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Fort Pierce/Port St. LucieThe area's two largest cities--Fort Pierce and Port St. Lucie--are on Florida's lower east coast about 45 miles north of Palm Beach and roughly equidistant between Miami and interior Orlando. Ironically, Fort Pierce has a deep-water port; Port St. Lucie, despite its name, doesn't; but both cities and neighboring towns and beachfront communities have a lot to offer. An abundance of beaches and parks in both Martin and St. Lucie counties makes this area more than a place on the map. It's a cherished haven for residents who love beaches and boating and enjoy modern life but not urban crowding. Home Sweet HomeDuring 1999, the median sales price of existing homes in the Fort Pierce-Port St. Lucie Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) was $89,100, up 3 percent from 1998. Find a Realtor
Find a Real Estate Company Fort Pierce/Port St. Lucie MSA (Martin and St. Lucie counties); data for MSA unless specified otherwise Population: 179,178
The mild climate makes Fort Pierce/Port St. Lucie a year-round playground without extreme temperature swings. Geographically, it's at the transition point where the warm-temperate climatic zone in north and central sections of the state shifts to the subtropical zone that characterizes South Florida's climate. In St. Lucie County the average difference between the coldest and warmest months is less than 17 degrees. The January average is 65.1 degrees Fahrenheit; in August it's 81.8. For the entire region, the average July high is 89.6 degrees Fahrenheit; the average January low is 55.9 degrees Fahrenheit. It doesn't snow, but rainfall tops 62 inches annually. Some rain falls 131 days of the year, which helps keep lawns green. But even on rainy days, you'll probably see some sun, too. Job MarketResidents say that a unique combination of soil, water and climate makes this region's Indian River fruit the best in the world. Many outsiders agree. But citrus is just part of the area's economic base. Tourism is another important component. Fort Pierce is the commercial hub for the entire Treasure Coast. It offers the 36,000 residents a small-town feeling with many big-city amenities. Meanwhile, Port St. Lucie has been on a lightning-fast growth track. In 1970 its population was 330; a decade later it was 15,000; today it's over 55,000 and is expected to hit 80,000 by the millennium. There's also a billion dollar city-within-a-city residential/commercial development being created in Port St. Lucie--called St. Lucie West. Its economic impact is a key element in explaining why Money magazine expects area job growth to climb 13.4 percent by 1999. Martin County's top 10 employers are: Martin Memorial Health Systems (2,300); Staff Leasing (2,185); Martin County School District (2,150); Martin County and City of Stuart governments (1,579); Publix Supermarkets (1,014); State of Florida (865); Via Tropical Fruits (600, seasonal fluctuations); Winn-Dixie Stores (560); Northrup Grumman (525 early 1997; phasing out and leaving county by end of 1998); and Armellini Express Lines (450, trucking). St. Lucie County's major employers are: St. Lucie County Schools (2,930); HCA Lawnwood Regional Medical Center (1,462); Florida Power & Light (1,230); St. Lucie County (1,200); Publix Supermarkets (1,000), Winn-Dixie Stores (841); HCA Medical Center of Port St. Lucie (750); Becker/Indian River Foods (560); St. Lucie County Sheriff's Department (486); and Indian River Community College (425). Class NotesExtensive information about the schools in this area is online at the state's Department of Education (http://www.firn.edu/doe/doehome.htm). There you'll discover everything you'll need to know about Florida schools -- in general and in particular. All you need is the name of your county and the names of the schools students from your neighborhood attend. Use links from the DOE home page for general information about entrance requirements, immunizations and so forth. For the nitty-gritty details that really matter, click on the logo for the "Florida School Indicators Report." Getting AroundSt. Lucie County is approximately 120 miles southeast of Orlando and 120 miles north of Miami, along the Atlantic coast. A convenient highway network--including Interstate 95, the Florida Turnpike and State Road 70--makes it easy to get to world-famous attractions throughout Florida. The area also benefits from the service provided by St. Lucie County International Airport. Commercial commuter service is offered at this rapidly expanding facility. Other nearby airports include: Vero Beach Municipal Airport, some 20 miles north of St. Lucie County, with round-trip daily flights to Miami; Palm Beach International Airport, 60 miles south, with 80 scheduled departures daily; and, Melbourne Regional Airport, 55 miles north, serviced by four major airlines. The deep-water Port of Fort Pierce handles lots of cargo--citrus exports to Japan and imports of cement from Columbia and aragonite from the Bahamas. Great Outdoors
