Editing St. Lucie County, Florida

{{Short description|County in Florida, United States}}
{{Hatnote|For the historical former county that existed from 1844 to 1855, see [[History of Brevard County, Florida]].}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
| county = St. Lucie County
| state = Florida
| seal = Seal of Saint Lucie County, Florida.png
| founded year = 1905
| founded date = May 24
| largest city wl = Port St. Lucie
| seat wl = Fort Pierce
| area_total_sq_mi = 688
| area_land_sq_mi = 572
| area_water_sq_mi = 116
| area percentage = 16.9%
| census yr = 2020
| pop = 329226
| pop_est_as_of = 2023<ref name="Est2023">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.html|title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=March 11, 2025}}</ref>
| population_est = 373586 {{increase}}
| density_sq_mi = 576
| web = www.stlucieco.gov/
| named for = [[St. Lucie Inlet, Florida|St. Lucie Inlet]]
| ex image = Ft. Pierce, FL, Courthouse, St. Lucie County, 08-07-2010 (8).JPG
| ex image cap = St. Lucie County Courthouse
| district = 21st
| time zone = Eastern }}

'''St. Lucie County''' ({{langx|es|Condado de Santa Lucía|link=}}) is a [[County (United States)|county]] located in the [[southeastern]] portion of the [[U.S. state]] of [[Florida]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 329,226.<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/12/12111.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=February 15, 2014|archive-date=July 14, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714215812/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/12/12111.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> The county's [[county seat|seat]] is [[Fort Pierce, Florida|Fort Pierce]], while the largest city is [[Port St. Lucie, Florida|Port St. Lucie]], making up 62% of the county's population.<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> St. Lucie County is the principal county of the [[Port St. Lucie metropolitan area|Port St. Lucie, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area]].

==History==
The area was originally inhabited by the [[Ais people|Ais tribe]], a hunter-gatherer culture whose territory extended from south of the [[St. Johns River|St. John's river]] to the [[St. Lucie Inlet, Florida|St. Lucie Inlet]]. Spanish explorers frequently encountered the fierce tribe as the Spanish treasure routes ran parallel in order to take advantage of the strong Gulfstream current. The area was given several names by the Spanish including ''Rio de Ays'' (later changed to Indian River) as well as Santa Lucia, named after the short-lived late 16th-century Spanish fort that bore its name farther south. The fabled 1715 Spanish treasure fleet sank off the area that is now St. Lucie County, leading to the regional naming of the area as the [[Treasure Coast]].

During the early 19th century, the Spanish government issued several land grants in the area, one of which went to settler James Hutchinson. The grant contained {{convert|2,000|acre|km2}} and today the barrier island [[Hutchinson Island (Florida)|Hutchinson Island]] still retains his name. During the mid-1800s, [[Seminole]]s and runaway slaves sought refuge in the virtually uninhabited area. By 1837 the Second Seminole war had broken out in Florida. In December 1837, a group of soldiers under the command of Lt. Colonel Benjamin K. Pierce sailed down the Indian River and established a fort, naming it after their commander. Today the county seat of St. Lucie County is still known as Fort Pierce. In 1841, the United States government began issuing land grants under the Armed Occupation Act to Americans who were willing to settle the area. Several of these grants were within the boundaries of today's St. Lucie County. The Third Seminole War in 1851 saw the building of a second major American fort in the area, Fort Capron, located in the area that is today's [[St. Lucie Village, Florida|St. Lucie Village]].

From this point on the area became gradually more populated as settlers ventured down for health and economic reasons. The Flagler railroad reached the area in the 1890s. Major industries at the end of the 19th century in the area included pineapple, fishing and seafood canning and cattle. Citrus would not become a major crop until the early 1900s. The city of Fort Pierce was chartered in 1901.

Up until 1905 the area had been under [[Brevard County, Florida|Brevard County]] (although Brevard County had been named [[St. Lucie County, Florida (1844-1855)|St. Lucie County]] from 1844 until 1855 when it was renamed Brevard County). During the summer of 1905, St. Lucie County was created from the southern part of [[Brevard County, Florida|Brevard County]] with the county seat being at Fort Pierce. Other settlements at the time in St. Lucie County's boundaries included Jensen, Eden, Anknona, Walton, Eldred, White City, Viking, St. Lucie, Oslo, Vero, Quay, Sebastian and others. In 1925, [[Indian River County, Florida|Indian River County]] was created out of the northern part of St. Lucie County, while [[Martin County, Florida|Martin County]] was created from a small part of southeastern St. Lucie County and the northern part of [[Palm Beach County, Florida|Palm Beach County]] during that same year. Much of western St Lucie County had already gone in 1917 to form [[Okeechobee County, Florida|Okeechobee County]].

