In the late 1950s, most of the land that would become Palm Coast consisted of swamp and pine forest, with only a few farms and beach houses as well as a turpentine distillery.

[11] Research on this fire indicated that the most important factor was the proximity of heavy ground vegetation to the structures.

[12] In September 1999, the citizenry of Palm Coast voted by a margin of two to one to incorporate as a council/manager form of government.

The five-member City Council is elected at large and serves staggered four-year terms.

Palm Coast contracts with the Flagler County Sheriff's Office for law enforcement services.

Preservation and protection of environmentally sensitive lands is a key goal of this city as it prepares for the future.

U.S. Route 1 runs parallel to I-95 through the western side of Palm Coast, leading into Bunnell.

[citation needed] As of 2012[update], industrial parks within the town house more than 30 mid-size businesses, with the largest one, the "Palm Coast Data" company, employing close to 1,000 people.

Flagler County has had one of the highest rates of population growth in the United States since 1990, according to the U.S. Bureau of the Census.

In December 2009, it had the worst unemployment rate of the state of Florida's largest metropolitan areas, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

[18] Palm Coast is under a Council-Manager form of government, meaning its ordinances are considered by a City Council with the Mayor as the Chair.

[23] Former Councilwoman Cathy Heighter resigned her seat in August 2024, leading to the appointment of Gambaro to serve out the remaining two years of her term.

Palm Coast City Council races are nonpartisan, though members' political affiliation is often available to residents in public registration data.

Students of Matanzas High School took charge of these efforts by creating committees and petitions to generate attention and pressure the local city council.

Towards the end of 2016, Kevin Smith Jr, also a student of Matanzas, was injured in a hit and run under the same conditions.