LIVE WEBCAMS FOR JUPITER FLORIDA AND JUNO BEACH

Jupiter, located in Palm Beach County on Florida’s southeastern coast, is one of the state’s oldest continuously inhabited areas — with a history that spans ancient indigenous cultures, Spanish exploration, Seminole Wars, and modern coastal development. Known today for its iconic red Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse, the town blends natural beauty, maritime heritage, and historic charm.

 

Pre-Colonial Era: Jeaga and Native Tribes

Jupiter was originally home to the Jeaga people, a Native American tribe who lived along the coast and the Loxahatchee River for thousands of years.

 

They built shell mounds, fished the rivers and Atlantic Ocean, and lived in thatched villages.

 

Archaeological finds have uncovered ceramics, tools, and burial sites near the Jupiter Inlet.

 

European Contact and Naming

Spanish explorers began navigating Florida’s coast in the 1500s, and by the 1600s–1700s, shipwrecks and trade routes passed through the area.

 

The name "Jupiter" is a misinterpretation of the name "Hobe" (from the Jaega village of Hobe Sound).

 

Early mapmakers confused it with the Roman god Jove (Jupiter), and the name stuck.

 

Military History: Seminole Wars

During the Second Seminole War in the 1830s, the Loxahatchee River area became a site of military conflict.

 

Two battles — known as the Battles of the Loxahatchee — occurred in 1838.

 

The U.S. military established Fort Jupiter, a temporary base, near the present-day river.

 

Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse (1860)

The iconic Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse was completed in 1860, designed by George Meade, who later became a Union general in the Civil War.

 

The lighthouse helped guide ships through the often-dangerous inlet and remains a powerful symbol of Jupiter’s maritime history.

 

It was manned during the Civil War and later served as a weather station and signal point during World War II.

 

Late 1800s–Early 1900s: Growth and Railroads

The Florida East Coast Railway, built by Henry Flagler in the late 1800s, brought access and tourism to South Florida, though it didn’t directly reach Jupiter at first.

 

The Celestial Railroad (a short local railway) connected Jupiter to Juno Beach in the 1880s. Its stations had names like Mars, Venus, and Juno.

 

The region remained mostly agricultural, focused on pineapple and citrus farming.

 

20th Century Development

Jupiter began to grow more rapidly in the mid-1900s, transitioning from a fishing village into a resort and retirement destination.

 

It became known for its boating, beaches, and preserved natural areas like Jonathan Dickinson State Park and the Loxahatchee River.

 

Incorporated as a town in 1925, Jupiter saw residential and commercial expansion during Florida’s postwar boom.

 

Modern Jupiter

Today, Jupiter is celebrated for:

• The Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse & Museum

• Harborside Place, a hub for shopping and dining

• Pristine beaches and sea turtle nesting areas

• A-list residents (Tiger Woods, Celine Dion, and others have called Jupiter home)

• A strong focus on historic preservation, eco-tourism, and marine conservation