BEYOND the
BOUNDARY
A community initiative exploring whether the Martin–Palm Beach County boundary still makes sense for the people who live here.
What is Beyond the Boundary?
Many families and businesses in this part of Martin County routinely travel into Palm Beach County for work, shopping, healthcare, worship, recreation and other everyday needs.
Many residents on the Martin County side of the boundary rely on Palm Beach County for a substantial share of their daily destinations and services.
Does the boundary still make sense today?
It determines who makes decisions about your property, where your tax dollars go, which services you receive, and how your community grows.
A boundary that no longer makes sense
The Martin County boundary was drawn decades ago, long before the community we know today existed. Today, many residents cross that line for everyday services, work, school, healthcare, shopping and recreation.
The Problem
The initiative focuses on how the current boundary affects residents, businesses, service access, planning and future growth.
Communities divided
The county line separates nearby neighborhoods whose daily travel and service patterns often cross it.
Dependency on Palm Beach County
Many people on the Martin County side rely on Palm Beach County for work, play, shopping, healthcare, and more.
Tax dollars and local service use do not always align
Property taxes are paid into Martin County and other taxing districts, while many day-to-day destinations and services used by residents are located to the south in Palm Beach County.
Nearby services across the line
Residents often cross the county line to reach nearby schools, healthcare, shopping, recreation and other services.
Planning across the line
The initiative argues that the current boundary complicates planning for growth, investment, and local services.
By the Numbers
Approx. 3,400 homes
Are located in the Martin County communities north of the Loxahatchee River within the area being discussed.
Daily connections
Residents drive into Palm Beach County for work, school, healthcare, shopping, dining, recreation, and nearly everything in between.
Approx. $2.6 billion in taxable value
Those funds enter the countywide tax base. How local taxes and services would change under any boundary proposal would depend on the final legal and intergovernmental terms.
One community
A shared river, shared interests, and a shared future—divided by a line.
The bottom line
Beyond the Boundary is asking residents and local leaders to examine whether the current county line still matches the way this community functions today.
Real communities. A smarter boundary.
Explore the current county line, the proposed boundary concept, and nearby community connections. On phones, the information panels start closed so the map stays visible.
Interactive map unavailable. Showing the project map instead.
Use Layers and Compare for optional information. Each panel can be closed with ×; only one panel opens at a time on smaller screens.
What the map shows
The blue dashed line marks the current Martin–Palm Beach County boundary. The gold line shows the proposed boundary concept, including the residential communities north of the current line while keeping the Tanah Keeta Scout Reservation in Martin County and following the south side of Jonathan Dickinson State Park.
The land before the line
The boundary was drawn in 1925—before the world around it changed. Over the next quarter century, this area followed very different paths north and south of the line.
A timeline of change
Private land
Before Camp Murphy, the land that later became Jonathan Dickinson State Park was privately owned by multiple landowners and companies.
County boundary is drawn
Martin County is created by the Legislature from portions of Palm Beach and St. Lucie counties. At the time, this area was sparsely developed and the boundary reflected the communities and transportation network of that era.
Camp Murphy is built
The U.S. Army transforms the landscape into a massive secret radar-training installation.
- 1,000+ buildings
- 6,000+ personnel
- Power plants, sewer system, church, theater and more
The camp closes
After only two years, Camp Murphy is deactivated. The future of this enormous tract is suddenly wide open.
What should this land become?
Florida considers converting part of the former military installation into a tuberculosis sanatorium. The proposal does not move forward, and surplus Camp Murphy property and equipment are disposed of after the war.
Florida buys Camp Murphy
By 1947, Florida had acquired roughly 7,900 acres of former Camp Murphy property for a state park and related public purposes.
Jonathan Dickinson State Park opens
The property opens as a state park and is later renamed Jonathan Dickinson State Park.
Another vision
“Holy Land U.S.A.,” a Christian-themed attraction, is proposed on park land. It does not happen.
The land changed. The community changed. The line didn’t.
Many daily trips and community connections run south toward Jupiter and Tequesta while the county boundary remains in place.
Two paths. Opposite directions.