The 1920s saw increased land speculation and planned developments such as Indrio and San Lucie that never came to fruition due to the bust in 1929. During World War II the United States Naval Amphibious Training Base was established in Fort Pierce on North and South Hutchinson Island. During its operation over 140,000 troops were processed through the base. The post-war years saw a major population boom in the area, some of which were returning sailors and their families that had undergone training at the Navy base.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Burrows |first1=Ted |title=Local history: St. Lucie County leaders optimistic for prosperity in 1941, despite fears of wider war |url=https://www.tcpalm.com/story/news/history/2022/03/30/optimism-rise-fort-pierce-st-lucie-county-dawning-1940-s/7199444001/ |access-date=April 2, 2022 |work=[[TC Palm]] & St Lucie Historical Society |date=March 30, 2022}}</ref>

In 1958, the General Development Corporation, a subsidiary of Mackle Brothers, bought tens of thousands of acres of land along the [[St. Lucie River]] in the southern part of the county in order to build a new community. Colorful and clever advertising soon drew thousands of northeastern retirees and families to the area, laying the foundation for the future city of Port St. Lucie. Population and building booms in the late 20th century led to the formation of other areas west and south of Port St. Lucie including St. Lucie West and the new master planned community of Tradition. The early 21st century brought many trials for the county including two major hurricanes in 2004 and an economic and housing slump starting in 2008. In 2005, St. Lucie County celebrated its 100th birthday.

=== Hurricane Milton Tornado Outbreak ===

{{see also|Hurricane Milton tornado outbreak}}

On October 9, 2024, St. Lucie County was part of a [[Hurricane Milton tornado outbreak|prolific tornado outbreak]] caused by [[Hurricane Milton]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=US Department of Commerce |first=NOAA |title=Hurricane Milton Impacts to East Central Florida |url=https://www.weather.gov/mlb/HurricaneMilton_Impacts#:~:text=0%20/%200-,Summary:,winds%20of%2075-85%20mph. |access-date=2025-04-16 |website=www.weather.gov |language=EN-US}}</ref> Six fatalities occurred in the county after a 155 mph EF-3 tornado struck the Spanish Lakes neighborhood of [[Lakewood Park, Florida|Lakewood Park]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cone |first=Allen |last2=Rynor |first2=Morgan |date=2024-10-10 |title=6 dead after tornadoes hit St. Lucie County mobile home park - CBS Miami |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/miami/news/hurricane-wilton-multiple-dead-reported-after-tornadoes-hit-mobile-home-park-st-lucie-county/ |access-date=2025-04-16 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Kremposky |first=Averi |date=2024-10-11 |title=6 dead after Milton-spawned tornadoes rip through multiple Florida neighborhoods, officials say |url=https://www.wesh.com/article/milton-death-damage-florida-tornado/62566074 |access-date=2025-04-16 |website=WESH |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-10-14 |title=Florida sheriff releases names of 6 killed in tornado during Hurricane Milton |url=https://www.wfla.com/news/florida/florida-sheriff-releases-names-of-6-killed-in-tornado-during-hurricane-milton/amp/ |access-date=2025-04-16 |website=WFLA |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Santucci |first=Blake Fontenay, Adam L. Neal and Jon |title=Hurricane Milton: Six dead following tornadoes in Spanish Lakes, Lakewood Park, Fort Pierce |url=https://www.tcpalm.com/story/weather/hurricanes/2024/10/10/hurricane-miltons-tornadoes-kills-some-damages-homes-spanish-lakes-fort-pierce-lakewood-park/75595131007/ |access-date=2025-04-16 |website=Treasure Coast |language=en-US}}</ref>
[[File:Hurricane Milton tornado.webp|thumb|right|300px| EF-3 Tornado at peak intensity near Fort Pierce]] This intense tornado destroyed the  largest warehouse on the [[Treasure Coast]], located in [[Fort Pierce, Florida|Fort Pierce]], before moving into Lakewood Park.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-10-21 |title='Looks like there was a battle': County plans to rebuild warehouse destroyed by EF3 tornado |url=https://www.wptv.com/news/treasure-coast/region-st-lucie-county/looks-like-there-was-a-battle-county-plans-to-rebuild-warehouse-destroyed-by-ef3-tornado#:~:text=LUCIE%20COUNTY,%20Fla.,Lucie%20County%20commissioner,%20District%205. |access-date=2025-04-16 |website=WPTV News Channel 5 West Palm |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Cheryl |title=Hurricane Milton tornado destroys Fort Pierce warehouse, largest in South Florida |url=https://www.tcpalm.com/story/weather/hurricanes/2024/10/18/hurricane-milton-tornado-destroys-largest-warehouse-south-florida-logistics-center-fort-pierce/75703588007/ |access-date=2025-04-16 |website=Treasure Coast |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|688|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|572|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|116|sqmi}} (16.9%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref>

