Jupiter, Florida facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jupiter, Florida
Town
Jupiter Inlet
Seal
Location of Jupiter in Palm Beach County, Florida
Country	United States
State	Florida
County	Palm Beach
Incorporated	February 9, 1925; 100 years ago (1925-02-09)
Government
• Type	Council-Manager
Area
• Total	23.12 sq mi (59.89 km2)
• Land	21.63 sq mi (56.02 km2)
• Water	1.50 sq mi (3.87 km2)
Elevation	7 ft (2 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	61,047
• Density	2,822.59/sq mi (1,089.80/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (EST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP codes	33410, 33418, 33458, 33468, 33469, 33477, 33478
Area code(s)	561, 728
FIPS code	12-35875
GNIS feature ID	0285000

Jupiter is a town in Palm Beach County, Florida, United States. It is the northernmost town in the county. In 2020, about 61,047 people lived there. Jupiter is about 84 miles north of Miami. It is also 15 miles north of West Palm Beach.

Jupiter is known as a great place to live. Stacker Newsletter called it the 9th Best Southern Beach Town in 2022. WalletHub rated it the 12th Best Beach Town in the U.S. in 2018.

History of Jupiter

The area was first named after the Hobe Indian tribe. They lived near the Loxahatchee River. A mapmaker made a mistake with the Spanish spelling of "Hobe." They wrote it as Jove. Later mapmakers thought this was the Roman god Jupiter. This is because the Latin name for Jupiter often uses "Jov-". So, they started calling the area Jupiter.

Jupiter was the main Roman god. He was the god of light, sky, and weather. His wife was Juno. This led a nearby town to be named Juno Beach.

Battles and the Lighthouse

The Battles of the Loxahatchee happened near Jupiter in 1838. These were part of the Seminole Wars. A famous building in Jupiter is the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse. It was finished in 1860. The lighthouse is made of brick. It was painted red in 1910 because of humidity. In 2004, Hurricane Jeanne removed some of the paint. The lighthouse was then repainted. It is often a symbol for Jupiter.

The American Flag Incident

In 1999, a Jupiter resident named George Andres wanted to fly a United States flag in his yard. But his neighborhood rules said no flagpoles in front yards. George still put up his flag. The neighborhood association took him to court many times. George even lost his home to pay for legal costs.

Even after Florida's governor visited, neither side gave up. George Andres eventually won his case. He was allowed to display his flag. Later, in 2006, a new law was passed. It is called the Freedom to Display the American Flag Act of 2005. This law lets people display the American flag on their property. This is true even if their neighborhood has rules against it.

Geography and Climate

Jupiter is located at about 26°55′34″N 80°6′18″W. The town covers about 21.1 square miles (54.6 km2). Most of this area is land, with some water. Jupiter has a special location. It sticks out into the Atlantic Ocean more than other parts of Florida. Because of this, it has been an important stop for ships since 1550.

Jupiter has a Tropical rainforest climate. This means it is warm or hot for most of the year. Frost is very rare here. Summers in Jupiter are often humid. Like other parts of South Florida, Jupiter has two main seasons. There is a mild, dry winter from November to April. Then there is a hot, wet summer from May to October. Short thunderstorms are common during the hot season. Jupiter has many tropical trees. It is also known for its beautiful plants around homes and parks.

Population and People

In 2020, Jupiter had 61,047 people living there. There were 26,597 households. About 19.1% of the people were under 18 years old. Also, 23.1% were 65 years or older. More than half of the population (51.7%) were female. The average household had 2.43 people.

The average income for a household in Jupiter was $87,163 in 2020. The income per person was $57,865. About 7.9% of the population lived below the poverty line.

Education and Research

The The School District of Palm Beach County runs the public schools in Jupiter. There are also several private and religious schools.

Jupiter has two public high schools:

• Jupiter Community High School
• William T. Dwyer High School (in nearby Palm Beach Gardens)

Jupiter Christian School is a private school in town.

Universities and Colleges

• Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College at Florida Atlantic University
• Florida Atlantic University, John D. MacArthur Campus

Research Centers

Jupiter is home to the Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience. This is a special research center. It studies the brain and how it works. It is the first research institute of its kind outside of Europe.

Economy

Several companies have their main offices in Jupiter. These include G4S Secure Solutions, Town Sports International Holdings, and Holtec International. The comedy news website The Babylon Bee is also based here.

Notable People from Jupiter

Many famous people live or have lived in Jupiter. These include:

• Robert Allenby, a professional golfer
• Rick Ankiel, a professional baseball player
• Daniel Berger, a professional golfer
• Don Brewer, drummer for Grand Funk Railroad
• Ernie Els, a professional golfer from South Africa
• Rickie Fowler, a professional golfer
• Lucas Glover, a professional golfer
• Matt Holliday, a professional baseball player
• Michael Jordan, a famous basketball player
• Brooks Koepka, a professional golfer
• Rory McIlroy, a professional golfer
• Jason Newsted, former bass player for Metallica
• Burt Reynolds, a famous actor
• Mike Schmidt, a Hall of Fame baseball player
• Justin Thomas, a professional golfer
• Dara Torres, an Olympic swimmer
• Tiger Woods, a professional golfer
• Zion Wright, a professional skateboarder

Fun Places to Visit in Jupiter

The Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse is a famous landmark in Jupiter.

• Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse: This historic lighthouse was built in 1860. It is a popular place to visit.
• Spring Training Baseball: Jupiter is where the Miami Marlins and St. Louis Cardinals baseball teams train in the spring. Their minor league teams, the Jupiter Hammerheads and Palm Beach Cardinals, also play here. They share the Roger Dean Stadium complex.
• William P. Gwinn Airport: This airport is located in Jupiter.
• Florida Atlantic University's MacArthur Campus: This is a university campus in Jupiter. It includes the Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College.
• Palm Beach International Raceway: This is a racing track built in 1965. It hosts different racing events.
• The Scripps Research Institute: This research center is next to Florida Atlantic University. Scientists here work on new treatments for diseases.
• Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience: This is a top research center that studies the brain.
• Jupiter Beaches: Many beaches in Jupiter welcome dogs. They are popular with both locals and visitors.
• Harbourside Place: This is an outdoor shopping area. It has shops and restaurants near the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse.
• Downtown Abacoa: This area has an amphitheater, restaurants, and coffee shops. It also hosts a farmer's market and the yearly Feast of Little Italy.

Jupiter in Media

The TV show American Horror Story: Freak Show was set in Jupiter. The story took place in 1952.

Gallery

• 

  New Jupiter Town Hall

• 

  Jupiter, FL, United States – panoramio

• 

  Jupiter Community High School

See also

In Spanish: Jupiter (Florida) para niños