Jupiter

With a population of 59,000 inhabitants who highly rate the environment, Jupiter is a small Palm Beach County town.

In addition to having super quality air, the town has made steps towards investing in green living.

Furthermore, the Jupiter Seafood Festival was born here. For those who are not familiar with what this it, the three day festival brings together plenty of family fun, great music and tones of sumptuous food.

With rent prices somewhere around $1,430, the cost of living in the town is considered to be on the higher side.

The high home prices, averaging 283, 700USD, demonstrate just how desirable this part of the state is considering that much of Florida has an ongoing crime rate issue.

The 65,000 square foot community center is used as the main venue for community parties and events.

With a 9 out of 10 ranking on GreatSchools, Jupiter prides itself of having a great public school system. The town is considered to be one of the best places to live in the state of Florida as a result of all these factors combined.

Near the Loxahatchee River sites the township of Jupiter that was accidentally misnamed following an error in spelling and translation.  The original tribe of the Hobe Indian, for which the region was to be named for.  Unfortunately, a map maker made the error of thinking that the correct spelling was, in fact, Jobe, which others believed was the Latin translation for the lead god of the Romans, Jupiter.  

This god was celebrated as being the God of weather, the sky, and the light.  Jupiter as a god was also charged with being the God of states, laws and occupants welfare.  Jupiters wife, named Juno is the inspiration for the nearby township of Juno Beach.

Still erect, the most celebrated landmark of the township of Jupiter is the inlet lighthouse that was built in 1860 to alert and protect boats from the reef off the sore line.  The tower whose original painted finish was spoiled over time due to humidity and required repainting in 1910 to restore it to its former state.  It was painted a bright red to make the lighthouse stand out in the area.

Initially funded by Congress for its initu=ial build, the costs overran due to the delays caused by the Indian wars at that time with the final values for the completed lighthouse running to $60,000.  More restoration was required following the passing in 2004 of hurricane Jean that scoured much of the paint from its surface needing yet another repaint, this time using potassium silicate minerals that will withstand future hurricanes and other inclement weather.

Today, the lighthouse is the featured landmark of the region and visitors to Jupiter can take an excursion out to the tower and climbs it 105 stairs to look out into the distance over the reef and sandbars that it is there to warn of, as well as across to the nearer townships on either side.

The lighthouse is built on a hill of natural sands and marine shells while sandbars are estimated to extend around 41,000 feet from the shoreline.  These same sandbars have been responsible for the wrecking of many ships.  With the areas, tropical weather, thunderstorms and heavy rains also add to the danger for vessels in the area, although the surrounding area enjoys a mild dry winter before heading into a hot wet summer.

Historians believe that the name “St Lucie” is of Spanish origin, and was given following the construction of a fort in the area whose construction commenced on December 13th, the Roman Catholic Saint Lucia feast day.  The colony of St Lucia was established in the region between Vero Beach and Stuart around 1567.  Early Spanish maps depict this area as Saint Lucia which the Spanish held from 1783 through to 1819.  Runaway slaves and Seminole Indians began to settle in the area then known as Treasure Coast.  The European version, St Lucie started to identify the area in the 1900’s.

Stuart

The founding of Martin County had much to do with its surrounding waters such as the countless creeks, the South and North Forks of the Saint Lucie River, the Indian River and the Atlantic Ocean. The pioneers and the inhabitants of the area largely depended on the water and the benefits it brought to the area. A gentleman named Homer Hines Stewart, Jr bought a substantial amount of property and built his bungalow North of the St. Lucie River. He gave part of his land away to put a Depot on it and so his surname was used for the railway stop when the train station came there from Palm Beach. At the time, there was no bridge that crossed the river.

The life of the Pioneers changed dramatically after the railway came to the area. The Railway meant that there was reliable transportation that helped to ship pineapples and fish to other areas. Tourists were able to travel there and for many, their social life revolved around the mail being brought by the train. At first, the tourists were mostly outdoorsmen who wanted to fish and hunt. A man named John Danforth used his houseboat as a floating Hotel. Later he built the Danforth Hotel. Later on, the Stewart house, which began as a post office and store combination, was later transformed into a hotel. Witham Field Was built in the area for the purposes of training Navy pilots during World War II. It was a full 35 square miles and after the Coast Guard added facilities it was riddled with Lookout Towers.

Some of the servicemen would meet local ladies and marry them. After they returned from the war they permanently moved to the area to be with their wives. Once the war was finished, part of that area was turned into Dickinson State Park. The area promoted itself as being the World Capital of Sailfish. Stuart published fishing guides in The Daily News in the mid-1930s. The guides were distributed by the Chamber of Commerce and it managed to attract thousands of tourist. The editor of the Stuart news wrote most of the text and the guides were full of ads paid for by local businesses. Mr. Lyons was an environmentalist and an avid Sportsman and he instilled in the local residents the idea they should help preserve nature and to enjoy it.

