Jupiter is the northernmost town in Palm Beach County, Florida, United States. According to the 2020 US Census, the town had a population of 61,047. It is 84 miles north of Miami and 15 miles north of West Palm Beach. It was named the 9th Best Southern Beach Town to live in by Stacker Newsletter for 2022, was rated as the 12th Best Beach Town in the United States by WalletHub in 2018, and as the 9th Happiest Seaside Town in the United States by Coastal Living in 2012.[6][7][8]
History
The area where the town now sits was originally named for the Hobe Indian tribe which lived at the mouth of the Loxahatchee River and whose name is also preserved in the name of nearby Hobe Sound.[9] A mapmaker misunderstood the Spanish spelling Jobe of the native people name Hobe and recorded it as Jove.[10] Subsequent mapmakers further misunderstood this to be the name of the Roman godJupiter, because the declension of the word Jupiter in Latin includes the root Jov- in all cases but the nominative case and vocative case. They, therefore, adopted the more familiar name of Jupiter. The god Jupiter (or Zeus in the Greek mythology) is the chief Roman god, and the god of light, of the sky and weather, and of the state and its welfare and laws. Jupiter's consort was Juno, inspiring a neighboring town to name itself Juno Beach.[11]
The most notable landmark is the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse, completed in 1860. Made of brick, it was painted red in 1910 to cover discoloration caused by humidity. Hurricane Jeanne in 2004 sandblasted the paint from the upper portion of the tower, and the tower was repainted using a potassium silicate mineral coating. The lighthouse often is used as the symbol for Jupiter.[11][12]
United States flag incident
In 1999, Jupiter resident George Andres wanted to display a United States flag in his front yard; however, the homeowners association had a bylaw that prohibits the display of a flagpole in the front lawn. Andres still displayed the flag, while the homeowners association continued litigation until George Andres foreclosed his home to cover legal fees after being in court at least twenty-eight times. Even after governor Jeb Bush visited his home along with members of the local and national media, the homeowners association, as well as George, refused to budge.
George Andres later won the case and was allowed to display his flag in his front lawn with the use of a flagpole.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 21.1 square miles (55 km2), of which 20.0 square miles (52 km2) is land and 1.1 square miles (2.8 km2) is water. Jupiter has a unique geographical location that sticks out into the Atlantic Ocean further than any other point on the Florida coast. Since 1550, ships have considered it an important stop when sailing to Central and South America.[14]
Jupiter has a trade-wind[15]Tropical rainforest climate (Köppen Af). Much of the year is warm to hot in Jupiter, and frost is extremely rare. Jupiter is also known for humid summers. As is typical in South Florida, there are two basic seasons in Jupiter, a mild and dry winter (November through April), and a hot and wet summer (May through October). Daily thundershowers are common in the hot season, though they are brief. The Town of Jupiter is home to a multitude of tropical trees, and is also known for its lush landscaping around private homes and public parks.
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 61,047 people, 26,597 households, and 16,484 families residing in the town.[19]
In 2020, 19.1% of the population was under the age of 18, and 23.1% of the population was 65 years of age or older. Females made up 51.7% of the population in 2020, and the average household size was 2.43.
In 2020, the median income for a household in the town was $87,163, and the per capita income for the town was $57,865. Out of the total population, 7.9% were living below the poverty line.[20]
As of the 2010 United States census, there were 55,156 people, 21,614 households, and 13,452 families residing in the town.[21]
In 2000, there are 16,945 households out of which 26.6% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.8% are married couples living together, 8.4% have a female householder with no husband present, and 32.7% are non-families. 25.8% of all households are made up of individuals and 10.4% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.32 and the average family size is 3.15
In 2000, the town the population is spread out with 20.7% under the age of 18, 5.1% from 18 to 24, 28.8% from 25 to 44, 26.5% from 45 to 64, and 18.9% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 42 years. For every 100 females there are 97.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 94.2 males.
In 2000, the median income for a household in the town is $54,945, and the median income for a family is $64,873. Males have a median income of $44,883 versus $33,514 for females. The per capita income for the town is $35,088. 4.8% of the population and 3.0% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 4.7% of those under the age of 18 and 4.7% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
As of 2000, speakers of English as a first language accounted for 88.47% of all residents, while Spanish was at 7.17%, and Italian made up 1.66% of the population.[23]
As of 2000, it's also home to the 102nd highest percentage of Guatemalan residents, which made up 1.09% of the population (tied with Calverton, New York).[24]
Since 1984, Palm Beach County Fire Rescue provides fire protection and emergency medical services to the citizens of Jupiter. There are three fire stations assigned to the town:
Station 16 – Engine 16, Rescue 16 and Brush 16;
Station 18 – Engine 18 and Rescue 18;
Station 19 – Squad 19, Rescue 19, Special Operations 19, Brush 19 and 3 command vehicles.
Station 19 is the headquarters for Battalion 1, which covers Jupiter, Juno Beach, Lake Park and unincorporated areas of Palm Beach County such as Jupiter Farms and Palm Beach Country Estates.[25]
Police Department
The Jupiter Police Department consists of 121 sworn officers and 36 civilian support staff personnel, and is headquartered in the town's municipal campus. Its operational divisions include Road Patrol, Criminal Investigations, Traffic, K-9, Marine, Beach Patrol, Crime Scene Investigation, SWAT and Hostage Negotiation.[26]
Palm Beach International Raceway a racing facility built in 1965, and was remodeled in 2008 in an attempt to obtain a FIA Grade II Certification. The Facility currently hosts several IHRA and NHRA sportsman events as well as an ARCA Remax Series event.
The Scripps Research Institute has opened a satellite campus adjacent to the MacArthur Campus of Florida Atlantic University in Jupiter. Approximately 360 scientists and technical staff operate in a 350,000-square-foot (33,000 m2) state of the art research facility. Scripps Florida focuses on the development of therapeutic opportunities in several disease areas.
Jupiter beaches, many of which are dog-friendly, draw many residents and visitors from all over the world.[53]
The Harbourside Place is an outdoor, upscale shopping mall located just South of the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse.
Downtown Abacoa is a downtown area present adjacent to Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College in Southwest Jupiter. It houses an amphitheater, restaurants, coffee shops, a farmer's market, and the yearly Feast of Little Italy.
^Charles Nelson Reilly (2006). The Life of Reilly(Netflix Streaming Video) (Motion picture). Los Angeles, California: Civilian Pictures/L'Orange Films. Event occurs at 1:13:37. Retrieved August 14, 2011.
United States
Florida
Palm Beach
