Boca Raton

About Boca Raton

The thriving city of Boca Raton is located at the southernmost point in Palm Beach County, Florida, and has grown to be one of the largest cities in the Palm Beach area. Boca Raton is a popular home base for families, young professionals and retirees alike, drawn by the promise of sunny beaches, convenient amenities and proximity to Miami.

The History of Boca Raton

Before the arrival of European settlers, the land where Boca Raton is now located was home to the Tequesta Native American tribe. Spanish colonists settled in the area for some time, until Spain surrendered the land to England in 1763. For many years, the area remained mostly unsettled, well into the early years of Florida's incorporation as a U.S. state.

The city of Boca Raton originally got its start as a railway stop, which helped develop both the city and southern Florida in general. The first house in the then-unincorporated community was built in 1895 by Thomas Rickards, who was an engineer and surveyor. The area began to draw attention in 1920, but it still remained largely rural, with only about 100 residents. However, the arrival of architect Addison Mizner served as the catalyst for Boca Raton to begin developing into the city it's known as today.

Mizner dreamed of creating an entire city with his Development Corporation, and Boca Raton was the prime area. His goal was to develop a resort city unlike any other in the United States, hoping to take his favorite elements of nearby Palm Beach and use it as inspiration. Although many of his plans never came to fruition, he still had an impact on the overall character of the area.

Living in Boca Raton

Boca Raton provides a vacation lifestyle that doesn't require you to go far from home, providing a number of golf courses, beaches, shopping, dining and art museums throughout the city. You'll have plenty of options for ways to spend your free time, and the famous Florida sun creates a pleasant climate to enjoy the scenic location.

The Gumbo Limbo Environmental Complex is a well-known environmental education center in Boca Raton, host to an important oceanography research facility for Florida State University. The public can explore a number of sea tanks, a butterfly garden and a boardwalk trail that provides a path through the hammocks. You can also take in the scenic views atop the park's observation tower. Sugar Sand Park is another popular destination for visitors and locals alike, featuring the Children's Science Explorium, a golf course, a dog park and a water park.

Boca Raton Schools

When you're considering schools for your children, you'll want to look into the School District of Palm Beach County. There are a total of 187 schools in the district. These schools work with over 183,000 students. With a total of 12,898 teachers, your children will get a great education at the schools in Boca Raton. Even if English is not your first language, your children will be in good company, -as students throughout the district speak 145 languages, with 197 countries and territories of birth represented.

Resources for Moving to Boca Raton

Here are a few quick resources for planning your move to Boca Raton:

• Utilities: Florida Power & Light (FPL) is the city's central energy provider. Water services are maintained and billed by the city of Boca Raton.
• Garbage and Recycling: The city provides collection of trash, recyclables and paper products for homes within Boca Raton's limits.
• Transportation: Although most people in Boca Raton use a personal vehicle as their primary form of transportation, you do have options for public transit. Palm Tran operates a network of bus routes in the area, and commuter rail services are managed by Tri-Rail.

Boca Raton Housing

Although Boca Raton housing is more affordable than the Miami metro average, it's still more expensive than many other parts of the United States. Home prices are on the rise and not expected to level out any-time soon, which could be a good indication for a sound investment. If you prefer to rent, there's a wide selection of apartments, condominiums and town-homes to choose from.