From Paper Town to Paradise: The Story of Palm Beach Gardens
- Jyothi Dondero
- Oct 9
- 6 min read
Palm Beach Gardens is celebrated today for its exclusive gated communities, lush tropical landscapes, and world-class golf courses. Home to prominent sports figures such as Venus and Serena Williams and golfer Lee Westwood, Palm Beach Gardens attracts more professional golfers than almost any other city in the nation, a distinction closely tied to the presence of the PGA of America headquarters. Yet, beyond its reputation for luxury living and championship greens lies a fascinating past. From its Native American roots to John D. MacArthur’s ambitious vision of a “garden city,” Palm Beach Gardens has transformed over just a few decades into one of Florida’s premier destinations for recreation, culture, and modern living. Join us as we explore the city’s remarkable journey, from its humble beginnings as a sparse pioneer settlement to a vibrant community where history, leisure, and elegance converge.
From Native Roots to Pioneer Beginnings
Just fourteen miles north of the famed resort town of Palm Beach, the land that would one day become Palm Beach Gardens was first home to several interconnected Native American groups, including the Jaega, Tequesta, Mayaimi, Calusa, and Ais peoples. For centuries, they fished the coastal waters, hunted in the forests, and lived off the rich resources of the region. But with the arrival of Europeans in the 1500s, their populations declined rapidly, devastated by endemic warfare and the spread of foreign diseases.
Although European exploration of Florida began in the sixteenth century, permanent settlement in the Palm Beach Gardens area did not take place until more than three hundred years later, in the mid to late 1800s. Pioneers slowly moved into the region, carving out cattle ranches among the vast pine forests and marshlands. Even after Palm Beach County was officially established in 1909, the area remained sparsely populated. It was not until the late 1950s, with the founding of Palm Beach Gardens, that the community began to experience an unprecedented surge in growth.
From Garden Dream to Paper Town
In 1959, John D. MacArthur, a prominent businessman who made his fortune in real estate and insurance, set out to transform 4,000 acres of Palm Beach County into what he called a “garden city.” His vision included shady, tree-lined avenues, manicured parks, tropical landscaping, and elegant homes, all designed to accommodate up to 55,000 residents. MacArthur initially hoped to call his new city Palm Beach City, but the Florida Legislature rejected the proposal, ruling the name too similar to that of Palm Beach. Undeterred, he chose the name Palm Beach Gardens, reflecting his dream of a lush, verdant community.
That same year, MacArthur secured planning permission and Palm Beach Gardens was officially incorporated. However, at this point, the city was what is known as a “paper town”, one that was still in the planning phase and did not actually exist yet on the ground. It would be several years before infrastructure and housing made the city habitable. In fact, the 1960 census recorded just one official resident, a homeless man named Cooper, whom MacArthur permitted to live on the land in a modest frame house he had built for him. From these humble beginnings, the foundations were laid for the city’s remarkable growth in the decades to come.
The PGA Era and Palm Beach Gardens’ First Boom
The 1960s marked the beginning of an intensive phase of development in Palm Beach Gardens, as roads, houses, parks, and commercial districts quickly took shape. The fledgling city received an extraordinary boost when the Professional Golfers’ Association of America (the PGA of America) chose Palm Beach Gardens as the site of its new headquarters, thanks to a personal invitation from John D. MacArthur himself. In fact, MacArthur was so determined to have the PGA in Palm Beach Gardens that he personally contributed more than $2 million toward the construction of their new facilities. In 1965, the PGA officially moved into its new permanent home, cementing Palm Beach Gardens’ reputation as a golfing destination.
By 1970, just a decade after its incorporation, the population of Palm Beach Gardens had risen to about 7,000, an impressive feat for such a young city. Yet this was still far short of MacArthur’s ambitious goal of 55,000 residents. Development pressed on, however, with new residential neighborhoods, commercial areas, golf courses, and green spaces taking shape to define the city’s growing identity. The momentum also brought a stronger sense of community, as new families, businesses, and recreational opportunities transformed Palm Beach Gardens from a paper town into a place with its own character and promise.
