A. According to the annual population study conducted by the University of Florida, Port St. Lucie became St. Lucie County’s most populous city in 1988, with over 42,000 residents, thanks to a growth spurt. At the same time, the population of Fort Pierce had declined slightly to under 39,000.
The 2010 U.S. Census found the city’s population approaching 165,000, more than 59 percent of that of the county. Fort Pierce holds just under 15 percent, with the rest living in the unincorporated county, which includes River Park, Indian River Estates, White City and Lakewood Park as well as smaller neighborhoods and rural land.
-- U.S. Census Bureau, University of Florida, City of Port St. Lucie, archives of Palm Beach Post