The History of Palm City



Charles C. Chillingworth founded "Palm City" in 1912.  He purchased 13.5 square miles from George Beckwith and advertised to sell 10 acre tracts for $50.00 per acre.  Each purchaser was given a free 1 acre town lot in Palm City.  Wow...what a deal!!

The only connection, at this time, to the mainland was by ferry.  In 1913, The Palm Villa Hotel opened on Palmetto Street (known today as Martin Downs Blvd.) It was located near the ferry landing.  Six years later, in 1919, the first Palm City bridge crossed over the South Fork of the St. Lucie River, connecting Palm City to Stuart.  This replaced the ferry.
 
In 1921, the 47 townspeople completed the incorporation of Palm City and in 1926, the first Palm City Chamber of Commerce organized.

The growth of the community came to an end in 1928 when it was hit by a killer hurricane.  Many people vacated the area and in 1937 the town of Palm City was abolished by Legistlature and became a part of Stuart, Florida.

In 1952, Palm City had 358 registered voters and the area began its rebirth. Subdivisions were platted beginning in 1953 with Pelican Cove. 

It wasn't until 1978 that Palm City once again broke away from Stuart.  In that year "Palm City" was added to the I-95 exit at State Road 714.  It took many years of compaigning to have "Palm City" added to the Florida Turnpike sign.

Today over 20,097 people, 8458 households and 6301 families reside in beautiful "Palm City".  It's a wonderful place to live!!