Abacoa, Florida facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Abacoa
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Planned Urban Development
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Plaque in downtown Abacoa
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 Abacoa, Florida
Location in Florida
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| Country | United States |
| State | Florida |
| County | Palm Beach |
| Elevation | 105 ft (32 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
33458
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| Area code(s) | 561 |
Abacoa is a planned community in Jupiter, Florida. It is located in Palm Beach County. Building started in 1997 on land once owned by businessman John D. MacArthur. Abacoa is a great example of "New Urbanism." This is a way of designing towns to be walkable and friendly.
Contents
History of Abacoa
Abacoa was first planned in 1993. The MacArthur Foundation suggested the idea to Palm Beach County. The land was once used for growing strawberries. The Foundation worked with a developer to build the community.
Many homes were sold quickly. By 2009, 4,000 out of 6,000 planned homes were built. The shops in Abacoa Town Center had a slow start. In 2007, many storefronts were empty. A new owner bought the center and made it a busy place. Now, all the shops are full.
The name "Abacoa" comes from a Native American village. This village belonged to the Jaega tribe. They lived in the area when the Spanish arrived.
Fun Things to Do in Abacoa
Since 2002, Abacoa has hosted the yearly Fiesta Maya. This event celebrates the traditions of Jacaltenango, a town in Guatemala. Local people from Jacaltenango and students from Florida Atlantic University join in.
There are many community events in the town center. These happen on holidays like St. Patrick's Day and July 4th. Abacoa also hosts the Feast of Little Italy every November. You can find a full list of events on the Abacoa Property Owners' Association calendar.
Schools in Abacoa
Abacoa has several public schools. These are part of the Palm Beach County Public Schools system.
- Lighthouse Elementary School (grades K-2)
- Beacon Cove Intermediate School (grades 3-5)
- Independence Middle School (grades 6-8)
- Jupiter Middle School (grades 6-8)
- Jupiter High School
- William T. Dwyer High School
Students are assigned to middle and high schools based on their neighborhood. However, there are "choice programs" if students want to attend a different school.
Florida Atlantic University High School has a campus in Abacoa. Students there can earn both a high school diploma and a bachelor's degree at the same time. Palm Beach County also has special magnet schools. These schools are for students with unique interests. Examples include the Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts and Suncoast. Suncoast focuses on math, science, and engineering.
Parks and Recreation
Abacoa has a community park. It includes a football field, a playground, and a basketball area. There is also a skate park for skateboarding.
Abacoa has four clay tennis courts. You can use them for free. The Abacoa Golf Club is a public 18-hole golf course.
If you like the beach, Juno Beach Pier is a 12-minute drive away. Jupiter's own beach is also popular. It is a great spot for kiteboarding.
Shopping and Dining
The Abacoa Town Center has many restaurants and a coffee shop. You can also find a barber shop, dance studios, and martial arts studios. There is even an escape room!
Some specialty stores include a bridal shop, a bicycle shop, and a trading card store. For bigger stores, there is a CVS and a Publix supermarket nearby. A Home Depot is also close by, across Donald Ross Road.
Getting Around Abacoa
Depending on where you live in Abacoa, you are usually 1 to 3 miles from Interstate 95.
For flying, there are several airports:
Smaller planes can use PBI, F45, or the Stuart, Florida airport.
Abacoa is served by the PalmTrans #10 bus. This bus goes to the Gardens Mall. From there, you can transfer to other bus routes.
The closest commuter train station is in Mangonia Park. It is about a 15-minute drive. This train goes to Miami International Airport. The closest intercity train is Brightline in downtown West Palm Beach. This is a 25-minute drive. Brightline trains travel between Miami and Orlando. An Amtrak station is also in West Palm Beach. Amtrak trains connect to cities like Tampa, Chicago, Washington, D.C., and New York City.
How Abacoa Was Planned
Abacoa is divided into 17 different neighborhoods. Each neighborhood has its own unique style of architecture. When fully built, Abacoa is expected to have over 6,000 homes. It will also have about 3,000,000 square feet (280,000 m²) of commercial space.
One cool feature is that garages are usually at the back of the houses. This means the front of the homes look nicer, without big garage doors.
Abacoa is also home to Roger Dean Stadium. This stadium is near the Town Center. It is an open-air area with many restaurants. Abacoa also hosts important research centers. These include Florida Atlantic University's Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College, a Scripps Research Institute facility, and the Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience. This is the first Max Planck Society research institute outside of Europe.
Abacoa Neighborhoods
As of 2024, here are the neighborhoods in Abacoa:
- Abacoa Town Center: This area has restaurants, shops, a hotel, and offices. It also includes Roger Dean Stadium and the Allure apartments.
- Antigua: Mostly townhouses, some of which are designed for living and working.
- Osceola Woods: Features 146 three-story townhouses.
- The Island at Abacoa: Has single-family homes and townhouses. It is built around the Abacoa Golf Club.
- Charleston Court: Townhouses located around the golf course.
- The Sophia: An apartment complex for renters.
- Tuscany: A mix of single-family homes and townhouses.
- Martinique: Also a mix of single-family homes and townhouses.
- Mallory Creek: A mix of single-family homes and townhouses, designed in a Key West style.
- Valencia: Only single-family homes, built in a Spanish Colonial Revival style.
- Somerset: Townhouses and apartments with a pool, clubhouse, and gym. It is next to Lighthouse Elementary School and Jupiter Middle School.
- The Dakota: Another rental apartment complex.
- Cambridge: A mix of single-family homes and townhouses.
- Windsor Park: A mix of single-family homes and townhouses. It is home to Addington Place of Jupiter, a senior living center.
- San Palermo: A small area of townhouses without a common clubhouse, gym, or pool.
- Canterbury Place: A mix of single-family homes and townhouses.
- Greenwich: A small area along Military Trail.
- New Haven: A mix of single-family homes and townhouses. It is next to Beacon Cove Intermediate School.
Most neighborhoods have their own clubhouse, gym, and pool. All houses are built with strong concrete blocks. Roofs can be made of tile, metal, or asphalt shingles, depending on the neighborhood.
Images for kids
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A typical house in the Valencia neighborhood.
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The entrance to the Mallory Creek neighborhood.
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A typical Abacoa sidewalk, shaded by oak trees.
