Vero Beach, Florida
Vero Beach is a city in and the seat of Indian River County, Florida, United States. Vero Beach is the second most populous city in Indian River County. Abundant in beaches and wildlife, Vero Beach is located on Florida's Treasure Coast.[6] It is thirty-four miles south of Melbourne, Florida. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2010 data, the city had a population of 15,220.[7]
Vero Beach | |
|---|---|
City | |
Vero Beach Boardwalk in October 2009 | |
| Nickname: The Hibiscus City[1] | |
| Motto: Where the Tropics Begin | |
Location in Indian River County and the state of Florida | |
Vero Beach Location in the United States Vero Beach Vero Beach (the United States) | |
| Coordinates: 27°39′N 80°23′W / 27.650°N 80.383°WCoordinates: 27°39′N 80°23′W / 27.650°N 80.383°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Florida |
| County | Indian River |
| Settled | 1870 |
| Incorporated (Vero) | 1919 |
| Incorporated (Vero Beach) | 1925 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Commission-Manager |
| • Mayor | Robbie Brackett[2] |
| Area | |
| • City | 13.40 sq mi (34.72 km2) |
| • Land | 11.50 sq mi (29.78 km2) |
| • Water | 1.91 sq mi (4.93 km2) 14.31% |
| Elevation | 13 ft (4 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
| • City | 16,354 |
| • Density | 1,422.21/sq mi (549.10/km2) |
| • Metro | 130,100 |
| Census Bureau | |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP codes | 32960 thru 32969 |
| Area code | 772 |
| FIPS code | 12-74150[4] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0292760[5] |
| Website | http://www.covb.org |
History
Pre-Columbian
Parts of a human skeleton were found north of Vero in association with the remains of Pleistocene animals in 1915. The find was controversial, and the view that the human remains dated from much later than the Pleistocene prevailed for many years.[8] In 2006, an image of a mastodon or mammoth carved on a bone was found in vicinity of the Vero man discovery. A scientific forensic examination of the bone found the carving had probably been done in the Pleistocene.[9] Archaeologists from Mercyhurst University, in conjunction with the Old Vero Ice Age Sites Committee (OVIASC), conducted excavations at the Old Vero Man site in Vero Beach in 2014–2015.[10] Starting in 2016, archaeologists from Florida Atlantic University joined the Old Vero Man site excavations.[11]
Post-Columbian
In 1715, a Spanish treasure fleet wrecked off the coast of Vero. Eleven out of twelve Spanish ships carrying tonnes of silver foundered in a hurricane. The remains of the silver attracted pirates. A group of 300 unemployed English privateers led by Henry Jennings stole about £87,500 in gold and silver in their first acts of piracy. The coins still wash to the shore to this day.[12]
In 1872, Captain Allen W. Estes officially established the first land patent between the Atlantic Ocean and the Indian River Lagoon, after settling in the area in 1870.
In 1893, Henry Flagler’s Florida East Coast Railway began operation through the area.[13]
The town of Vero was chartered on June 13, 1919.[6][14]
Vero was officially renamed "Vero Beach" and was switched from being part of St. Lucie County to become the county seat of Indian River County when it was formed in June, 1925.[15] There are many theories on possible origin of the city name, but there's no consensus.[15] Early residential construction in the area often utilized Florida cracker architecture style.[16]
During the war year of 1942, the U.S. Navy selected 1,500 acres (6.1 km2) surrounding the Vero Beach Municipal Airport as the site of Fort Pierce Naval Amphibious Training Base, a Naval Air Station. Due to the bombing practices conducted during the WWII, there are many buried explosives and the Army Corps officials have conducted ongoing search & clearing exercises for the potentially dangerous items since 2014.[17][18]
In 1951, Barber Bridge was built from mainland to barrier islands. It was later demolished and replaced in 1995 with the Merrill P. Barber Bridge. It is named after Merrill P. Barber who was the mayor of Vero beach in 1947.[19]
In 1957, Piper Aircraft began research and development in Vero Beach. In 1961 Piper Aircraft moved administrative and manufacturing operations to Vero after completing building additions.[20]
In 1965, the A1A bridge over the Sebastian Inlet connected the two barrier islands.[21][13] In 1979, the 17th Street Bridge was completed, allowing a second point of access from Vero Beach mainland to the barrier islands.
Demographics
As of the 2010 census,[4][22] there were 15,220 people, 7,505 households, and 3,946 families residing in the city. There were 10,258 housing units. The racial makeup of the city was 87.5% White, 4.8% Black, 0.30% Native American, 1.8% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 3.7% from other races, and 1.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10.7% of the population.
