North Palm Beach 55+ Communities

Present-day North Palm Beach Village was once mangrove swampland and farms. The first family to live year-round on this once uninhabitable land were the Parkers. Mr. Parker was hired as the first tender for the drawbridge that was constructed in 1926 over the North Palm Beach Waterway. The county built the Parkers a home on stilts just east of the bridge so that the new bridge tender could be available 24-hours a day to raise the bridge for boats that traveled through the waterway at all hours of the night. To show appreciation for Parker’s dedication, the county named the bridge after him.

In 1927 Harry Kelsey, neighboring Lake Park town founder, teamed up with Paris Singer, Singer Sewing Machine Company heir, to build an 18-hole golf course and clubhouse on the same land that currently holds the North Palm Beach Country Club. The pair spent $500,000 on the country club that they named The Palm Beach Winter Club. The club opened in 1927 but its success was short-lived due to a 1928 hurricane that caused significant damage.

In 1929, Sir Harry Oakes, a gold mine owner, purchased the club and the land that now comprises North Palm Beach Village. Years later Oakes was murdered in Nassau and his widow sold his land in present-day North Palm Beach to Ralph Storkin. Storkin ran into trouble with the IRS for defrauding a Veteran’s Association and got a loan from philanthropist John D MacArthur. When Storkin defaulted on the loan, MacArthur gained ownership of the land that was used as collateral.

MacArthur was not interested in developing present-day North Palm Beach as his interest remained in Palm Beach Gardens. In 1955, MacArthur sold the land to Herbert and Richard Ross. The Ross Brothers sold their holdings in the dairy industry to fund the $5 million land purchase. The Ross Brothers worked with Seward Mott Associates to develop a master plan for the village and North Palm Beach was incorporated on August 13th, 1956. The newly incorporated village quickly gained accolades for the carefully laid out infrastructure winning an award from the National Association of Home Builders as the best-planned community of 1956. Homes were quickly developed in the newly incorporated North Palm Beach. Thanks to a Pratt & Whitney rocket and jet engine development facility opening nearby, the homes were sold with little effort to engineers and managers transferring to the new development site.

North Palm Beach continues to thrive today as a well-planned residential community. The village prioritizes land use for the enjoyment of residents with zoning regulations that largely confine businesses to Northlake Blvd and US Highway 1, a four-story limit on commercial buildings, and a prohibition on industrial plants. The Village Council strives to maintain a healthy environment for residents with efficient government and a wide range of recreational facilities. With endless outdoor activities, well-maintained neighborhoods, and a beautiful tropical setting with pristine beaches, it is no wonder that North Palm Beach is fondly referred to as “the best place to live under the sun”.