Port St. Lucie, Florida
Port St. Lucie is in the county of St. Lucie on Florida's east coast. The population was 156,000 in the 2010 census representing more than 68,000 new residents since the prior census in 2000. The area has grown tremendously in the last ten years. The city forms a portion of the Metropolitan Area that has three cities and numerous towns and is thought to have over 407,000 residents.
The city is located at the southern end of St. Lucie County and is an area full of recreation.There are a myriad of golf courses in the area. The New York Mets call the city home during their spring training each spring. Being on the coast, there are a number of activities to enjoy like surfing, jet skiing, snorkeling, sunbathing, and volleyball. There are a number of public parks, rivers and other beautiful areas that Mother Nature was kind enough to bestow on the area.
Fishing is popular not only in the open waters of the Atlantic but also in the many inland waters that are in and around Port St. Lucie. Housing remains reasonable compared to many other areas in Florida along the coast. The city is also close to many large cities and areas of interest making it a great place use as a base.
Welcome to the city of Port St Lucie, where you will be able to make just about anything happen. There are intriquing options in entertainment, education, affordable living and many other benefits the city offers its residents. People of any age or any profession will surely find the city exciting and vivacious to their own liking.
Port St Lucie History
The earliest people that occupied what is now the city were the Ais Indians. At Spruce Bluff, there is still evidence of their existence. The "Spruce Bluff Mound" stands over 18 feet high and has a diameter of about 190 feet. Data says the mound dates all the way back to between 300 and 100 B.C. Florida recorded and investigated the mound in 1978.
Spruce Bluff is located in the southeastern part of Port St. Lucie today. The first non-Native American settlement was also in what was once Spruce Hill and was a small community that dates back to the late 1890s. John Fultz arrived in the area in 1891 and homesteaded over 160 acres near Winter Creek. The area today is known as Blakeslee Creek.
All that remains at his site today is a small obelisk made of stone with a number of different gravestones. There are also the names of those settlers that were buried at that site. Spruce Bluff today is an area for recreation on an area of 87 acres that is now owned by the county of St. Lucie.
Back in the early 1950's the area of what is today the city was for the most part barren uninhabited land located just below White City. General Development Corporation used a $50 million budget in 1959 to purchase and develop 40,000 plus acres near St. Lucie. The first bridge to cross the river was completed in 1959.
By the beginning of 1961, over 250 homes had been built in the city. The city was inaugurated as a city in April 1961. Development increased over time and by the 1990s, additional areas were planned and constructed. The new developments did not just include residences but also areas for business and for recreational activities.
In the early part of the first decade of the 21st century, more development started in the area. The area known as Tradition was west of Interstate 95 and at one time was a huge cattle ranch. In the area, there was over 13 million square feet of commercial space built and space for another 18,000 homes.
However, in 2007 problems in the housing market started and unemployment began to rise. Unemployment in the area rose to unprecedented heights in the area of 10.5% and over 11,000 were lost to foreclosure.
Since 2007, the area has not grown much in population due to the economic problems in the United States. Many neighborhoods have houses that are no longer occupied since banks and other financial institutions foreclosed on them.
About Port St Lucie, Florida
The city is conveniently located about the same distance from Miami as it is to Orlando. Both cities are about 120 miles away. Miami is due south with Orlando being northwest of the city. The city is helped by the fact the Florida Turnpike goes through part of the city limits and Interstate 95 is only a few miles away. This makes the city easily accessible for the business traveler, tourist and most of all those that live in the city and nearby.
The city is home to Florida Atlantic University's Treasure Coast campus. The city offers a number of activities such as the Atlantic coast, which is only a few miles away. There are a number of areas to enjoy kayaking, surfing, sailing, boating, fishing and other activities.
Other activities include golf, skating, and tennis. The PGA Learning Center makes its home in Port St. Lucie. The PGA also has their Historical Center, the Probst Library and their Hall of Fame all in the city.
There are also a number of cultural and art opportunities to enjoy in the area. A.E. Bean Gallery and Museum has a number of works on display in Fort Pierce that is next to Port St. Lucie.
The St. Lucie Historical Museum is full of exhibits that chronicle the rich heritage of the Port St. Lucie and the County. There is also a museum that is a one of a kind in the world. The Navy UDT-Seal Museum is dedicated to only the Navy's elite warriors that have been heroes many times over around the world.
Sports are also abundant in the city. The city is home to professional baseball's New York Mets during spring training. There is also a minor league baseball team, the St. Lucie Mets, that call the city home. They are a class A team in the Mets farm system. Tradition Field, which was newly renovated, is where both play.
Other areas of interest in the city include the Art Gallery where artists can exhibit work on a rotating basis for eight weeks each. Admission is free and the public is always welcome. The artists are often present so that the public can meet them and speak personally with them.
The Village Square is in front of the Civic Center and is a representation of a typical neighborhood in Port St Lucie. There is also a stage for musical performances and there are always numerous people selling food, arts and crafts and other wares.
About St. Lucie County, Florida
St. Lucie County is located about 120 miles north of Miami and about 120 miles southeast of Orlando. The population of the county has increased tremendously over the last two censuses that were performed. In the 2000 census, the population was registered at 193,000 while in 2010 the population jumped to 278,000.
This was an increase of 44%. The majority of the increase was between 2000 and 2007. Since that time, much has remained static due to the economic crisis. The Ais originally occupied what is today St. Lucie County. Spanish explorers came upon the Ais on many occasions and wrote about how fierce the Ais were.
The county started to take shape in the 1950s when the population increased due to new developments that were built in the area. There were planned communities built including St. Lucie West, Tradition and others.
The county was hit with two hurricanes in 2004. The two major hurricanes caused a great deal of damage to the area. The area was beginning to recover and flourish when the economic crisis began to hit in 2007 and has continued since then.
In 2005, the county celebrated its 100th birthday. The county is 688 square miles in size. Land occupies over 572 square miles and water accounts for 115 square miles. Counties that border St. Lucie are Indian River to the north, Martin to the south and Okeechobee to the west. The county is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean the east.
Municipalities that are incorporated that fall within the limits of St. Lucie County include Fort Pierce, Port St. Lucie and the village of St. Lucie. There are over 15 unincorporated areas also located within the limits of St. Lucie County.
Five universities or colleges have campuses in the St. Lucie County. They include Barry University, Keiser University, University of Florida Fort Pierce campus, Indian River State College and Florida Atlantic University.
The county is run by a board of commissioners with a Chairman who is charge of the board. They operate the county jails, the county courthouses and collect the taxes for the county.