Indian River County, Florida

Indian River County (Spanish: Condado de Río Indio) is a county located in the southeastern and east-central portions of the U.S. state of Florida. As of the 2020 census, the population was 159,788.^[2] Its seat is Vero Beach.^[3] It is Florida's 7th richest county and in 2000 was the 87th richest county in the U.S. by per capita income.^[4]

Indian River County
U.S. county
Indian River County Courthouse in Vero Beach
Seal
Location within the U.S. state of Florida
Florida's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 27°42′N 80°35′W / 27.7°N 80.58°W / 27.7; -80.58
Country	United States
State	Florida
Founded	May 30, 1925
Named for	Indian River Lagoon
Seat	Vero Beach
Largest city	Sebastian
Area
• Total	617 sq mi (1,600 km^2)
• Land	503 sq mi (1,300 km^2)
• Water	114 sq mi (300 km^2)  18.5%%
Population  (2020)
• Total	159,788^[1]
• Density	318/sq mi (123/km^2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	8th
Website	www.ircgov.com

Indian River County comprises the Sebastian-Vero Beach, Florida, Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Port St. Lucie, Florida, Combined Statistical Area.

History

Prior to 1821 the area of Indian River County was part of the Spanish colony of East Florida. In 1822 this area became part of St. Johns County, and in 1824 it became part of Mosquito County (original name of Orange County).

The Second Seminole War was fought in 1835 and from 1838 to 1839. Fort Vinton was built for this purpose near the intersection of present-day Florida State Road 60 and 122nd Avenue.^[5]

In 1844 the county's portion of Mosquito County became part of newly created St. Lucia County. In 1855 St. Lucia County was renamed Brevard County. In 1905 St. Lucie County was formed from the southern portion of Brevard County; in 1925 Indian River County was formed from the northern portion of St. Lucie County.^[6] It was named for the Indian River, which runs through the eastern portion of the county.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 617 square miles (1,600 km²), of which 503 square miles (1,300 km²) is land and 114 square miles (300 km²) (18.5%) is water.^[7]

Adjacent counties

• Brevard County - north
• St. Lucie County - south
• Okeechobee County - southwest
• Osceola County - northwest

National protected areas

• Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge (part)
• Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge

Climate and birds

Eight bird species in Indian River County are listed as "highly vulnerable" to climate change:

• Red-headed woodpecker
• Gray kingbird
• Fish crow
• Brown thrasher
• Eastern towhee
• Boat-tailed grackle
• Snail kite
• Yellow-throated warbler^[8]

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1930	6,724		—
1940	8,957		33.2%
1950	11,872		32.5%
1960	25,309		113.2%
1970	35,992		42.2%
1980	59,896		66.4%
1990	90,208		50.6%
2000	112,947		25.2%
2010	138,028		22.2%
2020	159,788		15.8%
U.S. Decennial Census^[9] 1790-1960^[10] 1900-1990^[11] 1990-2000^[12] 2010-2019^[2]

Indian River County racial composition as of 2020
(NH = Non-Hispanic)^[a]

Race	Pop 2010^[15]	Pop 2020^[16]	% 2010	% 2020
White (NH)	106,780	117,422	77.36%	73.49%
Black or African American (NH)	12,074	13,079	8.75%	8.19%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH)	277	273	0.2%	0.17%
Asian (NH)	1,646	2,341	1.19%	1.47%
Pacific Islander (NH)	49	52	0.04%	0.03%
Some Other Race (NH)	189	730	0.14%	0.46%
Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH)	1,548	5,059	1.12%	3.17%
Hispanic or Latino	15,465	20,832	11.2%	13.04%
Total	138,028	159,788

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 159,788 people, 60,959 households, and 37,647 families residing in the county.

As of the census^[17] of 2000, there were 112,947 people, 49,137 households, and 32,725 families residing in the county. The population density was 224 inhabitants per square mile (86/km²). There were 57,902 housing units at an average density of 115 per square mile (44/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 87.43% White, 8.19% Black or African American, 0.25% Native American, 0.74% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 2.15% from other races, and 1.21% from two or more races. 6.53% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 49,137 households, out of which 21.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.50% were married couples living together, 8.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.40% were non-families. 28.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.72.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 19.20% under the age of 18, 6.00% from 18 to 24, 22.30% from 25 to 44, 23.30% from 45 to 64, and 29.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47 years. For every 100 females there were 93.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.80 males.^[18]

The median income for a household in the county was $39,635, and the median income for a family was $46,385. Males had a median income of $30,870 versus $23,379 for females. The per capita income for the county was $27,227. About 6.30% of families and 9.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.60% of those under age 18 and 5.70% of those age 65 or over.

