By Patricia Jones Palm Beach County is a large and diverse county on Florida’s Atlantic coast. It includes dense coastal cities, suburban communities, barrier islands, agricultural land around Lake Okeechobee and extensive unincorporated areas. West Palm Beach is the county seat and the principal centre for government, courts, business and regional transport.
The county combines major tourism and financial centres with nationally important agriculture. Key challenges include housing costs, traffic, hurricane preparedness, flooding and services for western communities.
Quick Overview of Palm Beach County
| Category | Details |
| State | Florida |
| Region | Southeastern Florida and the Atlantic coast |
| County seat | West Palm Beach |
| Established | 1909 |
| Estimated population | 1,575,726 in 2025 |
| Land area | Approximately 1,964 square miles |
| Incorporated municipalities | 39 |
| Governing body | Seven-member Board of County Commissioners |
| County mayor | Sara Baxter |
| Vice mayor | Marci Woodward |
| County administrator | Joseph Abruzzo |
| Sheriff | Ric Bradshaw |
| Clerk and comptroller | Mike Caruso |
| Property appraiser | Dorothy Jacks |
| Tax collector | Anne M. Gannon |
| Supervisor of elections | Wendy Sartory Link |
| Main trial court | Fifteenth Judicial Circuit of Florida |
| Chief judge | Glenn Kelley |
| Major sectors | Tourism, healthcare, finance, construction, agriculture, retail, logistics and professional services |
The county’s 2025 population estimate was about 1.58 million, representing continued growth from the 2020 Census population of 1,492,191. Palm Beach County is one of Florida’s largest counties in both population and land area.
Location, Cities and Communities
Palm Beach County borders Martin County, Broward County, Hendry County, Lake Okeechobee and the Atlantic Ocean. The east is heavily urbanised, central areas contain growing suburbs and the western Glades region remains mainly agricultural.
The county has 39 municipalities. Major cities include West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Boynton Beach, Delray Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Riviera Beach, Lake Worth Beach and Greenacres. Other important communities include Jupiter, Wellington, Royal Palm Beach, Belle Glade, Pahokee and South Bay. The Town of Palm Beach is a separate municipality and should not be confused with the county as a whole.
Municipal governments generally manage local police, zoning, building permits, neighbourhood streets and code enforcement. Palm Beach County provides these functions in unincorporated areas and also delivers regional services that cross municipal boundaries.
Population, Housing and Economy
Palm Beach County has a large retirement-age population, with roughly one-quarter of residents aged 65 or older. About 18.5% are under 18, and more than one-quarter of residents were born outside the United States. The county is culturally and economically varied, with coastal wealth, middle-income suburbs and communities facing higher levels of poverty in both urban and western areas.
Housing costs have risen sharply. During 2020–2024, the median owner-occupied home value was about $447,300, median gross rent was $1,916 and the owner-occupied rate was 70.1%. Growth, seasonal demand and insurance costs affect affordability.
The economy includes tourism, healthcare, finance, professional services, construction, retail, logistics, aviation and bioscience. The county recorded more than 55,000 employer establishments and about 592,000 jobs in 2023. Agriculture remains central in the Glades, where sugar cane, sweet corn, rice and vegetables are major products. Palm Beach International Airport, hospitality businesses, hospitals, universities and corporate offices support employment throughout the eastern corridor.
County Government and Administration
Palm Beach County operates under a charter government with seven commissioners elected from single-member districts. The Board adopts ordinances, approves the budget, sets countywide policy and oversees land use, infrastructure, public safety funding and regional programmes. The Board also selects one commissioner to serve as county mayor and another as vice mayor.
The current commissioners are Maria G. Marino in District 1, Gregg K. Weiss in District 2, Joel G. Flores in District 3, Marci Woodward in District 4, Maria Sachs in District 5, Sara Baxter in District 6 and Bobby Powell Jr. in District 7. Baxter serves as mayor and Woodward as vice mayor.
Joseph Abruzzo serves as County Administrator and chief appointed administrative officer. He oversees departments, implements Board policy, coordinates the budget and manages more than 7,000 positions. Independent constitutional officers remain outside his control.
Important County Officials
Sheriff Ric Bradshaw leads the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, which provides patrol in unincorporated areas and contracted communities, operates detention facilities, serves civil process and provides court security. Many incorporated cities maintain separate police departments.
Mike Caruso serves as Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller. His office maintains court and official records, records deeds and performs financial oversight. Dorothy Jacks is Property Appraiser, Anne M. Gannon is Tax Collector and Wendy Sartory Link is Supervisor of Elections.
Alexcia Cox is State Attorney for the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit and prosecutes state criminal cases. Daniel Eisinger is the elected Public Defender and represents qualifying defendants who cannot afford private counsel.
Judiciary and Court System
Palm Beach County forms Florida’s Fifteenth Judicial Circuit. Chief Judge Glenn Kelley provides administrative leadership, assisted by Trial Court Administrator Barbara Dawicke. The circuit has 35 circuit judges and 19 county judges. The principal courthouse is the Judge Daniel T. K. Hurley Courthouse in West Palm Beach.
Circuit Court handles felony cases, major civil disputes, family law, probate, guardianship and juvenile matters. County Court handles misdemeanours, traffic cases, small claims and lower-value civil disputes. Additional court facilities operate in Palm Beach Gardens, Delray Beach and Belle Glade, while the Criminal Justice Complex on Gun Club Road supports criminal proceedings and related agencies.
Public Safety, Transport and County Services
Emergency planning covers hurricanes, storm surge, flooding, tornadoes, wildfire, extreme heat and hazardous materials. Palm Beach County Fire Rescue serves many areas, while some municipalities operate their own departments.
Major routes include Interstate 95, Florida’s Turnpike, U.S. Highway 1, U.S. Highway 441 and State Road 80. Palm Tran provides buses, Tri-Rail provides regional rail and Palm Beach International Airport handles passenger flights. The Port of Palm Beach is an independent special district.
Other services include water utilities, parks, libraries, environmental protection, unincorporated planning, housing programmes, roads, animal care and veterans services.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What is the county seat of Palm Beach County?
A: West Palm Beach is the county seat and main centre for county administration and courts.
Q2. Is the Town of Palm Beach the same as Palm Beach County?
A: No. Palm Beach is one of 39 municipalities. Palm Beach County is the larger regional government covering many cities and unincorporated communities.
Q3. Who issues building permits?
A: Cities and towns issue permits within their boundaries. County Planning, Zoning and Building handles unincorporated areas.
Q4. Who provides police services?
A: City police serve many municipalities. The Sheriff’s Office patrols unincorporated and contracted areas and provides detention and court security.
Q5. Which offices handle property taxes?
A: The Property Appraiser values property, local governments set rates and the Tax Collector sends bills and receives payment.