North of our community
Thousands of acres become Jonathan Dickinson State Park.
- 1942 — Camp Murphy
- 1947 — State acquisition
- 1950 — State park established
- About 10,500 acres in today’s state park
South of our community
Jupiter and Tequesta grow into vibrant communities.
- 1926 — U.S. 1 bridge crosses the Loxahatchee
- 1955 — Tequesta development begins
- 1957 — Tequesta incorporates
- 1959 — Jupiter Inlet Colony forms
Why does Martin County exist?
In 1925, residents around Stuart felt Palm Beach County government was not adequately serving their community. They believed too little road investment was reaching them. They petitioned the Legislature, and Martin County was created.
The boundary then. The question now.
When Martin County was created in 1925, north-south road and railroad connections linked this area to Hobe Sound and Stuart. Today, the 10,500-acre Jonathan Dickinson State Park occupies a large area immediately north of the communities discussed here.
Sources, maps and public information
This page identifies the public sources used for core historical and map information and separates official records from the project’s proposed boundary concept.
Primary sources
Martin County
Martin County states that it was established by an act of the Florida Legislature in 1925.
Martin County — About Martin County ↗City of Stuart — Historic Survey (county-creation context) ↗Jonathan Dickinson State Park
Florida State Parks documents Camp Murphy, more than 1,000 buildings, more than 6,000 personnel, deactivation in 1944 and the park’s establishment in 1950.
Florida State Parks — History ↗Tequesta
The Village of Tequesta’s historical summary records its incorporation on June 4, 1957.
Village of Tequesta — History ↗Fire-rescue transition
The Town of Jupiter states that Jupiter Fire Rescue begins service October 1, 2026. Palm Beach County materials document the corresponding end of County service inside the Town.
Town of Jupiter — Fire Rescue ↗Palm Beach County Fire Rescue — Stations ↗Current county line
The interactive map requests current Martin County boundary geometry from the County’s public ArcGIS service.
Martin County GIS boundary service ↗Project figures & methodology
Figures describing the proposed area, taxable value, travel patterns or service use are project estimates unless an official source is linked. They should be updated when newer public records become available. The proposed gold boundary is a discussion concept and has not been adopted by Martin County, Palm Beach County or the State of Florida.
Corrections are welcome
If you find an error, a newer government record, or a source that points in a different direction, send it to BeyondTheBoundaryMC@gmail.com.
Questions about the boundary
Short answers to the questions residents are most likely to ask.
Is this a government website?
No. Beyond the Boundary is an independent community initiative. The boundary shown in gold is a proposal for public discussion, not an adopted government action.
What is Beyond the Boundary?
It is a community initiative examining whether the Martin–Palm Beach County boundary still makes sense for the residential communities on the north side of the Loxahatchee River.
What area is being discussed?
The concept focuses on residential communities immediately north of the current county line and south of Jonathan Dickinson State Park. The project map keeps the Tanah Keeta Scout Reservation in Martin County.
Would taxes change?
Any tax change would depend on the terms of a final boundary agreement and the taxing districts that would apply. The initiative’s stated position is that protecting residents from an increased tax burden should be addressed before any final proposal moves forward.
Would schools and services change automatically?
No single website can determine that. School assignment, fire-rescue, utilities, roads, and other services are governed by separate public agencies and would have to be addressed through the applicable legal and intergovernmental process.
What happens to Jonathan Dickinson State Park?
The boundary concept shown on this site leaves Jonathan Dickinson State Park in Martin County. The proposal is focused on the developed residential communities south of the park.
How can I send a correction or comment?
Use the Get Involved page or email BeyondTheBoundaryMC@gmail.com. Feedback supporting, opposing, or correcting information on the site is welcome.
Share your perspective
Questions, comments, corrections, historical information, or a different point of view are welcome.
Contact Beyond the Boundary
Email the project directly from your phone. The message will open in your normal mail app.
BeyondTheBoundaryMC@gmail.comWhat to send
You can send questions about the map, historical documents, service information, corrections, or your own perspective on the county boundary. If you live in the affected area, you can also describe which schools, parks, businesses, healthcare providers, utilities, and public services your household uses most often.