Palm Beach's climate is considered to be tropical rainforest, with no dry season due to regular rainfall.
The wet season in Palm Beach spans May to October with frequent afternoon thunderstorms.
Palm Beach is home to the world famous Palm Beach Par 3 Golf Course. It was designed in 1961 by Dick Wilson and Joe Lee, with two lakes and a tropical setting.
Palm Beach has one public marina on the island called the Town Docks. It has existed since 1940.
Attractions in Palm Beach include Four Arts Gardens, Mar-a-Lago, Whitehall (which is Flagler's museum), Pan's Garden, Worth Avenue, and the Big Kapok tree.
Palm Beach is known for its historic landmarks, luxury resorts, multi-million dollar mansions, and Worth Avenue's shopping district.
Palm Beach is famous for its architecture from the Gilded Age.
Palm Beach hosts the Palm Beach Food and Wine Festival each winter.
Palm Beach is Segment 19 of the Florida Circumnavigational Saltwater Paddling Trail.
Whitehall was originally Henry Flagler's estate, considered to be grander than any other private dwelling in the world when it was completed in 1902. Today it houses the Flagler Museum. It is classified as a National Historical Landmark and is open to the public to visit.
Because it is located on the Atlantic Ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway, Palm Beach is popular for water sports. Visitors and residents can enjoy fishing charters, cruises, tubing, water skiing, wakeboarding, and a variety of other water sports.
Palm Beach has been home to many famous people over the years, as either a year round residence or vacation destination. Notable people include Jimmy Buffet, Michael Jackson, the Kennedy's, John Lennon, and James Patterson.


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