Boca Raton, Florida

Boca Raton, Florida
Motto: 
A City for All Seasons
Interactive map of Boca Raton, Florida
Boca Raton
Location in the United States
Boca Raton
Boca Raton (the United States)
Boca Raton
Boca Raton (North America)
Coordinates: 26°22′40″N 80°06′50″W / 26.37778°N 80.11389°W / 26.37778; -80.11389
CountryUnited States
StateFlorida
CountyPalm Beach
Settled (Boca Raton Settlement)c. 1895
IncorporatedMay 26, 1925 (1925-05-26)
Government
 • MayorAndy Thomson (D)
 • Deputy MayorFrancine Nachlas
 • Council MembersFrancine Nachlas,
Marc Wigder,
Andy Thompson and
Yvette Drucker
Area
 • Total
31.59 sq mi (81.81 km2)
 • Land29.18 sq mi (75.57 km2)
 • Water2.41 sq mi (6.23 km2)
Elevation
13 ft (4.0 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
97,422
 • Estimate 
(2024)
102,238
 • Rank23rd in Florida
Time zoneUTC−5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP Codes
16 total ZIP Codes:
  • 33427–33429, 33431–33434, 33464, 33481, 33486–33488, 33496–33499
Area code561
FIPS code12-07300
GNIS feature ID2403887
Websitemyboca.us

Boca Raton (/ˌbkə rəˈtn/ BOH-kə rə-TOHN; Spanish: Boca Ratón [ˈboka raˈton]) is a city in Palm Beach County, Florida, United States. The population was 97,422 in the 2020 census, and it ranked as the 23rd-largest city in Florida in 2022. Many people with a Boca Raton postal address live outside of municipal boundaries, such as in West Boca Raton. As a business center, the city also experiences significant daytime population increases. Boca Raton is 45 miles (72 km) north of Miami and is a principal city of the Miami metropolitan area.

It was first incorporated on August 2, 1924, as "Bocaratone", and then incorporated as "Boca Raton" on May 26, 1925. While the area had been inhabited by the Glades culture, as well as Spanish and later British colonial empires prior to its annexation by the United States, the city's present form was developed predominantly by American architect Addison Mizner starting in the 1920s. Mizner contributed to many buildings in the area having Mediterranean Revival or Spanish Colonial Revival architecture. Boca Raton also became a key city in the development of the early computer industry. The city is the birthplace of IBM's first personal computer and various other technologies created by the company.

Still centered around luxury beach culture, the city today is dotted by many malls and shopping centers, including the Town Center at Boca Raton. The ODP Corporation, which operates Office Depot and OfficeMax, is headquartered here. Boca Raton is also home to Lynn University, Florida Atlantic University, and the Evert Tennis Academy, owned by former professional tennis player Chris Evert. The city has a strict development code for the size and types of commercial buildings, building signs, and advertisements that may be erected within the city limit, which has led to major thoroughfares without billboards and large advertisements, as well as increased green spaces on roads.