Jensen Beach
Situated in northern Martin County, Jensen Beach boasts a quaint old-Florida lifestyle from Hutchinson Island on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean to the lagoons of the Intracoastal Waterway. The revitalization of the downtown urban district has created a truly beautiful place to shop, work and play.
Jensen Beach includes the communities of Hutchinson Island, Rio, Sewall’s Point and Jensen Beach. This wonderful community rests on the scenic Indian River and the St. Lucie River. If you enjoy living among natural beauty you’ll find Jensen Beach a great place to live, work and play. The area has become a recreational paradise of water sports, relaxation, and natural beauty, as well. The average temperature is 82 degrees with the cool breezes off the Atlantic during summer highs. While 100,000 people have made their home in Martin County, 15,000 reside in the Jensen Beach communities year-round.
Population on Hutchinson Island doubles from December through April as winter brings guests from all over. Sewall’s Point is the gateway to the Atlantic Ocean. The town is home to many families with homes on tree-lined streets in a peaceful community. Rio resides along the St. Lucie River while Jensen Beach itself runs alongside the Indian River, north of Sewall’s Point. From recreation to relaxation, whatever community you visit or relocate to you’ll enjoy the lifestyle that is Jensen Beach.
As you enter Jensen Beach, the Historic Jensen/Rio Arch offers a warm welcome. Built in 1925, the Arch marks the boundary between Rio and Jensen Beach. The Environmental Studies Center teaches ecology using exhibits and a hands-on educational style for student’s kindergarten through eighth grade. Visitors are invited to view the saltwater aquariums, marine life museum and wet lab.
On Hutchinson Island you will find the Florida Oceanographic Society. It’s a research and educational center that is also home to the Frances Langford Visitor Center. The Visitor Center showcases marine displays and exhibits including a replica of the Saballariid Reef. Gilbert’s Bar House of Refuge Museum holds interesting treasures from yester-year. The museum was built in 1875 making it the oldest structure of Martin County. Originally a refuge for shipwrecked sailors, the Museum preserves lifesaving equipment and maritime exhibits from the 1500s. The Elliott Museum houses the inventions of Sterling Elliot as well as shops, Indian artifacts, contemporary art and classic automobiles.
On a breezy afternoon, take a stroll along Maple Street and you’ll find charming cottages where artists display and sell original art works. A drive down Peacock Lane will reveal families of colorful peacocks. Jensen Beach also holds many of the area’s finest dining establishments. A variety of culinary specialties are available, while the most popular selection is fresh seafood. When its time to go shopping visit the Treasure Coast Square Mall and find the style or accessory of your choosing. Near the mall are two major shopping centers, Square One and Marketplace Square.
What town would be complete without the spice and entertainment of the cultural arts? Art collections, plays, antiques, heritage facilities, art and dance companies, live music and much more can be found in the area. Five main stage productions come alive each season at The Barn Theatre. The Theatre puts on a series of one-act shows between each main stage production. They have purchased a piece of land with plans to build on it in the future. The Lyric Theater is a historic 500-seat venue that hosts a year-round slate of entertainment. Friends of the Lyric, Inc., operate the theater as a not-for-profit organization that showcases a variety of events. Here audiences are entertained with everything from concerts and seminars to theatrical productions and children’s programming.
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