European Exploration and the Colonial Era

Spanish explorers reached the Florida Atlantic coast in the early 16th century. While there is no record of permanent Spanish settlements in the immediate Juno Beach area, the broader region was mapped, and native communities were contacted and influenced through trade and missionary activity.

European contact introduced metal tools, firearms, and livestock, altering the local economy and settlement patterns. Additionally, European diseases caused devastating population declines among indigenous peoples, paving the way for later American settlement.

Early American Settlement

Following the cession of Florida to the United States in 1821, pioneers and settlers began exploring the Palm Beach County coast. The area that would become Juno Beach was sparsely populated, with settlers drawn by access to the ocean, fishing opportunities, and fertile soils suitable for small-scale agriculture.

Early settlements consisted of wooden homes and modest structures built along the coast and inland near freshwater sources. Farming focused on vegetables, citrus, and tropical fruits, while fishing remained a critical component of local subsistence and trade. shutdown123