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Port St. Lucie

Port St. Lucie Background

   Few areas in the nation are hotter than Florida's Treasure Coast, and the city of Port St. Lucie is this area's crown jewel. With a year-round average temperature of 73.2ºF, an ideal waterfront location close to three major metropolitan areas, a low cost of living and a small-town atmosphere, it's no wonder Money magazine listed Port St. Lucie No. 29 on its “Best Places to Live” listing in 1998.
   While aggressively pursuing business development, Port St. Lucie strives to maintain the spirit and serenity of “Old Florida.” With 79 percent of the city's land area devoted to residential use and another 9 percent dedicated to open space, Port St. Lucie in its short history has managed its growth well, always mindful of sustaining a good quality of life for its residents.
   Low housing prices (10 percent lower than the average Florida home), aggressive infrastructure improvements, a low crime rate, gorgeous beaches and a superb year-round climate all contribute to a quality of life that is attractive to both young families and retirees.

Port St. Lucie History

   The area is rich in history, having been settled by the Spanish in 1565, when they built Fort Santa Lucian and established a colony at the Jupiter Inlet. Settlers and the Seminole Indians shared the land until the second Seminole War sealed the fate of the Seminoles.
   The first municipal government in the area was established in 1901 at the site of Fort Pierce. The area, once known as “Mosquito County,” remained rural and sparsely populated throughout the first half of the 20th century, and pineapple plantations flourished there until the end of World War I.
   As is the case with many Florida communities, the area's population growth began in earnest in the ‘70s and ‘80s. The city of Port St. Lucie was the brainchild of Frank, Elliott and Robert Mackle, who formed the General Development Corp. in 1958 to purchase and develop more than 40,000 acres at the north fork of the St. Lucie River. Aggressive advertising campaigns and cheap land lured retirees from New England and the Midwest.
   A major catalyst in the development of the area was the construction of the bridge over the St. Lucie River. Port St. Lucie was incorporated in 1961, even though fewer than 300 people lived there. However, by 1980, the population had grown to 17,000, and by the year 2000, it was 89,000. This staggering growth continues today, making Port St. Lucie the second-fastest-growing city in Florida among the largest 15.

Port St. Lucie Fast Facts

   Location: Port St. Lucie is located in East Florida, between Melbourne and West Palm Beach
  *Total area: 76.69 square miles
  *Population: 88,769
  *Housing units: 36,785
   Average annual rainfall: 59.53 inches
   Average temperatures: 82ºF in summer, 64ºF in winter
*Information provided by 2000 Census

Economy

   Fueled by a booming population, the construction industry is among the strongest sectors of the city's economy. As an example of the extraordinary growth, in 1996, 1,039 residential building permits were issued in the city at an average cost of $90,700. In 2003, 6,053 building permits were issued at an average cost of $102,900. Not surprisingly, other significant service sectors supporting this population growth are education, health, social services and retail. Service-related jobs make up more than 64 percent of all jobs in the area, followed by construction and real estate (8.9 percent), and transportation and warehousing (7.8 percent).
   The Economic Development Council of St. Lucie County has developed a number of incentives to attract business to the area. The Job Growth Investment Grant Program assists companies by offering bonuses to companies that meet the program criteria. Qualifying businesses can also be granted property tax abatement for up to 10 years or might be eligible for a Community Development Block Grant, a program that provides tax credits. Port St. Lucie has established a Community Redevelopment Agency to provide monetary incentives for developing it downtown district. Further, 1,588 acres of St. Lucie County, including 440 acres in Port St. Lucie, have been designated Foreign Trade Zones. This designation applies to industrial parks and warehouses located close to a Port of Entry. These areas are considered to be outside of the jurisdiction of U.S. Customs and are favorable to businesses located there because of reduced costs of doing business, less “red tape” and exemptions from taxes.
   Recognizing the need for a strong commercial tax base, residents of St. Lucie County continue to support giving tax incentives to companies who will generate new jobs in the area. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., Publix Super Markets, Winn-Dixie and Home Depot are a few of the large retailers that have significant presences in the area. Other major employers are the schools, hospitals and local governments of the region.
   To support the additional traffic generated by both the residential and the commercial growth, the city expects to spend more than $226 million in capital improvements between 2004 and 2008, with 60 percent of the dollars spent on utilities, 33 percent on roadways, 4 percent on parks and 3 percent on police.  These improvements will include a new wastewater plant, three major roadway projects, several new parks and new capital projects for the Police Department.
   Although overshadowed by the growth in the service industry, agriculture remains an important business in St. Lucie County. With 82 percent of the county's land being devoted to farming and its related businesses, St. Lucie County holds the title of “Grapefruit Capital of the World.”
   St. Lucie County's agricultural strength has given rise to an impressive array of research facilities. The Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution is a world-class organization whose mission is to protect the fragile coastal environment through research and education in a myriad of scientific disciplines. The Smithsonian Institute has an ecosystem research station in Fort Pierce. The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences attracts scientists from various disciplines whose purpose is to advance agricultural research and education. Finally, the problems associated with citrus-endangering disease and insects are the focus of the United States Horticultural Research Laboratory.
   Other significant service industries in Port St. Lucie include marine and boating, energy and tourism. As the population grows, the local governments will continue to work to attract quality employers for the young workforce in the area.  Ranked in the top five metropolitan areas in Florida in income level, 83.7 percent of Port St. Lucie residents older than 25 has a high school or higher education.
*Sources of data in this section: City of Port St. Lucie, “Growth Perspectives, Anticipated Capital Programs and Projected Fiscal Scenarios for 2004-2008,” report prepared by Martin Castellano, City of Port St. Lucie, City Manager’s Office, January, 2004; St. Lucie Economic Development Council and www.city-data.com/city/Port-St.-Lucie-Florida.

