🌅 📊 St. Lucie Hits 400,000

It's Monday! I went to Harbor Cocktail Lounge last Friday to hang with friends, and I really enjoyed my time there. I also thought more people should know about it. Granted, it's hard to judge how much traffic it's getting since I don't go there regularly and we showed up earlier in the evening on Friday, so I'm assuming it picks up on the weekends. It's probably one of the few "third places" that we have, not even just in Fort Pierce, but in the county. It truly just felt good to be in there, to sit around, to talk. If you are looking for something like that, you should definitely check it out.

💜 People Pass Shoutout: Thank you to everyone supporting the newsletter! If you want to help keep this going, support here.

☀️ Day: High of 86°F | Heavy thunderstorm. There can be ponding on roadways. 70% chance of rain.
🌙 Night: Low of 73°F | A passing evening shower, otherwise partly cloudy and humid. Winds S at 2 mph. 55% chance of rain.
🌅 Sunrise: 7:09 AM | 🌇 Sunset: 7:19 PM
🌙 Moonrise: 4:26 PM | 🌚 Moonset: 3:12 AM
🎶 Sounds like: "I Wish It Would Rain" — The Temptations

If you have been paying attention to what is happening here, none of this will surprise you. But it is nice to see the Census Bureau catch up 📊.

New estimates are out and St. Lucie County added 10,857 residents between July 2024 and July 2025, pushing the county above 400,000 people for the first time. Most of that growth came from people choosing to move here from other parts of the country.

Port St. Lucie is doing something genuinely remarkable right now.

Port St. Lucie 📋:

Fort Pierce 📋:

How our neighbors compare 📋:

The bigger picture: Florida overall is still growing but slowing down and the story is very different depending on where you look. Pinellas County lost nearly 11,900 residents. Miami-Dade lost about 10,100. While some of the state's biggest counties are shrinking St. Lucie County is still one of the places people are choosing to come to 👀.

That is not an accident. It is also not without consequence. The roads, the schools, the water, the services, all of it has to keep up. That is why so much of what we cover here matters.

💬 What do you think about the growth happening in St. Lucie County? Call or text us at (772) 212-1504

🏥 Three Hospital Chains Eyeing Indian River County Site

A development team looking to build a hospital at SR 60 and 66th Avenue confirmed three major hospital systems have expressed interest in operating the new facility. The developers wouldn't name the systems but described them as "known names in Florida." The county commission will consider the project at an October 6 hearing.

👉 Read more (Vero News)

🎬 David Arquette Brings Scream 30th Anniversary to Fort Pierce

Actor David Arquette is screening "Scream" at the Sunrise Theatre on October 11 at 7 p.m., followed by an interview and Q&A. The only Treasure Coast stop on his tour, tickets range from $81.55 to $91.85. A photo opportunity with Arquette costs $174.70.

👉 Get Tickets (TCPalm)

🏗️ Martin County Compromises on Rezoning Amid Data Center Fears

Hobe Sound Business Park will get limited industrial zoning instead of general industrial after residents objected to stronger protections for the property. Commissioners worried the site could become a data center if it changes hands. The county is also considering a one-year moratorium on data centers while consulting experts and residents on benefits and drawbacks.

👉 Read more (WQCS)

📱 Keep up with the Sunland News: Send comments & suggestions to [email protected] Follow us on, Instagram and Youtube

If you enjoyed this, consider forwarding to a friend!