The Banyan Tree Saga
In 1970, John D. MacArthur famously had a massive banyan tree uprooted from the neighboring community of Lake Park and transported it to Palm Beach Gardens, where it was replanted as a living symbol of his young city. The enormous tree cost tens of thousands of dollars to move and was hauled to its new home via the Florida East Coast Railway. The story is still told today of how, during the journey, the banyan tree’s sprawling roots and branches brushed against the telegraph and telephone wires strung up alongside the tracks, ripping them down and causing widespread damage.
For weeks afterward, all communication between Palm Beach County and Miami came to a complete standstill until the lines could be repaired. Undaunted, MacArthur arranged for a second banyan tree to be transported to Palm Beach Gardens the following year, once again using the railway. This time, the move was more carefully managed, and the tree arrived without major incident. Together, the two banyans became enduring landmarks of the city’s early development, representing both MacArthur’s bold vision and his unwavering determination to see Palm Beach Gardens flourish, no matter the obstacles.
Slow Growth and New Horizons
During the 1970s and 1980s, Palm Beach Gardens continued to grow, though at a more measured pace than in the bustling decade before. For the most part, this period was relatively uneventful, aside from the heavy freezes of 1985 and 1989, both of which wreaked havoc on the city’s elaborate tropical landscaping. The setbacks proved temporary, however, and Palm Beach Gardens soon rebounded, enjoying the warmer weather that has defined much of its modern climate. It wasn’t until the first decade of the twenty-first century that the city would again face such serious challenges from Mother Nature.
Although development slowed during these decades, it did not entirely stagnate. In 1988, a massive shopping center, aptly named Gardens Mall and boasting more than 1 million square feet of retail space, opened its doors to residents. The following year, the city reinforced its commitment to culture and community by passing the Art in Public Spaces ordinance. This initiative transformed the cityscape, dotting its streets and public squares with a fascinating and eclectic mix of sculptures, murals, and installations that remain a defining feature of the community. Together, these milestones helped shift Palm Beach Gardens’ image from a young residential city to a thriving destination blending commerce, creativity, and quality of life.
Boom Years and Golfing Prestige
In 1999, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation sold off approximately 5,000 acres of city land to a private developer. Construction began almost immediately, transforming the property into a vibrant mix of elegant homes, championship golf courses, and bustling commercial districts. This large-scale development reinvigorated Palm Beach Gardens’ growth, fueling a population surge and sparking a building boom that reshaped the city’s skyline and neighborhoods. By the early 2000s, Palm Beach Gardens had become one of South Florida’s fastest-growing communities.
The city’s longstanding connection to the PGA of America, which had been headquartered in Palm Beach Gardens since 1965, also helped elevate its profile on the national stage. With its wealth of world-class courses, resorts, and spas, the city quickly earned a reputation as a premier golfing destination. Prestigious tournaments such as the Ryder Cup and the Honda Classic brought international attention, drawing thousands of visitors and generating significant revenue. Courses like the exclusive Country Club at Mirasol and the world-renowned PGA National Resort and Spa cemented Palm Beach Gardens’ identity as not just a residential community, but a true golfing capital of the United States.
Resilience and Legacy
Today, Palm Beach Gardens is still a developing city, one that continues to grow and prosper despite the challenges it has faced. Between 2004 and 2005, a series of powerful hurricanes struck the region, causing widespread damage to homes, businesses, and infrastructure. Yet with characteristic Floridian grit, residents rebuilt, restoring their neighborhoods and revitalizing their disrupted economy.
In the years since, Palm Beach Gardens has strengthened its reputation as one of Florida’s premier destinations for both residents and visitors. Its blend of exclusive communities, lush green spaces, and world-class golf courses has made it synonymous with luxury and leisure, while ongoing investments in culture, education, and commerce ensure its continued vitality. From its humble beginnings as a “paper town” to its status today as a thriving hub of recreation, culture, and community, Palm Beach Gardens remains a testament to both ambition and perseverance.
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