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Martin County, Florida

Coordinates: 27°05′N 80°24′W / 27.08°N 80.40°W / 27.08; -80.40
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Martin County
County
Official seal of Martin County
Seal
Map of Florida highlighting Martin County
Location within the U.S. state of Florida
Map of the United States highlighting Florida
Florida's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 27°05′N 80°24′W / 27.08°N 80.4°W / 27.08; -80.4
Country United States
State Florida
FoundedMay 30, 1925
Named forJohn W. Martin
SeatStuart
Largest cityPalm City
Area
 • Total752.79 sq mi (1,949.7 km2)
 • Land555.62 sq mi (1,439.0 km2)
 • Water197.18 sq mi (510.7 km2)  26.19%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total146,318
 • Density263.3/sq mi (101.68/km2)
Websitewww.martin.fl.us
The new Roosevelt Bridge
The Gazebo on the grounds of the new courthouse complex
The Old Martin County Courthouse, built in 1937
Golden Gate Building, built in 1925

Martin County is a county located in the Treasure Coast region in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 126,731. The U.S. Census Bureau 2008 estimate for the county is 138,660.[1] Its county seat is Stuart, Florida.

History

Martin County was created in 1925 with the northern portion coming from St. Lucie County and southern portion coming from Palm Beach County. It was named for John W. Martin, Governor of Florida from 1925 to 1929.

Geography

According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 752.79 square miles (1,949.7 km2), of which 555.62 square miles (1,439.0 km2) (or 73.81%) is land and 197.18 square miles (510.7 km2) (or 26.19%) is water, much of it in the Atlantic Ocean and Lake Okeechobee.[2]

Martin County is part of the Port St. Lucie Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Major highways

Adjacent counties

National protected area

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
19305,111—
19406,29523.2%
19507,80724.0%
196016,932116.9%
197028,03565.6%
198064,014128.3%
1990100,90057.6%
2000126,73125.6%
2010146,31815.5%
[3][4]

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 126,731 people, 55,288 households, and 36,213 families residing in the county. The population density was 228 per square mile (88/km2). There were 65,471 housing units at an average density of 118 per square mile (46/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 89.88% White, 5.27% Black or African American, 0.30% Native American, 0.60% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 2.72% from other races, and 1.14% from two or more races. 7.50% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

In 2000 there were 55,288 households out of which 21.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.00% were married couples living together, 7.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.50% were non-families. 29.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.71.

In the county the population was spread out with 18.60% under the age of 18, 5.30% from 18 to 24, 22.90% from 25 to 44, 24.90% from 45 to 64, and 28.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47 years. For every 100 females there were 96.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $43,083, and the median income for a family was $53,244. Males had a median income of $36,133 versus $27,000 for females. The per capita income for the county was $29,584. About 5.60% of families and 8.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.80% of those under age 18 and 5.20% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Martin County is a non-chartered county and its form of government is prescribed by the Florida Constitution and Florida Statutes, as follows:

Board of County Commissioners

Tabebuia off Savanna Road in Jensen Beach. April 2010. Typical of such trees blooming throughout Martin county in the spring

The Board of County Commissioners is the legislative body of the county and has charge of all county executive and administrative functions, except those assigned by the Constitution to independent county officers or to the independent school district. The board also has some quasi-judicial functions. Some of functions exercised by the board are county-wide, while others are applicable only in the unincorporated areas of the county, where the board has many of the functions of a municipality. The county commissioners are elected by county-wide vote, but each one represents a specific district. The board appoints the county administrator who is responsible to it for the day-to-day operations of the county government. The current county commissioners by district number are:

  • 1. Doug Smith
  • 2. Ed Fielding
  • 3. Anne Scott
  • 4. Sarah Heard
  • 5. John Haddox

Constitutional Officers

The elected Constitutional Officers are:

  • Clerk (Clerk of Courts, County Clerk, etc.): Marsha Ewing
  • Property Appraiser: Laurel Kelly
  • Sheriff: Robert Crowder
  • Supervisor of Elections: Vicki Davis
  • Tax Collector: Ruth Pietruszewski

School District

The independent Martin County School District has an elected Superintendent of Schools and elected School Board, as follows:

  • The Superintendent, Laurie J. Gaylord, is the chief administrator of the district.
  • The School Board is the legislative body of the district and also exercises quasi-judicial powers. School Board members are elected county wide but each one represents a specific district. The current board members by district are:
    • 1. Michael Busha
    • 2. Marsha Powers
    • 3. Rebecca Negron
    • 4. Maura Barry-Sorenson
    • 5. Michael DiTerlizzi

Cities, towns and other places

Downtown Stuart, in the heart of the county seat

Incorporated

  1. Town of Jupiter Island
  2. Town of Ocean Breeze Park
  3. Town of Sewall's Point
  4. City of Stuart

Unincorporated

Sunset from the intracoastal waterway at Hobe Sound

Attractions

Florida panther at Possum Long, September, 1992

Historic areas

On the National Register of Historic Places:

Other historic areas listed in 1989 by the Florida Chapter of the American Institute of Architects:[6]

  • All Saints Episcopal Church, Waveland (Jensen Beach, Florida), 2377 N.E. Patrician Street, 1898,
  • Bay Tree Lodge (Kiplinger House), 143 S. River Road (originally 104 S. Sewall's Point Road), Sewall's Point, 1909
  • Dudley-Bessey House, 110 S.W. Atlanta Avenue, Stuart, 1909
  • Dyer Homestead, 1006 S.W. St. Lucie Crescent, Stuart, 1904
  • Feroe Building, 73 S.W. Flagler Avenue, corner of St. Lucie, Stuart, 1913
  • France Apartments, 524 St. Lucie Crescent, Stuart, 1927
  • Golden Gate Building, 3225 S.E. Dixie Highway in Golden Gate south of Stuart, 1925
  • Kitching House, 210 S.W. Atlanta Avenue, Stuart, 1894
  • Stuart Feed Store, 101 S.W. Flagler Avenue, Stuart, 1905
  • Sunrise Inn, S.E. Old St. Lucie Boulevard, Port Sewall. ca. 1925 (demolished)
  • John E. Taylor House, 204 S.E. Atlanta Avenue, Stuart, 1914

Other places listed in 2012 by the Florida Chapter of the American Institute of Architects in its Florida Architecture: 100 Years. 100 Places.[7]

See also

Transportation

MArtin County operates 3 bus routes that deviate off the route: http://www.martinmpo.com/

References

  1. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties of Florida: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2008". US Census Bureau. 2009-03-09. Retrieved 2009-05-16.
  2. ^ "Census 2000 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Counties". United States Census. Retrieved 2011-02-13.
  3. ^ http://www.census.gov/population/www/censusdata/cencounts/files/fl190090.txt
  4. ^ http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=DEC_10_PL_QTPL&prodType=table
  5. ^ Audubon of Martin County: Possum Long Nature Center
  6. ^ A Guide to Florida's Historic Architecture, 1989, Gainesville: University of Florida Press, p. 137, ISBN 0-8130-0941-3
  7. ^ Current standings: Florida Architecture: 100 Years. 100 Places

External links

View of St. Lucie River and Stuart from Sewall's Point
View of St. Lucie Inlet and Sailfish Point
St. Lucie Locks and Dam

Governmental

Non-governmental

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Martin County, Florida.

27°05′N 80°24′W / 27.08°N 80.40°W / 27.08; -80.40

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