Hobe Sound, Florida

Hobe Sound is an unincorporated area and census-designated place (CDP) in Martin County, Florida, United States, located along Florida's Treasure Coast. The population was 13,163 at the 2020 census,[2] up from 11,521 in 2010.

Hobe Sound, Florida
Census-designated place
Banyan trees on Hobe Sound Beach in Jupiter Island
Banyan trees on Hobe Sound Beach in Jupiter Island
Location in Martin County and the state of Florida
Location in Martin County and the state of Florida
Coordinates: 27°04′N 80°08′W
Country United States
State Florida
County Martin
Area
[1]
 • Total7.72 sq mi (20.00 km2)
 • Land7.11 sq mi (18.41 km2)
 • Water0.61 sq mi (1.59 km2)
Elevation
20 ft (6 m)
Population
 (2020)[2]
 • Total13,163
 • Density1,852.4/sq mi (715.2/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP Codes
33455, 33475
Area code772
FIPS code12-30975[3]
GNIS feature ID0284064[4]
Sunset from the Intracoastal Waterway in Hobe Sound

Geography

Hobe Sound is located in southeastern Martin County at 27°04′36″N 80°08′31″W.[5] It is an exurban area near the Atlantic Ocean, approximately 25 miles (40 km) north of West Palm Beach and 12 miles (19 km) southeast of Stuart. It stretches along the coast between Port Salerno to the north and Jonathan Dickinson State Park to the south. To the east, across South Jupiter Narrows, is Jupiter Island. Hobe Sound Public Beach, within the town of Jupiter Island, is one of Martin County's four guarded beaches.

History

Hobe Sound is the anglicized form of the name of a village of the Jaega, a Native American group that lived in the area before European settlement. The Spanish recorded the village name as "Jobe" or "Jove" [ˈxoβe].[6] Jonathan Dickinson, whose party was shipwrecked near the town in 1696, spelled the name of the village "Hoe-bey".[7]

Parts of Hobe Sound were included in the 12,000-acre (49 km2) Gomez grant given by Spain to Don Eusebio in 1815. In 1821, Gomez sold 8,000 acres (32 km2), including Jupiter Island, to Joseph Delespine for $1 per acre.

Shortly after the turn of the 20th century, Henry Flagler built his railroad along the east coast of Florida, passing through Hobe Sound. This gradually created many opportunities including jobs, the birth of tourism, and other related industries.

A "Bubble House" in Hobe Sound

During the land boom of the 1920s elaborate plans were announced for Hobe Sound by the Olympia Improvement Corporation. Their goal was to create a town, in Greek style, where motion pictures could be produced. Street names bore such names as Zeus, Saturn, Mercury, Mars, Olympus, Venus, Pluto and Athena. For a brief time Hobe Sound was renamed "Picture City" and plans were presented for a movie picture production center. The boom collapsed after the 1928 Okeechobee hurricane, and the original name was restored. Street names remained, however, as did the cement streetlights along Dixie Highway.

In 1924, the building which soon would become the new schoolhouse in Hobe Sound was constructed. The Martin County Board of Public Instruction secured the use of the new school building from the Picture City Corporation in 1925, and in October of that year, the Olympia School opened. The school was designated the "Picture City School" of Martin County. It remained in use as a school until 1962.

Other mementos of the past are gone, including the ice plant, which was south of Bridge Road; the old train station, which now, refurbished and relocated west of Hobe Sound, serves as an office building for Becker Groves; and the Texaco station east of the Winn-Dixie plaza, which no longer supplies gasoline but continues to serve the community with car rentals and a livery service, operated by its founding family.

Hobe Sound is positioned at the southern end of environmentally-sensitive Martin (named after Governor Martin) County. It has been stated that at Hobe Sound's front door lies the Gold Coast and that at her back door lies the Treasure Coast. Thus, Hobe Sound can lend to both while retaining its proud heritage and unique personality. Hobe Sound's proximity to the coast affords immediate access to the Atlantic Ocean and the deep-channeled Intracoastal Waterway, a 1,200-mile (1,900 km) water route that provides a sheltered passage for boats along the eastern seaboard.

Another significant historical association possessed by Hobe Sound is the brief stay there of former Defense Secretary James Forrestal in 1949 between his resignation from that post and his death.

Around 1:30 a.m. on March 14, 1997, President Bill Clinton fell on the steps and twisted his knee at golfer Greg Norman's 80-acre oceanside estate in Hobe Sound. Clinton was staying there to play in a golf tournament sponsored by Norman.[8]

Residence of Worthington and Marion Margery Scranton, Hobe Sound (1942)

Hobe Sound is a predominantly wealthy community whose residents have included such celebrities and other prominent persons as "Tiger" Woods, Alan Jackson, Celine Dion, Burt Reynolds, and Marion Margery Scranton, among others.[9] Over the decades, it was home or a winter home for wealthy businessman and industrialists, politicians, and sports and entertainment celebrities.

Police protection for Hobe Sound is provided by the Martin County Sheriff's Department. The Martin County Fire Rescue Department provides modern fire, rescue, as well as EMS Services. State-of-the-art inter-facility EMS services are also provided by the Martin Health System.

Counties

Hobe Sound has been part of the following counties:

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
200011,376—
201011,5211.3%
202013,16314.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]

2020 census
Hobe Sound racial composition
(Hispanics excluded from racial categories)
(NH = Non-Hispanic)[11]
Race Number Percentage
White (NH) 10,387 78.91%
Black or African American (NH) 744 5.65%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH) 19 0.14%
Asian (NH) 126 0.96%
Pacific Islander (NH) 7 0.05%
Some Other Race (NH) 34 0.26%
Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) 458 3.48%
Hispanic or Latino 1,388 10.54%
Total 13,163

As of the 2020 U.S. census, there were 13,163 people, 6,079 households, and 3,397 families residing in the CDP.

