How much do you know about Martin County, this special place that we call home?
Here are some facts, some food for thought, and some of the places that offer objective information.
Agriculture and Ranching
- Farming and ranching are the bedrock on which Martin County was built.
- 11% of jobs in Martin County are in farming.
- If you include agriculture, natural resources and related industries, that jumps to 25.2% of full and part-time jobs.
- Number of Farms in Martin County: 587
- Land in Farms: 139,310 acres
- Average Size of Farm: 237 acres
- Market Value of Products Sold: $165,453,000
- Crops grown in Martin County include: citrus, potatoes, beets, cabbage, spinach, sweet corn, sugar cane, tomatoes, peppers, melon, cucumbers, squash, green beans, basil, sod, and shrimp and clams through aquaculture.
- Local farmers are active in the farm-to-table movement, and they donate hundreds of thousands of products to local food banks and non-profits each year.
Food for thought: How can Martin County preserve and sustain its agricultural heritage?
A Healthy and Sustainable Community
- The annual Per Capita income in Martin County is $58,712---the 5th highest in the nation.
- The average wage(what a job pays in a year) is about $39,000 --- making Martin County one of the lowest/poorest in the nation.
- More than 90% of the businesses in Martin County employ 5 or fewer people.
- Of the 10 largest employers in the County, 2 (the largest) are non-profit or governmental, 4 are retail, 2 are aerospace, 1 is trucking, and 1 is banking.
- Based on population growth estimates and to maintain a 5% unemployment rate or better, Martin County will need to add 3,314 new jobs by 2020.
Food for thought: What businesses and industries could come to Martin County that would be compatible with our lifestyle?
Links and Resources
- State of Florida
- Martin County Business Development Board
- Economic Council of Martin County
- Enterprise Florida
- Florida Department of Economic Opportunity
- Treasure Coast Builders Association
- Marine Industries Association of the Treasure Coast
- United Way of Martin County
- Stuart/Martin County Chamber of Commerce
- Palm City Chamber of Commerce
- Hobe Sound Chamber of Commerce
- Jensen Beach Chamber of Commerce
- Indiantown Chamber of Commerce
Good Government
What makes Martin County different from other counties and communities?
- A strong Comprehensive Growth Management Plan designed to maintain our lifestyle and to keep the rules fair for everyone. Key pillars of the Comp Plan such as a 4-story height limit, a 15-unit-per-acre density cap, a strong urban services boundary and environmental protections, keep us from looking like the more urban areas to the north and south.
- An engaged and informed citizenry.
- A passion for the environment, for philanthropy, and for truth in government.
Food for thought: How can facts, not fear and misdirection, rule the deliberations as we face big issues about our future?