St. Lucie County is one of the fastest growing areas in the United States and the third fastest in Florida. Located about two-thirds of the way down the Atlantic Coast of the Sunshine State, St. Lucie's 588 square miles contain three municipalities as well as acres of unincorporated rural lands. St. Lucie's major cities, Fort Pierce and Port St. Lucie, are approximately 120 miles north of Miami and 225 miles south of Jacksonville.
One of four counties known collectively as the Treasure Coast, St. Lucie lies between Indian River County to the north, Martin County to the south, and Okeechobee County to the west. The community of Vero Beach, the county seat of Indian River County, is just five miles to the north.
Students in the area are served by the St. Lucy County School District. The district serves more than 29,000 students through the district's 34 schools, all accredited by and meeting the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) requirements for class size. Twelve St. Lucie County schools earned a “B” or better in recent statewide grading. The district continued to lower its dropout rate and increase graduation rates in the 2000/2001 school year. The gains were credited to the success of alternative programs such as the Performance Based Diploma Program, the Learn and Earn Academy (a partnership with Aegis Communications) and engagement in high school programs through career academies.
Indian River Community College is a comprehensive two-year public community college providing provides high-quality educational services. IRCC's Mueller Center in Vero Beach is the educational hub for residents of Indian River County. Over 60% of the county's college-bound high school seniors attend IRCC. For more than 10 years, IRCC students have earned top passing rates in the state on the College Level Academic Skills Test.
Florida Atlantic University, a member of the State University System of Florida, has a campus in Port St. Lucie. The college was established in 1961 and has an enrollment of approximately 25,000. FAU offers undergraduate programs in 57 fields of study and master's degree programs in 50 disciplines.
The area's treasure is more than the cargo of ships wrecked offshore. Today's riches include undeveloped land, salutary sunshine, and spectacular beautiful barrier islands, boasting miles of bleached white sand and pristine blue waters. Water sports abound in St. Lucie County including boating, surfing, skin diving, spear fishing, water skiing, jet skiing, snorkeling and ocean bathing. For the land-lover, Port St. Lucie is South Florida's golf Mecca and spring training camp for the New York Mets.
The superb year-round climate in St. Lucie County provides pleasant living and working conditions, and is a major inducement to new residents, industrialists, and vacationers. The area has an average annual temperature of 73.2 degrees, with a spread of only 16.7 degrees between the extremes of normal winter and summer temperatures.
St. Lucie County’s best known asset is its spectacularly beautiful barrier islands, boasting 21 miles of bleached white beaches edging a cobalt-blue ocean and lined with sabal palms. Public beaches lie along seven miles of this coastal stretch, projecting an unspoiled, tropical tranquility rarely found anywhere else in the state.
Thousands of threatened Loggerhead and endangered Green Leatherback Sea Turtles make their nesting spots along the beaches of Hutchinson Island during June and July of each year. Nearly 80% of sea turtle nesting takes place on Florida's east coast. Organized nighttime turtle walks are offered during this time.
A visit to St. Lucie County is a window to Florida’s past. Ft. Pierce, the county seat, was the center of the town's activity and gathering place for the early settlers. Spruce Bluff, in Port St. Lucie, where the first known inhabitants settled is the site of an Ais Indian burial ground. In the western part of the county one can find citrus groves and cattle ranches dominating the landscape. St. Lucie County and its Atlantic coastline provide visitors an opportunity to experience Florida natural and wild, "as it used to be".
A drive through the western areas of the county takes visitors past miles of Grapefruit and Orange Groves, as well as past dozens of operating cattle and horse ranches. Fruit stands, many of which have not changed in the past 50 years, can still be found throughout the County. Here visitors will find Florida souvenirs, fresh citrus and gifts, and samples of juices to taste.
