Martin County, Florida
Jensen Beach
A million boxes a year in 1895. Nothing at all by 1920.
By 1895 Jensen was called the Pineapple Capital of the World, shipping more than a million boxes a year in the June and July season.
What this place is
Why Jensen Beach is here
John Laurence Jensen, a Danish immigrant, planted a pineapple plantation here in 1881 and the town grew from it.
Pineapples, then nothing. The Florida East Coast Railway reached the town by 1894 and let growers load freight direct; a severe freeze in 1895, fires in 1908 and 1910, and mounting debt finished the industry by 1920, after which growers turned to citrus.
Worth the trip
What to look for
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Jensen Sea Turtle Beach, nesting ground for loggerhead, leatherback and green sea turtles, barricaded in sections through the nesting season.
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The Indian River Lagoon along the town's eastern edge.
Hotels, inns, rentals and campgrounds
Where to Stay
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Resorts
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Hotels
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Resorts
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Hotels
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Vacation Rentals
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Vacation Rentals
Restaurants, seafood, cafes and bars
Where to Eat
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Seafood · $
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Restaurants · $$
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Bars Breweries · $
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Restaurants · $
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Restaurants · $
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Restaurants · $$
Parks, beaches, museums, tours and charters
Things to Do
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Parks Nature
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Parks Nature
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Parks Nature
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Museums History
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Parks Nature
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Beaches
Jensen Beach on the record
Pictures of the place
Archive and Creative Commons photographs of Jensen Beach. Nothing here is generated; every image is credited to the person who took it.
76 guides, written from this town’s own record
Guides
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The Best Things to Do in Jensen Beach, Florida
The pineapple boom built this town, the freeze killed it, and the turtles stayed the whole time.
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The Best Restaurants in Jensen Beach, Florida
The Pineapple Capital sent a million crates a year down the Indian River, and then the freezes came, and the fires, and the town turned to citrus and then to the sea. The turtles still come ashore.
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Where to Stay in Jensen Beach: Hotels, Inns and Rentals
The pineapple boom built Jensen Beach, and the turtle nests that still line its shore are the living half of that story.
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A Weekend in Jensen Beach: What to See, Eat and Do
The town’s living symbol is the sea turtle, and the town’s dead one is the pineapple.
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Jensen Beach, FL: 16 Things to Know Before You Visit
16 Things to Know Before Visiting Jensen Beach
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The Best Time of Year to Visit Jensen Beach
The town’s calendar is still set by a season that no longer exists—the one that ended in 1920—and by the turtles that arrive every year to finish the job.
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Jensen Beach or Stuart: Which Florida Town to Visit
Jensen Beach's fame arrived in a boxcar and left in a bank ledger. What remains is a shoreline that still keeps time by a different kind of arrival.
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The History of Jensen Beach in 6 Landmarks
The pineapple that built this town has been gone for a century. The turtles that return to its beach every summer have not.
Public record
Jensen Beach by the numbers
- 12,456Residents (2023)
- 8.8% Homes held for seasonal use
- 258 Places in this guide