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. Along with the adjacent Village of Tequesta, Jupiter is considered the northernmost municipality in the Miami metropolitan area. 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.
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. A mapmaker misunderstood the Spanish spelling Jobe of the native people name Hobe and recorded it as Jove. Subsequent mapmakers further misunderstood this to be the name of the Roman god Jupiter, 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 (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.
The Battles of the Loxahatchee took place near the site of Jupiter during the Seminole Wars in 1838. 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.
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.
On July 24, 2006, President George W. Bush signed into law the Freedom to Display the American Flag Act of 2005, allowing residents to display the flag on their residential property despite any homeowners association rules.
The approximate coordinates for the Town of Jupiter is located at 265534N 80618W / 26.92611N 80.10500W / 26.92611; -80.10500.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 21.1 square miles (of which 20.0 square miles (is land and 1.1 square miles (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.
Jupiter has a trade-wind Tropical rainforest climate (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 (through April), and a hot and wet summer (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.
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.
As of the 2010 United States census, there were 55,156 people, 21,614 households, and 13,452 families residing in the town.
As of the 2000 US census, there are 39,328 people, 16,945 households, and 11,403 families residing in the town. The population density is 759.2/km2 (There are 20,943 housing units at an average density of 404.3/km2 (The racial makeup of the town is 94.86% White (were Non-Hispanic White), 1.22% African American, 0.19% Native American, 1.12% Asian, 0.12% Pacific Islander, 1.37% from other races, and 1.12% from two or more races. 7.33% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
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.
As of 2000, it's also home to the 102nd highest percentage of Guatemalan residents, which made up 1.09% of the population (with Calverton, New York).
The School District of Palm Beach County provides public education. Jupiter is also home to several private schools and religious schools.
Jupiter's population is served by two public high schools: Jupiter Community High School in Jupiter, and William T. Dwyer High School in Palm Beach Gardens.
Jupiter Christian School is a private school in the town.
Universities and colleges
Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College at Florida Atlantic University
Florida Atlantic University, John D. MacArthur Campus
Research
Jupiter is home to the Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience, which conducts fundamental research in neuroscience, and is the Max Planck Society's first non-European research institute.
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 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.
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.
Companies based in Jupiter include G4S Secure Solutions, Town Sports International Holdings, Holtec International, and The Babylon Bee.