Jupiter is a well known for its beauty and beaches. It is often referred to as a "beach town" and has become a popular vacation spot. Many celebrities also own a home in Jupiter, Florida.
The area where the town now sits was originally named for the Hobe Indian tribe which lived at the mouth of the Loxahatchee River, and whose name is also preserved in the name of nearby Hobe Sound. A mapmaker misunderstood the Spanish spelling 'Jobe' of the Indian name 'Hobe' and recorded it as 'Jove'. Subsequent mapmakers further misunderstood this to be the Latin translation of the god Jupiter, and they anglicized the name from Jove to 'Jupiter.' The Roman god Jupiter (or Zeus in the Greek mythology) is the chief Roman god, husband of Juno, and god of light, of the sky and weather, and of the state and its welfare and its laws. It inspired a neighboring village to name itself, "Juno Beach".
The most notable landmark is the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse, completed in 1860. Made of brick, it was painted red in 1910 due to discoloration caused by humidity. Hurricane Jeanne sandblasted the paint from the upper portion of the tower, and the tower was repainted. The lighthouse is often used as the symbol for Jupiter.
Jupiter is the home to the Florida Marlins and St. Louis Cardinals spring training facilities as well as one of their respective Class A Minor League Baseball affiliates, the Jupiter Hammerheads and Palm Beach Cardinals. They share the use of the Roger Dean Stadium complex. Both minor league squads compete in the Florida State League.
William P. Gwinn Airport is located in Jupiter.
Jupiter is home to Florida Atlantic University's MacArthur Campus. This northern campus of FAU is also the location of the Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College.
The Scripps Research Institute is currently in the process of developing a sister facility at the MacArthur Campus of Florida Atlantic University. Scripps Florida now operates with approximately 188 scientists, technicians, and administrative staff at a 40,000 square-foot lab facility. Upon completion Scripps will operate out of a 364,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art biomedical research facility focusing on basic biomedical science, drug discovery, and technology development.
Jupiter Inlet is a premier Snook haunt. Casting around local bridges, docks and jetties will most often produce Snook of all sizes. At night the "shadow line" comes alive with Tarpon, Snook, jacks, Snapper and Lookdowns. Sea Trout and Redfish at times available as well. Live shrimp and shrimp-like lures or flies are a favorite baits here. Jupiter offers many pristine and scenic locations lined with mangroves and sandbars. You can cast to Tarpon, Snook, Jacks Ladyfish, Pompano and monster Bluefish that move into the river to escape the cooler ocean temperature and feed on mullet. Live shrimp, mullet, or pinfish are preferred live baits. They can also be used to "chum up" game fish and then plug or fly-cast your favorite artificial.
Upcoming Festivals:
Holiday Craft Festival on the Ocean
Art Fest by the Sea
City & Partner Links:
The Town of Jupiter