Area Information

Welcome to the Coldwell Banker Thomas J. White Realty area information page. Living in the Southeast Florida area is like an everyday paradise, with the beach, the sun, and smiling faces all around. This page is your main source for navigating through all that the counties of St. Lucie and Martin have to offer. It’s essential to know everything about the community you wish to live in, from the local economy and educational system, to recreational opportunities and places of worship. So go ahead and browse through the information below, to learn more about our service areas in Southeast Florida.

St. Lucie County
City List

Fort Pierce
Port St. Lucie
St. Lucie
Fort Pierce North
Fort Pierce South
Hutchinson Island South
Indian River Estates
Lakewood Park
Port St. Lucie-River Park
White City

Fun Facts
St. Lucie County was created in 1884, and its name is derived from either Fort Santa Lucia or the Roman-Catholic saint Lucie of Syracuse, who was executed in 304 A.D. for being a Christian. The county ranks first in production of grapefruit and eighth in production of oranges.

Population
Nearly 227,000 people live in St. Lucie County, which is an increase of almost 18% since the year 2000. There are roughly 90,000 households in the county, housing an average of about 2.5 people. The average age of a citizen in the county is 42 years old.

Jobs and Commerce
The St. Lucie County economy consists of an enormous labor force, interspersed throughout many growing industries. Retail trade is the largest employing industry in the county, followed by health care/social assistance, accommodation/food services, administrative/support services, manufacturing, wholesale trade, and information services. The median household income in the county is over $37,000, and per capita income increased by 22% between 1997 and 2002.

Education
St. Lucie County is home to a phenomenal educational system, featuring 55 schools and one community college. Teachers and administrators in the district pride themselves on their dedication to, and close relationships with, their students. For a full list of elementary schools, middle schools, high schools, and combination schools in the county, including contact and location information, click here.

The county is also home to Indian River Community College, offering Associates Degrees, Technical Certificates, Applied Technology Diplomas, an Adult High School Program, and much more. For more details about IRCC, click here.

Recreation and Entertainment
There are a multitude of fantastic opportunities in St. Lucie County for entertainment and recreation. From golf and beaches, to museums and sporting events, St. Lucie County has a little something for everyone. Listed below are some examples of these recreational opportunities, divided by category.

Major Attractions

A.E. “Bean” Backus Gallery: Situated on the Indian River Lagoon, the A.E “Bean” Backus Gallery is a 4,000 square-foot art gallery featuring a permanent collection of landscape art from A.E. Backus, as well as exhibitions from Florida professional and student artists.
FPL’s Energy Encounter: A museum that shows how energy powers the world, with hands-on displays and exhibits.
Ft. Pierce Main Street: Features specialty and novelty shops, great restaurants, art galleries, the Ft. Pierce City Marina, the Sunrise Theater, the 1925 City Hall, and much more.
Ft. Pierce Jai-Alai: Come watch and bet on the world’s fastest game, with snack bars, cocktail lounges, and elegant dining.
New York Mets: Spring Training with the Mets at Traditional Field Stadium. Also features the St. Lucie Mets, a minor league team.
Port St. Lucie Community Center: A 28,000 sq. ft. facility which hosts performing arts productions, cultural affairs programs, art classes, an exercise room, a game room, and much more.
The Shell Bazaar: A 5,000 sq. ft. gift shop, featuring souvenirs, shells and coral from around the world, and great home items made of shells and nautical themes.
IRCC Planetarium
Ft. Pierce Jazz Society, Inc.
McAlpin Fine Arts Center
St. Lucie Community Theater
Treasure Coast Opera Society

For additional information about major attractions located in St. Lucie County, click here.
Museums and Historical Sites

The St. Lucie County Historical Museum: Featuring local history exhibits, such as Seminole Indian encampments, a wrecked 1715 Spanish Treasure Fleet ship, a restored 1919 fire engine, a 1907 settler’s home and general store, and much more.
Navy SEAL Museum: Located on the beach where the first U.S. Navy Frogmen trained in 1943, this museum is dedicated to these men and features equipment, weapons, diving gear, parachutes, demolition apparatus, and many more items that were once Top Secret.
Historical Murals: Many colorful murals that represent Ft. Pierce’s history are located throughout downtown Ft. Pierce.
Pepper Park: The beaches at Pepper Park offer opportunities for scuba divers and snorklers to explore several 1715 wreck sites.

