Indiantown, Florida facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Indiantown, Florida
|
||
|---|---|---|
| Village of Indiantown | ||
SW Warfield Blvd.
|
||
|
||
| Motto(s):
Where Great Things Grow
|
||
Location in Martin County and the state of Florida
|
||
| Country |  United States |
|
| State |  Florida |
|
| County | Martin | |
| Settled | Circa 1890s | |
| Incorporated | December 31, 2017 | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Mayor-Council | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 14.44 sq mi (37.40 km2) | |
| • Land | 14.18 sq mi (36.73 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.26 sq mi (0.67 km2) | |
| Elevation | 33 ft (10 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
|
||
| • Total | 6,560 | |
| • Density | 462.62/sq mi (178.62/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) | |
| ZIP code |
34956
|
|
| Area code(s) | 772 | |
| FIPS code | 12-33700 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 0294216 | |
Indiantown is a small village located in Martin County, Florida, in the United States. In 2020, about 6,560 people lived there. It's a quiet, rural area in the middle of Florida's Treasure Coast. Indiantown started in the early 1900s and officially became a village on December 31, 2017. A mayor and council, chosen by the people, lead the village. A village manager handles the daily tasks.
Contents
History of Indiantown
Indiantown was first set up by the Seminole people. They used it as a place to trade goods. Tribes who were moving away from the U.S. Army after the First Seminole War found this area a good spot to live. It was higher up and had lots of places to hunt and fish. Later, in the 1890s, white American settlers also moved in.
Railroad and Growth
In 1924, Indiantown changed a lot. A man named S. Davies Warfield built a new part of the Seaboard Air Line Railroad. This train line went from Coleman, Florida, all the way to West Palm Beach. It passed right through Indiantown and even had a stop there.
Warfield had big plans for Indiantown. He wanted it to be the main southern center for the Seaboard train line. To make this happen, he designed a special "model city." He planned out streets, built a school, houses, and a train station. Warfield also built the Seminole Inn, which is now a famous historical building.
The big building boom in Florida during the 1920s slowed down after 1926. Warfield died a year later, which stopped the plans for Indiantown to be the main train headquarters. A strong storm, the 1928 Okeechobee hurricane, caused a lot of damage and stopped any new building for a while.
Revitalization and Attractions
A serious effort to make the local economy better started in 1952. The Indiantown Development Corporation was sold and became the Indiantown Company. This company helped build new water and sewer systems. They also built new housing, docks on the St. Lucie River, and a 6,000-foot (1,829 m) airstrip. This airstrip was for small cargo planes and other civilian flights.
In the 1950s and 1960s, Indiantown was home to the Circle T Ranch. This ranch had a famous rodeo called the Circle T Rodeo Bowl. In 1963, about 15,000 people came to the rodeo. This made it the biggest tourist attraction in Florida at that time. The ranch was later sold and became a place for filming movies and TV shows.
Train service continued to stop at the Indiantown depot through the 1960s. However, passenger trains stopped coming to the station when Amtrak took over in 1971. The train station was torn down a few years later. Today, the Seminole Inn is almost the only building left from the big boom of the 1920s.
Warfield's important work in Indiantown is remembered in several ways. For example, Warfield Boulevard, the main road through Indiantown, is named after him. There is also Warfield Elementary School.
Today, Indiantown's economy mostly depends on farming, especially during certain seasons. The village also uses its location near major roads to be a center for transportation. There are also efforts to use the nearby natural wetlands and bring back the rodeo to attract more tourists.
Geography and Location
Indiantown is located in the western part of Martin County. Its exact location is 27°2′N 80°28′W / 27.033°N 80.467°W. It is about 12 miles (19 km) east of Port Mayaca, which is on Lake Okeechobee. Indiantown is also 22 miles (35 km) southwest of Stuart, which is the main town of Martin County. West Palm Beach is about 36 miles (58 km) to the northwest.
According to the United States Census Bureau, Indiantown covers a total area of about 14.4 square miles (37.3 km²). Only about 0.3 square miles (0.8 km²), or 1.80%, of this area is water. The southern edge of the village is the St. Lucie Canal. This canal connects Lake Okeechobee to the St. Lucie River near Stuart.
Population Information
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 2000 | 5,588 | — | |
| 2010 | 6,083 | 8.9% | |
| 2020 | 6,560 | 7.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2020, the 2020 United States census showed that 6,560 people lived in Indiantown. There were 1,916 households and 1,357 families living in the village.
In 2010, the 2010 United States census counted 6,083 people living in Indiantown. At that time, there were 1,383 households and 1,029 families.
Public Transportation Services
Martin County Public Transit (MARTY) provides bus services in Indiantown. These buses follow set routes to help people get around the village.
Parks and Recreation Activities
Indiantown is home to Payson Park. This is one of the best places in the United States for training thoroughbred racehorses. Many famous horse trainers and their champion horses have trained here. Some of these trainers include William Mott, Christophe Clement, Roger Attfield, Shug McGaughey, John Kimmel, and Tom Albertrani. The Monkees singer, Davy Jones, also kept his racehorses in Indiantown. He sadly passed away here in 2012.
Other parks in the village include Big Mound Park, Booker Park, Post Family Park, and Timer Powers Park. These parks offer places for people to relax and play.
Notable People from Indiantown
- Charles Emanuel, a professional NFL football player
- Cleveland Gary, a professional NFL football player
- Davy Jones, a musician and actor, famous from The Monkees
- Corey McIntyre, a professional NFL football player
- Patrick Sheltra, a racing champion in the 2010 ARCA Racing Series
See also
In Spanish: Indiantown (Florida) para niños
