Fort Pierce, Florida facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Fort Pierce, Florida
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Fort Pierce Inlet State Park
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| Nickname(s):
The Sunrise City
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Location in St. Lucie County and the state of Florida
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| Country |  United States |
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| State |  Florida |
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| County | St. Lucie | |
| Founded | 1838 | |
| Settled | c. 1860s | |
| Incorporated (city) | 1901 | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Commission-Manager | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 29.84 sq mi (77.29 km2) | |
| • Land | 23.79 sq mi (61.62 km2) | |
| • Water | 6.05 sq mi (15.67 km2) | |
| Elevation | 16 ft (5 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 47,297 | |
| • Density | 1,988.02/sq mi (767.59/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern (EST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) | |
| ZIP Codes |
34945–34951, 34954, 34979, 34981-34982
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| FIPS code | 12-24300 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 0307964 | |
Fort Pierce is a city in Florida, United States. It is the main city of St. Lucie County. Fort Pierce is part of Florida's Treasure Coast region. This area is on the Atlantic Coast. The city is also known as the "Sunrise City." In 2020, about 47,297 people lived there.
Contents
History of Fort Pierce
The city got its name from an Army post built in 1838. This post was called Fort Pierce. It was used during the Second Seminole War until 1842. The fort was named after Benjamin Kendrick Pierce. He was an Army officer and the brother of President Franklin Pierce.
The first people settled in the area around the 1860s. Fort Pierce officially became a city in 1901. For many years, it was the biggest city on Florida's Atlantic Coast. This was true between Daytona Beach and West Palm Beach. However, Melbourne grew larger than Fort Pierce by 1970.
Lincoln Park Neighborhood
The Lincoln Park area started as a neighborhood called Edgartown. It is located north of Moore's Creek. The famous writer, Zora Neale Hurston, once lived here. In the 1950s and 1960s, Lincoln Park was a busy African-American community. Many businesses were located along Avenue D. The Lincoln Theater on Avenue D was a popular spot. Today, Lincoln Park Academy is in this neighborhood. It is on Avenue I, west of North 17th Street.
The Florida Highwaymen Artists
Every February, Lincoln Park celebrates the artwork of the Florida Highwaymen. This was a group of African-American landscape artists. They formed in the 1950s. Local artist A.E. Backus helped many of these artists. Some even started at Lincoln Park Academy with their teacher, Zanobia Jefferson.
In 1994, art historian Jim Fitch gave the group the name 'the Highwaymen'. Between 2001 and 2020, Gary Monroe wrote several books about their art. There were 26 artists in the group, including one woman.
Geography and Environment
Fort Pierce covers about 29.84 square miles (77.29 km2). Most of this area is land, about 23.79 square miles (61.62 km2). The rest is water, about 6.05 square miles (15.67 km2).
Protecting the Shoreline
The Fort Pierce Beach Shore Protection project helps protect the beach. It covers about 1.3 miles (2.1 km) of shoreline. This area runs south from the Fort Pierce Inlet to Surfside Park. The beach needs to be "renourished" every two years. This means adding new sand to the beach. This is because the federal navigation project at Fort Pierce Inlet affects the beach.
The project first started in 1971. New sand is brought from an offshore area called Capron Shoal. It is then pumped onto the beach. This project helps keep the beach healthy and protected.
Amazing Ocean Life
The Experimental Oculina Research Reserve protects a special coral reef. This reef is made of ivory bush coral (Oculina varicosa). It is located off the coast of Fort Pierce. In 1984, a part of these reefs became a special protected area. In 1994, all bottom fishing was stopped there. It became a research reserve.
In 2000, the protected area grew even larger. All fishing gear that could harm the coral was banned. Fort Pierce is also known for having a large number of manatees.
Fort Pierce Marina
In 2004, hurricanes Frances and Jeanne badly damaged the Fort Pierce City Marina. To rebuild, a plan was made to protect the marina from future storms. Starting in 2012, 12 artificial barrier islands were built. These islands include oyster beds, artificial reefs, and mangrove plants. They help protect the marina from strong waves. The project finished in 2013. It took six years to plan and build.
