Highland Beach Florida
Highland Beach, a small town with less than 4,200 inhabitants, is located on a narrow strip of coastline that extends barely over a mile of private beach. This distinctive and picturesque town is primarily residential, featuring vast beachside mansions interspersed with a few municipal structures. Some may question why a separate town exists when Delray Beach lies directly to the north and Boca Raton to the south. Read on to find out more about Highland Beach's history, from its earliest discoveries to its current state.
Prior to the arrival of Spanish settlers and the Seminole Indians' migration southward due to the Seminole Wars, the Calusa Indians dominated the area. The Calusa tribe was the first recorded human inhabitants and likely developed from centuries of archaic Everglades peoples. The Calusa, also known as "shell Indians," utilized the shells found throughout the region to create many of their crafts. Their fierce reputation earned them the name "fierce people," with their jagged conch-like mollusk shells often used as weapons, leaving behind a shell that is perfect for this purpose. Over time, the Calusa were either killed, enslaved, or died from deadly epidemics that ravaged the area through the 1600s and 1700s. Today, there are no descendants of the Calusa tribe. While it has been suggested that the Tequesta or Jaega tribes may have also inhabited the area, it is unlikely as the Tequesta were closer to modern-day Miami, while the Jaega were slightly northward.
Florida's long coastline into the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico provided pirates with as much of an advantage as it did to legitimate seafaring interests. While the Tampa Bay area may be best known for its pirate history, the entire eastern coastline of the state has been a haven for pirates. The area between the Treasure Coast and Highland Beach allowed for raids as far north as the Carolina and Virginia colonies and deep into the Caribbean.
The Barefoot Mailmen were the first U.S. mail carriers in the Highland Beach area. While the term "Barefoot Mailman" was coined in the 1940s, the original 68-mile route from Palm Beach to Miami was known as the "barefoot route." With no official road connecting the counties, the Barefoot Mailmen had to carry mail on foot along the beaches and various connecting boat channels. The route was replaced when a rock road was built in 1892, but the legacy of these unique mail carriers lives on. An annual Boy Scout hike, covering much of this route, takes place in tribute, from Pompano Beach to South Beach.
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In 1949, Highland Beach became an independent town. The decision to do so was made by 21 free voters due to two primary reasons. Firstly, the freshwater supply that the community depended on was suffering from saltwater intrusion, and neighboring communities were unwilling to provide support by supplying water from their wells. Secondly, citizens had heard rumors of a trailer camp being planned for the area, which they did not approve of. Highland Beach's name comes from the unusual rise of 20 to 25 feet above sea level. This topography allows for the waterfront mansions we see today, with notably steep driveways that slope up to these homes. The town is still primarily residential, with the Delray Sands resort being the only well-known business with a Highland Beach address.
Go here to see a list of current homes for sale in Highland Beach. https://www.allhomesinsouthflorida.com/blog/highland-beach/. Click on Highland Beach in gold.