Learning from our Rich History

Recently, I had the distinct privilege of sitting down with former elected official and North County historian, Robert F. “Bobby" Culpepper.  Mr. Culpepper served as Jupiter's mayor from 1966 – 1968, and as County Commissioner for District 1 from 1968 – 1976.

A Korean War veteran, Mr. Culpepper shared with me his vast knowledge of the county.  One of his favorite quotes is from President Harry Truman who said, “The only thing new in this world, is the history that you don't know."  Mr. Culpepper enjoys talking about how Palm Beach County has grown over the past 60 years, and while he and I come from different political persuasions, we agree on many important issues, including the preservation of natural areas and wetlands, comprehensive land use strategies, and providing parks and recreational facilities for our residents.  His family members lovingly tease him that he has multiple stories within a story.

From his lovely historic circa-1900s home on the south shore of the Loxahatchee River, Mr. Culpepper described how essential policies took shape during his terms in office.  He worked to establish bulkhead lines along the Loxahatchee River to thwart continued efforts to fill in vast areas of the river for development.  In 1970, pollution of the river was a big problem caused by sewage releases into the water.  He, on behalf of the county, and four surrounding municipal governments formed the Loxahatchee River Council, which achieved legislation to form the Loxahatchee River Environmental Control District, the wastewater collection, treatment and sewer installation utility serving Juno Beach, all of Jupiter, eastern portions of Jupiter Farms, and north into Martin County. 

Public access to beaches was always a priority for Mr. Culpepper, and through a $6 million bond issuance in 1969, he negotiated the purchase of the remaining undeveloped parcels of coastline south of the Jupiter Inlet from the DuBois family.  Those lands now comprise DuBois Park, one of the most popular waterfront parks in South Florida.

Commissioner Culpepper also used his keen negotiation skills and genial manner with local property owners to acquire a site to meet community recreational and health clinic needs for minority and low-income families at what is now the West Jupiter Recreation Center and ballfields.

In 1972, the County's first Comprehensive Land Use Plan was approved which among many policies established, designated industrial uses along the Beeline Highway (SR 710), just southeast of the Pratt Whitney jet engine testing facility on lands formerly owned by John D. MacArthur.  Mr. Culpepper described how that same Comprehensive Plan projected that by the year 2000, Palm Beach County would have approximately 1.3 million people, and that by 2020, would reach 1.5 million people.  He was proud to tell me that based on current statistics their projections from nearly 50 years ago were very close.

During his service as a Supervisor on the Board of the Pal Mar Water Control District, Mr. Culpepper worked with municipalities and the South Florida Water Management District to obtain approval for a 7,500-acre reservoir that would replenish the Loxahatchee River.  While the water managers ultimately did not move forward with that project, the need to preserve those wetlands and provide clean fresh water to the river are just as important today.  As the County's current representative on Pal Mar in our position as a landowner, I am focused on the environmental benefits that can be derived from maintaining the wetlands in Pal Mar, a district which was created in the 1960's encompassing approximately 23,000 acres of vacant lands straddling Palm Beach and Martin Counties.

After spending three and a half hours with my charming, intelligent host, I felt we had only yet scratched the surface, and I look forward chatting with Mr. Culpepper to “pick his brain" again soon.

If I can be of assistance to you, please let me know by calling 561-355-2201 or send an email to mmarino@pbcgov.org.