Climate
Fort Pierce is in a special climate zone. It has a mix of a humid subtropical climate and a tropical climate. This means it has warm, wet summers and mild, drier winters.
| Climate data for Fort Pierce, Florida (Treasure Coast International Airport), 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1901–present | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 89 (32) |
90 (32) |
93 (34) |
97 (36) |
98 (37) |
101 (38) |
101 (38) |
101 (38) |
99 (37) |
98 (37) |
92 (33) |
89 (32) |
101 (38) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 84.4 (29.1) |
86.4 (30.2) |
89.4 (31.9) |
91.0 (32.8) |
93.4 (34.1) |
94.9 (34.9) |
95.7 (35.4) |
95.0 (35.0) |
93.3 (34.1) |
90.9 (32.7) |
87.0 (30.6) |
84.7 (29.3) |
97.0 (36.1) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 73.4 (23.0) |
75.7 (24.3) |
78.3 (25.7) |
81.9 (27.7) |
85.6 (29.8) |
88.5 (31.4) |
90.3 (32.4) |
90.2 (32.3) |
88.1 (31.2) |
84.2 (29.0) |
79.2 (26.2) |
75.4 (24.1) |
82.6 (28.1) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 62.3 (16.8) |
64.8 (18.2) |
67.4 (19.7) |
71.5 (21.9) |
76.2 (24.6) |
79.9 (26.6) |
81.4 (27.4) |
81.6 (27.6) |
80.3 (26.8) |
76.4 (24.7) |
69.9 (21.1) |
65.5 (18.6) |
73.1 (22.8) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 51.2 (10.7) |
53.9 (12.2) |
56.5 (13.6) |
61.1 (16.2) |
66.8 (19.3) |
71.3 (21.8) |
72.6 (22.6) |
72.9 (22.7) |
72.6 (22.6) |
68.5 (20.3) |
60.6 (15.9) |
55.7 (13.2) |
63.6 (17.6) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | 34.0 (1.1) |
37.0 (2.8) |
41.3 (5.2) |
47.6 (8.7) |
56.7 (13.7) |
66.5 (19.2) |
68.7 (20.4) |
69.2 (20.7) |
67.2 (19.6) |
53.9 (12.2) |
44.7 (7.1) |
38.1 (3.4) |
31.8 (−0.1) |
| Record low °F (°C) | 19 (−7) |
25 (−4) |
26 (−3) |
33 (1) |
45 (7) |
56 (13) |
61 (16) |
61 (16) |
59 (15) |
42 (6) |
31 (−1) |
19 (−7) |
19 (−7) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 2.82 (72) |
2.17 (55) |
2.88 (73) |
3.03 (77) |
3.93 (100) |
6.69 (170) |
5.85 (149) |
6.94 (176) |
6.27 (159) |
5.25 (133) |
3.01 (76) |
2.33 (59) |
51.17 (1,300) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 8.7 | 7.7 | 8.1 | 7.2 | 9.0 | 14.2 | 15.3 | 15.4 | 15.4 | 12.2 | 10.4 | 9.3 | 132.9 |
| Source: NOAA | |||||||||||||
People of Fort Pierce
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1910 | 1,333 | — | |
| 1920 | 2,115 | 58.7% | |
| 1930 | 4,803 | 127.1% | |
| 1940 | 8,040 | 67.4% | |
| 1950 | 13,502 | 67.9% | |
| 1960 | 25,256 | 87.1% | |
| 1970 | 29,721 | 17.7% | |
| 1980 | 33,802 | 13.7% | |
| 1990 | 36,830 | 9.0% | |
| 2000 | 37,516 | 1.9% | |
| 2010 | 41,910 | 11.7% | |
| 2020 | 47,297 | 12.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 2010 2020 |
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In 2020, Fort Pierce had 47,297 residents. There were 16,687 households and 10,005 families.
| Race | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White (NH) | 14,639 | 15,465 | 35.20% | 32.70% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 16,787 | 17,936 | 40.36% | 37.92% |
| Native American or Alaska Native (NH) | 107 | 86 | 0.26% | 0.18% |
| Asian (NH) | 337 | 472 | 0.81% | 1.00% |
| Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian (NH) | 20 | 15 | 0.05% | 0.03% |
| Some other race (NH) | 83 | 273 | 0.20% | 0.58% |
| Two or more races/Multiracial (NH) | 613 | 1,450 | 1.47% | 3.07% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 9,004 | 11,600 | 21.65% | 24.53% |
| Total | 41,590 | 47,297 | 100.00% | 100.00% |
In 2010, about 32.9% of households had children under 18. About 37.3% were married couples. Around 19.6% were female-led households without a husband. About 37.9% were non-family households.
The average household size was 2.73 people. The average family size was 3.50 people. In 2010, the median age in the city was 35.2 years.
Economy and Jobs
Fort Pierce has several large employers. These businesses provide many jobs for the community.
| No. | Employer | Employees |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital | 1,847 |
| 2 | Walmart Distribution Center | 1,273 |
| 3 | Pursuit Boats | 684 |
| 4 | Maverick Boat Group | 580 |
| 5 | City of Fort Pierce | 358 |
Port of Fort Pierce
The Port of Fort Pierce is a busy place. About 350,000 tons of goods move through it each year. Important goods include citrus fruits for export. Also, cement and aragonite are imported. The port's channels are deep and wide. This allows large ships to come and go.
