Boca Raton, Florida is a beautiful waterway resort community.

Boca Raton FL History

The earliest known inhabitants of the Boca Raton area were the Tequesta Indians who lived in communities near the ocean as long ago as one thousand years until the 1700’s, when Spanish explorers came to the area. The Spanish word “boca” (or mouth) often described an inlet, while “raton” (literally mouse) was a term for a cowardly thief. By the 1920’s, the “Thieves Inlet,” Boca Ratones, was shortened to Boca Raton with the correct pronunciation “Rah-tone”.

The construction of the Florida East Coast Canal (now the Intracoastal) and the railroad in the 1890’s made the region accessible to settlers. By the early 1900’s, Boca Raton was a small agricultural community with many farmers growing pineapples. In 1925, the Town of Boca Raton incorporated. In the 1930’s and 40’s, Boca Raton was known for its winter vegetable crop, particularly green beans, which commanded a premium in northern markets.

In 1942, the Army Air Corps established its only war-time radar training school at the site of what is now Florida Atlantic University and the Boca Raton Airport. IBM moved a computer facility to Boca Raton in 1967 where the first IBM personal computer was developed in 1981.

Boca Raton Florida – Unique Quality of Life

Today, Boca Raton Florida is a metropolitan community that offers a unique quality of life with beautiful homes and waterways, resorts for tourists and year-round warm weather.