If you’d like additional information about museums and historical sites in St. Lucie County, click here.
Beaches

Hutchinson Island Beaches: These beaches are what St. Lucie County is famous for, with 21

miles of sandy white beaches, stunning barrier islands, and 7 miles of public beaches.
Veterans’ Memorial Park at Rivergate: Located on the St. Lucie River, this beautiful boardwalk features visible otters playing in and out of the water, a plethora of other wildlife, picnic pavilions, and great fishing.
Fort Pierce Inlet: Located on the southern tip of North Hutchinson Island, this 340-acre recreation area features a beach, 1,500 feet of frontage, an island with a mangrove swamp and coastal hammock, and a variety of birdlife.
Savannas Recreation Area: One of the most intriguing outdoor spots in Florida, this area is the last freshwater lagoon system in the state, and offers fresh water fishing, boat ramps, hiking, nature trails, bird watching, canoe rentals, campsites, and RV parking.
Savannas State Preserve: The last remaining fresh water marsh on the east coast of Florida, this preserve offers hiking, biking, horseback riding, wildlife viewing, and canoeing.
Sea Turtle Season: Thousands of endangered turtles nest along Hutchinson Island during June and July. Nighttime turtle walks are offered during these months.

For additional information about St. Lucie County beaches, click here.
Additional Outdoor Attractions

Heathcote Botanical Gardens: Features tropical flowers and foliage, and an amazing Japanese garden.
Horseback Riding on the Beach: Ride horses along the South Hutchinson Island shores, while being surrounded by wildlife and natural habitats.
Manatee Observation and Conservation Center: View the endangered West Indian manatee at Moore’s Creek, on the Indian River, or view the butterfly garden and other wildlife.
Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution, Inc.: A world-class research organization offering educational courses, trips, and tours.
Smithsonian Marine Ecosystems Exhibit: Contains a 3,300 gallon living Caribbean Coral Reef, with plants, animals, mangroves, and seagrass.

For more information about these facilities, click here. If you’re interested in St. Lucie County golfing, click here to learn about courses, including contact and location information. For information concerning tennis courts in the county, click here. If you’d like to learn more about opportunities for scuba diving, click here. To learn more about all the fishing areas in the county, click here.
Places of Worship
There are over 250 churches and religious facilities located in the county seat of Fort Pierce. Every denomination imaginable is serviced by these facilities, creating a multi-faith community that caters to everyone. For a complete list of these churches and facilities, including contact and location information, click here.

Martin County
City and Town List

Jupiter Island	Ocean Breeze Park
Sewall’s Point	Stuart
Hobe Sound	Indiantown
Jensen Beach	North River Shores
Palm City	Port Salerno
Rio	Port Mayaca

Fun Facts
Named for John W. Martin, a former governor of Florida, the county of Martin was created in 1925. The county ranks 7th in production of oranges, and 7th in production of grapefruit. The county seat is Stuart.

Population
Over 138,000 people live in Martin County, which is an increase of almost 9% since the year 2000. There are over 60,000 households in the county, housing an average of about 2.2 people. The average age of a Martin County citizen is 46 years old.

Jobs and Commerce
Martin County consists of a strong labor force, heavily focused on retail and health care. The largest employing industry in the county is retail trade, followed by health care/social assistance, accommodation/food services, administrative/support services, scientific/technical services, manufacturing, entertainment/recreation, and real estate. The median household income in the county is $39,000, and per capita income increased by over 21% between 1997 and 2002.

