THE HISTORY OF MARTIN COUNTY
1925
Martin County is created from northern Palm Beach County and a portion of St. Lucie County. Stuart is the county seat. A former school becomes the courthouse.
1925
Dixie Highway is routed through Stuart and Olympia [Hobe Sound].
1926
Hurricanes cause minor damage.
1926
Building boom includes completion of the Post Office Arcade, Pelican Hotel, Lyric Theatre and Stuart Welcome Arch, as well as apartments and commercial buildings. FEC Railway is double tracked. Many subdivisions are platted.
1927
New Sunrise Inn built in Port Sewall.
1927
Jensen Bridge is dedicated.
1927
New Dixie Highway built on right-of-
way of future U.S. Highway 1 through Martin County.
1928
Krueger Municipal Airport opens.
1928
Hurricane causes much damage.
1929
Hobe Sound regains name, after being called Olympia and Picture City.
1933
County sustains substantial hurricane damage.
1933
Wealthy Jupiter Island residents form the Jupiter Island Club.
1934
Hailstorm makes Stuart look like a winter wonderland.
1934
The Roosevelt Bridge replaces the 1918 bridge over the St. Lucie River at Stuart.
1937
Improved Okeechobee Waterway is celebrated.
1938
The Leach mansion, in what is now Indian Riverside Park, is constructed.
1942
Civil Aeronautics Authority improves expanded airport, which is turned over
to the U.S. Navy.
1942
U.S. Coast Guard presence is expanded on Hutchinson Island in Jensen, as well as at the former House of Refuge.
1942
German U-Boats torpedo tankers off Martin County.
1942
Camp Murphy, today’s Jonathan Dickinson State Park, opens.
1943
Federal Recreation Building, today’s Flagler Center, opens.
1943
U.S. Postal Department changes Jensen to Jensen Beach.
1943
Navy airfield is named in honor of Homer Witham.
1945
Ocean frontage is acquired for Jensen, Stuart and Hobe Sound public beaches.
1947
State purchases the former Camp Murphy from the federal government to make it a state park.
1949
Worst hurricane in the history of the county hits.
1950
Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation leases Witham Field.
1955
Jensen Beach Causeway is constructed.
1955
Federal government conveys House of Refuge to Martin County.
1957
Town of Sewall’s Point is incorporated.
1957
Martin County Library opens.
1957
Florida’s Turnpike is dedicated.
1958
Bridges to the sea with 10-cent and
25-cent tolls are opened.
1960
C-23 Canal between Martin and St. Lucie counties is completed.
1960
Ocean Breeze Park is incorporated.
1964
Second bridge opens over St. Lucie
River and U.S. 1, double-laned through Martin County.
1965
Frank Wacha Bridge replaces original draw-span.
1965
Legislature names the bridges to the sea Evans Crary Sr. Bridge [over St. Lucie River] and Ernest F. Lyons Bridge [over the Indian River].
1967
Full integration of public schools begins.
1970
High-rise Palm City Bridge opens to traffic.
1987
Missing link of I-95 through Martin County is completed.
1989
New courthouse is celebrated.
1992
Courthouse is declared “sick.” Everything has to be cleared out.
2001
New high-rise span of Evans Crary Sr. Bridge is celebrated.
2004
Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne hit
Martin County.
2005
Hurricane Wilma hits Martin County.
2006
New Frank A. Wacha Bridge is dedicated.
2007
New Ernest F. Lyons Bridge is dedicated.
2013
Veteran’s Memorial Bridge over the South Fork of the St. Lucie River is dedicated.
2017
Village of Indiantown is incorporated.
— 2025 —
Martin County celebrates its centennial.
