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| Climate |
| Mean Average Temperature |
74° |
| Average Summer Temperature |
82° |
| Average Rainfall |
49" |
| Average Amount of Sunshine |
69% |
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Population, Census and Projections
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(Source: Fla. Statistical Abstract 2005)
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| Year |
Population |
| 1980 Census |
64,014 |
| 1990 Census |
100,900 |
| 2000 Census |
126,731 |
| 2005 (p) |
140,200 |
| 2006 (p) |
142,880 |
| (p)=projected population |
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Population By Age
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| (Source: Fla. Statistical Abstract 2005) |
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Age
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Estimate 2005
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|
0 - 17
|
24,782
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18-34
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19,179
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35-54
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36,752
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55-64
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18,423
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|
65-79
|
26,677
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| Over 79 |
11,824 |
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Total
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137,637
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Centrally located to both Miami and Orlando, Stuart/Martin County offers many forms of entertainment within a two hour drive to the north or south. So, whether you are staying for an extended visit or passing through, there is plenty to see and do without the crowds of our bigger Florida cities.
 A Yachtsman's Paradise could well describe the waters around the Treasure Coast. Point your bow in from the ocean through the St. Lucie Inlet, and to the north is the sparkling ribbon of intra coastal waterway. You can go all the way to Norfolk at mile marker #1.
To the south you will pass some of the most spectacular scenery in Florida and follow the magenta markers to as far as the Florida Keys. Travel under the new Roosevelt Bridge and the Palm City Bridge and you are on the "jungle ride" to wonders of Lake Okeechobee and the west coast of Florida. Across the Atlantic Ocean, the Bahama Islands are just hours away by boat from the St. Lucie Inlet.
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 Whether you are paddling a kayak, in a canoe, or on a motor yacht or sailing vessel, you will find a fine diversity of boating pleasures here. You can picnic on a spoil island, tour the lovely homes sprinkled along the shoreline or dock at the St. Lucie Inlet Park to enjoy a nature walk to the ocean.
You may see the elusive and charming manatee, dolphins will roll up and over the surface of the water alongside your boat and mullet will leap and twirl. Martin County waterways are a haven for bird watchers. Several varieties of birds including great blue herons, hawks, ospreys, spoonbills, brown pelicans, egrets and seagulls are a common site.
You can stop to shop the restored and lovely downtowns of Stuart and Jensen Beach. Fine restaurants are everywhere and accessible by boat.
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The causeways are a popular spot for wind surfers and jet skiers.
Narrated boating tours are offered for the naturalist by both power and sailing vessels. Charter boats are available for inshore and offshore fishing. Boat rentals are also available. Fine marinas, boat yards and marine supplies are all convenient to the water. Even the hospital has an emergency dock for patients that arrive by boat.
The bright blue skies, moderate temperatures, and gentle breezes make boating in Martin County a year-round pleasure.
Due to the popularity of boating in Martin County's waterways and offshore, the area marine industries contribute more than $200 million annually to the local economy with boat sales and locally manufactured marine products, plus sales from bait and tackle, boating and fishing gear shops, and more.
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 To show off the industry, the Marine Industries Association of the Treasure Coast presents its annual boat show each January at a marina on the St. Lucie River.
More than 10,000 visitors turn out and approximately 150 business, representing boating and related services, exhibit the most comprehensive display of the latest in the boating industry.
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Step back in time to a Stuart of yesteryear when the Post Office Arcade was the gathering place for local residents. Stroll along Osceola and Flagler Streets and browse in the shops. Stop for a bite at an outdoor café. Enter the lobby of the Lyric Theatre and reminisce about the many performers who've appeared on stage.
It may be a scene from yesteryear in your mind, but it's real today in a newly renovated, revitalized downtown Stuart. It's all thanks to Stuart Main Street, the City of Stuart and the downtown merchants.
| With soft pink sidewalks cushioning your every step, shoppers and business clients can enjoy the cozy atmosphere created by the improvements. Victorian style lampposts dot the landscape every few feet. Trees and shrubs along the Florida East Coast Railway and the sidewalks breakup any indication that concrete and asphalt exist.
The improvements have brought a variety of new shops and shop owners. Antiques and collectibles, wearable art, crafts and stained glass are just a mention of the many specialty boutiques in the three-block area. Restaurants, from an Irish pub to an outdoor café, tempt tired shoppers or those seeking an evening on the town. Several lawyers, engineers and accountants opted for a downtown location because of the proximity to the newly-constructed Martin County Courthouse.
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