Picture a slice of paradise with unspoiled beaches and 20 beach parks--along with more than two dozen inland parks--and you've envisioned St. Lucie County. A University of Maryland expert, Stephen Leatherman, ranks St. Lucie's beaches among the best in America. The South Hutchinson Island beaches feature a boardwalk, dressing areas with showers, picnic tables and lifeguards at five locations throughout the year. You'll find similar facilities at North Beach State Park and Pepper Park; there is a nominal charge for autos. Martin County is another water wonderland. Unincorporated Jensen Beach harbors an environmental studies center. At 85 feet above sea level, Jensen Beach is eastern Florida's high point. It's also called the sea turtle capital of the world because so many of the large loggerhead variety come ashore here each summer to lay their eggs. Featuring the beginning (or end) of the cross-Florida Okeechobee Waterway, the entire county ranks high with environmentalists and watersports enthusiasts. A back-to-nature favorite is the Manatee Observation Center, where you can view these peaceful endangered mammals in their natural environment. You'll also want to visit the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution, where a highly trained staff of 230 conducts underwater marine research in pursuit of their goal of understanding and protecting oceans, estuaries and their coastal regions. Part of the 500-acre complex on the Indian River lagoon contains an oceanographic museum. A truly distinctive setting can be found at St. Lucie Inlet State Preserve, an Atlantic Ocean barrier island accessible only by private watercraft. A 3,300-foot boardwalk leads through mangroves and coastal hammocks; there's picnicking, swimming, fishing and, in summer, a chance to see turtle-nesting areas. Inland parks also invite residents to enjoy the county's year-round outdoor climate. At Lawnwood Park Complex in Fort Pierce, for example, there's a football stadium, tennis courts, driving range, fitness trail, baseball and softball fields--and concessions. In Port St. Lucie, Veterans Memorial Park has boat ramps and a lighted boardwalk along the St. Lucie River. A plus for outdoorsmen--picnic pavilions here come equipped with grills. Good SportsThere's no better way to welcome spring than to enjoy a New York Mets game at the team's 100-acre training complex in Port St. Lucie. Major league spring training games begin in late February; the minor league season opens in early April and runs through the summer. If fishing is your favorite sport, you'll love it here. Port St. Lucie's 80 square miles, for instance, feature navigable waterways that combine with the Atlantic Ocean and the St. Lucie River to attract sport and commercial fishermen. If you don't have your own craft, boat and canoe rentals are always available for a leisurely trip or exceptional sportfishing. Golf is already good in St. Lucie County, and it's getting even better. The Professional Golfers' Association of America (PGA) has a course in Port St. Lucie. It's developing a new 36-hole public golf course and a state-of-the-art golf school. Martin County boasts 23 courses and St. Lucie County another six or seven. If tennis is your game, there are public courts at several locations in both Fort Pierce and Port St. Lucie. Hot Times in the CitySo it's the weekend. What's there to do? Plenty. Along with the numerous beaches and parks, the area has several museums, enrichment areas and nature areas to enjoy. For example, the Treasure Coast's World of Energy is located at the Florida Power and Light nuclear power plant. It's like a science museum, where you can discover facts about energy--its properties and uses--from the ice age until today. You can also travel back into Florida's past at Florida Ranch Tours. Choose from two-hour, half-day and full-day tours of the county's largest ranch and its natural habitat. The Fort Pierce Inlet State Recreation Area is another popular destination. It offers some fascinating history at the UDT SEAL Museum, located on the same beach where World War II frogmen trained. They were early underwater heroes and forerunner's of today's Navy Seals. This area is another beautiful natural habitat, with a self-guided walking trail and swamps that are best visited by canoe. The St. Lucie County Historical Museum features Spanish shipwreck artifacts and military memorabilia from the original Fort Pierce (established during the Seminole Wars). And Heathcote Botanical Gardens is one of the loveliest 3.5 acre Japanese gardens you'll find anywhere, a must-see for admirers of Oriental horticulture. There will also be plenty of events to enjoy throughout the year: In February, watch the Cattleman's Parade in Fort Pierce. In March sample the St. Lucie County Fair or the Pow Wow at Indian River Community College. Celebrate the Fourth of July with Jensen Beach's fireworks display or Christmas in July at the Buckler Craft Show. Or compete in the Chili Cook-Off at the Civic Center the same month. October brings the Rainbow Festival. Stuart hosts the Arts Fest in December. Visual arts haven't been neglected locally. In 1994 the St. Lucie Mural Society began rejuvenating older commercial areas with vibrant murals depicting the city's heritage. Look for some of their early work at G.K. Custom Graphics on U.S. Highway 1 and at East Coast Lumber in Fort Pierce. In Stuart, Martin County's