Activities

   In addition to recreational and sports activities associated with beachfront living, festivals and cultural activities abound throughout the Treasure Coast, and on any given weekend, residents can find art fairs, seafood festivals and concerts within a short drive of their homes.

Beaches and Riverfront
   With seven guarded beaches and eight unguarded beaches, St. Lucie County's beaches are popular weekend hangouts for its residents and vacation destinations for tourists. Pepper Park, Jaycee Park and Frederick Douglass Park all have volleyball courts, picnic areas with grills, ample parking and plenty of people-watching vistas. South Beach Boardwalk, with its four pavilions, is a great beach for a family or class reunion. For those who want to relax away from the Sunday beach crowd, Surfside or Blind Creek might be better choices. For the fisherman, Walton Rocks, Middle Cove, Turtle Beach, Herman's Bay or Normandy would provide the best opportunities to catch the evening meal.
   Not to be forgotten as a beautiful amenity, 14 miles of the St. Lucie River flows through central Port St. Lucie and on the eastern side, a 6,000-acre preserve, the Indian River Lagoon estuary, provides a sanctuary for waterfowl and wildlife. The river provides boating and other water sports activities as well as a venue for outdoor dining and amenities. Together with the beaches, the St. Lucie River contributes much to Port St. Lucie’s well-earned nickname: “Gem of the Treasure Coast.”
 
Arts, Culture and Nightlife
   Still a young city, Port St. Lucie’s fine arts, cuisine and nightlife are gaining a foothold as emphasis is being placed on attracting businesses to the downtown. Residents can attend workshops, classes and special events at the Arts at City Center, open daily, except Sundays. The Jazz Society jams every Wednesday at the Port St. Lucie Yacht Club, and poetry reading, storytelling and music are offered monthly at The Cultural Corner. Street parties light up the town on Friday afternoons, and art festivals occur several times a month in various locations throughout St. Lucie County.  For exciting nightlife, frozen margaritas and Jimmy Buffett, head to the beach bars of St. Lucie County. Glamour and glitz are only two hours south or west in Miami and Orlando, for those who want more sophisticated entertainment.

Sports and Recreation
   Port St. Lucie’s sports and recreational activities center around its plentiful beaches and waterways. For the boating enthusiast, there are six free boat-launching ramps, several yacht basins, not to mention the Atlantic Ocean, Intracoastal Waterway, Fort Pierce Inlet and the St. Lucie River. Other water sporting activities include surfing, fishing, diving, sailing and almost any other conceivable water-related activity.
   If horseback riding on the beach is a lifelong fantasy, the dream can come true on nearby Hutchinson Island. For the less active, the Water Lilly River Cruise is a 19-passenger pontoon boat that explores the riverbanks of the St. Lucie River. The cruise departs from the Rivergate Park in the heart of Port St. Lucie. An alternative cruise is available on the Florida Dolphin Watch boat that launches from the Fort Pierce City Marina. This cruise explores the Indian River Lagoon with its sensitive and beautiful ecosystem, breathtaking wildlife and graceful wild dolphins.
   Besides the water activities, sports and recreation opportunities abound in the plentiful parks and playgrounds in St. Lucie County. There are three community centers, a civic center auditorium, amphitheater, 15 ball fields, 22 tennis courts, 10 basketball courts, seven racquetball courts, 32 shuffleboard courts, two public pools, and several fully equipped playgrounds. All activities are governed by the local government recreation boards, which plan plenty of activities annually for residents and tourists.
   Baseball enthusiasts can enjoy professional baseball between February and August. The New York Mets hold spring training camp in Port St. Lucie; the Florida Marlins play in Jupiter; the Los Angeles Dodgers, in Vero Beach; the St. Louis Cardinals, in Palm Beach; and the Baltimore Orioles, in Fort Lauderdale. After spring training, the St. Lucie Mets, a farm club, plays its games in Port St. Lucie through August.
   The area is a golf mecca, with numerous public courses and the nationally renowned North Course located in the PGA Village. The many tennis clubs in the area host tournaments and events throughout the year, attracting tennis players throughout the state.

Schools

  In addition to the five high schools, seven middle schools and 21 elementary schools in the St. Lucie County School District, there are 16 private schools serving more than 30,000 students. The school district expects to construct three new schools by 2008, including a new middle school, a high school and an elementary school.
   A prominent educational force in the area, Indian River Community College offers more than 100 two-year degree programs as well as career advancement and business enhancement programs.
   Barry University, Florida Atlantic University and the University of Florida all have branches and/or extension programs in St. Lucie County.

Maps of Port St. Lucie

Written by Margaret Bowles exclusively for CoastParadise.com.

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