Sewall's Point, Florida

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Sewall's Point is a town in Martin County, Florida, United States. The population was 1,946 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 2,053 [1].

[edit] Geography

Sewall's Point is located at 27°11′42″N, 80°11′52″W (27.195057, -80.197731)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 10.7 km² (4.1 mi²). 3.2 km² (1.2 mi²) of it is land and 7.5 km² (2.9 mi²) of it (70.05%) is water.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 1,946 people, 758 households, and 607 families residing in the town. The population density was 610.9/km² (1,578.1/mi²). There were 828 housing units at an average density of 259.9/km² (671.5/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.72% White, 0.41% African American, 0.41% Asian, 0.10% from other races, and 0.36% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.39% of the population.

There were 758 households out of which 33.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 73.4% were married couples living together, 4.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.8% were non-families. 15.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 2.85.

In the town the population was spread out with 24.6% under the age of 18, 2.9% from 18 to 24, 19.9% from 25 to 44, 33.0% from 45 to 64, and 19.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47 years. For every 100 females there were 98.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.8 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $97,517, and the median income for a family was $104,893. Males had a median income of $82,748 versus $32,500 for females. The per capita income for the town was $55,121. About 4.6% of families and 4.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.5% of those under age 18 and 3.8% of those age 65 or over.

Sewall's Point is home to multi-platinum singer/songwriter/pianist Tori Amos.

It is also home to a unique newsletter; www.sewallspointer.org. The name "Sewallspointer" was originally coined, when a group of residents formed to protest/fight, the concept of roundabouts on the A1A corridor in Sewalls's Point. The residents ( two former Mayors, one local business owner, one retiree) formed a PAC, the end result was the defeat of the proposal. One member later created the website www.sewallspointer.org. to report on the events taking place at Town Meetings by the Commissioners. Most unknow by the residents until the creation of the website.

The website (www,sewallspointer.org.) succeded in exposing the attemted takeover of the Town by a few members of unsupervised staff. Notably the Building Official, his clerk, and the Chief of Police. All were forced out of office. The Chief had been named in a sexual harrasment suit filed by a former Police Clerk. Her suit was was settled pre-trial,she was awarded $ 65,000.00. The taxpayers of the Town were also victims as they ended up paying the Towns legal fees to defend his actions. The insurer of the Town, The Florida League of Municipalities refused to pay legal & other fees in connection with this case as they were never properly notified despite claims by the current Mayor, E. Daniel Morris that the Town would be re-imbused.

The Chief, has since threatened to file suit for benefits denied by the Town's Commissioners. It is a strange threat. It would seem appropriate, that the the Town's governing body, that serves the residents/taxpayers should or would be filing suit against the ex Chief, to recoup the thousands of tax payers monies, expended in this sexual harrasment suit.

This episode and other failures of the then form of Government, mayor-commission,brought about a movement to chnage the form of government tp manager-commission. A 2006 referendum vote succedded and the manager-Commission Gov. referendum won out. A former Manager had been brought in from Rittmann, Ohio to manage the Town. His tenure was dependant on the success of the new form of Governmnet vote.

The changes to government have not been with out cost to the taxpayers. The changes have brought forth an increase of about 25% in taxes. To many however, the resultant staff changes and management is worth it. Only time will tell.