===Adjacent counties===
* [[Indian River County, Florida|Indian River County]] - north
* [[Martin County, Florida|Martin County]] - south
* [[Okeechobee County, Florida|Okeechobee County]] - west

==Transportation==

===Airports===
* [[St. Lucie County International Airport]], a [[general aviation]] airport. The nearest commercial airports are in [[Melbourne Orlando International Airport|Melbourne]], [[Vero Beach Regional Airport|Vero Beach]], and [[Palm Beach International Airport|West Palm Beach]].

===Major highways===
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* [[Image:I-95.svg|20px]] [[Interstate 95 in Florida|Interstate 95]]
* [[Image:Florida's Turnpike shield.svg|20px]] [[Florida's Turnpike]]
* [[Image:US 1.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 1 in Florida|U.S. Route 1]]
* [[Image:Florida A1A.svg|20px]] [[Florida State Road A1A|State Road A1A]]
* [[Image:Florida 68.svg|20px]] [[Florida State Road 68|State Road 68]]
* [[Image:Florida 70.svg|20px]] [[Florida State Road 70|State Road 70]]
* [[Image:Florida 607.svg|20px]] [[Florida State Road 607|State Road 607]]
* [[Image:Florida 608.svg|20px]] [[Florida State Road 608|State Road 608]]
* [[Image:Florida 614.svg|20px]] [[Florida State Road 614|State Road 614]]
* [[Image:Florida 615.svg|20px]] [[Florida State Road 615|State Road 615]]
* [[Image:Florida 713.svg|20px]] [[Florida State Road 713|State Road 713]]
* [[Image:Florida 716.svg|20px]] [[Florida State Road 716|State Road 716]]
{{div col end}}

===Public bus service===
St. Lucie County is served by the St. Lucie Transportation Planning Organization (TPO).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://stlucietpo.org|title=St Lucie TPO}}</ref> The TPO is a [[Metropolitan Planning Organization]] (MPO), a federally mandated and federally funded transportation policy-making organization responsible for transportation planning, programming, and financing of State and Federal Transportation Funds for St. Lucie County. The TPO is governed by a TPO Board, which is composed of elected officials, representatives from the St. Lucie County School Board, and representatives from Community Transit, a division of The Council on Aging of St. Lucie, Inc.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.coasl.com/svc_transportation.html|title=COASL: Our Services > Transportation}}</ref> The original bus system started out as a demand response service bus in the 1990s, it only served St. Lucie County. Soon it expanded to a fixed route system, going to predetermined locations along a route. On June 3, 2002, the [[Florida Department of Transportation]] (FDOT) approved funding, expanding the bus service to Martin County, and became the [[Treasure Coast Connector]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.treasurecoastconnector.com/routes/|title=Treasure Coast Connector: Routes & Maps}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://treasurecoastconnector.com|title=Treasure Coast Connector: Home}}</ref>

===Passenger trains===
Until 1968, the [[Florida East Coast Railway]] provided service between Jacksonville and Miami, with stops in Fort Pierce and [[Jensen Beach]]. Until 1963, long-distance passenger trains of the [[Illinois Central]] (the ''[[City of Miami (train)|City of Miami]]'') and the [[Louisville and Nashville]] (the ''[[Dixie Flagler]]'' and the ''[[South Wind (train)|South Wind]]'') from [[Chicago]], and the Atlantic Coast Line from New York City (the ''[[Champion (train)|East Coast Champion]],'' the ''Havana Special,'' and the winter-only ''[[Florida Special (train)|Florida Special]]''), made stops in Fort Pierce.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Florida East Coast Railway |journal=Official Guide of the Railways |publisher=National Railway Publication Company |volume=86 |issue=7 |date=December 1953}}</ref><ref>Bramson, Seth H. ''Speedway to Sunshine: the story of the Florida East Coast Railway'', Boston Mills Press, 2010, p. 227. {{ISBN|9781554077533}}</ref>

