Martin County Overview

Martin County was founded in May of 1925 and consists of 555 square miles, centrally located in the Treasure Coast region along the Atlantic coast of Florida. The Treasure Coast boundaries are loosely defined from its northern point at the Sebastian Inlet, south into Palm Beach County to North Palm Beach. As Palm Beach County’s northern neighbor, Martin County offers a genuine small-town atmosphere and is conveniently situated midway between Orlando and Miami. Both Interstate 95 and the Florida Turnpike allow easy access to West Palm Beach in less than 45 minutes.

Communities in Martin County satisfy a variety of preferences from traditional neighborhoods, to waterfront homes and condominiums, golf and yacht club developments, country estates, airparks, equestrian and active adult communities. Life styles range from sophisticated upscale towns to small historic villages. With a population just under 130,000, there’s plenty of room to grow and expand in this tropical paradise. Cities within Martin County include Stuart, Palm City, Sewall’s Point, Ocean Breeze Park, Jensen Beach, Hutchinson Island, Port Salerno, Hobe Sound, Jupiter Island and Indiantown. Each of these cities offers its own unique flavor, while maintaining a coastal community ambiance throughout Martin County.

STUART: Stuart was first settled in 1880, Incorporated in 1914 and Chartered in 1925. Stuart is located on Florida’s East Coast, bordering the St. Lucie River west of the Indian River. The climate is pleasant with mild winters and warm summers. The annual average temperature is 72°. Annual rainfall averages 70.44 inches. Stuart is famed for Sail fishing and all other types of ocean sport fishing as well as river, bay and fresh water fishing. The North and South forks of the St. Lucie River are tropical wonderlands for cruises. Stuart has quaint older neighborhoods in the downtown area. Stuart’s successful revitalization program gave the Downtown area a pleasant ambiance and the streets are lined with shops and restaurants.

Stuart, the county seat of Martin County, was originally named Potsdam from 1893 to 1896 and was named by Otto Stypman one of the earliest settlers of Stuart (History of Martin County, by Janet Hutchinson) Otto Stypman and his brother, Ernest, came to Stuart in 1892 and were originally from Potsdam, Germany. The Stypman brothers originally owned what is now known as “Downtown Stuart” and other large parcels, building their fortunes here in pineapple farming. The name was changed to Stuart after the FEC railroad was established and was named after Homer Hine Stuart, Jr., another early settler.

Stuart’s population tops 18,000 and increases to over 22,000 in the winter season.

The major employers are, Martin Memorial Hospital, Vought Aircraft, the Municipal Government, and thousands of successful small businesses. The economy is driven by retail service, hospitality, construction and government sectors located throughout the city.

At the present time Stuart is a growing community, annexing new properties north and south of the city. Revitalization is in progress in the Potsdam section of the downtown area as well as North of the new Roosevelt Bridge. The new Roosevelt Bridge was completed in 1996, and the Department of Transportation is now reconstructing the Evans Crary Bridge, which leads to Stuart’s Public Beaches.

Stuart is proud of the latest project, the Southpoint Anchorage which consists of a managed mooring field with 69 permanent mooring buoys, a Harbormaster’s Facility featuring a ship’s store, day lounge, rest rooms, bathing facilities and a laundromat. The entire operation is supervised by the City’s Harbormaster. In addition to being a great place to stop over or as a first class destination for boating week-enders, this anchorage will play a crucial role in helping clean up the St. Lucie River Estuary.

PALM CITY: Known for having the most golf and country club communities in Martin County, Palm City is the place to be if this is your lifestyle preference. There are also waterfront properties, equestrian communities and an airpark where hangers are nearly equal to the number of garages. The most populated area in the county, Palm City has over 22,000 residents, with a reputation for excellent schools.

SEWALL’S POINT: One of the most beautiful and desirable residential communities in the county, this tiny peninsula is known for its magnificent views and lush tropical vegetation. Surrounding waterways access the Indian River, St. Lucie Inlet and the Atlantic Ocean. Consisting of only 1.2 square miles and a population of over 2,000, Sewall’s Point is easily accessed from Stuart or Hutchinson Island.

