January 8th , 2010 → 10:31 pm @ Palm Beach Centennial
Here is a historical timeline of Palm Beach with some significant points in South Florida history. If you have anything to add please let us know.
1513 – Juan Ponce de Leon claims Florida for Spain
1565 – St. Augustine is founded (under Spanish rule)
1696 – Jonathan Dickinson shipwrecked near Jupiter Island.
1763 – Feb. 10th Spain trades Florida to England for Cuba
1783 – England returns Florida to Spain for Bahamas
1795 – Spain establishes Florida’s current boundaries
1818 – First Seminole War occurs
1821 – Feb. 22 – Spain sells Florida to U.S. for $5 million.
1824 – Mosquito County established; includes area of PBC.
1830 – First census has population of S. Florida at 517 pp
1835 – 1842 – Second Seminole War
1845 – Florida admitted to the Union as 27th State.
1853 – 1856 – Third Seminole War
1861 – Florida secedes from U.S., joins Confederacy
1878 – The Providencia wrecks off the coast full of 20,000 coconuts – they were distributed and planted
1885 – 1893 – 11 barefoot mailmen carried mail the 136 miles between Palm Beach and Cape Florida.
1889 – First rail line in South Florida (the Celestial Railroad) born on July 4th
1893 – Henry Flagler, Standard Oil Tycoon, declares Palm Beach a “veritable paradise”.
1894 – Flagler’s Royal Poinciana Hotel is completed. It is the largest wooden structure in the world.
1894 – Flagler’s railroad, FEC Railway arrives
1896 – Flagler opens the Palm Beach Inn which becomes the Breakers in 1901.
1907 – Telephone service established with 18 phones
1911 – Palm Beach incorporated
1913 – Henry Flagler dies in Palm Beach
1925 – First regular steamship at the Port of Palm Beach
1938 – Flagler Memorial Bridge opens
1959 – Royal Palm Bridge to Palm Beach opens
1976 – I-95 is completed from Miami to Palm Beach Gardens
1977 – First snow ever recorded
2011 – Town of Palm Beach Turns 100
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