In 2023, [[Brightline]], an [[inter-city rail]] route that currently runs between [[MiamiCentral|Miami]] and [[Orlando International Airport Intermodal Terminal|Orlando]], announced that it was looking for a site for a new station on the [[Treasure Coast]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 26, 2023 |title=BRIGHTLINE ANNOUNCES PROCESS TO SELECT A TREASURE COAST STATION |url=https://www.gobrightline.com/press-room/2023/brightline-announces-process-to-select-a-treasure-coast-station |access-date=January 6, 2024 |website=www.gobrightline.com |language=en}}</ref> As of 2024, there were no plans to add a station in St. Lucie County. In 2026, a new station, [[Stuart station (Brightline)|Stuart station]], might provide service to [[Stuart, Florida]], just across the [[St. Lucie River]]. However, funding of the station seems precarious.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Califano |first=Caleb |date=2024-09-10 |title=Martin County Commissioners vote to try and continue negotiations with city of Stuart and Brightline |url=https://www.wpbf.com/article/martin-county-brightline-vote-stuart-train-florida/62136672 |access-date=2024-09-10 |website=WPBF |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Burbank |first=Keith |date=2024-09-10 |title=Martin County will try to try to salvage deal for a Brightline station in downtown Stuart |url=https://www.tcpalm.com/story/news/local/martin-county/2024/09/10/vote-in-martin-county-aims-to-try-to-save-brightline-station-in-stuart/75156512007/ |access-date=2024-09-10 |website=Treasure Coast |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1910= 4075
|1920= 7886
|1930= 7057
|1940= 11871
|1950= 20180
|1960= 39294
|1970= 50836
|1980= 87182
|1990= 150171
|2000= 192695
|2010= 277789
|estyear=2023
|estimate=373586
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2023">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.html|title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=March 31, 2024}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=June 16, 2014}}</ref><br />1790-1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=June 16, 2014|archive-date=May 30, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190530033223/https://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/|url-status=dead}}</ref> 1900-1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/fl190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=June 16, 2014}}</ref><br />1990-2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=June 16, 2014}}</ref> 2010-2019<ref name="QF" />
|2020=329226}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/stluciecountyflorida|title=U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: St. Lucie County, Florida|website=www.census.gov|language=en|access-date=February 25, 2019}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|+'''St. Lucie County racial composition'''<br /> (NH = Non-Hispanic){{efn|Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.<ref>https://www.census.gov/ {{nonspecific|date=August 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=About the Hispanic Population and its Origin |url=https://www.census.gov/topics/population/hispanic-origin/about.html |website=www.census.gov |access-date=May 18, 2022}}</ref>}}
!Race
!Pop 2010<ref>{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=0500000US12111&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2 |access-date=May 27, 2022 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref>
!Pop 2020<ref>{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=0500000US12111&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2 |access-date=May 27, 2022 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref>
!% 2010
!% 2020
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] (NH)
|170,032
|176,533
|61.21%
|53.62%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] (NH)
|51,373
|64,597
|18.49%
|19.62%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] (NH)
|664
|568
|0.24%
|0.17%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] (NH)
|4,226
|5,678
|1.52%
|1.72%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] (NH)
|127
|141
|0.05%
|0.04%
|-
|Some Other Race (NH)
|845
|2,470
|0.3%
|0.75%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed/Multi-Racial]] (NH)
|4,527
|12,919
|1.63%
|3.92%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]]
|45,995
|66,320
|16.56%
|20.14%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''277,789'''
|'''329,226'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|}

