Jupiter Inlet in 2016. The mouth of the inlet can be seen in to the right of the image with the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse to the left. Aerial view of Jupiter Inlet
The region known as Rio de la Cruz by the Spanish, is first encountered by Juan Ponce de Leon in the spring of 1519.[2] When Ponce de Leon arrived in April of this year accompanied by the galleons Santa Maria de la Consolacion and Santiago, a violent engagement between his crew and the indigenous Jeaga people occurred.[3]
The Jupiter Inlet first appeared on maps dating back to 1671. At the time, it was the only outlet for the diversion of flowing waters from the Loxahatchee River, Lake Worth Creek, and the Jupiter Sound portion of the St. Lucie and Indian River flows.[4][5] The Inlet was once several hundred yards larger than it is today, however, the artificial development of the St. Lucie Inlet altered the river sources' hydrodynamics and called for the reduction of the inlet’s shoals in order to maintain a more navigable channel.[6]
In 1921, the Jupiter Inlet District was established as an independent special district by the Florida State Legislature in order to maintain the inlet as a safe entry for vessels.[7] The inlets north and south jetties were implemented a year later in 1922 by Chief Engineer of Lake Worth, J.C. Wagen. The jetties were initially constructed each over 300 feet in length and 300 feet apart. In 1929, the north jetty was extended 200 feet while the south jetty was extended by 75 feet. By the early 1930s, a rock ballast had been constructed at the inlets north side to provide stability.[8] In 1942, the inlet was closed due to threats of German U-boats off the coast of Florida during WWII. It remained closed until 1947.[9]
The famous Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse was designed by Lieutenant George Gordon Meade and was chosen to be erected on a hill once thought to be an Indian shell mound or midden in 1853 to the north side of the inlet.[10][11] Construction was completed in 1860 and remains active as of 2024.[12]
^Engineers. Jacksonville District, United States. Army. Corps of (1966). Survey Report on Jupiter Inlet, Florida (Digitized ed.). Cornell University: U.S. Army Engineer District, Jacksonville, Corps of Engineers. pp. 1–74.
^Minnesota, University of (1971). Public Works for Water and Power Development and Atomic Energy Commission Appropriations for Fiscal Year 1972: Hearings Before a Subcommittee of the Committee on Appropriations, United States Senate, Ninety-second Congress, First Session (Digitized ed.). University of Minnesota: U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 1909.
^Drake, White, Lynn Lasseter, William Carlin (2003). Jupiter. Arcadia. pp. 9–95. ISBN9780738515786.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^Corps of Engineers, United States. Army (1996). Coast of Florida Erosion and Storm Effects Study, Region III, Palm Beach County: Environmental Impact Statement (Digitized ed.). Northwestern University: United States. Army Corps of Engineers. pp. 11–21.
^University, Northwestern (1988). Martin County Beach Erosion Control Study: Environmental Impact Statement (Digitized ed.). Northwestern University: Northwestern University. pp. 3–23.
^Gillis, Marconi, Murray, Susan, Richard A., Debi (June 22, 2015). Palm Beach County During World War II. Arcadia (published 2015). p. 33. ISBN9781439652053.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
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