It was here that in the 1200-1300’s inhabitants made their home the eight foot tall Caloosa Tribe. What a place this was. Imagine, if you can, complete wilderness and swamp with the old Spanish River hidden from the roar of the Atlantic to the east. Here, food was in abundance: fish, wild animals, fruit, sweet potatoes. Fresh water was found at the base of the tree trunks, and from streams back in the bush, with salt water everywhere for boating, fishing and swimming.

It wasn’t until 1896, when Henry Flagler completed the East Coast Railway, that civilized progress began. People traveled in greater numbers and established homes where swamp and jungle had once existed. In the early 1900’s a group of Japanese emigrated to Florida and settled just west of the Intra coastal Waterway, naming their little community Yamato. Here they successfully raised pineapple and vegetables.

The history of present day Highland Beach began in 1949 when it was incorporated with 21 free voters for two prime reasons. First, a fresh water supply was imperative as there was salt intrusion in the existing wells. Neighboring communities were not amenable to supplying water from their wells, therefore funds were required to build a water plant. Secondly, the residents at that time heard rumors that a trailer camp was contemplated in the area, which did not meet with their approval. The name “Highland Beach” was chosen because at that time the land rose 20 to 25 feet above high tide, relatively higher than other portions of the dune crest in the area.

Land values in 1945 were $45 a foot, including the land opposite on the Intra coastal, as that was considered valueless because of the swamp and mangroves. In 1950, it sold for $125 a foot, excluding the west parcel. Presently, the value is around $10,000 a foot. The Town of Highland Beach is located in the southern portion of eastern Palm Beach County, which is in the southeastern part of the State of Florida. The Town encompasses 0.6 square miles and is bounded in the north and northwest by the City of Delray Beach and on the south and southwest by the City of Boca Raton. The Atlantic Ocean lies adjacent to the Town on the east and the Intra coastal Waterway lies to the west. The Town’s “main street” is a beautiful tree-lined stretch of Florida’s state road A1A. Highland Beach is a residential community with a year round population of approximately 3,500 which increases to approximately 8,000 during the winter months by residents who list their northern homes as their official place of residence.