Martin County, Florida

• St. Lucie County – north
• Palm Beach County – south
• Hendry County – southwest
• Glades County – southwest
• Okeechobee County – northwest

• Hobe Sound National Wildlife Refuge

According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Martin County Shore Protection Project includes nourishment of approximately 3.75 miles of beach extending from the St. Lucie County line south to the Stuart Public Beach Park in Martin County. Included in the project is restoration of the primary dune and a 35-foot-wide protective berm. The renourishment interval for this project is every 7 years.[7]

The last renourishment of the Martin County Shore Protection Project was completed in May 2013 and included a Flood Control and Coastal Emergency component due impacts incurred with the passage of Hurricane Sandy in 2012. The next renourishment event is scheduled for 2019.[7]

The estimated total cost of this project is $69.9 million, $32.5 million of which is to be paid for by the U.S. Federal Government. In Fiscal Year 2015, no funding was appropriated to the project by the U.S. Congress. In the Fiscal Year 2016 U.S. President's Budget Request to the U.S. Congress, no funding dollars was requested for the project.[7]

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 158,431 people, 65,014 households, and 40,328 families residing in the county.

As of the census[14] of 2000, there were 126,731 people, 55,288 households, and 36,213 families residing in the county. The population density was 228 per square mile (88/km²). There were 65,471 housing units at an average density of 118 per square mile (46/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 89.88% White, 5.27% Black or African American, 0.30% Native American, 0.60% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 2.72% from other races, and 1.14% from two or more races. 7.50% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

In 2000 there were 55,288 households, out of which 21.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.00% were married couples living together, 7.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.50% were non-families. 29.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.71.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 18.60% under the age of 18, 5.30% from 18 to 24, 22.90% from 25 to 44, 24.90% from 45 to 64, and 28.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $43,083, and the median income for a family was $53,244. Males had a median income of $36,133 versus $27,000 for females. The per capita income for the county was $29,584. About 5.60% of families and 8.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.80% of those under age 18 and 5.20% of those age 65 or over.

• Indiantown Airport
• Naked Lady Ranch Airport (private)[15]
• Witham Field

The Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail, a segment of the Florida National Scenic Trail, passes through Martin County.

Tabebuia off Savanna Road in Jensen Beach. April 2010. Typical of such trees blooming throughout Martin county in the spring

The Board of County Commissioners is the legislative body of the county and has charge of all county executive and administrative functions, except those assigned by the Constitution to independent county officers or to the independent school district. The board also has some quasi-judicial functions. Some of functions exercised by the board are county-wide, while others are applicable only in the unincorporated areas of the county, where the board has many of the functions of a municipality. The county commissioners are elected by county-wide vote, but each one represents a specific district. The board appoints the county administrator who is responsible to it for the day-to-day operations of the county government. The current county commissioners by district number are:

• 1. Doug Smith, Vice Chair
• 2. Stacey Hetherington, Chair
• 3. Harold Jenkins
• 4. Sarah Heard
• 5. Edward Ciampi

The elected Constitutional officers are:

• Clerk (Clerk of Courts, County Clerk, etc.): Carolyn Timmann[16]
• Property Appraiser: Jenny Fields[17]
• Sheriff: William Snyder
• Supervisor of Elections: Vicki Davis
• Tax Collector: Ruth Pietruszewski

The independent Martin County School District has a board appointed superintendent of schools and an elected school board, as follows:

• The superintendent, Dr. John D. Millay,[18] is the chief administrator of the district.
• The school board is the legislative body of the district and also exercises quasi-judicial powers. School Board members are elected county wide but each one represents a specific district. The current board members by district are:
  • 1. Marsha Powers, Chair
  • 2. Tony Anderson, Vice Chair
  • 3. Christia Li Roberts
  • 4. Victoria Defenthaler
  • 5. Michael DiTerlizzi [19]

Martin County is a long-standing Republican stronghold which has not supported a Democrat for the White House since Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1944. Registered Democrats are third in the county, outnumbered by not only Republicans but also Unaffiliated voters.

According to the Secretary of State's office, Republicans are a majority of registered voters in Martin County.

• Stuart

• Jupiter Island
• Ocean Breeze
• Sewall's Point

• Indiantown

Sunset from the Intracoastal Waterway at Hobe Sound

• Hobe Sound
• Jensen Beach
• North River Shores
• Palm City
• Port Salerno
• Rio

• Hutchinson Island (part)
• Port Mayaca