===2020 census===
The [[2020 United States census]] counted 329,226 people, 128,997 households, and 88,835 families in St. Lucie County, Florida.<ref>{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table P16: HOUSEHOLD TYPE |url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=St.%20Lucie%20County,%20Florida%20p16&y=2020 |access-date=2025-01-04 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref><ref name=:0 /> The population density was 575.9 per square mile (222.4/km{{sup|2}}). There were 147,884 housing units at an average density of 258.7 per square mile (99.9/km{{sup|2}}).<ref name=:0>{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table DP1: PROFILE OF GENERAL POPULATION AND HOUSING CHARACTERISTICS |url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALDP2020.DP1?q=St.%20Lucie%20County,%20Florida%20dp1 |access-date=2025-01-04 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Bureau |first=US Census |title=Gazetteer Files |url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/2020/geo/gazetter-file.html |access-date=2023-12-30 |website=Census.gov}}</ref> The racial makeup was 58.38% (192,202) [[White (U.S. Census)|white]] or [[European American]] (53.62% [[Non-Hispanic White|non-Hispanic white]]), 20.17% (66,407) [[African American (U.S. Census)|black]] or [[African American|African-American]], 0.42% (1,398) [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]], 1.77% (5,818) [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.06% (185) [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]] or [[Native Hawaiian]], 6.73% (22,160) from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 12.47% (41,056) from [[Multiracial Americans|two or more races]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table P1: RACE |url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALPL2020.P1?q=St.%20Lucie%20County,%20Florida%20p1&y=2020 |access-date=2025-01-04 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref> [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race was 20.14% (66,320) of the population.<ref>{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table P2: HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE |url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALPL2020.P2?q=St.%20Lucie%20County,%20Florida%20p2&y=2020 |access-date=2025-01-04 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref>

Of the 128,997 households, 27.5% had children under the age of 18; 49.0% were married couples living together; 26.9% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. 24.5% of households consisted of individuals and 13.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.<ref name=:0 /> The average household size was 2.7 and the average family size was 3.2.<ref>{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table S1101: HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES |url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSST5Y2020.S1101?q=St.%20Lucie%20County,%20Florida%20s1101%20&y=2020 |access-date=2025-01-04 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref> The percent of those with a bachelor’s degree or higher was estimated to be 16.6% of the population.<ref>{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table S1501: EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT |url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSST5Y2020.S1501?q=St.%20Lucie%20County,%20Florida%20s1501%20&y=2020 |access-date=2025-01-04 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref>

19.9% of the population was under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 21.7% from 25 to 44, 26.9% from 45 to 64, and 24.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45.9 years. For every 100 females, there were 106.0 males.<ref name=:0 /> For every 100 females ages 18 and older, there were 108.9 males.<ref name=:0 />

The 2016-2020 5-year [[American Community Survey]] estimates show that the median household income was $55,237 (with a margin of error of +/- $1,568). The median family income was $62,950 (+/- $2,262).<ref>{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table S1903: MEDIAN INCOME IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS (IN 2020 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS) |url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSST5Y2020.S1903?q=St.%20Lucie%20County,%20Florida%20s1903%20&y=2020 |access-date=2025-01-04 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref> Males had a median income of $35,327 (+/- $1,197) versus $26,564 (+/- $1,036) for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $30,891 (+/- $541).<ref>{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table S2001: EARNINGS IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS (IN 2020 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS)|url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSST5Y2020.S2001?q=St.%20Lucie%20County,%20Florida%20s2001%20&y=2020 |access-date=2025-01-04 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref> Approximately, 9.0% of families and 13.1% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 19.0% of those under the age of 18 and 10.2% of those ages 65 or over.<ref>{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table S1701: POVERTY STATUS IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS |url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSST5Y2020.S1701?q=St.%20Lucie%20County,%20Florida%20s1701%20&y=2020 |access-date=2025-01-04 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau, Table S1702: POVERTY STATUS IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS OF FAMILIES |url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSST5Y2020.S1702?q=St.%20Lucie%20County,%20Florida%20s1702&y=2020 |access-date=2025-01-04 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref>

===2010 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR8">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=May 14, 2011|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> of 2010, there were 277,789 people, 108,523 households, and 74,963 families residing in the county.  The [[population density]] was 485.7 people per square mile.  There were 137,029 housing units at an average density of 239.6 per square&nbsp;mile.  The racial makeup of the county was 71.8% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 19.1% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.4% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.6% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.1% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 4.5% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 2.6% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 16.6% of the population.

