About Boca Raton

Situated in Florida's prestigious Palm Beach County, beautiful Boca Raton provides residents and tourists alike the opportunity to enjoy Big City opportunities in a small, well-knit community. Through a strong dedication to business and education, as well as volunteer services, this city maintains a very high standard of living for its growing population of 60,000.

In Boca Raton, equal emphasis is placed on business life and family life. For executive and personal travel, there is close proximity to three international airports, as well as shipping ports. Major highways and turnpikes also run directly through town for ease of automotive transportation. In the future, there is even expected to be a high-speed train running through the area. As further proof of its dedication to increasing quality of life, there is no tax on state income, inheritance, food, or prescription drugs. Education, too, is greatly stressed.

Whether students are in highly-specialized schools, such as the Language Exchange or the highly-competitive Harid Conservatory, or are in public, "magnet-type" schools, emphasis is placed on opening the student's mind and making them aware of their world. Also of very high importance in Boca Raton are volunteer activities. Through organizations like the Debbie-Rand Memorial Service League, which boasts over 1,600 volunteers, and the Haven, a house for abused children and teenagers, this city continuously demonstrates care for its residents.

There are two major misconceptions most non-residents have about Boca Raton, the translation of the city's actual name and the extent of the wealth in the area. Contrary to popular belief, the name "Boca Raton" does not mean "mouth of the rat." While this myth has circulated for ages, in truth, the name does not have a direct translation into English. The word "Boca" does mean "mouth" in the Spanish language. However, according to inhabitants of Raton, Mexico, "Raton" most closely identifies with "rocks." As for the second misconception, concerning the concentration of wealthy in the area, it's only slightly more true. While there is a strong resident-base of The Elite, homes can be purchased anywhere from $30,000 to upwards of millions. In fact, according to 1990 figures, nearly 30% of all owned homes in Boca Raton cost less than $125,000.

The rich history of Boca Raton begins with the Calusa Indians, who lived and reaped the harvest of the area's swamplands. In the late 1800's, permanent settlements began to be constructed. These early settlers, under the direction of such individuals as Thomas Moore Rickards, Henry Flagler, and Jo Sakai, worked hard in the growth and shipment of various citrus fruits and vegetables. However, after succumbing to natural forces such as hard-freezes and hurricanes, Boca Raton began to change its fiscal base in the 1920's. During this time, the town was incorporated and a large tract of oceanfront land was purchased by Addison Mizner. Mizner, an architect to high-society, proved to be the largest contributor to the overall growth and prosperity of the city. Though his company, Mizner Development Corporation, eventually went bankrupt, his successful dream of Boca Raton has most certainly come to pass.