Explore Boynton Beach Living

Boynton Beach gained its name after Civil War Major Nathan S. Boynton, who originated out of Port Huron, Michigan. It all started in the 1890s when Major Boynton went on a land prospecting adventure with congressman William S. Linton, a fellow Michigander. Congressman Linton had hired captain Frederick C. Voss to take them out in his boat to show them the Lake Worth area. That’s when Major Boynton stumbled upon the extraordinary tropical sanctuary today known as Boynton Beach. Not only was the land, climate, and opportunity plentiful for farming tomatoes, peppers, and tropical fruit, the sandy dunes on the Atlantic offered respite from the hustle and bustle of life. Nostalgically similar to Lake Michigan dunes in the summertime, the area also showcased exciting bio-diversity in different ecosystems, from numerous types of Palm trees to Mangrove trees that can convert saltwater to freshwater. The Florida year-round sunshine inspired Major Nathan S. Boynton to gather a group of settlers, and head down to build his family’s summer home, eventually becoming the Boynton Beach Hotel.

The sleepy beach town remained relatively unheard of until after World War Two. The area gained a reputation as a lovely area to raise a family in, so many soldiers just returning home decided to relocate. At the same time, the Atlantic’s Gulfstream, with access by way of Boynton, had started to gain notoriety through deep-sea fishing. In 1900 there were only 83 people who lived in the city, in the 1950s, there were around 5,000 residents, today, there are more than 78,000. Find your place in the world by searching for your dream home in the area here. Scroll down to explore all-age communities in Boynton Beach or discover Boynton Beach 55 and over communities.