The City of Port St. Lucie (PSL) does not have a typical origin story. Unlike many South Florida cities, we weren’t founded in the 1900s when Henry Flagler built a railroad down the east coast, bringing progress and new populations. Unlike our neighboring cities, we don’t have a historic downtown built near these train stops that eventually became centers of commerce and entertainment. Our city was incorporated in 1961 by a development group with a goal to sell quarter-acre lots to retirees. We were formed without key infrastructure – like sidewalks, streetlights, water and sewer. Over six decades, we’ve overcome all these obstacles to become an award-winning, diverse and thriving city for all people. We know now that what made us different from our neighbors has only made us stronger over the years -- and engrained a determined and resilient spirit in our citizens.