Jensen Beach is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Martin County, Florida, United States. The population was 12,652 at the 2020 census. To help handle the increased pineapple production, a pineapple factory was built, but a hard freeze in 1895 devastated most of the small pineapple plantations. Two fires, in 1908 and 1910, destroyed most of Jensen Beach and its remaining pineapple farms. The industry finally collapsed in 1920 due to a wide variety of financial and agriculture problems. Growers decided to turn their efforts in another direction: raising citrus fruits. The pineapple has become a symbol of Jensen Beach. The fruit legacy is celebrated annually during the Jensen Beach Pineapple Festival.
Jensen Beach was incorporated as "Jensen" in 1926 during the Florida Land Boom, but was dissolved seven years later by the State of Florida in 1933 following the onset of the Great Depression. The town's name was officially changed to "Jensen Beach" by Martin County in 1943.
In the second half of the 1900s, Saint Joseph College of Florida and later the Florida Institute of Technology both located on the Mansion at Tuckahoe premises in Jensen Beach.
In 2004 Jensen Beach was hit by two hurricanes. On September 5, 2004, Hurricane Frances made landfall at Hutchinson Island with winds of . On September 25, 2004, Hurricane Jeanne made landfall on Hutchinson Island with winds of .
Geography and climate
thumb|left|Fire Rescue Station 16 on Savanna Road serves Jensen Beach.
thumb|left|Family Church Jensen Beach
thumb|left|Jensen Beach Community Church
thumb|left|Jensen Sea Turtle Beach
Jensen Beach occupies the northeast corner of Martin County. It is bordered to the east by the Indian River Lagoon and the town of Ocean Breeze, to the southeast by the town of Sewall's Point, to the south by unincorporated Rio, to the southwest by the city of Stuart, the Martin county seat, to the northwest by U.S. Route 1, and to the north by the city of Port St. Lucie in St. Lucie County. Unincorporated North River Shores is to the west of Jensen Beach, on the opposite side of US 1. According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of , of which are land and , or 14.82%, are water.
The climate in the area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to somewhat cool winters, with occasional frosts. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Jensen Beach has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps, transitioning to a tropical monsoon or tropical rainforest climate.
Government
Jensen Beach is an unincorporated town in Martin County. Jensen Beach is currently represented by Doug Smith as part of Martin County District 1.
The Jensen Beach Neighborhood Advisory Committee is composed of appointed Jensen Beach residents and business owners and formally advises the Martin County Community Redevelopment Agency regarding planning matters in the area.
Demographics
thumb|right|[[Tabebuia off Savanna Road in Jensen Beach, April 2010, typical of such trees blooming throughout Martin County in the spring]]
thumb|right|[[Jacaranda off Savanna Road in Jensen Beach, May 2010.]]
thumb|right|[[Royal Poinciana off Savanna Road in Jensen Beach, May 2010.]]
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, Jensen Beach had a population of 12,652. There were 3,038 families residing in the CDP.
The median age was 55.2 years. 14.5% of residents were under the age of 18 and 32.1% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 92.8 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 91.3 males age 18 and over.
There were 6,097 households in Jensen Beach, of which 17.7% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 43.2% were married-couple households, 19.9% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 30.7% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 36.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 22.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
Historic landmarks
Historic landmarks in Jensen Beach include:
- All Saints Episcopal Church erected in 1898 is the oldest church building in Jensen Beach as well as in Martin County. Adjacent to the church is All Saints Cemetery which is non-sectarian and serves the whole community.
- Capt. John Miller House (private) on Indian River Drive in Eden, built by an early settler in the late 1890s
- Jensen Beach Christian Church built in 1910-1912
- Capt. Henry E. Sewall House, now located in Indian Riverside Park
- The Mansion at Tuckahoe in Indian Riverside Park
- Mount Elizabeth Archeological Site in Indian Riverside Park
- Stuart Welcome Arch, on County Road 707
Sister cities
Jensen Beach has been the sister city of Gregory Town in the Bahamas since July 1989.
Notable people
- Ralph Evinrude, CEO of Outboard Motor Company with a test facility in Stuart; retired to Jensen Beach
- Derek Fathauer, PGA golfer
- Forest K. Ferguson, World War II recipient of Distinguished Service Cross
- Paul C. Genereux, US Army brigadier general
- Frances Langford, singer and entertainer
- Bobby Lord, country singer
- Anthony Newley, British songwriter and actor
- Scott Proctor, baseball pitcher
- Jennifer Sky (born Jennifer Kathleen Wacha), actress