Although condominiums and office buildings along the main streets have altered the atmosphere of Palm Beach slightly, the image of elegance, beauty, and charm remains. Single-family houses and regal estates still dominate the scene, and lush foliage and expert landscaping personify the semi-tropical living. The town prides itself on its world-famous shopping areas: Worth Avenue and the Esplanade, Royal Poinciana Way, and South County Road.

Situated on the northern end of a 14-mile-long island, half a mile at its widest point, with Lake Worth to the west and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, Palm Beach probably owes its resort existence to a shipwreck in 1878. The vessel's cargo of coconuts was washed ashore and took root, transforming a barren ribbon of sand into a palm-shadowed haven. Henry Morrison Flagler, the railroad magnate, was the first to recognize the attraction of Palm Beach; he built the famous Royal Poinciana Hotel and directed major civic improvements, including extensive landscaping. The Gulf Stream at Phipps Ocean Park is closer to shore in this area (1 to 3 miles) than any other point in the United States.