OCEAN BREEZE PARK: Ocean Breeze Park was originally founded as a fishing camp, later turned to a mobile home park and then incorporated as its own municipality in 1960. This evolution was the first of its kind in the U.S. and set precedence for other area to follow. Ocean Breeze Park is Martin County’s smallest municipality covering just .1 square miles with a population of only 461 senior residents.

JENSEN BEACH: Recognized as a resort community, Jensen Beach is a charming water front village located on the coast of the Indian River Lagoon. Boaters and fishermen flock here, as well as swimmers and sunbathers alike. The nearby Treasure Coast Square regional mall has made this community a center of retail activity.

HUTCHINSON ISLAND: Spectacular views of both the Atlantic Ocean and the Indian River are coveted by both visitors and year round residents of this resort island. The island maintains beautiful unspoiled beaches, which attract seasonal visitors who almost double the local population during winter months. Outdoor activities are abundant here, from swimming and surfing, to fishing and boating, and of course golf and tennis. There’s something for everyone.

PORT SALERNO: Positioned on the banks of the Manatee Pocket, Port Salerno has gained a reputation as a fishing and boating center. Here is where the Atlantic Ocean meets with the Indian River and the St. Lucie River. Martin County’s first golf club community was built here in the early 1970’s.

HOBE SOUND: Once a budding movie industry center, redevelopment is underway on the main streets of Hobe Sound. Light poles reminiscent of the past will soon line Bridge Road and with its small town character, natural beauty and easy access to I-95, Hobe Sound is again becoming a desirable location.

JUPITER ISLAND: Reputed as the richest town in America by Worth Magazine for the third consecutive year, Jupiter Island ranks highest out of 250 richest towns. These ultra glamorous homes, owned by an exclusive cast of residents, range in price from $1,400,000 to over $22,000,000. With a population of less than 1,000, most of whom are seasonal residents, this 3.5 square mile Island is a popular retreat for the ultimate in privacy.

Jupiter Island is part of a chain of barrier islands that stretch from Key West, reaching as far north as New York. The 17-mile long island is 25 miles north of Palm Beach and 10 miles south of Stuart. It was first recorded by Europeans as part of land grant from the king of Spain in 1815. In the early 1900's much of the land was sold to a British land development that subsequently went bankrupt in the 1920's. The company's holdings were then acquired by a group of friends who enjoyed staying at a small hotel on the island and had a vision of conserving its natural beauty. Today, much of the island is in the hands of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Audubon Society, and the Nature Conservancy. Well known as an exclusive enclave for prominent families seeking privacy, Jupiter Island also offers excellent private schools, superb shopping and close proximity to fine restaurants in Palm Beach and Martin counties. Jonathan Dickson State Park and Hobe Sound Wildlife Refuge are minutes away. Worth magazine has ranked this quiet island town (population 601) for the third year in a row as "The Wealthiest Town in America", based on real estate prices. Jupiter Inlet Colony, FL is a beautiful town located on the Atlantic Ocean. Located at the southernmost tip of Jupiter Island, there are few places like it. Jupiter Inlet Colony consists of a small secluded community of homes all with quaint walking paths to the blue waters of one of the most beautiful beaches in South Florida. The main community "Jupiter Inlet Beach Colony" sits in between the Atlantic Ocean, the intracoastal and the Jupiter Inlet. All homes in Jupiter Inlet Colony are a short walk to the beach and some sit directly on the ocean, intracoastal or the Jupiter Inlet. If you are looking for one of the nicest communities in South Florida, look no further than this town. Jupiter Inlet Colony, FL has it all.

INDIANTOWN: The wide open spaces in this countryside city are what draw residents away from the main highways of Martin County. Indiantown has a pristine beauty that’s rich in quiet solitude. The Seminole Inn, is the city’s most famous structure, known for its Sunday brunch and warm hospitality.

Other Area Overviews

Martin County - Jupiter Island - Tequesta - Jupiter - Juno Beach - Palm Beach Gardens - Singer Island
North Palm Beach - Lake Park - West Palm Beach - Palm Beach - Lake Worth - Wellington - Greenacres - Bahamas