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Early History
The early history of Jupiter is shrouded in myths and conflicting historical information. Scholars have surmised that before gaining its present day name, the area was home to a Spanish fort called St. Lucia, in 1565. However, the Jupiter Inlet had also long been home to a Native American tribe, the Jegas. Conflict between settling soldiers and the native population ended with the abandonment of St. Lucia.
In 1697, the folklore of the Jupiter Inlet was added to by the publication of the memoirs of a traveling Quaker, Jonathan Dickinson. After a shipwreck on his way back from Jamaica, Dickinson and his companions were captured by natives, whom he called in his book’s title "inhumane Canibals." His party was held for several days at the location of the modern-day Dubois Pioneer Home. Afterwards, they were allowed to escape northward on a 230-mile trek, during which five people died. Wisely enough, nobody took it upon themselves to move into the area until the 1800's.
The Origin of Jupiter
Later, early British settlers in the process of making maps for the area mis-recorded the name of a small Native American tribe living at the mouth of the Loxahatchee River as 'Jove' instead of 'Hobe'. Jove being the proper name for Jupiter, or 'Father Jove,' head of the Roman Pantheon, others explorers continued the string of associations, and Jupiter became the one of only areas in the fledgling United States to be named after a Roman god.
After the Revolutionary War, Jupiter began to develop a reputation as a center for the ship pilots who guided vessels up and down the coast. The Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse was completed in 1860, giving the area a new importance, and the town of Jupiter began to grow.
Life in Jupiter in these early days relied the ocean and rivers. Income came from passing boats, while food came from fishing. There was even a 'school boat' that took children to their studies. Over time agrarian pursuits evolved, including the farming of flowers and citrus fruit, and inland logging began.
Birth of the Modern Area
It was only in 1925 that the town of Jupiter was officially formed by a group of locals. Since then the town, although consistently less famous than the celebrity-rich city to the south, Palm Beach, has experienced a slow but steady growth, as the warm climate and friendly residents made it a tourist destination.
The two closest neighboring towns, Juno Beach and Tequesta, are often grouped together with Jupiter by the local government. Both were founded in the 1950’s, Juno Beach from a former stop on the Celestial Railway and Tequesta taking shape out of what a local bridge tender had described as "a jungle."
The entire area remains much less densely developed than the lower parts of Palm Beach County. However, between its early history, its tourist reputation, a new branch of the Scripps Research Institute, and Burt Reynolds, Jupiter does have a few claims to fame. Come visit and help contribute to the growth of what is, without a doubt, one of Florida’s finest small towns.
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