According to the 2015 American Community Survey, 90.7% spoke  [[english language|English]], 14.6% [[Spanish language|Spanish]], 5.0% Other Indo-European languages, and 1.2% Asian and Pacific Island languages.<ref name="Bureau">{{Cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|title=U.S. Census website|publisher=United States Census Bureau|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]|language=en|access-date=January 28, 2017}}</ref>

According to [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|title=U.S. Census website|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 31, 2008}}</ref> of 2000, the largest ancestry groups in St. Lucie County were: [[English American|English]] 34%, [[African American|African]] 15%, [[Irish American|Irish]] 14%, [[German American|German]] 13%, [[Italian American|Italian]] 10%.  For every 100 females, there were 95.50 males.  For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.80 males.

In 2010 there were 108,523 households, out of which 26.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.0% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 12.9% had a female householder with   no husband present, and 30.9% were non-families. 24.2% of all non-family households were made up of individuals living alone, and 11.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.  The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 2.99.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 77.7% 18 years of age and over; 23.2% from 25 to 44, 26.8% from 45 to 64, and 19.9% who were 65 years of age or older.  The median age was 42.4 years.<ref name="Bureau"/>

According to the 2010 census, the median income for a household in the county was $36,363, and the median income for a family was $41,381. Males had a median income of $30,047 versus $22,684 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $18,790.  About 9.60% of families and 13.40% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 20.50% of those under age 18 and 7.70% of those age 65 or over.

== Fauna ==
Six bird species in St. Lucie County are listed as "highly vulnerable" to [[Climate change in the United States|climate change]]:
* [[Red-headed woodpecker]]
* [[Gray kingbird]]
* [[Fish crow]]
* [[Brown thrasher]]
* [[Eastern towhee]]
* [[Boat-tailed grackle]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tcpalm.com/story/news/local/indian-river-lagoon/health/2020/01/07/climate-change-threatens-treasure-coast-u-s-birds-new-audubon-site/2831338001/|title=New Audubon site shows bird decline on Treasure Coast, nationally from climate change|last=Waymer|first=Jim|date=January 7, 2020|website=TCPalm|language=en|access-date=February 15, 2020}}</ref>

==Politics==
According to St. Lucie County [[Supervisor of Elections]] website, registered voters as of September 10, 2020, totaled 217,666: Democratic 85,714, Republican 72,554, NPA 56,500, Other 2,898.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.slcelections.com/ |title=St. Lucie County Supervisor of Elections |access-date=September 10, 2020 }}</ref> In recent decades, St. Lucie County had previously favored the Democratic Party, but it voted for Republican Party candidate Donald Trump in [[United States presidential election in Florida, 2016|2016]], [[United States presidential election in Florida, 2020|2020]], and [[2024 United States presidential election in Florida|2024]], signaling a significant rightward shift along with the state as a whole. 
{{PresHead|place=St. Lucie County, Florida|source=<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=June 15, 2018}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|100,293|83,517|1,922|Florida}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|86,831|84,137|1,381|Florida}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|70,289|66,881|4,823|Florida}}
{{PresRow|2012|Democratic|56,202|65,869|1,230|Florida}}
{{PresRow|2008|Democratic|52,512|67,125|1,337|Florida}}
{{PresRow|2004|Democratic|47,592|51,835|636|Florida}}
{{PresRow|2000|Democratic|34,705|41,560|1,725|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|28,899|36,169|8,838|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|24,400|23,876|19,957|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|32,319|17,446|314|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|28,200|13,040|7|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|18,126|10,347|1,357|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|11,502|12,386|321|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|14,258|4,593|59|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|7,281|5,232|4,410|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|7,204|7,748|0|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|6,354|5,360|0|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|5,435|2,731|0|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|4,667|2,782|0|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|1,689|1,704|1,047|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|920|2,129|0|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|962|2,169|0|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|497|1,946|0|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|390|1,602|0|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|983|741|35|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|524|722|172|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1920|Democratic|707|1,167|123|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|134|703|183|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|45|352|109|Florida}}
{{PresFoot|1908|Democratic|63|280|91|Florida}}

==Education==
Schools in the county are managed by [[St. Lucie County Public Schools]].
* [[Florida Atlantic University]] Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fau.edu/hboi/|title=FAU HBOI : Florida Atlantic University - Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute}}</ref>
* [[Indian River State College]] Ft. Pierce and PSL Campus
* [[Keiser University]] PSL Campus
* [[University of Florida]] Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Ft. Pierce

==Libraries==
St. Lucie County is served by the [[St. Lucie County Library System]].

