Did you know

Martin County is located 100 miles north of Miami and 250 miles south of Jacksonville. It has an area of approximately 556 square miles and ranges from 12 to 85 feet above sea level.

Population as of 2000 for Martin County is 126,731 and the City of Stuart is estimated at 17,387 residents.

The number of households has increased from 10,122, in 1970 to 55,298 in 2000.

Population projections estimate by the year 2010, Martin County will have a population of just over 159,000 people.

Effective (median) buying income 1997 household (smm est. 12/31/95) is $40,161.

Founded on May 30, 1925, Martin County has a long and colorful history. There were Spanish Galleons carrying gold and silver doubloons and early settlers making the death defying trek down the Florida peninsula and many shipwrecked off her coast.

Finally, in 1875, a Lifesaving Station was established on Hutchinson Island which still stands today as Gilbert's Bar House of Refuge. This historic landmark is listed on the National Register for Preservation of Historic Places.

The early settlers came to rest in the area once known as Potsdam, which in 1895 was changed to Stuart, in honor of Homer Stuart for his hospitality and business know-how. This was a welcome change as the railroad conductors, until then, called out "Pots, Dam Pots!" to announce the stop at the Stuart station. This was insulting to the ladies of the community and renaming the town ended many a squabble.

Probably the most dramatic "shot in the arm" for tourism in Florida was the construction of the Florida East Coast Railway from Jacksonville to Miami by railroad magnate Henry Flagler. By 1894, the FEC had reached Stuart opening up a whole new way of life to area residents. Pineapples and citrus could now be shipped by rail; and tourists arrived in the area by train seeking sunshine and a new place to visit. The railroad station became one of the primary meeting places as residents came to meet trains and to greet new visitors.

By the early 1900's, excessive taxes from Palm Beach County angered residents who made the journey to Tallahassee to lobby Governor John Martin and other legislators, and on May 29, 1925, Martin County was formed. Governor Martin headed up a gala celebration in downtown Stuart for the new county named in his honor.

As Stuart was already an incorporated city (1914), it was made the county seat and a courthouse was built at the current East Ocean Blvd. site.

By this time most of the eastern part of the county was inhabited. S. Davies Warfield, a financier from Baltimore, attempted to build up the area known as Indiantown. He built a second railroad, known as Seaboard Coastline or today's CSX Transportation System, and purchased most of the acreage in the area. He built the Seminole Inn and spelled out plans for a resort community. He even had dreams of making Indiantown the county seat.

Davies died in 1927 and with him went the dreams he had for Indiantown. Warfield Blvd. is named for the pioneer developer.

The 20's were boom time in Florida, but as quickly as it all developed, it all fell apart as many land investors pulled out of the state. In the late 1920's two devastating hurricanes wiped out many agricultural crops and destroyed homes and businesses.

It was a number of years before growth began again and developed into the towns we know today.

Known as the "Sailfish Capital of the World", Stuart attracted sport fisherman looking to catch the coveted sailfish and the other sport fish in the area. Along with them came a very healthy tourist trade.

With the 40's, 50's, and 60's came growth with many new residents relocating from the north. Camp Murphy, an Army base at Jonathan Dickinson State Park during WWII, was home for many soldiers who later settled in the area.

Martin County is now one of the fastest growing areas in Florida. New residents come to enjoy our thriving economy as well as our wonderful lifestyle.