Jupiter, Florida

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Jupiter, Florida
Location of Jupiter in Palm Beach County, Florida
Location of Jupiter in Palm Beach County, Florida
Coordinates: 26°55′34″N 80°6′18″W / 26.92611, -80.105
Country Flag of the United States United States
State Flag of Florida Florida
County  Palm Beach
Government
 - Mayor Karen J. Golonka
Area
 - Total 21.1 sq mi (54.7 km²)
 - Land 20.0 sq mi (51.8 km²)
 - Water 1.1 sq mi (2.9 km²)
Elevation ft (1 m)
Population (2000)
 - Total 39,328
 - Density 1,966.5/sq mi (759.3/km²)
Time zone Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
 - Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP codes 33400-33499
Area code(s) 561
FIPS code 12-35875[1]
GNIS feature ID 0285000[2]
Jupiter Lighthouse.
Jupiter Lighthouse.

Jupiter is a town located in Palm Beach County, Florida. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 39,328. As of 2006, the city had a population of 50,028 according to the University of Florida, Bureau of Economic and Business Research.[3] Jupiter is a well known for its beauty and beaches. It is often referred to as a "beach town" and has become a popular vacation spot. Many celebrities also own a home in Jupiter, Florida.

Contents

[edit] 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.[4] A mapmaker misunderstood the Spanish spelling 'Jobe' of the Indian name 'Hobe' and recorded it as 'Jove'. Subsequent mapmakers further misunderstood this to be the Latin translation of the god Jupiter, and they anglicized the name from Jove to 'Jupiter.' The Roman god Jupiter (or Zeus in the Greek mythology) is the chief Roman god, husband of Juno, and god of light, of the sky and weather, and of the state and its welfare and its laws. It inspired a neighboring village to name itself, "Juno Beach".

The most notable landmark is the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse, completed in 1860. Made of brick, it was painted red in 1910 due to discoloration caused by humidity. Hurricane Jeanne sandblasted the paint from the upper portion of the tower, and the tower was repainted using a potassium silicate mineral coating. The lighthouse is often used as the symbol for Jupiter.[5]

[edit] Geography

Jupiter is located at 26°55′34″N, 80°6′18″W (26.925985, -80.104963).[6]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 54.7 km² (21.1 mi²). 51.8 km² (20.0 mi²) of it is land and 2.9 km² (1.1 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 6.35% water.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census[1] of 2000, there are 39,328 people, 16,945 households, and 11,403 families residing in the town. The population density is 759.2/km² (1,966.5/mi²). There are 20,943 housing units at an average density of 404.3/km² (1,047.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the town is 94.86% White (89.4% were Non-Hispanic White,)[7] 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.

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 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.

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.

Jupiter is now home to many transplanted Northerners who can afford expensive, luxurious vacation homes. Most "snowbirds" eventually become year-round residents, and are predominantly from the New York City metropolitan area (including Connecticut and New Jersey) and the Boston area in Massachusetts.[citation needed]

Jupiter's population is served by two public high schools, Jupiter Community High School located in Jupiter and William T. Dwyer High School, located in Palm Beach Gardens.

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.[8]

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.)[9]

[edit] Notable residents

The following list includes persons who were born in Jupiter, previously lived in Jupiter, or currently reside in Jupiter.

[edit] Points of interest

[edit] USA flag incident

In 1999, Jupiter resident George Andres had a problem displaying his flag in his front yard. The homeowners association had a bylaw prohibiting the display of a flagpole in the front lawn. Andres' protested by displaying the flag anyway, while the Indian Creek homeowners association went as far as foreclosing 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 all of the local and national media, the homeowners association wasn't giving up without a fight. Andres said, "Well, first they said that it was going to cost more to cut the grass around the pole, which is kind of funny. And then they told me that the flagpole was going to take away from the value of the property. And I said, well, then we should be able to take away all the trees around here, because they're the same as the pole. And my pole is a portable pole. And the state government says I can do it."

George Andres won and was allowed to display his flag in his front lawn with the use of a flagpole.

During the last week of July 2006, President George Bush signed 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.[17]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  2. ^ US Board on Geographic Names. United States Geological Survey (2007-10-25). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  3. ^ Palm Beach County Profile. pbcgov.com. Palm Beach County (2007-09-14). Retrieved on 2008-05-29.
  4. ^ Hobe Sound History. hobesound.org. The Hobe Sound Chamber of Commerce, Inc.. Retrieved on 2008-05-29.
  5. ^ Jupiter Lighthouse. history.jupiter.fl.us. Town of Jupiter. Retrieved on 2008-05-29.
  6. ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  7. ^ Demographics of Jupiter, FL. MuniNetGuide.com. Retrieved on 2007-11-13.
  8. ^ MLA Data Center Results of Jupiter, FL. Modern Language Association. Retrieved on 2007-11-13.
  9. ^ Ancestry Map of Guatemalan Communities. Epodunk.com. Retrieved on 2007-11-13.
  10. ^ Julie Dubela at the Internet Movie Database
  11. ^ Cicco, Cicco. "Catch a rising star - Stratham talent shines on TV teen scene tonight", seacoastonline.com, Portsmouth Herald, 2005-01-09. Retrieved on 2008-05-29. 
  12. ^ UFC FIGHT: Hermes Franca. ufcfight.com. Retrieved on 2008-05-29.
  13. ^ CNNSI.com - GolfPlus: Jesper Parnevik. CNNSI.com. CNN/Sports Illustrated. Retrieved on 2008-05-29.
  14. ^ Burt Reynold interviewed by Ross Johnson. What I've Learned: Burt Reynolds. msn.com. Esquire. Retrieved on 2008-05-29.
  15. ^ "Charles Vanik Dies at 94; Helped Jews Leave the Soviet Union", NY Times, Associated Press, 2007-09-01. Retrieved on 2008-05-29. 
  16. ^ Profile of William P. Gwinn Airport at AirNav.com; URL accessed February 18, 2006.
  17. ^ "Veteran fights for front yard flag", cnn.com, CNN, 2003-09-13. Retrieved on 2008-05-29. 

[edit] External links