Vero Beach

The Climate

You will typically experience hot and humid summers along with sunny, dry and pleasant winters as Vero Beach is known for its subtropical and humid climate. The average high temperatures reach 81.4 degrees while low temperatures reach 72.7 degrees. Mainly this area will not experience frost.

The Industry

Piper Aircraft names Vero Beach its home as this is an aviation manufacturer that is the largest private employer in this country. They have employed around 750 people since 7/15. There are also a number of other ways to become involved in the industries in Vero Beach. These include the service industries, tourism and citrus.

Retail

The Indian River Mall and The Fashion Outlet are also situated in this area. These are large malls which can be found on the SR 60, just to west of the I-95. Throughout this area along the barrier-island there are a number of specialty shops along with the “Miracle Mile”. This area’s downtown area happens to be well-known for its rich history, yet the area has undergone a number of renovations that will include art galleries, shopping and dining.

The Disney Vero Beach Resort

This resort holds the responsibility for a lot of the tourism in the area, yet there are also other interesting spots in this area.

Other Points Of Interest

One of the main attractions to Vero Beach, is its close proximity to a stunning beach. There are a number of public beaches on offer in Vero all along the Treasure Coast. Some beaches include South Beach which is to the east on the SR 656 which spans to the end part of 17th St. Humiston Park situated on Ocean Drive as well as the Central Beach Business District. There is also Jaycee Park situated close to Conn Beach. One of the main advantages about using the beaches is the fact that they offer lifeguard protection from 9am to 5pm every day.

In Indian River County there is also another 26-miles of beaches on offer to explore. There are also free access to hiking trails in Vero in the areas like Sea Grape Trail, Sexton Plaza, Riomar Beach and Sea Cove.

The Indian River Lagoon

Here you are able to enjoy a variety of recreational water fun along this waterway. This area is commonly used for various water sports which include kayaking, boating, diving along with using various other types of small watercrafts.

Resorts

The Disney Resort is the biggest yet is actually situated in Wabasso which is north of Vero Beach.

History

The establishment as a citrus shipping point marks the beginning of the modern history of Vero Beach, FL.

In 1891, Henry T. Gifford founded the first post office in this part of the state, using Vero as its name. According to most historians, his wife’s name, Vero was used. Years later, the word Beach was added to the initial name.

Even though there are many other theories describing the origin of the name Vero, the one described above is the most popular one simply due to the rarity of the name among women.

Known to be the home of the popularly known Indian River citrus, the city spans both sides of the Indian River Lagoon. The Indian steamboat system was the backbone of the early transportation and trade in the area. To get it to Jacksonville, where it would then be shipped to northern ports, citrus was packaged in Vero Beach and ferried via the Indian River.

The term “The Narrows” is used in reference to the part of the Indian River lying between the barrier island, located to the east out on the ocean, and the mainland.

In 1893, the arrival of Henry Flagler’s East Coast Railroad ” on its drive down the east coast ” to Vero Beach marked the start of the town’s modern era, dramatically altering its history.

Thousands of acres of citrus groves were created by developers who started draining the marshy lands on the western side of the town.

West Palm Beach

is situated in South Florida. Lake. While, Worth Lagoon is what separates this city from Palm Beach which is a neighboring city. Downtown districts in Clematis Street and CityPlace are filled with restaurants, shops and bars. The Norton Museum of Art offers displays of Impressionist paintings along with American, European and Chinese art. Close by is the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, which offer four theaters and is also the host to dance, the opera, concerts and plays.

West Palm Beach is known for its tropical and rainforest climate.

This translates in temperatures of over 64.6 degrees F in every month of the year. Tropical climates feature various tropical plant species which grow all over the city. From May through to October this area experiences a wet season, where it is hot, humid and wet. From the later part of April through to the beginning of October average temperatures range at about 90 degrees F. Yet since record-keeping began in 1888, there were 4 times when temperature reached 100 degrees F and higher.

During these times, most of the days experienced thunderstorms with sea breezes that cooled the air down throughout the rest of these days. From November through to April is the dry seasons which are mainly warm and dry with average temperatures of 80 degrees F, which is typically common from December through to February.

There are times when this area experiences a cold front, where the temperature can drop below 65 degrees F, with lows that go below 45 degrees F sometimes even lower. These lows typically only last for a few days. In January 2010, the area experienced a prolonged cold snap which lasted for 12 days with temperatures of 45 degrees F and lower. 9 out of these 12 days were colder than 40 degrees F.

The beginning of South Florida’s historical period started in 1512 where Juan Ponce Leon first made contact with the native people in this area. The Europeans categorized these natives into different tribes which includes the Jaega and Aid people from the north of Tequesta along the East Coast and in East Okeechobee, along with Mayaimi people that lived along the Lake Okeechobee basin.

The area of South Florida had about 20,000 Native Americans at the time when the Spanish arrived in this area. Yet by 1763, when this area went under the English control, native people were just about wiped out from war, enslavement and European diseases.

