Martin County, Florida

Last updated

Martin County
Stuart FL new crths01.jpg
Martin County Courthouse
Seal of Martin County, Florida.svg
Map of Florida highlighting Martin County.svg
Location within the U.S. state of Florida
Florida in United States.svg
Florida's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 27°05′N80°24′W / 27.08°N 80.4°W / 27.08; -80.4
CountryFlag of the United States.svg United States
StateFlag of Florida.svg  Florida
FoundedMay 30, 1925
Named for John W. Martin
Seat Stuart
Largest community Palm City
Area
  Total753 sq mi (1,950 km2)
  Land543 sq mi (1,410 km2)
  Water209 sq mi (540 km2)  27.8%
Population
 (2020)
  Total158,431 [1]
  Estimate 
(2023)
163,315 Increase2.svg
Time zone UTC−5 (Eastern)
  Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district 21st
Website www.martin.fl.us
Roosevelt Bridge and Stuart City Roosevelt Bridge and Stuart City.jpg
Roosevelt Bridge and Stuart City

Martin County is a county located in the southeastern part of the state of Florida, in the United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 158,431. [2] Its county seat is Stuart. [3] Martin County is in the Port St. Lucie, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Contents

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. [4]

When the county was created, the western contour followed the shore of Lake Okeechobee, as did the borders of Glades, Okeechobee, and Hendry counties. Palm Beach County had historically claimed all of the surface of the lake as part of its area, to its benefit for the distribution of state and federal highway funds. The state representative of Martin County, William Ralph Scott of Stuart, initiated a bill to divide the lake among its adjacent counties, creating a more equitable distribution of state funds for road creation and maintenance. All bordering counties confirmed the justice of this change and supported its ratification, with the exception of Palm Beach County. Representatives from Palm Beach County later presented Representative Scott with a jug of water, signifying "all the water Bill Scott left Palm Beach County." The jug is in the possession of Stuart Heritage.[ citation needed ]

Geography

Hobe Sound, FL [5]
Climate chart (explanation)
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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 753 square miles (1,950 km2), of which 543 square miles (1,410 km2) is land and (27.8%) is water. [6] It is the fifty-fourth largest county in Florida by land area, and fifty-third largest by total area.

Adjacent counties

National protected area

Environment

Martin County Shore Protection Project

According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Martin County Shore Protection Project includes nourishment of approximately 3.75 miles of beach extending from the St. Lucie County line south to the Stuart Public Beach Park in Martin County. Included in the project is restoration of the primary dune and a 35-foot-wide protective berm. The renourishment interval for this project is every 7 years. [7]

The last renourishment of the Martin County Shore Protection Project was completed in May 2013 and included a Flood Control and Coastal Emergency component due impacts incurred with the passage of Hurricane Sandy in 2012. The next renourishment event is scheduled for 2019. [7]

The estimated total cost of this project is $69.9 million, $32.5 million of which is to be paid for by the U.S. Federal Government. In Fiscal Year 2015, no funding was appropriated to the project by the U.S. Congress. In the Fiscal Year 2016 U.S. President's Budget Request to the U.S. Congress, no funding dollars was requested for the project. [7]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1930 5,111
1940 6,29523.2%
1950 7,80724.0%
1960 16,932116.9%
1970 28,03565.6%
1980 64,014128.3%
1990 100,90057.6%
2000 126,73125.6%
2010 146,31815.5%
2020 158,4318.3%
2023 (est.)163,315 [8] 3.1%
U.S. Decennial Census [9]
1790-1960 [10] 1900-1990 [11]
1990-2000 [12] 2010-2019 [2]

2020 census

Martin County racial composition
(Hispanics excluded from racial categories)
(NH = Non-Hispanic) [13] [14]
RacePop 2010Pop 2020% 2010% 2020
White (NH)117,532119,21680.33%75.25%
Black or African American (NH)7,4937,2775.12%4.59%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH)2482180.17%0.14%
Asian (NH)1,5102,2461.03%1.42%
Pacific Islander (NH)52420.04%0.03%
Some Other Race (NH)1395250.09%0.33%
Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH)1,4634,7201.0%2.98%
Hispanic or Latino 17,88124,18712.22%15.27%
Total146,318158,431

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 158,431 people, 65,014 households, and 40,328 families residing in the county.

2000 census

As of the census [15] 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.

Transportation

Airports

Major highways

Buses

Martin County Public Transit (MARTY) is the fixed-route public bus service operated by the county.

Intercity rail

Brightline officially announced that an infill station on the Treasure Coast would be built in Stuart and begin service by 2026. [17] [18]

Trails

The Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail, a segment of the Florida National Scenic Trail, passes through Martin County.

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 Tabebuia caraiba.JPG
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.

Constitutional officers

The elected Constitutional officers are:

School district

The independent Martin County School District has a board appointed superintendent of schools and an elected school board, with members listed on the Board Web site. [21] 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.

Electoral politics

Martin County is a long-standing Republican stronghold, and as of 2024, has not supported a Democrat for the White House since Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1944.

