Palm Beach County Profile

County Seat: West Palm Beach
Nearest MSA: West Palm Beach-Boca Rato
Largest Cities: 1 West Palm Beach
2 Boca Raton
3 Boynton Beach
Miles* To:
Tallahassee ................................... 360
Orlando ................................... 144
Tampa ................................... 169
Jacksonville ................................... 264
Miami ................................... 69
Atlanta ................................... 549
Chicago ................................... 1128
Dallas ................................... 1081
New York ................................... 1025
*Miles are calculated from county seat.
Click here to learn about this county.
Time Zone: Eastern
Local Area Code(s): 561
Palm Beach
1980: 576,758
1990: 863,503
2008: 1,265,293
2015(p): 1,346,000
2030(p): 1,556,800
(p) Denotes Projected Population
Florida
9,746,961
12,938,071
18,328,340
20,055,900
23,979,000
Average Temperature High Low
January: 74 56
July: 90 75
Florida Mean Annual Precipitation ........................... 53
Average Annual Rain Days ........................... 134
(2008)
In-Migration 50,041
Out-Migration 52,421
Net-Migration -2,380
*Estimates based on IRS Statistics of Income data
(2008)
Labor Force 628,273
Labor Force % of County Population 49.7
Number in County Unemployed 41,175
Unemployment Rate 6.6%

Monthly labor force data are available from the
Florida Agency for Workforce Innovation.
N/D = No Data Palm Beach Florida
(2008)
Average Annual Employment 529,991 7,945,162

Natural Resources & Mining 1.4% 1.2%
Construction 6.6% 6.5%
Trade, Transportation and Utilities 19.7% 20.5%
Manufacturing 3.4% 4.7%
Information 2.0% 2.0%
Other Services 4.0% 3.2%
Public administration 5.5% 5.9%
Unclassified 0.0% 0.1%
Leisure & Hospitality 13.4% 11.9%
Education & Health Services 20.7% 19.4%
Professional & Business Services 16.0% 14.4%
Financial Activities 7.2% 6.6%

Average Annual Wage
(2008)
All Industries $44,510
Construction $45,502
Education & Health Services $44,405
Financial Activities $67,653
Information $57,014
Leisure & Hospitality $22,119
Manufacturing $57,394
Natural Resources & Mining $28,124
Other Services $31,130
Professional & Business Services $57,212
Public administration $54,086
Trade, Transportation and Utilities $38,560
Unclassified $32,280
Palm Beach Florida
2005 $51,374 $34,709
2006 $55,812 $37,099
2007 $59,147 $38,417
Major Private Sector Employers

Tenet Healthcare Corporation
Business Line: Healthcare
Number of Employees.... 4,500

Hospital Corporation of America
Business Line: Healthcare
Number of Employees.... 3,411

Florida Power & Light
Business Line: Electric Utilities
Number of Employees..... 3,250

The Breakers
Business Line: Hotels
Number of Employees..... 2,300

Office Depot
Business Line: Headquarters
Number of Employees.... 2,180

U.S. Sugar Corporation
Business Line: Sugar Manufacturing
Number of Employees.... 1,800

Florida Crystals
Business Line: Sugar Manufacturing
Number of Employees.... 1,800

Boca Raton Resort & Club
Business Line: Hotels
Number of Employees.... 1,650

AT&T
Business Line: Telecommunications
Number of Employees.... 1,300

Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne
Business Line: Aerospace
Number of Employees..... 850

Federal Interstates I-95
Federal Highways US-1, US-441
State Highways SR-70, SR-80, Florida Turnpike
Railroads CSX Transportation, FEC
Nearest Airport with Scheduled Commerical Airline Service: Palm Beach International Airport
# Runways 3
Longest Paved Runway(ft.) 10000
General Aviation Airports North County Airport; Belle Glade Airport; Lantana Airport; Boca Raton

Local Deep Water Port Port of Palm Beach
Miles to Closest Port 5
COUNTY
Countywide Ad Valorem Millage Rates:
Government 7.2898
Schools 5.8550
Special 0.0450
Total 13.1898

Ad Valorem Tax Exemption: Yes
Retail Sales Tax (Local Option) 0.50
Federal Enterprise Zone No
State Enterprise Zone EZ-5001, EZ-5002
STATE
Corporate Income Tax 5.5%
Personal Income Tax 0.0%
Retail Sales Tax 6.0%
Electric Companies:
  • Florida Power & Light

  • Natural Gas Companies:
  • Florida Public Utilities Company

  • Telephone Companies:
  • AT&T

  • Water & Sewer Companies:
  • County and Municipal Systems


  • Existing Industrial Zoned Land Yes
    Number of Acres 5,500
    Largest Available Contiguous Parcel 500

    Industrial Parks Yes
    Number of Acres 5,500
    Largest Available Contiguous Parcel 500

    Foreign Trade Zones Yes
    Zone Number(s) 135, 209
    Public
    Schools
    Teachers Enrollments
    Elementary: 5 4,404 79,348
    Secondary: 8 4,826 91,529
    Totals: 13 9,230 170,877

    Private Schools Available: Yes
    POST SECONDARY EDUCATION SERVING THE COUNTY:

    Colleges/Universities:
  • Northwood University
  • Florida Atlantic University
  • Lynn University
  • Palm Beach Atlantic University
  • South University

  • Junior/Community Colleges:
  • Palm Beach Community College

  • Vocational/Technical Schools:
  • Palm Beach County Schools
  • Lincoln College of Technology
  • Florida Culinary Institute

  • Other Schools:
  • none

  • Cost of Living
    Price Level Index, (2007)
    Florida State Average = 100
    Sample
    Total 110.12
    Food 99.25
    Housing 119.82
    Medical Care 102.91
    Personal Goods and Services 105.15
    Transportation 102.85
    Medical Services:
  • Boca Raton Community Hospital
  • Columbia Hospital
  • Glades General Hospital
  • Good Samaritan Medical Center
  • JFK Medical Center
  • Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center
  • Palms West Hospital
  • Wellington Regional Medical Center

  • Recreational Opportunities:
  • Golf/Tennis/Boating/Fishing
  • Kravis Center for the Performing Arts
  • Lion Country Safari
  • Palm Beach Zoo at Dreher Park
  • Spring Training: Montreal Expos & St. Louis Cardinals

  • Historical Points Of Interest:
  • Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge
  • Henry Morrison Flagler Museum
  • Jupiter Lighthouse
  • Morikami Museum & Japanese Gardens

  • Cultural Events/Festivals:
  • Artigras
  • Equestrian Fair
  • Palm Beach International Film Festival
  • South Florida Fair
  • Sunfest


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