Port Saint Lucie

If you want to experience some of the impressive scenery that has made the wider St. Lucie County Fl, famous, it’s recommended that you visit Port St. Lucie.

Pursuant to this, you can see the awe inspiring Florida mangroves and wetlands in Port St. Lucie in a number of ways; if you want to get close up with wild dolphins and alligators, take to the water and cruise along the Indian River.

Port St. Lucie is also home to a variety of nature preserves and parks in addition to its waterways. The opportunity to check out the local plant and animal species in person will be quite appealing to nature lovers.

Here’s a brief look at some of the best Port St. Lucie activities to engage in:

If you find your Port St. Lucie visit happens to be anywhere between February and March you can see the New York Mets training at Tradition Field, their chosen local training ground.

As the locals are bound to tell you, pick up a drink at the tiki bar and spread a blanket in the grassy Tradition Field picnic area for a chance to experience one, or more, of the minor league baseball games held here during the summer, the local way.

Fort Pierce

Often called the Sunrise City; Fort Pierce has spent over 100 years as the center of St Lucie County.  Named after the sinking of the infamous Spanish Fleets, the Treasure Coast is one of the oldest communities on Floridas East Coast.  Florida had been created as a US Territory in 1832 by Congress and where the Armed Occupation Act allowed settlement in what then was the unsettled part of ERast Florida.  Becoming a USState in 1845, The US Army had already commenced building military forts through the region with Colonel Benjamin K Pierce, brother to the future 14th President and Hawkeye to his friends, sailed down the river from St Augustine, and using Palmetto trees to build a Fort.  This area is now known by the area known as Old Fort Park to residents and visitors alike.

1894 saw the first railroad train come to Fort Pierce.  The railroad grew the township’s population along with the import of items such as pineapples from Cuba.  Due to disease is ravaging the area, the need for more fruits to be shipped to the city grew, with citrus fruits becoming the significant import along with cattle.

In 1905, St Lucie was established as a county seat with Fort Pierce that had been part of the Indian River with Brevard County.  54 of the 66 registered voters in the region in 1901 voted to incorporate the township.  Today the early township has now grown to a bustling city that houses a population of over 40,000 residents in an area that is 29 miles square.

Much has happened to this region since the early Indian tribes of Hobe arrived at the Loxahatchee River and no doubt much more will occur as history moves forward.  Due to the nature of its background and rounding, Jupiter is very much a multicultural city which is steeped in its culture, food, and nightlife.  Now a focal point in the region for tourists who want to enjoy both teh history and the coast as well as having the chance to takke an excursion out to the lighthouse to clime the 105 stairs to look out over the reefs.

Palm City

An interesting story is told about Palm City by pamphlets, old newspaper clippings, and historical records.

Chillingworth and Harry C. Feroe, his business partner, bought the land on the South Fork of the St. Lucie River, where Palm City rose from, back in 1912 when the Florida real estate boom was going full throttle.

Anyone who bought ten acres of farmland was offered a city lot, a replication of the strategy used by the founder of Port Salerno, Benjamin Mumford. They hugely praised the long growing season, productive soil and great climate on their nationwide advertisements. The potential of the land was demonstrated to new settlers using an exhibit farm.

Numerous people moved to the state of Florida to start a new life, having packed up their belongings and purchased their land, before they had even laid eyes on it.

Transportation was a major hindrance in the community back at the start of the 20th century. To gain access to medical services, education and shopping establishments in the neighboring town of Stuart across the South Fork of St. Lucie River, the people of Palm City had to use a ferry. Over community’s century of existence, a four lane high rise concrete bridge running the width of the river, which was preceded by a wooden bridge, has been built.

The nearly complete Veterans Memorial Bridge, which runs to 36th Street in Palm City from Indian Street Stuart, will be the second one to span the South Fork.

The river was used as a major thoroughfare during the early days, when the community only occupied its western shore. According to Leighton’s recollection, to get their vehicles out of the sand in summer and mud in winter owners had to carry boards and jacks.

Jensen Beach

Nicknamed the “Pineapple Capital of the World”

In Jensen Beach, the pineapple is a popularly featured symbol. The love for this fruit can be seen everywhere around the town, decorating homes, storefronts and signs. 1881 marks the start of the town’s passion for these fruits when Capt. Thomas E. Richards, at his Eden homestead, planted the first pineapple slips.

In 1888, a pineapple plantation was set up in what would later become the town of Jensen, by a Danish immigrant by the name of John Lawrence Jensen.

Jensen would earn the nickname “Pineapple Capital of the World” only fourteen years later when the annual number of boxes of pineapples being shipped from the town had surpassed a million.

The legacy of this tropical fruit lives on to this date, even with the decline of the pineapple industry experienced in 1920 due to a devastating combination of financial issues, fires and freezes. The Jensen Beach Pineapple Festival, celebrated each year during the month of November, is used to mark this unique bit of history of the town. This festival is not to be missed given the unlimited food options, live music, midway games and carnival rides among others, on offer.