MARTIN COUNTY, FL HISTORY AND LOOKUP

County History Books

*None Listed

Martin County, Florida: A Genealogical Overview

Located on Florida’s southeastern “Treasure Coast,” Martin County is a region renowned for its natural beauty, extensive waterways, and strict building regulations that have preserved its character. It encompasses coastal communities like Stuart, Hobe Sound, and Jupiter Island, as well as the inland agricultural center of Indiantown. The county’s history is a story of Seminole Indian heritage, rugged pioneers, the transformative arrival of the railroad, and its modern establishment during the Florida land boom of the 1920s.

I. County Formation and Evolution

Understanding Martin County’s relatively recent formation from two parent counties is the single most important fact for locating the correct records for ancestors in the region.

  • 1925: County Formed: Martin County was established on May 30, 1925, by an act of the Florida State Legislature.
  • Parent Counties: It was created from the southern portion of St. Lucie County and the northern portion of Palm Beach County. All records prior to 1925 for this area are located in either St. Lucie or Palm Beach county records. The specific parent county depends on the location of the ancestor’s residence.
  • Subsequent County Formations: The boundaries of Martin County have remained stable since its creation in 1925.
  • Name Origin: The county is named for John W. Martin, who was the Governor of Florida at the time of the county’s creation.
  • County Seat History: The city of Stuart was established as the county seat upon the county’s formation and has remained so ever since.

II. Settlement and Early History

  • Early Inhabitants: The area was originally inhabited by the Ais and Jaega Native American tribes. By the 19th century, it became part of the territory of the Seminole people, and the region was a key site during the Second Seminole War, including the Battle of the Loxahatchee in 1838.
  • Pioneer Settlement and Economy: Significant non-native settlement was sparse until Henry Flagler’s Florida East Coast Railway pushed south through the area in the 1890s. This spurred the growth of small communities and an economy based on pineapple farming and commercial fishing. The Florida land boom of the 1920s led to a population increase and the political movement to create the new county. The economy has since diversified into tourism, boating, retirement living, and services, with a large agricultural sector (citrus, cattle, sugarcane) remaining in the western part of the county.

III. Genealogical Records and Resources

This section provides practical information for locating ancestral records specific to Martin County.

  • Courthouse:
    • Martin County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller: Located at the Martin County Courthouse, 100 SE Ocean Blvd, Stuart, FL 34994. This office is the primary repository for county records from 1925 to the present, including probate (wills and estates), civil and criminal court cases, land records (deeds), and marriage licenses.
  • Vital Records:
    • Birth and Death Records: Statewide registration in Florida began in 1917, although it was not universally enforced until later. Official certificates are held by the Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville. Since the county was formed after statewide registration began, researchers should primarily seek records from the state. For events prior to 1925, records may be found (if they exist at all) in the parent counties or at the state level.
    • Marriage Records: Marriage records from 1925 to the present are held by the Martin County Clerk of the Court. For marriages before 1925, researchers must check the records of St. Lucie County or Palm Beach County.
  • Libraries with Genealogy Collections:
    • Martin County Library System: The Blake Library, located at 2351 SE Monterey Rd, Stuart, FL 34996, has a local history and genealogy collection with resources for Martin County research.
    • Historical Society of Martin County: This organization operates the Elliott Museum and the Gilbert’s Bar House of Refuge and is a key resource for historical photos, documents, and family histories.
    • State Archives of Florida: (Located in Tallahassee) This is the central repository for historical public records for all of Florida’s counties and is an essential resource for any in-depth Florida genealogical research.
  • Bordering Jurisdictions:
    • St. Lucie County, FL
    • Palm Beach County, FL
    • Okeechobee County, FL
    • Hendry County, FL
    • Glades County, FL

Please share any resources you have and will do lookups or links to resources you are aware of. Thanks