Boynton History Population

The Boynton Beach area’s earliest inhabitants went uncounted – the pre-Columbian Indians followed by the Seminole Indians. In the 1880s, settlers from the Bahamas occupied some of the land along the Lake Worth’s south shore, growing tomatoes and fishing. They did not lay claim to the lands, and were soon supplanted by the settlers from the North who had come to farm and build the Boynton Hotel.

In 1900, the US Census found 91 people living in the vicinity of Boynton, in what was officially designated as Precinct 6 of Dade County, Fort Lauderdale. We know its our earliest Boynton citizens based on the names that appeared on the two census sheets, such as Margretta Pierce living in the household of Frederick Voss, the Garnett family, and the Harper family.

Boynton was a named settlement, so it is unclear why they included it the Fort Lauderdale tally.

Excerpt from 1900 US Census Sheet

Excerpt from 1900 US Census Sheet

 

1900 US Census - Dade County

1900 US Census – Dade County

 

On the 1910 and 1920 US Census counts, Boynton appears as Precinct 4 of Palm Beach County, a “minor civil division” given that it was not yet incorporated as a town. The precinct covered Boynton, Hypoluxo and Ocean Ridge, and the names on the census sheets confirm that.  The population drop from 1910 to 1920 can probably be attributed to these changing precinct lines.

1910 US Census, Palm Beach County

1910 US Census, Palm Beach County

US Census, Palm Beach County, 1920

1920 US Census, Palm Beach County

 

In the 1930 US Census and all afterward, Boynton Beach appears as an incorporated town, so the census counts follow the established city limits as the city expanded through the years.

Today Boynton Beach is Palm Beach County’s third largest city with a population of 78,060 in the 2020 census (only West Palm Beach and Boca are more populated).

Boynton Beach Population History, 1890-2010

Boynton Beach Population History, 1890-2010

The 2020 Census recorded 80,380 people in the City of Boynton Beach.

 

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About Janet DeVries Naughton

Janet DeVries Naughton is the past president of the Boynton Beach Historical Society and an academic librarian and history professor at Palm Beach State College. The intrepid historic researcher and award winning author has contributed to and published over a dozen local history books. She has over two decades of experience in Florida libraries, museums and archives, and is available as a consultant for family history projects, books and personal archival collections.

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