2000 census

As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 11,376 people, 5,176 households, and 3,266 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 2,082.8 persons per square mile (804.5/km2). There were 6,042 housing units at an average density of 1,106.2 houses per square mile (427.3/km2). The racial makeup of the CDP was 91.98% White, 5.79% African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.60% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.64% from other races, and 0.81% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.22% of the population.

There were 5,176 households, out of which 18.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.1% were married couples living together, 6.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.9% were non-families. 31.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.14 and the average family size was 2.66.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 16.8% under the age of 18, 4.8% from 18 to 24, 20.5% from 25 to 44, 24.9% from 45 to 64, and 33.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 51 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.6 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $36,541, and the median income for a family was $45,412. Males had a median income of $36,943 versus $27,773 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $21,603. About 3.7% of families and 5.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.7% of those under age 18 and 6.0% of those age 65 or over.

Transportation

Travel in Hobe Sound is predominantly performed by private automobile. There are no interstate highways in Hobe Sound; the nearest, Interstate 95, is 7 miles (11 km) west. Hobe Sound is dominated by US 1, a four- and six-lane arterial road that runs north to south. Other important throughways include Florida State Road A1A (locally known as a part of the old 'Dixie Highway'), Bridge Road, Gomez Avenue, and Osprey Street. US 1 arguably represents the central business district though some commercial activity occurs on Dixie Highway (A1A) near Bridge Road.

Mass transit

Martin County Public Transit (MARTY) provides fixed-route bus service through Hobe Sound. Hobe Sound located on MARTY bus route 4 and route 20x. Bus route 20x offers service to Palm Beach County, and connects with Palm Tran bus service.[12] The Community Coach, a service of the Council on Aging of Martin County, is an additional public transportation service for Martin County. It operates a curb-to-curb, advance reservation, shared ride service and also operates fixed-route services in other parts of the county. The closest Tri-Rail commuter railroad station is located in Mangonia Park to the south.

Railroads

The Florida East Coast Railway runs through Hobe Sound parallel to A1A. At-grade crossings can be found at (from north to south) A1A, Osprey Street, Crossrip Street, Pettway Street, Bridge Road, and Gleason Street.

Until 1963 long distance trains, East Coast Champion, City of Miami, Havana Special and South Wind, served Hope Sound's station. Until 1957 the Dixieland, (nee Dixie Flagler) made stops there as well.[13][14][15] Until 1968 local Jacksonville to Miami trains made stops at Hobe Sound.[16]

There are plans to extend the high-speed Brightline rail system and add a station in Stuart to the north. Currently, the West Palm Beach Brightline station is the closest stop to Hobe Sound. The historic West Palm Beach station is also served by Tri-Rail, and is the closest Amtrak stop to Hobe Sound.

Airports

The closest airport to Hobe Sound is Witham Field, and is located in Stuart. This airport is primarily used for general aviation. The closest airport offering commercial service is Palm Beach International Airport.

Education

The Hobe Sound Bible College is the only institution that provides post-secondary education within Hobe Sound. Private schools include the Hobe Sound Christian Academy. Publicly run schools include Hobe Sound Elementary and Seawind Elementary Schools. Residents of Hobe Sound attend Murray Middle School and South Fork High School.

The Pine School (formerly St. Michael's Independent) is now located on its new campus in Hobe Sound. This prestigious private school has a college preparatory program and educational opportunities for Kindergarten through 12th grade students. The campus offers education covering the basic arts (graphics, music, and media).

Notable people

Sources
  • History, Hobe Sound Chamber of Commerce

References
  1. "2022 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Florida". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 21, 2022.
  2. "P1. Race – Hobe Sound CDP, Florida: 2020 DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171)". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved December 21, 2022.
  3. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  4. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  5. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  6. Hann, John H. (2003). Indians of Central and South Florida 1513-1763. Gainesville, Florida: University Press of Florida. pp. 61, 180. ISBN 0-8130-2645-8.
  7. Dickinson, Jonathan (1945) [1700]. Andrews, Evangeline Walker; Andrews, Charles McLean (eds.). God's Protecting Providence ... p. 19. LCCN 61-11399. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  8. Fournier, Ron (March 14, 1997). "Clinton hurts right knee in fall at golfer Greg Norman's home". Associated Press. Retrieved May 25, 2021.
  9. "W. Scranton Dies in Florida." Hazleton, Pennsylvania: The Plain Speaker, February 14, 1955, p. 20.
  10. "United States Census Bureau QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 18, 2022.
  11. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved February 12, 2022.
  12. https://www.martin.fl.us/BusSchedule Martin County MARTY bus services
  13. "Florida East Coast Railway". Official Guide of the Railways. National Railway Publication Company. 86 (7). December 1953.
  14. "Florida East Coast Railway". Official Guide of the Railways. National Railway Publication Company. 90 (7). December 1957.
  15. "Florida East Coast Railway". Official Guide of the Railways. National Railway Publication Company. 91 (3). January 1962.
  16. Bramson, Seth H. Speedway to Sunshine: the story of the Florida East Coast Railway, Boston Mills Press, 2010, p. 153. ISBN 9781554077533.
  17. 'Mary Oliver', Encyclopædia Britannica Online, retrieved January 30, 2019.
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