| Official Name: | Port Salerno, Florida |
| Settlement Type: | Census-designated place |
| Mapsize: | 250x200px |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: |  United States |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Type2: | County |
| Unit Pref: | Imperial |
| Area Footnotes: | [1] |
| Area Total Km2: | 10.54 |
| Area Land Km2: | 9.23 |
| Area Water Km2: | 1.31 |
| Area Total Sq Mi: | 4.07 |
| Area Land Sq Mi: | 3.57 |
| Area Water Sq Mi: | 0.50 |
| Population As Of: | 2020 |
| Population Footnotes: | [2] |
| Population Total: | 10401 |
| Population Density Km2: | 1126.29 |
| Population Density Sq Mi: | 2916.71 |
| Timezone: | Eastern (EST) |
| Utc Offset: | -5 |
| Timezone Dst: | EDT |
| Utc Offset Dst: | -4 |
| Coordinates: | 27.1442°N -80.1917°W |
| Elevation M: | 4 |
| Elevation Ft: | 13 |
| Postal Code Type: | ZIP codes |
| Postal Code: | 34992 34997 (Stuart) |
| Area Code: | 772 |
| Blank Name: | FIPS code |
| Blank Info: | 12-58727[3] |
| Blank1 Name: | GNIS feature ID |
| Blank1 Info: | 0289239[4] |
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.[2] It is part of the Port St. Lucie Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Port Salerno is located in eastern Martin County at 27.1442°N -80.1917°W (27.144090, -80.191765).[5] It is bordered to the north by the St. Lucie River and Indian River Lagoon, to the east by one of its branches, known as Great Pocket, to the northwest by Manatee Pocket, and to the southwest by U.S. Route 1. It is 5miles southeast of Stuart, the county seat, and 8miles northwest of Hobe Sound.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the Port Salerno CDP has a total area of 4.1sqmi, of which 3.6sqmi are land and 0.5sqmi, or 12.38%, are water.[1]
In the 1920s, a small settlement was created in the southern shores of St. Lucie river inlet. It was named "Salerno" because of its visual resemblance to the Italian city of Salerno as observed by an early visitor. Early settlers were fisherman who lived along the banks of the Manatee Pocket, a small natural bay in the St. Lucie River. Some descendants of these original settlers remain in the area, with some families owning land for over 100 years.
The area increased in population and importance after World War II, with many people from the northeastern United States moving to Florida. In 1960, the name was changed to "Port Salerno", in order to differentiate it from that of the Italian city.
The 1967 film Gentle Giant was partially filmed in and around Port Salerno. The only grocery store in town was P.O. Smith's Grocery, which was housed in a small wooden building at the intersection of Snake Road (later renamed Salerno Road) and Route A1A. This grocery store was featured in the production[6] in Palm Beach Gardens,[7] 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.[8]
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.
Martin County Public Transit (MARTY) provides fixed-route bus service through Port Salerno.[9] [10]
| 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 census of 2000, there were 10,141 people, 4,466 households, and 2,862 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 2803.2sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 5,126 housing units at an average density of 1416.9sp=usNaNsp=us.
The racial makeup of the CDP was 88.50% White, 6.95% African American, 0.14% Native American, 0.68% Asian, 0.12% Pacific Islander, 2.27% from other races, and 1.34% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.16% of the population.
There were 4,466 households, out of which 23.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.9% were married couples living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.9% were non-families. 28.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.73.
In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 19.9% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 24.7% from 25 to 44, 24.6% from 45 to 64, and 24.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.7 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $39,839, and the median income for a family was $45,016. Males had a median income of $32,420 versus $25,371 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $24,948. About 7.0% of families and 9.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.9% of those under age 18 and 6.8% of those age 65 or over.