Martin County
County
Martin County Courthouse
Martin County Courthouse
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 communityPalm 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]
 • Density292/sq mi (113/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district18th
Websitewww.martin.fl.us
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.

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 William 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.

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%±
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%
2020158,4318.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10]
1990-2000[11] 2010-2019[2]

2020 census

Martin County racial composition
(Hispanics excluded from racial categories)
(NH = Non-Hispanic)[12][13]
Race Pop 2010 Pop 2020 % 2010 % 2020
White (NH) 117,532 119,216 80.33% 75.25%
Black or African American (NH) 7,493 7,277 5.12% 4.59%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH) 248 218 0.17% 0.14%
Asian (NH) 1,510 2,246 1.03% 1.42%
Pacific Islander (NH) 52 42 0.04% 0.03%
Some Other Race (NH) 139 525 0.09% 0.33%
Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) 1,463 4,720 1.0% 2.98%
Hispanic or Latino 17,881 24,187 12.22% 15.27%
Total 146,318 158,431

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[14] 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

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

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, Vice Chair
  • 2. Stacey Hetherington, Chair
  • 3. Harold Jenkins
  • 4. Sarah Heard
  • 5. Edward Ciampi

Constitutional officers

The elected Constitutional officers are:

  • Clerk (Clerk of Courts, County Clerk, etc.): Carolyn Timmann[16]
  • Property Appraiser: Jenny Fields[17]
  • Sheriff: William Snyder
  • Supervisor of Elections: Vicki Davis
  • Tax Collector: Ruth Pietruszewski

School district

The independent Martin County School District has a board appointed superintendent of schools and an elected school board, as follows:

  • The superintendent, Dr. John D. Millay,[18] 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. Marsha Powers, Chair
    • 2. Tony Anderson, Vice Chair
    • 3. Christia Li Roberts
    • 4. Victoria Defenthaler
    • 5. Michael DiTerlizzi [19]

Electoral politics

Martin County is a long-standing Republican stronghold which has not supported a Democrat for the White House since Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1944. Registered Democrats are third in the county, outnumbered by not only Republicans but also Unaffiliated voters.

United States presidential election results for Martin County, Florida[20]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 61,168 61.82% 36,893 37.29% 881 0.89%
2016 53,204 61.41% 30,185 34.84% 3,244 3.74%
2012 48,183 60.96% 30,107 38.09% 747 0.95%
2008 44,143 56.22% 33,508 42.67% 871 1.11%
2004 41,362 57.09% 30,208 41.69% 883 1.22%
2000 33,972 54.78% 26,621 42.93% 1,423 2.29%
1996 28,522 52.18% 20,855 38.16% 5,279 9.66%
1992 24,800 46.63% 14,802 27.83% 13,582 25.54%
1988 31,279 72.60% 11,488 26.66% 316 0.73%
1984 28,900 76.28% 8,978 23.70% 9 0.02%
1980 20,521 68.05% 8,087 26.82% 1,546 5.13%
1976 11,682 56.28% 8,785 42.33% 289 1.39%
1972 11,296 78.83% 2,946 20.56% 88 0.61%
1968 5,179 50.63% 2,580 25.22% 2,471 24.15%
1964 4,292 54.24% 3,621 45.76% 0 0.00%
1960 3,701 58.15% 2,664 41.85% 0 0.00%
1956 2,997 68.36% 1,387 31.64% 0 0.00%
1952 2,308 64.65% 1,262 35.35% 0 0.00%
1948 948 44.84% 815 38.55% 351 16.60%
1944 530 35.57% 960 64.43% 0 0.00%
1940 596 36.93% 1,018 63.07% 0 0.00%
1936 327 29.59% 778 70.41% 0 0.00%
1932 379 31.48% 825 68.52% 0 0.00%
1928 703 58.05% 474 39.14% 34 2.81%

Voter registration

According to the Secretary of State's office, Republicans are a majority of registered voters in Martin County.

Martin County Voter Registration & Party Enrollment as of July 31, 2022[21]
Political Party Total Voters Percentage
Republican 59,020 50.06%
No party affiliation 28,271 23.98%
Democratic 28,102 23.84%
Minor parties 2,502 2.12%
Total 117,895 100.00%

Libraries

The Martin County Library System has 6 branches.

  • Blake Library (Stuart)
  • Elisabeth Lahti Library (Indiantown)
  • Hobe Sound Public Library (Hobe Sound)
  • Hoke Library (Jensen Beach)
  • Peter & Julie Cummings Library (Palm City)
  • Robert Morgade Library (a location adjoining Indian River State College)

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:[23]

  • All Saints Episcopal Church, Waveland, 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.[24]

Communities

Downtown Stuart, in the heart of the county seat

City

Towns

Villages

Census-designated places

Sunset from the Intracoastal Waterway at Hobe Sound

Other unincorporated places

See also

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. ↑ Governor John W. Martin House (Report). Washington, D.C.: National Park Service. 1985. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
  5. ↑ http://www.usa.com/hobe-sound-fl-weather.htm#HistoricalTemperature
  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. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 15, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Archived from the original on May 30, 2019. Retrieved June 15, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 15, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 15, 2014.
  12. ↑ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved February 12, 2022.
  13. ↑ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved February 12, 2022.
  14. ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  15. ↑ "Naked Lady Ranch Airport". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  16. ↑ "Meet the Clerk". Retrieved February 15, 2022.
  17. ↑ "Jenny Fields, CFA Martin County Property Appraiser". Retrieved February 15, 2022.
  18. ↑ "Superintendent". martinschools.org. Archived from the original on March 5, 2021. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  19. ↑ "School Board Members / District 1". Archived from the original on June 8, 2020. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
  20. ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 19, 2018.
  21. ↑ "Voter Registration - By County and Party". www.dos.myflorida.com. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  22. ↑ Audubon of Martin County: Possum Long Nature Center Archived 2008-10-09 at the Wayback Machine
  23. ↑ A Guide to Florida's Historic Architecture, 1989, Gainesville: University of Florida Press, p. 137, ISBN 0-8130-0941-3
  24. ↑ "Start Voting for Your Favorite Florida Architecture!". 2017 People's Choice Award (Florida Architecture). Retrieved March 19, 2018.
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