Transportation

Airports

• New Hibiscus Airpark^[19]
• Sebastian Municipal Airport
• Vero Beach Regional Airport

Bus systems

GoLine is Indian River County's main method of public transportation. The program was introduced in 1994 to provide an alternative option to driving. Due to County population increases in the early and mid 2000s, Indian River County devised a series of bus routes from Barefoot Bay in southern Brevard County to the south end of Vero Beach. In 2006, GoLine (formerly known as Indian River Transit) was introduced with more stops along and through the Treasure Coast. By 2010, the GoLine system had a total of 14 stops with an additional four stops planned for 2011/2012. Riders pay no fare or fee to board the bus. In 2010 the buses operated between 8:00 A.M. and 5:00 P.M. weekdays and from 9:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. on Saturdays. Some routes have extended operating hours depending on location.^[20][21]

Train

There is planning underway for an Amtrak station in Vero Beach. Florida East Coast Railway serves a team yard in Vero Beach for off-line customers that don't have direct rail service via spurs. There are two lumber and sheetrock/structural steel customers who receive boxcars, center beam and bulkhead flatcars, and occasionally- gondolas, at the team yard.^[22][23]

Economy

Healthcare, education, government, and retail sales are important employment segments in Indian River County. As of 2019^[update], the largest employers in the county were:

Employer	Sector	Employees
Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital	Healthcare	2,112
School Board of Indian River County	Education	2,039
Indian River County	Government	1,455
Publix Super Markets	Retail	1,380
Piper Aircraft	Manufacturing	980
Walmart	Retail	806
Sebastian River Medical Center	Healthcare	750
John's Island	Residential development and resort	495
Indian River Estates	Retirement community	486
Visiting Nurse Association	Healthcare	500
City of Vero Beach	Government	374
CVS Warehouse	Distribution	336
St. Edward's School	College-preparatory school	223
Disney's Vero Beach Resort	Resort	279
City of Sebastian	Government	188
Flight Safety International	Flight instruction	170
B & W Quality Growers	Agriculture	142

^[24]

Libraries

Main article: Indian River County Library System

• Indian River County Main Library, in Vero Beach
• North Indian River County Library, in Sebastian
• The Brackett Library, at the Indian River State College Mueller Campus, in Vero Beach

Education

Indian River County School District operates public schools. Public high schools include:

• Freshman Learning Center (VBHS)
• Indian River Charter High School
• Sebastian River High School
• Vero Beach High School

Private schools

• Glendale Christian School
• Indian River Christian School
• Master's Academy
• St. Edwards School
• St. Helen Catholic School
• Tabernacle Baptist School
• The Willow School
• SunCoast Primary School

Colleges and universities

• Indian River State College Mueller Center
• Indian River State College Sebastian Campus

Elections

Indian River County lies at the northern end of a belt stretching to Collier County in the southwest that was the first part of Florida to politically distance itself from the "Solid South": the last Democrat to win a majority in the county was Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1944.^[25] In 1992, indeed, Ross Perot came second, fifteen votes ahead of President-elect Bill Clinton, this being one of only three Florida counties where he did so.^[26]

United States presidential election results for Indian River County, Florida

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	58,872	60.23%	37,844	38.72%	1,024	1.05%
2016	48,620	60.20%	29,043	35.96%	3,106	3.85%
2012	43,450	60.70%	27,492	38.41%	638	0.89%
2008	40,176	56.74%	29,710	41.96%	916	1.29%
2004	36,938	60.15%	23,956	39.01%	520	0.85%
2000	28,639	57.71%	19,769	39.84%	1,219	2.46%
1996	22,714	51.66%	16,375	37.24%	4,883	11.10%
1992	19,140	43.54%	12,360	28.12%	12,462	28.35%
1988	24,630	69.71%	10,451	29.58%	252	0.71%
1984	23,716	73.08%	8,736	26.92%	0	0.00%
1980	15,568	62.98%	7,759	31.39%	1,390	5.62%
1976	9,818	52.63%	8,512	45.63%	324	1.74%
1972	11,741	77.85%	3,316	21.99%	25	0.17%
1968	6,518	51.25%	3,179	24.99%	3,022	23.76%
1964	6,191	54.72%	5,122	45.28%	0	0.00%
1960	4,656	61.05%	2,970	38.95%	0	0.00%
1956	4,059	70.49%	1,699	29.51%	0	0.00%
1952	3,055	65.94%	1,578	34.06%	0	0.00%
1948	1,134	46.32%	1,055	43.10%	259	10.58%
1944	759	37.01%	1,292	62.99%	0	0.00%
1940	904	37.81%	1,487	62.19%	0	0.00%
1936	532	29.52%	1,270	70.48%	0	0.00%
1932	446	25.43%	1,308	74.57%	0	0.00%
1928	847	55.61%	657	43.14%	19	1.25%

Voter registration

According to the Secretary of State's office, Republicans are a plurality of registered voters in Indian River County.

