Boynton Beach, FL

Boynton Beach is located near the ocean on the east coast of Florida in Palm Beach County. The city is named after its founder, Major Nathan S. Boynton, who moved to the area after fighting in the Civil War.

Thanks to a strong corporate culture, a top-notch educational system, and the promise of sun and some of the county's best beaches, Palm Beach County has become an increasingly popular spot to live over the last two decades. Boynton Beach has benefited from this growth with a residential boom of its home. The city-the county's third largest-is now home to about 67,000 residents, who had an estimated median household income of $45,599 as of 2007. Approximately 10 percent of Boynton Beach's population lives below the poverty line.

NEIGHBORHOODS AND DISTRICTS

About half of the Boynton Beach population rent their homes; the other half own their homes. In 2007, monthly rent averaged around $1,138, and the mean home price was $256,981. However, Boynton Beach is home to many pricier homes, including some in the multi-million-dollar range. Some of the priciest real estate neighbors the area's exclusive golf courses.

ECONOMY AND INDUSTRIES

Boynton Beach residents work throughout Palm Beach County. The county's biggest employer is the School Board of Palm Beach County. The tourism, county government, aerospace and engineering, utilities, and health care sectors also provide jobs for many residents of Boynton Beach. Some of the biggest employers include:

• Palm Beach County Government
• Pratt & Whitney
• Columbia Palm Beach Healthcare Systems, Inc.
• Intracoastal Health Systems, Inc.
• Flo Sun Inc.
• Florida Power and Light
• Boca Raton Community Hospital
• Boca Raton Resort and Club
• Bethesda Memorial Hospital

The Boynton Beach metropolitan area is home to three major medical facilities, including:

• Bethesda Memorial Hospital
• Delray Medical Center, which offers a trauma center
• JFK Medical Center

FOR VISITORS

• School House Children's Museum: Housed in a former schoolhouse built in 1913, the museum offers education-driven exhibits, lectures, activities, and festivals.
• Orange Blossom Express: Experience south Florida in a unique way at this railroading attraction. Shovel coal, ring the train bell, and learn all there is to know about traveling the area by rail. Inside the museum, visitors can explore the history of Boynton Beach.
• Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge: Established in 1951, the refuge totals 145,800 acres of undisturbed Everglades. Natural landscapes include sloughs, wet prairies, saw grass, and tree islands. Some 23 species of mammals live on the refuge, including the Mexican free-tailed bat, cotton mouse, grey squirrel, raccoon, bobcat, gray fox, round-tailed muskrat, river otter, and the nine-banded armadillo. There are at least 17 species (exotic and native) of frogs, toads, and amphibians.
• Mangrove Nature Park: Boynton Beach has a gem in Mangrove Nature Park, which provides a place to learn about Florida's ecosystem, with walking trails for viewing animals, birds, and giant arachnids (who like to build large webs just overhead). Sometimes manatees wander up the Intracoastal and can be seen poking their heads out of the water.

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

• Boynton Beach is working to integrate art into its architecture and landscaping. The city's Arts Commission has been researching and choosing projects since 2004.
• Surrounding cities provide various cultural opportunities. Just to the south, in Delray Beach, there is a historic district, festivals, and a lively art and music scene. To the north, West Palm Beach is home to the Kravis Center for the Arts, the Dreyfoos School of the Arts, and many museums and attractions.

EVENTS

• Heritage Festival: Each February, Boynton Beach salutes Martin Luther King, Jr., and other black Americans for their work. Evolving from Black Awareness Day in 1980, the event includes presentations, music, and entertainment.
• Pirates of the Intracoastal: Just before Halloween, the city of Boynton Beach is overrun with swashbuckling pirates who converge upon Intracoastal Park for games, improvisational acting, and a salute to all things pirate.
• Boynton Beach Medieval Faire: Royalty and commoners dress up and mingle with faire folk during a weekend devoted to the days of yore. Artisans who bend silver, make soap, and create candles sell their wares, many using historic techniques and eager to teach and answer questions. Festival food includes kettle corn and turkey legs.

LOCAL MEDIA

The local newspaper is the Boynton Beach Forum.

GETTING AROUND

• Boynton Beach is served by two airports: Palm Beach International Airport (about 15 minutes north of the city) and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (30 minutes south of Boynton Beach).
• The city is easily accessible from Interstate 95, the Florida Turnpike, S.R. A1A, and U.S. 1, which runs through downtown Boynton Beach.
• Amtrak offers six trips in and out of nearby West Palm Beach each day.