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Port St. Lucie, FL

Port St. Lucie is a city in St. Lucie County, Florida, United States. It is the most populous municipality in the county and the seventh-most populous city in Florida with a population of 204,851 at the 2020 census. It is located 125 miles (201 km) southeast of Orlando and 113 miles (182 km) north of Miami. It is a principal city in the Port St. Lucie Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes St. Lucie and Martin counties, and as of 2021 had an estimated population of 502,521. Port St. Lucie is also a principal city in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Port St. Lucie Combined Statistical Area, which had an estimated population of 6,841,100 as of 2021.

The name "St. Lucie" is originally derived from the name of a settlement near Jupiter Inlet which was founded on St. Lucia's day in 1566. Due to numerous errors, the name later came to be associated with the present-day town of St. Lucie Village, Florida, north of present-day Port St. Lucie. After "La Florida" and "St. Augustine," it is the oldest still-in-use European place name in the United States. In the early 1890s, an early pioneer settlement named Spruce Bluff was located along the St. Lucie River, which consisted of a community of several families with a school, post office, pineapple plantation, and sawmill. Currently, the land the settlement was located on is part of the Spruce Bluff Preserve. Along with an old cemetery near the old settlement, the preserve also contains a hiking area, canoe access, observation areas, and a prehistoric Ais Indian mound located on the southern end of the preserve.

In the 1950s, the land that would eventually become Port St. Lucie was a largely uninhabited tract of land south of White City, composed of a fishing camp (Burt Pruitt's Fishin' Farm) along the St. Lucie River, a few farms and businesses near U.S. 1. In 1958, with a budget of $50 million, the General Development Corporation (GDC) purchased the River Park development and 40,000 acres (160 km²) along the North Fork of the St. Lucie River. In 1959, the GDC opened its first bridge over the St. Lucie River, allowing for direct automobile access to Port St. Lucie.

By February 25, 1961, there were 250 homes in the new city. GDC requested the state legislature to incorporate 70 miles (110 km), along with the River Park settlement, into the City of Port St. Lucie. River Park was not incorporated into the city at the request of its residents. Port St. Lucie became a city on April 27, 1961, with the passage of House Bill No. 953, proposed by State Representative Rupert Smith and approved by Florida Governor C. Farris Bryant.

The approximate coordinates for the City of Port St. Lucie are located at 27°16′33″N 80°21′18″W. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 76.7 sq mi (198.6 km²), of which 75.5 sq mi (195.6 km²) is land and 1.2 sq mi (3.0 km2) (1.50%) is water.

Port St. Lucie places a strong emphasis on health and wellness, with numerous facilities catering to residents' well-being. The St. Lucie Medical Center is a major healthcare provider, offering a wide range of medical services to the community. 24-Hour Fitness provides a range of fitness equipment, group exercise classes, personal training options, and amenities such as steam rooms and whirlpools. Anytime Fitness offers 24/7 access to its facilities, a variety of workout equipment, personal training services, and virtual classes. Planet Fitness is known for its affordable membership options and offering cardio and strength equipment, group fitness classes, and a judgment-free atmosphere. Orangetheory Fitness is offering high-intensity interval training (HIIT) workouts that combine cardio and strength training for a full-body workout. YMCA provides fitness facilities, group classes, swimming pools, and community programs for people of all ages and fitness levels.

Top sites in Port St. Lucie, FL are Port St. Lucie Botanical Gardens, Treasure Coast Model Railroad, Spruce Bluff Preserve, and Clover Park.

Population: 258,575 (2024). ZIP codes: 34952-34953, 34983-34988. Area code: 772. Elevation: 16 ft (5 m). Area: 120.83 sq mi (312.94 km²).

FAQs

Is Port St. Lucie, FL a good place to live?

Port St. Lucie is nestled along Florida's Treasure Coast, on the state's southeast side, about halfway between Miami and Orlando. Port St. Lucie has a more relaxed atmosphere than its larger neighbors. Its clean streets and quiet neighborhoods are woven around scenic waterways and lush green golf courses. Homes in the area can be affordable to buy or rent, compared with other South Florida housing markets.

Is it expensive to live in Port St. Lucie, FL?

Port St. Lucie, Florida gets a BestPlaces Cost of Living score of 98.6, which means the total cost of housing, food, childcare, transportation, healthcare, taxes, and other necessities is 1.4% lower than the U.S. average and 4.4% lower than the average for Florida. A typical home costs $372,300, 10.1% more expensive than the national average of $338,100, and 2.7% more expensive than the average Florida home, at $362,400. Renting a two-bedroom unit in Port St. Lucie costs $1,820 per month, 27.3% more than the national average of $1,430 and 14.3% more than the state average of $1,560.

Is Port St. Lucie, FL worth visiting?

Port St. Lucie, Florida is a growing city that offers residents and visitors alike plenty of opportunities for entertainment and leisure. It has beautiful beaches, abundant golf courses, and numerous parks with trails for walking and biking. The downtown area is filled with shops, restaurants, and cultural attractions. With its diverse population and temperate climate, Port St. Lucie provides a great place to live or visit.

Sources

City of Port St. Lucie

Wikipedia

Best Places

US News

St. Lucie Medical Center

24-Hour Fitness

Anytime Fitness

Planet Fitness

Orangetheory Fitness

YMCA

Port St. Lucie Botanical Gardens 

Treasure Coast Model Railroad 

Spruce Bluff Preserve 

Clover Park

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.