Fort Pierce, Florida
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Fort Pierce
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Fort Pierce evolved into a fishing village in the early 1900s, and the town is still famous among fishermen. Record-breaking fish have been caught in Fort Pierce, and anglers travel great distances to try their luck at Fort Pierce Inlet. Another popular destination is Indian River Lagoon, an expansive body of water considered the most biologically diverse estuarine system in the continental United States. With both natural and artificial reefs, Fort Pierce is also a great destination for diving. A few notable neighborhoods in Fort Pierce are Queens Cove, Lakewood Park, and Ocean Village.
Cost of Living
While Fort Pierce's seems expensive when compared to other areas in Florida, cost of living is much lower than cities further south like West Palm Beach and Boca Raton. As a result, Fort Pierce attracts workers and retirees looking to save on housing costs and property taxes. Coastal properties often cost a pretty penny, but homes located inland in more rural areas of Fort Pierce sell for much lower prices.
Transportation
As a fairly rural area, Fort Pierce offers limited options for public transportation, though some bus service is available through the Treasure Coast Connector. That service will get you around Downtown Fort Pierce and connect you to nearby Port St. Lucie to the south, but you'll need a car to get to areas outside of that. Interstate 95 runs through the east side of Fort Pierce while the Florida Turnpike passes through the west.
Schools
Fort Pierce has 25 public schools and 71 private schools that generally receive slightly above average ratings. Among the highest rated schools for pre-K through grade 5 are Fairlawn Elementary School and Frances K. Sweet Elementary School. Other high-rated schools are Lincoln Park Academy for grades 6-12 and Fort Pierce Magnet School of the Arts for grades K-8. Fort Pierce is also home to Indian River State College.
Attractions
Among the top attractions in Fort Pierce is the Navy Seal Museum, which is the only museum dedicated to preserving the history of the United States Navy SEALs. Not surprisingly, some of the most popular activities here take place in or along the ocean. Fort Pierce Inlet State Park is known for its beach recreation activities and bird watching, and Hutchinson Island has beautiful beaches, nature preserves, and parks.