By Jane Feehan
Jupiter, Florida was incorporated as a town in 1925. But long before that, the inlet and its surrounds were known by that name.
In the 18th century, an Englishman interpreting a map drawn up by the Spanish during their first rule over Florida (1513-1763) read the name of a local Indian tribe who lived at the mouth of the Loxahatchee River. The Spanish called them Jove but they were a bit off.
The name of nearby Hobe Sound is thought to be derived from how those Loxahatchee River Indian inhabitants referred to
themselves. The Spanish mistakenly referred to them as Jove.
Throw in some Latin, language of the educated those days, and the meaning of Jove is Jupiter, the god of thunder and sky and king of all gods in Roman mythology.
Nearby Juno (about seven miles south) sprang up in the late 1800s (incorporated in 1953); its founders adopted the mythological name of Jupiter’s consort, Juno, for their town.
Who knew. A bit of Roman culture found its way into Florida history.
Sources: Town of Jupiter, Town of Juno Beach, Wikipedia
Tags: How Jupiter got its name, how Jupiter got its name, Jupiter history,Juno Beach history