Indian River County Voter Registration & Party Enrollment as of July 31, 2022^[27]
Political Party		Total Voters	Percentage
	Republican	57,050	48.24%
	Democratic	30,487	25.78%
	No party affiliation	28,005	23.68%
	Minor parties	2,717	2.30%
Total		118,259	100.00%

Communities

 

Vero Beach

Cities

• Fellsmere
• Sebastian
• Vero Beach

Towns

• Indian River Shores
• Orchid

Census-designated places

• Florida Ridge
• Gifford
• Roseland
• South Beach
• Vero Beach South
• Wabasso
• Wabasso Beach
• West Vero Corridor
• Windsor (formerly North Beach)
• Winter Beach

Other unincorporated communities

• Blue Cypress Village
• Cummings
• Nevins
• Oslo
• Riomar
• Royal Poinciana Park
• Vero Lake Estates

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Indian River County, Florida
• North Hutchinson Island
• Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge
• Vero beach power squadron

Notes

1. Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.^[13][14]

References

1. . Archived from the original on June 21, 2018. Retrieved June 21, 2018.
2. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 14, 2014.^{[permanent dead link]}
3. . National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
4. Florida locations by per capita income
5. Brotemarkle, Ben (August 23, 2017). . Florida Today. Melbourne, Florida. pp. 5A. Archived from the original on August 31, 2017. Retrieved August 30, 2017.
6. According to the Historical Records and State Archives Surveys published by Florida Works Progress Administration (available in the digital historical maps of Florida section of the UF library) and the Indian River County Historian Ruth Stanbridge
7. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
8. Waymer, Jim (January 7, 2020). . TCPalm. Archived from the original on February 15, 2020. Retrieved February 15, 2020.
9. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 14, 2014.
10. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved June 14, 2014.
11. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 14, 2014.
12. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 14, 2014.
13. https://www.census.gov/^{[not specific enough to verify]}
14. "About the Hispanic Population and its Origin". www.census.gov. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
15. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
16. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
17. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
18. "Indian River County Chamber of Commerce | Business Site Selection". www.indianriversites.com. Retrieved May 2, 2019.
19. "AirNav: X52 - New Hibiscus Airpark". www.airnav.com. Retrieved May 2, 2019.
20. . GoLineIRT.com. Archived from the original on April 6, 2013. Retrieved December 18, 2012.
21. http://www.golineirt.com/GoLineGuide.pdf^{[bare URL PDF]}
22. http://www.irmpo.com/Documents/Amtrak.pdf July 13, 2011, at the Wayback Machine^{[bare URL PDF]}
23. "Home". irmpo.com. July 1, 2012. Retrieved December 18, 2012.
24. "Top Employers in Indian River County - 2019". Indian River County Economic Development. 2021. Retrieved March 12, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
25. Sullivan, Robert David; ‘How the Red and Blue Map Evolved Over the Past Century’; America Magazine in The National Catholic Review; June 29, 2016
26. David Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections; 1992 Presidential General Election Data Graphs – Florida by County
27. "Voter Registration - By County and Party". www.dos.myflorida.com. Retrieved August 22, 2022.

External links

 

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Indian River County, Florida.

• Economic Development and Tourism
  • Indian River County Chamber of Commerce
  • Indian River County Economic Development
  • Indian River County Property Search and Demographics
  • Indian River County Tourism

Governmental

• Board of County Commissioners
• Constitutional Officers
  • Indian River County Clerk
  • Indian River County Supervisor of Elections
  • Indian River County Property Appraiser
  • Indian River County Sheriff
  • Indian River County Tax Collector
• School District
• Multi-county Districts
• Judicial
  • Indian River County Clerk of Courts
  • * State Attorney, 19th Judicial Circuit of Florida September 27, 2011, at the Wayback Machine

Coordinates: 27°42′N 80°35′W / 27.70°N 80.58°W / 27.70; -80.58