In late 2014, the port was dredged. This means the bottom of the channels was cleared. This helps keep the port open for ships. Sand from the dredging was used to help the beach.
Fun Things to Do
Fort Pierce has many interesting places to visit:
- A.E. Backus Museum and Gallery
- Arcade Building
- Art Mundo at the Art Bank
- Boston House
- Dust Tracks of Zora Neale Hurston (a place related to the writer)
- Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute
- Heathcote Botanical Gardens
- Historic Main Street
- Florida Power and Light Energy Encounter
- Lincoln Park Main Street
- Old Fort Pierce City Hall
- Old Fort Park
- Manatee Center
- Navy UDT-SEAL Museum (Fort Pierce was where the United States Navy SEALs began)
- Smithsonian Marine Ecosystem Exhibit
- St. Lucie County Marine Center
- St. Lucie County Regional History Center
- Sunrise Theatre
Schools and Learning
Colleges and Universities
- Florida Atlantic University Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute
- Florida State University Medical School Regional Campus
- Indian River State College
- University of Florida Indian River Research and Education Center
High Schools
- Faith Baptist School
- Fort Pierce Central High School
- Fort Pierce Westwood Academy
- John Carroll Catholic High School
- Lincoln Park Academy
Middle Schools
- Creative Arts Academy of Saint Lucie
- Dan McCarty Middle School
- Forest Grove Middle School
- Lincoln Park Academy
- Saint Anastasia Middle School
- Saint Andrew's Academy
- Samuel S. Gaines Academy K–8
Elementary Schools
- Chester A. Moore Elementary School
- Creative Arts Academy of Saint Lucie
- Fairlawn Elementary School
- Francis K. Sweet Elementary School
- Lakewood Park Elementary School
- Lawnwood Elementary School
- Samuel S. Gaines Academy K–8
- Weatherbee Elementary School
- White City Elementary School
Getting Around Fort Pierce
Transportation
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Fort Pierce is located on U.S. Route 1. It is also close to Florida State Road 70. Major highways like Interstate 95 and Florida's Turnpike are nearby. The Intracoastal Waterway also runs through the city.
The closest airport with passenger flights is in Melbourne. A larger airport is in West Palm Beach. Fort Pierce has its own airport for smaller planes, called Treasure Coast International Airport.
The St. Lucie Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) helps plan transportation for Fort Pierce. They work on bus routes and other ways to get around. The local bus system started in the 1990s. It grew to serve St. Lucie County and later Martin County. This bus service is now called the Treasure Coast Connector.
From 1894 to 1968, the Florida East Coast Railway offered passenger train service. Long-distance trains from cities like Chicago and New York used to stop here. These trains went to Miami.
There have been plans to bring passenger train service back to Florida's East Coast. Cities like Fort Pierce were considered for new stations. In 2023, Brightline announced they are looking for new station sites on the Treasure Coast. Brightline is a fast train service between Miami and Orlando. As of 2024, there are no definite plans for a Brightline station in Fort Pierce.
Famous People from Fort Pierce
Actors
- Ricou Browning, known for playing the Gill-Man in Creature from the Black Lagoon
- Michael P. Nash, Filmmaker
- Lisa Janti, actress
Businesspeople
- Edwin Binney, co-founder of Crayola Crayons
Writers and Artists
- A.E. "Beanie" Backus, artist and painter
- Zora Neale Hurston, author of Their Eyes Were Watching God
- Lori McNamara, painter
Musicians
- Ted Hewitt, country music producer
- Gary Stewart, country singer
Politicians
- Alto L. Adams, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Florida
- James E. Alderman, Chief Justice, Florida Supreme Court
- Daniel T. McCarty, 31st Governor of Florida
- Allen R. Sturtevant, Associate Justice of the Vermont Supreme Court
Activists
- Roslyn M. Brock, Chairman of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
Sports Stars
- Jeff Blackshear, NFL football player
- Jamar Chaney, NFL football player
- Yamon Figurs, NFL and CFL football player
- Charles Johnson, MLB baseball player
- Ladislav Karabin, hockey player
- Khalil Mack, NFL football player
- Terry McGriff, MLB baseball player
- Ryan McNeil, NFL football player
- Wonder Monds, NFL football player
- Luther Robinson, NFL football player
- Larry Sanders, NBA basketball player
- Jeff Schwarz, MLB baseball player
- Herbert Strong, professional golfer
- LaDaris Vann, CFL football player
Other Notable People
- Louise Gopher, the first Seminole woman to earn a bachelor's degree
- John Houghtaling, creator of the Magic Fingers Vibrating Bed
- CeeCee Lyles, Flight attendant on United Airlines Flight 93
See also
In Spanish: Fort Pierce para niños