main city, the Lyric Theater has been restored to tip-top 1926 form; productions again occupy its venerable stage. The old 1937 courthouse was creatively recycled. It's now the Martin County Cultural Center--and is an Art Deco eye-catcher. Shop 'til You DropSo it's the weekend. What's there to do? Plenty. Along with the numerous beaches and parks, the area has several museums, enrichment areas and nature areas to enjoy. For example, the Treasure Coast's World of Energy is located at the Florida Power and Light nuclear power plant. It's like a science museum, where you can discover facts about energy--its properties and uses--from the ice age until today. You can also travel back into Florida's past at Florida Ranch Tours. Choose from two-hour, half-day and full-day tours of the county's largest ranch and its natural habitat. The Fort Pierce Inlet State Recreation Area is another popular destination. It offers some fascinating history at the UDT SEAL Museum, located on the same beach where World War II frogmen trained. They were early underwater heroes and forerunner's of today's Navy Seals. This area is another beautiful natural habitat, with a self-guided walking trail and swamps that are best visited by canoe. The St. Lucie County Historical Museum features Spanish shipwreck artifacts and military memorabilia from the original Fort Pierce (established during the Seminole Wars). And Heathcote Botanical Gardens is one of the loveliest 3.5 acre Japanese gardens you'll find anywhere, a must-see for admirers of Oriental horticulture. There will also be plenty of events to enjoy throughout the year: In February, watch the Cattleman's Parade in Fort Pierce. In March sample the St. Lucie County Fair or the Pow Wow at Indian River Community College. Celebrate the Fourth of July with Jensen Beach's fireworks display or Christmas in July at the Buckler Craft Show. Or compete in the Chili Cook-Off at the Civic Center the same month. October brings the Rainbow Festival. Stuart hosts the Arts Fest in December. Visual arts haven't been neglected locally. In 1994 the St. Lucie Mural Society began rejuvenating older commercial areas with vibrant murals depicting the city's heritage. Look for some of their early work at G.K. Custom Graphics on U.S. Highway 1 and at East Coast Lumber in Fort Pierce. In Stuart, Martin County's main city, the Lyric Theater has been restored to tip-top 1926 form; productions again occupy its venerable stage. The old 1937 courthouse was creatively recycled. It's now the Martin County Cultural Center--and is an Art Deco eye-catcher. NightlifeYou'll never have to travel far to find fabulous fresh seafood in St. Lucie County. A growing number of restaurants is dotting the landscape, with family fare a frequent specialty. Locals enjoy Christi's and Theo Thudpucker's Ray Bar and Seafood Restaurant. Among culinary standouts are three favorites--11 Maple Street in Jensen Beach, Island Reef on Hutchinson Island and Sinclair's Ocean Grill in nearby Jupiter. Much of the county's cultural life revolves around community, church and civic groups. Nearby state college campuses, such as Indian River Community College and Florida Atlantic University, bring exhibits and entertainment to the area. Fort Pierce Jai-Alai is another local favorite. A rock-hard ball, when it's flung and caught by competitors, travels at speeds up to 150 miles an hour. Wagering is allowed for this adults-only sport; dining facilities are available. The fronton is typically open from December to April, with Inter-Track wagering possible year-round. College SceneIndian River Community College (IRCC), part of the state's extensive system of community colleges with its main campus in Fort Pierce and a west campus in Port St. Lucie, serves a four-county area. The two-year, coed school offers an extensive curriculum and enjoys an excellent academic reputation. For more than a decade IRCC sophomores have placed at the top of state rankings on the College Level Academic Skills Test (CLAST). Another convenient institution popular with county students is Florida Atlantic University (FAU), based in Boca Raton. St. Lucie County is home to one of FAU's newest and fastest-growing campuses; more that 600 students attend classes at a 50-acre site in St. Lucie West. The Treasure Coast satellite campus of Catholic and coeducational Barry University is also located in St. Lucie West. Just for SeniorsThe numbers tell the story of just how popular St. Lucie County is with retirees. Over one in five residents is 65 years or older; in Port St. Lucie the ratio is even higher--about one in three. Seniors like it here. They play bridge or golf, go fishing or volunteer, take a cooking class or go out to eat. They're active. That's why they moved to Florida--to be out and about. Seniors who need assistance finding services such as personal care, home-delivered meals and respite care or locating a senior center that caters to their social needs should call the Elder Helpline at 407/465-1485 in St. Lucie County. Dial 407/283-2242 for the comparable information and referral service in Martin County.
Photos supplied by the St. Lucie County Tourist Development Council. |
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