Jensen Beach, Florida

Jensen Beach is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Martin County, Florida, United States. The population was 12,652 at the 2020 census.[2] It is part of the Port St. Lucie, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Jensen Beach, Florida
Census-designated place
Welcome arch on CR 707
Welcome arch on CR 707
Location in Martin County and the state of Florida
Location in Martin County and the state of Florida
Coordinates: 27°14′40″N 80°13′31″W
Country United States
State Florida
County Martin
Area
[1]
 • Total8.19 sq mi (21.20 km2)
 • Land6.97 sq mi (18.06 km2)
 • Water1.21 sq mi (3.14 km2)
Elevation
7 ft (2 m)
Population
 (2020)[2]
 • Total12,652
 • Density1,814.43/sq mi (700.60/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP codes
34957-34958
Area code772
FIPS code12-35550[3]
GNIS feature ID0284759[4]

History

The history of Jensen Beach in the 19th century revolved around pineapple farming. John Laurence Jensen, an immigrant from Denmark, arrived in 1881, and set up his pineapple plantation, which became the town of Jensen.

By 1894, the Florida East Coast Railway reached Jensen Beach, and freight shipments were loaded directly onto the freight cars.

By 1895, Jensen was called the "Pineapple Capital of the World", shipping over one million boxes of pineapples each year during the June and July season.[5] To help handle the increased pineapple production, a pineapple factory was built, but a hard freeze in 1895 devastated most of the small pineapple plantations. Two fires, in 1908 and 1910, destroyed most of Jensen Beach and its remaining pineapple farms. The industry finally collapsed in 1920 due to a wide variety of financial and agriculture problems. Growers decided to turn their efforts in another direction: raising citrus fruits. The pineapple has become a symbol of Jensen Beach. The fruit legacy is celebrated annually during the Jensen Beach Pineapple Festival.[6]

Jensen Beach was incorporated as "Jensen" in 1926 during the Florida Land Boom, but was dissolved seven years later by the State of Florida in 1933 following the onset of the Great Depression. The town's name was officially changed to "Jensen Beach" by Martin County in 1943.[7]

In the second half of the 1900s, Saint Joseph College of Florida and later the Florida Institute of Technology both located on the Mansion at Tuckahoe premises in Jensen Beach.

In 2004 Jensen Beach was hit by two hurricanes. On September 5, 2004, Hurricane Frances made landfall at Hutchinson Island with winds of 105 miles per hour (169 km/h). On September 25, 2004, Hurricane Jeanne made landfall on Hutchinson Island with winds of 120 miles per hour (190 km/h).

Geography and climate
Fire Rescue Station 16 on Savanna Road serves Jensen Beach.
First Baptist Church, Jensen Beach
Jensen Beach Community Church
Jensen Sea Turtle Beach

Jensen Beach occupies the northeast corner of Martin County. It is bordered to the east by the Indian River Lagoon and the town of Ocean Breeze, to the southeast by the town of Sewall's Point, to the south by unincorporated Rio, to the southwest by the city of Stuart, the Martin county seat, to the northwest by U.S. Route 1, and to the north by the city of Port St. Lucie in St. Lucie County. Unincorporated North River Shores is to the west of Jensen Beach, on the opposite side of US 1. According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 8.2 square miles (21.2 km2), of which 7.0 square miles (18.1 km2) are land and 1.2 square miles (3.1 km2), or 14.82%, are water.[1]

Waveland was the original name for the area from Crossroads Hill (south of N.E. Center Street) south to the tip of Sewall's Point and west to Warner Creek.

"Jensen" originally meant the area immediately adjacent to modern-day downtown Jensen Beach.

Jensen Beach was rated the "Top Spot for Beach Volleyball" in 2008 by Prime Time Magazine, and is a part of Florida's Treasure Coast region, which derives its name from the ships that wrecked during the 17th century because of coral reefs in the shallow waters. Artifacts and treasures from these ships of Spanish origin can still be discovered today.

The Skyline Drive area includes some of the highest points in the community, reaching an elevation of 70 feet (21 m) at one point.[8]

The climate in the area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Jensen Beach has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.[9]

Government

Jensen Beach is an unincorporated town in Martin County. Jensen Beach is currently represented by Doug Smith as part of Martin County District 1.[10]

The Jensen Beach Neighborhood Advisory Committee is composed of appointed Jensen Beach residents and business owners and formally advises the Martin County Community Redevelopment Agency regarding planning matters in the area.[11]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
200011,100—
201011,7075.5%
202012,6528.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[12]
Tabebuia off Savanna Road in Jensen Beach, April 2010, typical of such trees blooming throughout Martin County in the spring
Jacaranda off Savanna Road in Jensen Beach, May 2010.
Royal Poinciana off Savanna Road in Jensen Beach, May 2010.

