Fort Pierce is a coastal city in St. Lucie County, Florida, and the county seat of a region known as the Treasure Coast. It sits on the western shore of the Indian River Lagoon, with Hutchinson Island and the Atlantic Ocean forming its eastern boundary, a geography that gives the city both riverfront and oceanfront dimensions. Incorporated in 1901, Fort Pierce grew from a frontier settlement into an agricultural, fishing, and railroad hub, and that working-waterfront heritage still shapes its identity. The city's most prominent landmark is the Sunrise Theatre, which opened in 1923 as the largest theater on Florida's east coast between Jacksonville and Miami and is now a restored, National Register-listed performing-arts venue. The historic downtown surrounding it has experienced a steady revival, filling with murals, galleries, restaurants, and civic events that have made it a cultural anchor for the Treasure Coast. Fort Pierce's economy reflects a mix of agriculture, healthcare, education, and marine industries, with the Port of Fort Pierce and Indian River State College contributing to the local base. The population is notably diverse, and the city maintains a more modest cost of living than many of its coastal neighbors, which has attracted families, artists, and retirees alike. For residents, Fort Pierce offers genuine old-Florida character alongside the amenities of a modern county seat. Its beaches, inlet, and lagoon provide year-round recreation, its downtown offers cultural depth, and its position along the Treasure Coast keeps larger urban centers within reach while preserving a distinctly local, unhurried pace of life.