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Progress

Growing Diversity

Since the 1980s, Palm Beach County’s population has become increasingly diverse in its ethnicity. About half of public school students call themselves non-whites, and one eighth speak English as a second language. During the ‘80s, there was a large increase in the number of Hispanics and Haitians. In 1995, the county’s first mosque opened in West Palm Beach. In South County, the Jewish population continued to expand rapidly.

Population

1980

1990

2000

2010

Palm Beach County

576,863

863,518

1,131,191

1,320,134

Florida

9,746,961

12,937,926

15,982,378

18,801,310

The Census Bureau estimated the 2011 population of Palm Beach County to be 1,335,187, with the racial mix shown below. Note: Individuals may be included in one or several races; Hispanics may also be any other race.

White

77.4%

Hispanic

19.6%

Black

17.8%

American Indian and Alaska Native

6.0%

Asian

2.5%

Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander

0.1%