United States presidential election results for Martin County, Florida [22]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.%No.%No.%
2020 61,16861.82%36,89337.29%8810.89%
2016 53,20461.41%30,18534.84%3,2443.74%
2012 48,18360.96%30,10738.09%7470.95%
2008 44,14356.22%33,50842.67%8711.11%
2004 41,36257.09%30,20841.69%8831.22%
2000 33,97254.78%26,62142.93%1,4232.29%
1996 28,52252.18%20,85538.16%5,2799.66%
1992 24,80046.63%14,80227.83%13,58225.54%
1988 31,27972.60%11,48826.66%3160.73%
1984 28,90076.28%8,97823.70%90.02%
1980 20,52168.05%8,08726.82%1,5465.13%
1976 11,68256.28%8,78542.33%2891.39%
1972 11,29678.83%2,94620.56%880.61%
1968 5,17950.63%2,58025.22%2,47124.15%
1964 4,29254.24%3,62145.76%00.00%
1960 3,70158.15%2,66441.85%00.00%
1956 2,99768.36%1,38731.64%00.00%
1952 2,30864.65%1,26235.35%00.00%
1948 94844.84%81538.55%35116.60%
1944 53035.57%96064.43%00.00%
1940 59636.93%1,01863.07%00.00%
1936 32729.59%77870.41%00.00%
1932 37931.48%82568.52%00.00%
1928 70358.05%47439.14%342.81%

Voter registration

According to the Secretary of State's office, Republicans make up a majority of registered voters in Martin County, followed by unaffiliated voters and Democrats.

Martin County Voter Registration & Party Enrollment as of August 31, 2024 [23]
Political PartyTotal VotersPercentage
Republican 61,18653.11%
No party affiliation25,10721.79%
Democratic 24,97421.68%
Minor parties3,9363.42%
Total115,203100.00%

Libraries

The Martin County Library System has 6 branches.

Attractions

Florida panther at Possum Long, September 1992 Florida panther at Audubon Center, Stuart, Florida.jpg
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: [25]

Other places listed in 2012 by the Florida Chapter of the American Institute of Architects in its Florida Architecture: 100 Years. 100 Places. [26]

Communities

Downtown Stuart, in the heart of the county seat StuartFlorida-skyline.jpg
Downtown Stuart, in the heart of the county seat

City

Towns

Villages

Census-designated places

Sunset from the Intracoastal Waterway at Hobe Sound HobeSoundFlorida-sunset.jpg
Sunset from the Intracoastal Waterway at Hobe Sound

Other unincorporated places

See also

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indiantown, Florida</span> Village in Florida, United States

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. Lucie Inlet</span> Ocean inlet in Florida, US

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">1933 Treasure Coast hurricane</span> Category 4 Atlantic hurricane in 1933

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Martin County School District, also referred to officially as the School Board of Martin County, is a public school district that covers Martin County, Florida.

References

  1. "Martin County, Florida". US Census. Retrieved April 29, 2022.
  2. 1 2 "QuickFacts Martin County, Florida". U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Martin County, FL. April 29, 2022. Retrieved April 29, 2022.
  3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. National Park Service (1985). "Governor John W. Martin House (Report)" (PDF).
  5. "Hobe Sound, FL Weather - USA.com™". www.usa.com. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
  6. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  7. 1 2 3 "U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Fact Sheet - Martin County Shore Protection Project" (PDF).
  8. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  9. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 15, 2014.
  10. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Archived from the original on May 30, 2019. Retrieved June 15, 2014.
  11. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 15, 2014.
  12. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 15, 2014.
  13. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved February 12, 2022.
  14. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved February 12, 2022.
  15. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  16. "Naked Lady Ranch Airport". Geographic Names Information System . United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  17. "BRIGHTLINE ANNOUNCES STATION EXPANSION FOR DOWNTOWN STUART & MARTIN COUNTY". www.gobrightline.com. Retrieved March 4, 2024.
  18. Scruggs, Danielle (March 4, 2024). "Brightline makes official announcement on Treasure Coast location". WPBF. Retrieved March 4, 2024.
  19. "Meet the Clerk" . Retrieved February 15, 2022.
  20. "Jenny Fields, CFA Martin County Property Appraiser" . Retrieved February 15, 2022.
  21. "School Board". MARTIN COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
  22. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 19, 2018.
  23. "Voter Registration - By County and Party". Florida Division of Elections. Archived from the original on September 16, 2024. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
  24. Audubon of Martin County: Possum Long Nature Center Archived October 9, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  25. A Guide to Florida's Historic Architecture, 1989, Gainesville: University of Florida Press, p. 137, ISBN   0-8130-0941-3
  26. "Start Voting for Your Favorite Florida Architecture!". 2017 People's Choice Award (Florida Architecture). Retrieved March 19, 2018.

Official website

27°05′N80°24′W / 27.08°N 80.40°W / 27.08; -80.40