The places we call home

The communities that make up Martin County have a varied history

BY SANDRA THURLOW

The wooden bridge across the Indian River at Jensen provided the only non-water access to Hutchinson Island beaches between 1924 and 1958.
The wooden bridge across the Indian River at Jensen provided the only non-water access to Hutchinson Island beaches between 1924 and 1958. SANDRA THURLOW

JENSEN/JENSEN BEACH

R.R. Ricou, Jensen’s kingpin, died on Jan. 7, 1925.
R.R. Ricou, Jensen’s kingpin, died on Jan. 7, 1925. ANITA TILTON WACHA

Jensen was designated a post office on April 17, 1890. Four years later, with the coming of Henry Flagler’s railway, John L. Jensen subdivided a portion of his homestead as the Town of Jensen. Pineapple growing and commercial fishing were the main industries. The most prosperous resident was wholesale fish dealer, R.R. Ricou. In the early 1920s he began purchasing property in Stuart, foreseeing the creation of a new county of which Jensen would be a part. His plans were not fulfilled because he died before Martin County was created. The Jensen Bridge District, established in 1922 and financed by bonds while Jensen was within St. Lucie County, made it possible to reach Hutchinson Island. The postal department added “Beach” to Jensen on June 1, 1943.

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