Stuart, Florida

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Stuart, Florida
City
Downtown Stuart
Downtown Stuart
Nickname: 
Sailfish Capital of the World
Location in Martin County and the state of Florida
Location in Martin County and the state of Florida
CountryUnited States
StateFlorida
County Martin
City1914
Government
 • TypeCommission-Manager
 • Mayor & CommissionerEula Clarke
 • Vice Mayor & CommissionerTroy McDonald
 • Other CommissionersJames Christie,Jr., Jeffrey Krauskopf, Kelly Glass-Leighton
 • City ManagerPaul Nicoletti
 • City AttorneyMichael Durham
Area
 • Total8.5 sq mi (22 km2)
 • Land6.3 sq mi (16 km2)
 • Water2.2 sq mi (6 km2)
Elevation
10 ft (3 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total15,593
 • Density1,721.5/sq mi (664.7/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP codes
34994-34997
Area code772
FIPS code12-68875Template:GR
GNIS feature ID0291756Template:GR
The Old Stuart Feed Store
The Old Martin County Courthouse, built in 1937, now the Courthouse Cultural Center
The Gazebo on the grounds of the new courthouse complex
St. Mary's Episcopal Church, Hospital Avenue and East Ocean Boulevard
The historic Dudley-Bessey House on SW Atlanta Avenue is now a law office

Stuart is the largest of four incorporated municipalities in Martin County, Florida, on Florida's Treasure Coast and is the county seat. The population was 15,593 at the 2010 census.[1] Template:GR It is part of the Port St. Lucie, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography

Stuart is located at 27°11′32″N 80°14′35″W / 27.192163°N 80.243001°W / 27.192163; -80.243001.Template:GR

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 8.5 square miles (22 km2), of which 6.3 square miles (16 km2) is land and 2.2 square miles (5.7 km2) is water.

Climate

According to the Köppen Climate classification, Stuart, Florida lies in the tropical wet climate (Af). Like other areas along the south-central Florida Atlantic coast, Stuart is located in the broad transition zone from subtropical to tropical climates. As such, a few times each decade temperatures in Stuart will fall to near the freezing mark away from the beaches and coastal areas. There is no known record of snow or snow flurries in Stuart. Because of the year round warm and sunny weather, warm Atlantic seas, and location adjacent to the Gulf Stream Current, Stuart is one of the centers of charter fishing in Florida.

Stuart has two seasons - a hot and wet season (late May through October) and the warm and dry season (November through April). Like other areas in central and southern Florida, there is a distinct change in the mean direction in prevailing winds between these two seasons: During the wet season prevailing winds are from southeast (tropical) while during the dry season they are from the northwest (continental). While the wet season (summer) in Stuart can bring brief, but heavy rain (August averages over 8 inches). The dry season (winter) can be so severe that often forest and brush fires are a concern, and water restrictions are imposed. Like most locations in Florida, Stuart enjoys a high number of sunny days, averaging 2900 hrs annually.

Over the years several tropical cyclones have passed near Stuart area. Major hurricanes impacted the Stuart area in 1928, 1933, 1947, 1949, and 1977 (Hurricane David). In the more recent past, in 2004, two tropical cyclones passed near Stuart, Frances and Jeanne causing moderate damage in the area. However, like most areas prone to tropical cyclones, a direct hit by a major hurricane is infrequent in Stuart.

Climate data for Stuart, Florida
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 74
(23) 		76
(24) 		78
(26) 		81
(27) 		85
(29) 		89
(32) 		90
(32) 		90
(32) 		88
(31) 		84
(29) 		80
(27) 		76
(24) 		83
(28)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 55
(13) 		57
(14) 		60
(16) 		64
(18) 		69
(21) 		73
(23) 		75
(24) 		75
(24) 		75
(24) 		71
(22) 		64
(18) 		59
(15) 		66
(19)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 2.5
(64) 		3.3
(84) 		5.0
(130) 		3.1
(79) 		4.7
(120) 		7.0
(180) 		6.4
(160) 		8.1
(210) 		7.7
(200) 		6.4
(160) 		4.1
(100) 		2.6
(66) 		61.26
(1,556)
Source: [1]

Demographics

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2010, there were 15,593 people, 7,220 households, and 3,422 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,320.5 per square mile (896.0/km2). There were 8,777 housing units at an average density of 1,391.9 per square mile (537.4/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 83.30% White, 12.33% African American, 0.26% Native American, 0.66% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.97% from other races, and 1.46% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.29% of the population.

There were 7,220 households out of which 15.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 34.7% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 52.6% were non-families. 46.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 26.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.88 and the average family size was 2.60.