Education
Martin County is home to a fantastic school district, with 3 pre-schools, 11 elementary schools, 5 middle schools, and 3 high schools. The goal of the Martin County school district is to prepare students to excel in the “real” world, to use technology/community resources to enhance the classroom, and to provide a safe and secure environment for learning and growing. For detailed information about Martin County schools, including contact and location information, click on the following links:

Martin County is also home to Hobe Sound Bible College, a Christ-centered, Bible-based adult educational facility in the Wesleyan tradition. For more information about HSBC, click here.
Recreation and Entertainment
There are plenty of opportunities for recreation and entertainment in Martin County. From beaches and parks, to fishing and hunting, the county provides an array of recreational opportunities to suit everyone’s needs. Listed below are some examples of Martin County entertainment, divided by category.
Beaches

Stuart Beaches: Offers fishing, surfing, shelling, snorkeling, windsurfing, a museum, and much more.
Sea Turtle/Jensen Beach: Offers everything that the Stuart Beaches offer, with the exception of a museum.
Hobe Sound Beach: Offers everything that the Stuart Beaches offer, with the exception of a museum.
Bathtub Reef Park: Aside from typical beach offerings, this site is a great place for children to enjoy the surf near a reef that creates a fun wading pool.
House of Refuge: A beach access strip that offers fishing, snorkeling, diving, dune walkovers, and a museum.
Blowing Rocks Preserve: Offers fishing, swimming, shelling, dune walkovers, and the security of a ranger service.

For a full list of Martin County beaches, as well as additional information about the above beaches, click here.
Parks

Jensen Beach Causeway: Offers picnic areas, a boat ramp, windsurfing, swimming, and fishing.
Jonathan Dickinson State Park: Features cabins, camping, canoeing, picnicking, bicycling, hiking, and a river cruise.
St. Lucie Inlet State Park: Offers fishing, surfing, swimming, shelling, diving, boating, camping, a nature boardwalk, and much more.
Memorial Park/Bandstand Park: Features a picnic area, tennis courts, shuffleboard courts, racquetball courts, a courthouse, a bandstand, and a cultural complex.
Stuart Recreation Center: Features a riverwalk, an indoor recreation center, a fishing area, a playground, and basketball courts.
Langford Park: Features ball fields, tennis courts, a recreation center, racquetball courts, a playground, a fitness trail, and picnic areas.

For a full list of Martin County parks, as well as additional information about the above parks, click here.
Fishing

King Fish Hole: 5 miles south of St. Lucie Inlet, offshore of Pecks Lake
Edgar Ernst Reef: 4.5 miles due east of the lighted buoy from St. Lucie Inlet.
Bill Donaldson Reef: 3.25 miles due east of House of Refuge.
The Rankin: 66 miles due east of St. Lucie Inlet, 130 feet deep.
6-Mile Reef: Just south and 6 miles due east of Inlet, 75 feet deep.
8-Mile Reef: East of Inlet, and 8 miles out, 125 feet deep.
Gulfstream: 5-8 miles offshore, due east of Inlet.

For additional information about Martin County fishing, including the local fishing report, local fish guide, and fishing tournaments, click here.

Golf

The Champions Club at Summerfield	Eagle Marsh Golf Club
Evergreen Club	Florida Club at Martin Co.
Hammock Creek Golf Club	Heritage Ridge Golf Club
Hutchinson Island Marriot Beach Resort & Marina	Martin County Golf & Country Club
Martin Downs Country Club	Miles Grant Country Club, Inc.
Piper’s Landing	Riverbend Golf Club
Willoughby Golf Club	Yacht and Country Club

For additional information about Martin County golf courses, including contact and location information, click here.
Cruises

Island Princess Cruises
Palm Beach Princess Casino Cruises
Party Line Cruise Company
River Boat Cruises
Sterling Casino Lines

For additional cruise information, including details about cruise offerings and destinations, click here.

Places of Worship
There are over 60 churches and religious facilities in the county seat of Stuart, servicing a variety of denominations and faiths. For a full list of these facilities, click here.

Now you have a better idea of why we love to call the Southeast Florida area our home. With the beach, the sun, and friendly faces as far as the eye can see, the counties of St. Lucie and Martin are ideal places to live. If you’d like additional information about living in our area, please feel free to Contact Us at anytime.