Area Code 561

Where Is Area Code 561?

The 561 area code was implemented in 1996 and is used primarily for West Palm Beach and Boca Raton. Due to the huge population increases in the West Palm Beach area code, the 772 area code was later created as a split from the 561 area code. The 772 area code is used for the northern parts of Palm Beach County, such as Fort Pierce and Stuart.

Boca Raton is an affluent city that is located in Palm Beach County. With just under 100,000 residents the exclusive Boca Raton area code has an average household income of about $90,000 annually. Residents in the 561 area code live in some of the most luxurious gated communities in the United States. As a result, it is not surprising that Boca residents have close ties to the Mafia. In fact, Boca is home the infamous Gambino crime family and the author of the Mafia Wife. Nevertheless, most of Boca’s revenue comes from legitimate industries such as Florida Atlantic University and tourism. IBM, Lynn University, and the Boca Raton Resort also have a significant presence in the 561 area code.

Many wealthy and famous individuals reside in Boca Raton’s elite gated communities. Among the most notable are Jon Bon Jovi, Jeff Gordon, Donald Trump, Andy Roddick, Maury Povich, and high-profile, white collar criminals such as Scott Levine who stole more than 1.6 billion database records that contained personal information. Area code 561 is also frequently featured in popular culture. For instance,

West Palm Beach also has approximately 100,000 residents but they are generally much less wealthy than their neighbors in Boca Raton. Almost a quarter of residents in the West Palm Beach area code live below the poverty line. The rest of the residents in the West Palm Beach portion of the 561 area code have an average family income that is less than one half of what Boca residents tend to earn. Nevertheless, West Palm Beach is more of a tourist attraction, as the city offers quite a few recreational activities.

The Palm Beach Zoo attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors to area code 561 each year. The non-profit zoo has more than 1,500 animals that are spread out over 23 acres, making it a fun afternoon with kids. For the more adventurous crown, the Lion Country Safari in area code 561 is virtually a cage-less zoo. Mimicking an African safari, visitors can drive in their own car over 5 miles of paved roadway where animals roam freely. Originally, the lions were not in cages and the only thing separating tourists from the lions were their cars. However, tourists tended to ignore the warning, which resulted in a fence to separate the lions from the road. Lion Country has also successfully exhibited the white rhinoceros, ostrich, impala, giraffe, chimpanzee, gemsbok, and zebra in the 561 area code.

Lastly, tourists who want to avoid furry critters can head straight to the Rapids Water Park, which receives more visitors than the Palm Beach Zoo and the Lion Country Safari combined. Spread out over 25 acres the water park is a great destination for children and adults who want to cool off from the hot Florida temperatures. The West Palm Beach area code also has quite a bit of cultural attractions. The Norton Museum of Art is the biggest art museum in the state of Florida and has more than 5,000 pieces of art on display. Also located in area code 561 is the Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, which hosts opera, theatre, and musical acts from all over the country. The most notable cultural attraction in West Palm Beach is SunFest, which occurs every spring. More than one-quarter of a million people flock to the 561 area code to see popular artists perform. Past performers of SunFest include Nelly, Bob Dylan, Pink Floyd, John Meyer, and even Ray Charles. Undoubtedly, residents enjoy the waterfront SunFest music festival that is held right in their backyard.

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