Boynton Beach is a city in Palm Beach County, Florida, United States. The population was 60,389 at the 2000 United States Census. As of 2006, the city had a population of 66,714 according to the University of Florida, Bureau of Economic and Business Research. Boynton Beach is a principal city of the South Florida metropolitan area, which had a 2006 estimated population of 5,463,857.

History
In 1894, two years before Henry Morrison Flagler built his railroad, a former American Civil War major named Nathan S. Boynton first set eyes on the area that now bears his name. He was so impressed by the natural beauty of the year-round sunshine...

Boynton Beach is a city in Palm Beach County, Florida, United States. The population was 60,389 at the 2000 United States Census. As of 2006, the city had a population of 66,714 according to the University of Florida, Bureau of Economic and Business Research. Boynton Beach is a principal city of the South Florida metropolitan area, which had a 2006 estimated population of 5,463,857.

History
In 1894, two years before Henry Morrison Flagler built his railroad, a former American Civil War major named Nathan S. Boynton first set eyes on the area that now bears his name. He was so impressed by the natural beauty of the year-round sunshine and pristine beaches, he built the famous Boynton Beach Hotel to serve as his family's summer residence.

The first settlers soon realized that many fruits and vegetables thrived in the fertile climate. Cultivated pineapples, tomatoes, mangoes, and citrus fruit were packed in crates and shipped by the ton on the newly-built Florida East Coast Railway to satisfy the appetites of hungry Americans across the country.

Hurricane Wilma struck Boynton Beach on Monday, October 24, 2005, causing widespread damage to homes and businesses. In 2006, the city saw an increase in gang-related violent crime. This increase mirrors a similar increase across Palm Beach County. A gang-related shooting at the city's popular Boynton Beach Mall on Christmas Eve of 2006 caught national attention on many networks, such as CBS. As of 2009, countywide gang violence has fallen three percent.

Geography
Boynton Beach is located at (26.528099, -80.076363). According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 16.25 square miles (42 km²), of which 15.88 square miles (41 km²) is land and .37 square miles (1 km²) is water (2.3%).