Growth slows across Palm Beach County

Gains fall short of typical growth numbers over the last decade, Census Bureau estimates show.

Population growth slowed in nearly every nook and cranny of Palm Beach County, Census Bureau estimates released today show. In the latest year reported, population growth was typically two-thirds of what it had been a year earlier, and many cities grew at about half the rate of this decade’s average.

Boynton Beach was the best at keeping its pattern of growth, adding an estimated 1,745 people between the middle of 2016 and the middle of 2017. That’s about 200 fewer people than it got a year earlier, but significantly above the decade’s average. Among the worst was Wellington, where the 497 new people were less than a third of the year before, and the lowest number this decade.

Unincorporated Palm Beach County added 6,974 people, compared to about 10,600 the year before. The latest growth is about two-thirds of what was recorded just two years earlier. The county as a whole added 17,382 people.

In Lantana, 567 new people were added. That’s more than in the five years before. The city is poised for more growth, with 360 apartments planned at the Water Tower Commons development, which could bring as many as 1,091 housing units with commercial developments to the site of the former A.G. Holley State Hospital. The annual estimates are the federal government’s best idea of community population each year. They’re separate from the every-10-years Census, the next version of which is expected in 2021.

West Palm Beach’s 1,404 new residents were down about 400 from a year earlier, but still in line with the decade’s average. The city remains the county’s largest, at an estimated 110,222 people.

Boca Raton is edging closer to the 100,000 mark, but its growth of 1,543 residents was little more than half of the previous year’s. The latest population estimate puts the city at 98,150 people. If last year’s growth is sustained, Boca Raton will crack 100,000 late this year.

Mid-sized communities offered a mixed bag. Jupiter’s growth of 740 people was about a third of the decade’s peak. Lake Worth’s growth of 201 people was the

lowest of the decade — and about half of last year’s, and about a fifth of the decade’s peak. Royal Palm Beach grew about 305 people, less than a quarter of the decade’s peak. Riviera Beach’s growth of 197 was the lowest of the decade, when most years recorded more than 300 new residents. Palm Beach Gardens’ growth slowed to 748 people in the latest year, off

by about a quarter from the year before. Delray Beach’s growth sagged to 1,079, in line with the decade’s average but barely more than half of the decade’s peak.

Some of Palm Beach County’s communities recorded relatively high percentages of growth, but Glen Ridge’s growth of an estimated seven new residents only appears high because the city has about 239 people, the Census Bureau estimates suggest.