==Points of interest==
[[File:Ft Pierce FL Old Fort Park01.jpg|thumb|Old Fort Park]]
* [[Experimental Oculina Research Reserve]]
* [[Heathcote Botanical Gardens]]
* [[Navy UDT-SEAL Museum]] ([[Fort Pierce, Florida|Fort Pierce]] was the original home of the [[Navy SEAL]]s)
* [[Old Fort Pierce Park|Old Fort Park]]
* [[St. Lucie County Aquarium]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stlucieco.gov/marine_center.htm |title=St Lucie County Florida Online &#124;&#124; St. Lucie County Marine Center |access-date=August 8, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130809202016/http://stlucieco.gov/marine_center.htm |archive-date=August 9, 2013 }}</ref>
* [[St. Lucie County International Airport]]
* [[St. Lucie County Regional History Center]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stlucieco.gov/history|title=St. Lucie County, FL : St. Lucie County History}}</ref>

==Communities==
===Cities===
* [[Fort Pierce, Florida|Fort Pierce]]
* [[Port St. Lucie, Florida|Port St. Lucie]]

===Towns===
* [[St. Lucie Village, Florida|St. Lucie Village]]

===Census designated places===
* [[Fort Pierce North, Florida|Fort Pierce North]]
* [[Fort Pierce South, Florida|Fort Pierce South]]
*[[Hutchinson Island South, Florida|Hutchinson Island South]]
* [[Indian River Estates, Florida|Indian River Estates]]
* [[Lakewood Park, Florida|Lakewood Park]]
* [[River Park, Florida|River Park]]
* [[White City, St. Lucie County, Florida|White City]]

===Unincorporated communities===
* [[Viking, Florida|Viking]]

==See also==
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in St. Lucie County, Florida]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==

===Governmental===
* Board of County Commissioners
** [http://www.stlucieco.gov/ St. Lucie County Board of County Commissioners]
* Town & City Web Sites
** [http://cityoffortpierce.com/ City of Ft. Pierce Official Web Site]
** [http://cityofpsl.com/ City of Port St. Lucie Official Web Site]
** [http://stlucievillagefl.gov/ Town of St. Lucie Village Official Web Site]
* Constitutional officers
** [http://www.slcclerkofcourt.com/ St. Lucie County Clerk]
** [http://www.slcelections.com/ St. Lucie County Supervisor of Elections]
** [http://www.paslc.org/ St. Lucie County Property Appraiser]
** [http://www.stluciesheriff.com/ St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office]
** [https://www.tcslc.com/ St. Lucie County Tax Collector]
* Countywide districts
** [http://www.stlucie.k12.fl.us/ St. Lucie County School District]
** [https://stluciesoilandwater.org/ St. Lucie Soil and Water Conservation District]
* Multicounty districts
** [https://web.archive.org/web/20071011095331/http://ircc.edu/portal/layout_Default.aspx?PortalPageID=740 Indian River Community College]
** [http://www.sfwmd.gov South Florida Water Management District]
** [http://www.tcrpc.org/ Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council]
* Judicial branch
** [http://www.slcclerkofcourt.com/ St. Lucie County Clerk of Courts]
** [http://www.pd19.org/  Public Defender, 19th Judicial Circuit of Florida]
** [http://www.martin.fl.us/GOVT/co/jud/  State Attorney, 19th Judicial Circuit of Florida] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927023759/http://www.martin.fl.us/GOVT/co/jud/ |date=September 27, 2011 }}
** [http://www.circuit19.org/  Circuit and County Courts for the 19th Judicial Circuit of Florida]

====Nongovernmental====
{{Commons category}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070928160953/http://www.co.st-lucie.fl.us/tourism/index.html St. Lucie County Tourism Web Site]

{{Geographic Location
|Centre = St. Lucie County, Florida
|North = [[Indian River County, Florida|Indian River County]]
|Northeast =
|East = [[Atlantic Ocean]]
|Southeast =
|South = [[Martin County, Florida|Martin County]]
|Southwest =
|West = [[Okeechobee County, Florida|Okeechobee County]]
|Northwest =
}}

{{St. Lucie County, Florida}}
{{Port St. Lucie Metropolitan Area}}
{{Geography of Florida}}
{{Authority control}}

{{Coord|27.38|-80.44|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-FL_source:UScensus1990}}

[[Category:St. Lucie County, Florida| ]]
[[Category:Florida counties|Saint Lucie County, Florida]]
[[Category:Port St. Lucie metropolitan area]]
[[Category:1905 establishments in Florida]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1905]]