It is easy to understand the naming of Hobe Sound if viewed in relation to nearby neighboring communities of Tequesta and Jupiter. It is also helpful to understand that in the late 1600’s three predominant cultures interacted in Hobe Sound including Native American tribes (Jove/Jobe, and Tekestas), Spanish and British descendants. Hobe Sound has welcomed visitors since 1696 when a British ship, in convoy from Jamaica to Philadelphia, sank north of Jupiter Inlet close to the shore.  Carrying 25 passengers and crew and it most notable passenger Jonathan Dickinson, the barkentine (three masted) ship, named Reformation, had cargo of sugar, rum, beef, molasses, and Spanish currency.

The Dickinson party encountered two groups of Indians, the inhabitants of the area, during their unplanned visit.  They were greeted by perhaps the forerunners of the modern “natives” who now greet visitors whose trips are planned.  The Tekestas (from which Tequesta got its name) and the Jove Indians, whose name the Spanish pronounced "Ho-bay" and who gave Hobe Sound its name, were helpful to the small Quaker party. Officially, Hobe (sounds like Robe) Sound got its original identity by 1699 according to the Florida WPA Guide.

Parts of Hobe Sound were included in the 12,000 acres of the Gomez grant given by Spain to Don Eusebio in 1815. In 1821, Gomez sold 8,000 acres, including Jupiter Island, to Joseph Delespine, for $1 per acre.

Shortly after the turn of the 20^th century, Henry Flagler built his railroad along the east coast of Florida passing through Hobe Sound. This gradually created many opportunities including jobs, the birth of tourism, and other related industries.

During the land boom of the 1920’s elaborate plans were announced for Hobe Sound by the Olympia Improvement Corporation.  Their goal was to create a town, in Greek style, where motion pictures could be produced.  Street names bore the Greek theme with names such as Zeus, Saturn, Mercury, Mars, Olympus, Plutus and Athena.  For a brief time Hobe Sound was renamed ‘Picture City’ and plans were presented for a movie picture production center.  The boom collapsed after a devastating hurricane in 1928 and the original name was restored.  Street names remained, however, as did the cement streetlights along Dixie Highway.

In 1924, the building which soon would become the new schoolhouse in Hobe Sound was constructed. The Martin County Board of Public Instruction secured the use of the new school building from the Picture City Corporation in 1925, and in October of that year, the Olympia School opened. The school was designated the “Picture City School” of Martin County. It remained in use as a school until 1962. There is a local interest in restoring the school, now known as the Apollo School.

Other mementos of the past are gone, including the ice plant, which was south of Bridge Road, and the old train station, which now, refurbished and relocated west of Hobe Sound, serves as an office building for Becker Groves.

Hobe Sound is positioned at the southern end of environmentally-sensitive Martin (named after Governor Martin) County.  It has been stated that at Hobe Sound’s front door lies the Gold Coast and that at her back door lies the Treasure Coast.  Thus, Hobe Sound can lend to both while retaining its proud heritage and unique personality. Hobe Sound’s proximity to the coast affords immediate access to the Atlantic Ocean and the deep-channeled Intracoastal Waterway, a 1,200-mile water route that provides a sheltered passage for boats along the eastern seaboard.

Hobe Sound, in Martin County, has been tossed about not unlike the ship that discovered her, with its waterway and lands, and that once belonged to:

St. John’s County     1821-1824

Mosquito County      1824-1844

St. Lucie County       1844-1855

Brevard County         1855-1866

Dade County             1866-1909

Palm Beach County  1909-1924

Despite 7 county identities in Hobe Sound’s history, Martin County is now indeed graced with pride as Hobe Sound is a Jewel in any treasure or gold coast.

Sources: Shipwrecks in Florida Waters, Robert F. Marx; Places in the Sun, Bertha E. Bloodworth and Alton C. Morris.