Port Salerno is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Martin County, Florida, United States. The population was 10,401 at the 2020 census. in Palm Beach Gardens, but had been transformed into a saloon before being filmed. This was because the grocery store had swinging "saloon style" doors.
In the 1970s, the Manatee Hotel was transformed into the Manatee Resort upon purchase by Michael Reynolds, heir to the R. J. Reynolds tobacco fortune. Sally Field mentioned the town and resort in an interview with Johnny Carson on The Tonight Show.
In the 1980s, the Chastain Campus of Indian River State College was established. Port Salerno is known for their "World Fishing Tournaments", based on the yacht port.
On October 9, 2024, Port Salerno was hit by two tornadoes which were spawned by Hurricane Milton. The first tornado was an EF1, and the second tornado was an EF2. Both tornadoes caused damage in the community and struck within two hours of each other.
Government
Port Salerno is an unincorporated town located in Martin County, governed by County Commissioners. Martin County is divided into five districts. Port Salerno is represented by Sarah Heard as part of District 4.
Public transportation
Martin County Public Transit (MARTY) provides fixed-route bus service through Port Salerno.
Demographics
2020 census
{| class="wikitable"
|+Port Salerno racial composition<br> (Hispanics excluded from racial categories)<br> (NH = Non-Hispanic)
!Race
!Number
!Percentage
|-
|White (NH)
|7,018
|67.47%
|-
|Black or African American (NH)
|725
|6.97%
|-
|Native American or Alaska Native (NH)
|20
|0.19%
|-
|Asian (NH)
|67
|0.64%
|-
|Some Other Race (NH)
|30
|0.29%
|-
|Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH)
|347
|3.34%
|-
|Hispanic or Latino
|2,194
|21.09%
|-
|Total
|10,401
|
|}
As of the 2020 census, Port Salerno had a population of 10,401.
The median age was 52.0 years. 16.7% of residents were under the age of 18 and 29.1% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 98.0 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 96.2 males age 18 and over.
There were 5,432 housing units, of which 15.2% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.3% and the rental vacancy rate was 6.6%. Of the 4,609 households, 20.0% had children under the age of 18 living in them; 44.6% were married-couple households, 20.8% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 27.1% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 32.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.