Stuart, Florida is a small town located in Martin County, of which it is the county seat. Stuart is set along the Treasure Coast of Florida, and is the largest of four incorporated municipalities that make up Martin County. As of the 2010 census, the population of Stuart was 15,593. The town is located within the Port St. Lucie, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area, which in turn is part of the larger region known as the Treasure Coast, home to over 586,000 residents.

Because of its location, experts frequently recommend Stuart as one of the best small towns in the U.S. to visit. Thanks to its stunning seascape, welcoming atmosphere, and proximity to both the St. Lucie River and Indian River Lagoon, Stuart is visited every year by countless people looking to relax along the beach without the crowds of larger cities.

As with many of Florida’s cities, Stuart has a rich and interesting history. Back in the 1700s, several Spanish galleons were shipwrecked in what is today the Martin County area. The multiple wrecks were reported to have been caused by a hurricane, and the ships that went down were rumored to carry large quantities of silver and gold. Since then, some of this wealth has even been recovered, leading to the “Treasure Coast” name that has stuck with the region ever since.

In the early 19th century, the pirate Pedro Gilbert became famous for using a sandbar off the coast of Stuart in order to lure and trap unsuspecting ships. In 1832, he chased and caught a U.S. merchant ship known as the Mexican. Although Gilbert attempted to destroy both the ship and its crew, they ultimately survived and alerted the authorities, which in turn led to the capture and execution of both the pirate and his crew. Today, the sandbar which he used is named “Gilbert’s Bar” on official nautical charts.

Though originally settled by Native Americans, the Treasure Coast area that eventually developed into Stuart was first settled by European colonists in 1870. Soon after in 1875, a United States Lifesaving Station was established just outside Stuart on the nearby Hutchinson Island. This station, one of twelve coastal Florida havens designed to provide shelter to shipwrecked sailors, was officially named the House of Refuge at Gilbert’s Bar after the famous sandbar just off the coast. Today, the station is often known as the Gilbert’s Bar House of Refuge/Museum, and it is officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Between 1893 and 1895, the area was called Potsdam in honor of Potsdam, Germany, the hometown of local landowner Otto Stypmann who, along with his brother, owned the land that would one day become downtown Stuart. In 1895, Potsdam was renamed Stuart with the development of the Florida East Coast Railway; this new name was selected to honor Homer Hine Stuart, Jr., another prominent local landowner. Shortly after in 1914, Stuart was officially incorporated as a town. Though initially set within the boundaries of Palm Beach County, Stuart was chartered as a city in 1925 and subsequently became the county seat of the newly established Martin County. Today, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, Stuart comprises a total area of 8.5 square miles, 6.3 square miles of which is land and the other 2.2 square miles of which is water.

According to the Köppen climate classification, Stuart is designated a tropical climate. Like much of the surrounding area. Stuart experiences hot, humid, rainy summers and warm, dry winters with very little chance of traditional winter weather such as ice or snow. Stuart has a seasonal precipitation pattern; June through September are virtually always the wettest months, while November through April tend to be the driest.

The summer season, typically lasting from May through October, is defined by hot temperatures, bright sun, and daily thundershowers that build up during the intense daytime heat. High summer temperatures tend to be in the upper 80s to low 90s; the coastal location usually prevents temperatures from becoming very hot, though days above 100 are not impossible. On average, 96 °F is the highest summer temperature, and there are approximately 76 days a year where the weather reaches 90 or above. The chance of tropical storms and hurricanes rises dramatically in late summer and fall, though landfalls are rare. However, Stuart was hit by 19 hurricanes between 1871 and 2005, including several major hurricanes such as Hurricane David in 1979, Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne in 2004, and Hurricane Wilma in 2005.

In contrast, the winter season, stretching from November through April, brings much cooler and drier air, causing the humidity and dew points to drop considerably. Winters often become exceptionally dry, and it is not rare to experience a high fire danger and even residential water use restriction by March. Average winter daytime highs range from 73 to 77 °F, though occasional cold fronts can sometimes drop daily highs into just the 50s for a few days each winter. Low temperatures virtually never drop below 40 °F, and winters are frequently free of frost. The first cold front of the winter typically hits around October or November and drops the low below 60 for the first time of the season. Even then, highs throughout the winter can still spike into the 80s on occasion.

Stuart is home to numerous tourist attractions, including public beaches, places to rent boats and scuba gear, and plenty of opportunities to fish. In fact, the marine life around Stuart is so plentiful that the city has become known as the Sailfish Capital of the World due to the high numbers of sailfish that can be seen along the Martin County coastline.

In addition to providing a small-town getaway for tourists, Stuart is home to plenty of locals with reputable small business ready to help with virtually any problem. Chief among these is The Plumbing Company, located in Palm City and serving several towns in the surrounding area. If you are in need of a plumber in Stuart, call the The Plumbing Company experts at 772-223-8688 to schedule a visit today!