2020 census
Jensen Beach racial composition
(Hispanics excluded from racial categories)
(NH = Non-Hispanic)[13]
Race Number Percentage
White (NH) 10,984 86.82%
Black or African American (NH) 207 1.64%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH) 17 0.13%
Asian (NH) 136 1.07%
Some Other Race (NH) 64 0.51%
Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) 418 3.3%
Hispanic or Latino 826 6.53%
Total 12,652

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 12,652 people, 5,934 households, and 3,038 families residing in the CDP.

2000 census

As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 11,100 people, 5,059 households, and 3,025 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 1,531.8 per square mile (591.4/km2). There were 5,805 housing units at an average density of 801.1 per square mile (309.3/km2). The racial makeup of the CDP was 95.80% White, 2.25% African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.47% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.37% from other races, and 0.86% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.77% of the population.

There were 5,059 households, out of which 23.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.2% were married couples living together, 8.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.2% were non-families. 33.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.78.

20.0% of the population was under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 25.4% from 25 to 44, 25.3% from 45 to 64, and 23.8% were 65 or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.7 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $36,674, and the median income for a family was $49,787. Males had a median income of $34,368 versus $25,118 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $22,921. 8.3% of the population and 5.0% of families were below the poverty line. 8.4% of those under the age of 18 and 7.4% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

Recreation

The main public beach in Jensen Beach is on Hutchinson Island and is called Jensen Sea Turtle Beach. It is a wide sandy beach on the Atlantic Ocean. Martin County life guards are in attendance. The beach is used for sun bathing, surfing, fishing and swimming.

Ecology

Jensen Beach is known in the marine biology community for being a location for sea turtles to nest.

Designated sections of the Jensen Sea Turtle Beach are barricaded off in order to protect the nests of the sea turtles. The three species found on this beach are the loggerhead, leatherback turtle and green sea turtle. Loggerhead nests are the most common type found on this and adjacent beaches. Locations of the sea turtles' nests are marked with the approximate date in which the eggs were laid and the expected date in which the eggs will hatch. These notifications are meant to discourage tourists and residents from visiting the beach in the evening hours during these time periods. Efforts are made to protect both species of sea turtles since nests have been declining in recent years due to the severe erosion of the beach.

Economics
St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church in Jensen Beach
Jensen Beach Christian Church in downtown Jensen

Downtown Jensen Beach is the site of the annual Pineapple Festival.[6]

Education
  • Jensen Beach High School
  • Jensen Beach Elementary
  • Felix A. Williams Elementary
  • The Environmental Studies Center
  • Stuart Middle School

Media

As of September 10, 2010, Jensen Beach once again has its own newspaper, the free Pineapple Post.[14]

Historic landmarks

Historic landmarks in Jensen Beach include:

Sister cities

Jensen Beach has been the sister city of Gregory Town in the Bahamas since July 1989.[15]

Notable people

References
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Jensen Beach.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jensen Beach, Florida.
  1. "2022 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Florida". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 22, 2022.
  2. "P1. Race – Jensen Beach CDP, Florida: 2020 DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171)". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved December 22, 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. Waitley, Douglas (2001). Best Backroads of Florida: Coasts, glades, and groves. Pineapple Press Inc. p. 51. ISBN 978-1-56164-232-8. Retrieved December 28, 2011. richards pineapple eden florida.
  6. "Jensen Beach Pineapple Festival". Retrieved November 10, 2016.
  7. "Historical Vignettes: Settlers of the regions of Eden and Jensen". www.tcpalm.com. Retrieved August 30, 2022.
  8. "Jensen Beach, FL". ACME Mapper 2.2. U.S. Geological Survey 7.5 Minute Quadrangle Series. Retrieved December 22, 2022.
  9. "Climate Summary for Jensen Beach, Florida". weatherbase.com.
  10. "District 1: Commissioner / Chairman Doug Smith | Martin County Florida". www.martin.fl.us. Retrieved August 30, 2022.
  11. "Jensen Beach Community Redevelopment Area | Martin County Florida". www.martin.fl.us. Retrieved August 30, 2022.
  12. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
  13. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved February 12, 2022.
  14. The Pineapple Post
  15. "Eleuthera, Harbour Island". The Islands Of The Bahamas. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved July 16, 2007.
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