Palm Beach County is a county located in the state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 1,131,184. As of 2006, the county had a population of 1,287,987 according to the University of Florida, Bureau of Economic and Business Research. Its county seat is West Palm Beach. Palm Beach County is one of three counties that comprise the South Florida metropolitan area.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 6,181 km² (2,386 mi²). 5,113 km² (1,974 mi²) of it is land and 1,068 km² (412 mi²) of it is water, much of it in the Atlantic Ocean and Lake Okeechobee. The total area is 17.27% water. As of the census² of 2000, there were 1,131,184 people, 474,175 households, and 303,946 families residing in the county. The population density was 221/km² (573/mi²). There were 556,428 housing units at an average density of 109/km² (282/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 69.05% White, 29.80% Black or African American, 0.22% Native American, 1.51% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 2.98% from other races, and 2.38% from two or more races. 18.44% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.