| Stuart, Florida | |
|---|---|
| — City — | |
| Downtown Stuart | |
| Nickname(s): Sailfish Capital of the World | |
| Location in Martin County and the state of Florida | |
| Coordinates: | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Florida |
| County | Martin |
| Town | 1914 |
| City | 1925 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Commission-Manager |
| • Mayor & Commissioner | Michael Mortell |
| • Vice Mayor & Commissioner | Jeffrey Krauskopf |
| • Other Commissioners | Carol Waxler, James Christie, Mary Hutchinson |
| • City Manager | Dan Hudson |
| • City Attorney | Paul Nicoletti |
| Area | |
| • Total | 8.5 sq mi (22 km2) |
| • Land | 6.3 sq mi (16.3 km2) |
| • Water | 2.2 sq mi (5.7 km2) |
| Elevation | 10 ft (3 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| • Total | 14,633 |
| • Density | 1,721.5/sq mi (664.7/km2) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP codes | 34994-34997 |
| Area code(s) | 772 |
| FIPS code | 12-68875[1] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0291756[2] |
Stuart is the only incorporated city of Martin County, Florida, on Florida's Treasure Coast. The population was 14,633 at the 2000 census. As of 2007, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 15,964.[3] Stuart is the county seat of Martin County[4]. It is part of the Port St. Lucie, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area.
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Stuart is located at .[5]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 8.5 square miles (22 km2), of which, 6.3 square miles (16 km2) is land and 2.2 square miles (5.7 km2) is water.
The average rainfall per year is 58 inches (150 cm). The US average is 37 inches (94 cm). It rains on average during 134 days a year. The average amount of sunny days is 236 annually. The average July high temperature is 90.2 °F (32.3 °C). With an average January low temperature of 55 °F (13 °C), there is no snowfall.[6]
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 14,633 people, 7,220 households, and 3,422 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,320.5 per square mile (896.0 /km2). There were 8,777 housing units at an average density of 1,391.9 per square mile (537.4 /km2). The racial makeup of the city was 83.30% White, 12.33% African American, 0.26% Native American, 0.66% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.97% from other races, and 1.46% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.29% of the population.
There were 7,220 households out of which 15.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 34.7% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 52.6% were non-families. 46.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 26.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.88 and the average family size was 2.60.
In the city the population was spread out with 14.5% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 24.5% from 25 to 44, 21.2% from 45 to 64, and 32.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 48 years. For every 100 females there were 87.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.4 males.
There were only 12 registered sex offenders living in Stuart, Florida in April, 2010. The ratio of number of residents in Stuart to the number of sex offenders is 1,333.33 residents to 1 sex offender, not including those incarcerated in the Martin County Jail (also within the City).[7]
The median income for a household in the city was $30,574, and the median income for a family was $40,701. Males had a median income of $29,151 versus $23,125 for females. The per capita income for the city was $21,139. About 7.8% of families and 11.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.5% of those under age 18 and 9.1% of those age 65 or over.
The cost of living in Stuart is 146.62, which is higher than the U.S.average of 100.[8]
| Cost of Living | Stuart | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 147 | 100 |
| Food | 106 | 100 |
| Utilities | 97 | 100 |
| Miscellaneous | 106 | 100 |
Various businesses cater to tourists, such as fishing charters, boating charters, sailing, cruises , SCUBA and snorkeling, and nature tours
In the 18th century, several Spanish galleons were shipwrecked in the Martin County area of Florida's Treasure Coast. The multiple wrecks were reportedly the result of a hurricane, and the ships were carrying unknown quantities of gold and silver. Some of this treasure has since been recovered, and its presence resulted in the region's name.
In 1832, pirate Pedro Gilbert who often used a sandbar off the coast as a lure to unsuspecting prey, chased and caught the Mexican, a US merchant ship. Although he attempted to burn the ship and kill the crew, they survived to report the incident, ultimately resulting in the capture and subsequent execution of Gilbert and his crew.The bar from which is lured his intended booty is named "Gilbert's Bar" on nautical charts.[9]
The Treasure Coast area that became Stuart was first settled by non-Native Americans in 1870. In 1875, a United States Lifesaving Station was established on Hutchinson Island, near Stuart. Today, the station is known as Gilbert's Bar House of Refuge and is on the National Register of Historic Places.
From 1893-1895, the area was called Potsdam. This name was chosen by Otto Stypmann, a local landowner originally from Potsdam, Germany. Stypmann, with his brother Ernest, owned the land that would become downtown Stuart. Potsdam was renamed Stuart in 1895, after the establishment of the Florida East Coast Railway, in honor of Homer Hine Stuart, Jr., another local landownder.
When Stuart was incorporated as a town in 1914, it was located in Palm Beach County. In 1925, Stuart was chartered as a city and named the county seat of the newly created Martin County.[10]
The city of Stuart is known as the Sailfish Capital of the World, because of the many sailfish found in the ocean off Martin County.
Between 1871 and 2005, 19 hurricanes have passed through Stuart, including Isbell (1964), Frances (2004), Jeanne (2004), and Wilma (2005),.[11]
Witham Field is a public-use airport located 1 mile southeast of the central business district.
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