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Fort Pierce, FL

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Fort Pierce, FL

Fort Pierce is a city in and the county seat of St. Lucie County, Florida, United States. The city is part of the Treasure Coast region of Atlantic Coast Florida. It is also known as the Sunrise City. Per the 2020 census, the population was 47,297.

The city was named after the Fort Pierce Army post which was built nearby in 1838 during the Second Seminole War and lasted until 1842. The military post had been named for Benjamin Kendrick Pierce, a career United States Army officer and the brother of President Franklin Pierce.

The first permanent settlement of the current city was during the 1860s. In 1901, the city was officially incorporated as a municipality. It was the largest city on Florida's Atlantic Coast between Daytona Beach and West Palm Beach until 1970 when it was surpassed by Melbourne.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 20.8 mi2 (53.8 km²), of which 14.7 square miles (38.2 km²) is land and 6.0 square miles (15.6 km²) of it (35.00%) is water. As of the 2020 United States census, there were 47,297 people, 16,687 households, and 10,005 families residing in the city.

According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, an average of 350,000 tons of waterborne commerce moves through the Port of Fort Pierce annually. Major commodities which are dependent on the port include citrus exports, cement and aragonite imports. The last navigation improvements at Fort Pierce were authorized by the U.S. Congress in the Water Resources Development Act of 1988 dated November 17, 1988 and construction was completed in August 1996. The existing entrance channel is 400 feet wide and 30 feet deep, the interior channel is 250 feet wide and 28 feet deep, the existing turning basin is 1,100 feet square and 28 feet deep, and the north access channel is located immediately north of the main turning basin is 1,250 feet long, 250 feet wide and 28 feet deep.

In late 2014 dredging efforts were completed in the port. The dredging effort included both beach placement of beach quality sand on the beach immediately south of the Inlet as well as placement of non beach quality sand in the approved offshore disposal area.

Fort Pierce is located on U.S. Route 1, near its intersection with Florida State Road 70. Interstate 95 and Florida's Turnpike are nearby, at the west edge of town. The Intracoastal Waterway passes through the city. The nearest airport with scheduled passenger service is in Melbourne; the closest major airport is in West Palm Beach. The city itself has a general aviation airport, Treasure Coast International Airport.

In terms of health and wellness, Fort Pierce prioritizes the well-being of its residents. The city hosts multiple healthcare facilities, with Lawnwood Regional Medical Center standing out as a prominent hospital. This medical institution offers comprehensive services, ensuring the community has access to quality healthcare. Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa provides massage therapy services such as hot stone massage, couples massage, aromatherapy massage, and prenatal massage. Elements Massage specializes in custom massages tailored to individual needs, focusing on therapeutic techniques to address specific issues like pain relief or stress reduction. Bliss Spa offers a range of massages including Swedish, deep tissue, and prenatal massages, as well as specialty treatments like their "Blissage" and "Betweeny" waxing services. The Salt Room offers unique salt therapy sessions along with massage services, combining the benefits of massage with halotherapy for respiratory and skin health. The Spa at PGA National Resort offers a variety of massages including Swedish, deep tissue, hot stone, and aromatherapy massages, in addition to other spa treatments.

Top Sites in Fort Pierce, FL are The National Navy UDT-SEAL Museum, St. Lucie County Aquarium, Sunrise Theatre, and Heathcote Botanical Gardens.

Population: 48,305 (2022). ZIP Codes: 34945. Area code: 772. Elevation: 16 ft (5 m). Area: 29.84 sq mi (77.29 km²).

FAQs

Is Fort Pierce, FL expensive to live in?

The total cost of housing, food, child care, transportation, health care, taxes, and other necessities for a single adult in Fort Pierce is $38,205 a year — greater than the annual cost of living for Florida of $36,375 yet roughly in line with the national figure of $38,433. In Fort Pierce, the median home value is $100,100, less than the national median home value of $204,900. The typical renter in Fort Pierce spends $915 a month on housing, greater than the $1,023 national median monthly rent.

What major city is near Fort Pierce, FL on the map?

The city of Port St. Lucie, about 15 miles (25 km) south of Fort Pierce, was created and incorporated in 1961. A fast-growing residential city, it reached a population of more than 80,000 by the end of the 1990s. It was originally planned as a retirement community but now includes people of all ages.

What is Fort Pierce, FL known for?

Fort Pierce is famous for being a quaint fishing village, but take a closer look and you will find a treasure trove of activities. As one of the most diverse communities on the Treasure Coast, Fort Pierce has the cultural excitement to rival any “big city” atmosphere. With weekly and monthly events and premier shows at the Sunrise Theatre, visitors never run out of things to do or people to meet. Fort Pierce is located on the pristine Indian River Lagoon with one of the best all-weather inlets in the state of Florida. Even though Fort Pierce is known for its world-class fishing, some visitors would rather take an eco-friendly motorized kayak down the Indian River or dolphin watch on a tour boat.

Sources

City of Fort Pierce

Wikipedia

24/7 Wall St.

Britannica

Lawnwood Regional Medical Center

Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa

Elements Massage

Bliss Spa

The Salt Room

The Spa at PGA National Resort

The National Navy UDT-SEAL Museum

St. Lucie County Aquarium

Sunrise Theatre

Heathcote Botanical Gardens

The content herein is provided for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Medical information changes constantly, and therefore the content on this website should not be assumed to be current, complete or exhaustive. Always seek the advice of your doctor before starting or changing treatment. If you think you may have a medical emergency, please call your doctor or 9-1-1 (in the United States) immediately.