In the city the population was spread out with 14.5% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 24.5% from 25 to 44, 21.2% from 45 to 64, and 32.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 48 years. For every 100 females there were 87.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.4 males.

Public health and safety

Stuart hosts one of the two Florida Department of Health offices in Martin County, the other being in Indiantown.[2]

Economy

Personal income

The median income for a household in the city was $30,574, and the median income for a family was $40,701. Males had a median income of $29,151 versus $23,125 for females. The per capita income for the city was $21,139. About 7.8% of families and 11.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.5% of those under age 18 and 9.1% of those age 65 or over. Stuart is publicly seen as a new coming old city, starting a new boom in it's local economy with construction of a new bridge, rise of new buildings and roadways being restored.

The cost of living in Stuart is 146.62, which is higher than the U.S.average of 100.[3]

Cost of Living Stuart U.S.
Overall 147 100
Food 106 100
Utilities 97 100
Miscellaneous 106 100

Industry

Various businesses cater to tourists, such as fishing charters, boating charters, sailing, cruises , SCUBA and snorkeling, and nature tours

Top employers

According to the City's 2011 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,[4] the top employers in the Stuart area are:

# Employer # of Employees
1 Martin Health System 2,825
2 Martin County School District 2,566
3 Martin County 1,566
4 Publix 1,276
5 State of Florida 637
6 iVox Solutions 532
7 TurboCombustor Technology 420
8 Winn-Dixie 329
9 Liberator Medical Supply 319
10 Florida Power & Light 303

History

Stuart riverwalk before damage by hurricane Jeanne

In the 18th century, several Spanish galleons were shipwrecked in the Martin County area of Florida's Treasure Coast. The multiple wrecks were reportedly the result of a hurricane, and the ships were carrying unknown quantities of gold and silver. Some of this treasure has since been recovered, and its presence resulted in the region's name.

In 1832, pirate Pedro Gilbert who often used a sandbar off the coast as a lure to unsuspecting prey, chased and caught the Mexican, a US merchant ship. Although he attempted to burn the ship and kill the crew, they survived to report the incident, ultimately resulting in the capture and subsequent execution of Gilbert and his crew.The bar from which is lured his intended booty is named "Gilbert's Bar" on nautical charts.[5]

The Treasure Coast area that became Stuart was first settled by non-Native Americans in 1870. In 1875, a United States Lifesaving Station was established on Hutchinson Island, near Stuart. Today, the station is known as Gilbert's Bar House of Refuge and is on the National Register of Historic Places.

From 1893-1895, the area was called Potsdam. This name was chosen by Otto Stypmann, a local landowner originally from Potsdam, Germany. Stypmann, with his brother Ernest, owned the land that would become downtown Stuart. Potsdam was renamed Stuart in 1895, after the establishment of the Florida East Coast Railway, in honor of Homer Hine Stuart, Jr., another local landownder.[citation needed]

When Stuart was incorporated as a town in 1914, it was located in Palm Beach County. In 1925, Stuart was chartered as a city and named the county seat of the newly created Martin County.[6]

The city of Stuart is known as the Sailfish Capital of the World, because of the many sailfish found in the ocean off Martin County.

Between 1871 and 2005, 19 hurricanes have passed through Stuart, including Isbell (1964), Frances (2004), Jeanne (2004), and Wilma (2005).[7]

Transportation

Witham Field is a public-use airport located 1 mile southeast of the central business district.

Education

Neighborhoods inside city limits

  • St. Lucie Estates
  • Towne Park
  • Windermere
  • Indian Pines
  • The Crossings
  • Parkview
  • Astorwood
  • Ocean Boulevard area
  • Downtown Stuart
  • North River Shores
  • Palm Lake Park

Willoughby Golf Club

Arts and culture

Florida panther at Possum Long, September, 1992

Notable natives and residents

References

  1. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Population for Incorporated Places in Florida, Listed Alphabetically: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2007". US Census Bureau. 2008-07-10. Retrieved 2009-05-16.
  2. ^ http://www.martincountyhealth.com/
  3. ^ "Cost of Living Calculator". Sperlings Best Places. Retrieved 2009-11-11.
  4. ^ "City of StuartCAFR" (PDF). Retrieved 2012-11-17.
  5. ^ Johnson, Larry (13 May 2009). "column:Always Learning". Melbourne, Florida: Florida Today. pp. 1D.
  6. ^ "Our Area's History". Stuary/Martin County Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved 2009-11-11.
  7. ^ "Stuart,Florida's history with tropical systems". Hurricane City. Retrieved 2009-11-11.
  8. ^ Audubon of Martin County: Possum Long Nature Center

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Stuart,_Florida&oldid=556020587"