There were 7,505 households, out of which 16.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.2% were married couples living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 47.4% were non-families. 19.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older, with 4.8% being 85 years and older. The average household size was 2.01 and the average family size was 2.65.
In the city the population was spread out, with 14.1% under the age of 16, 84.1% over 18, 4.3% from 15 to 19, 4.9% from 20 to 24, 5.5% from 20 to 25 and 29.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 50.9 years.
For every 100 females, there were 92.8 males. The population consists of 51.3% female and 48.7% male.
Geography
Climate
Vero Beach has a humid subtropical climate, with hot and humid summers and warm, drier winters.
| Climate data for Vero Beach, Florida (Vero Beach Regional Airport), 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1942–present | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 88 (31) | 90 (32) | 93 (34) | 97 (36) | 99 (37) | 102 (39) | 99 (37) | 98 (37) | 97 (36) | 94 (34) | 92 (33) | 89 (32) | 102 (39) |
| Average high °F (°C) | 73.3 (22.9) | 75.6 (24.2) | 78.4 (25.8) | 81.9 (27.7) | 85.7 (29.8) | 88.9 (31.6) | 90.5 (32.5) | 90.6 (32.6) | 88.4 (31.3) | 84.8 (29.3) | 79.3 (26.3) | 75.4 (24.1) | 82.7 (28.2) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 62.8 (17.1) | 65.0 (18.3) | 68.0 (20.0) | 72.1 (22.3) | 76.7 (24.8) | 80.6 (27.0) | 81.9 (27.7) | 82.1 (27.8) | 80.9 (27.2) | 76.9 (24.9) | 70.4 (21.3) | 65.7 (18.7) | 73.6 (23.1) |
| Average low °F (°C) | 52.2 (11.2) | 54.5 (12.5) | 57.7 (14.3) | 62.4 (16.9) | 67.8 (19.9) | 72.2 (22.3) | 73.3 (22.9) | 73.6 (23.1) | 73.4 (23.0) | 69.0 (20.6) | 61.4 (16.3) | 56.1 (13.4) | 64.5 (18.1) |
| Record low °F (°C) | 21 (−6) | 28 (−2) | 26 (−3) | 36 (2) | 46 (8) | 57 (14) | 62 (17) | 63 (17) | 61 (16) | 45 (7) | 31 (−1) | 23 (−5) | 21 (−6) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 2.74 (70) | 2.20 (56) | 3.44 (87) | 3.06 (78) | 4.20 (107) | 6.76 (172) | 5.68 (144) | 7.35 (187) | 7.04 (179) | 5.33 (135) | 2.91 (74) | 2.54 (65) | 53.25 (1,353) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 8.1 | 7.0 | 7.5 | 6.7 | 8.8 | 13.9 | 13.0 | 15.0 | 15.8 | 11.9 | 9.0 | 8.7 | 125.4 |
| Source: NOAA[23][24] | |||||||||||||
Economy
Industry
Vero Beach is home to general aviation manufacturer Piper Aircraft, which is the largest private employer in Indian River County. As of July 2015, Piper employed approximately 750 people. Aside from Piper, the bulk of commercial activity in Vero Beach centers around tourism, the citrus industry and service activities.
Retail
There are two shopping malls: the Indian River Mall, and the Vero Beach Outlets just west of I-95 on State Road 60. There are small specialty shops along Ocean Drive on the barrier island. There are also a set of shops directly inland in what is called "Miracle Mile." The Historic Downtown is a newly revitalized area of shopping, dining, antique stores, and art galleries.
Tourism
Points of interest
Beaches
The beaches in Vero Beach are part of Florida's Treasure Coast. Vero's three main public beaches are South Beach, accessible at the eastern end of Florida State Road 656 at the eastern end of 17th Street; Humiston Park, in Vero's Central Beach Business District on Ocean Drive and Jaycee Park which is adjacent to Conn Beach. There are 26 miles (42 km) of oceanfront shore in Indian River County. Vero Beach also has other free public access trails and walkways with beach access, such as Riomar Beach, Sea Cove, Sea Grape Trail, Sexton Plaza, and Turtle Trail.
Water recreation in the Indian River Lagoon
The Indian River Lagoon, passing through Vero Beach, forms a significant portion of the Intracoastal Waterway, and is a hub for boating, fishing, water skiing, diving, kayaking and other small-craft waterborne activities.
Resorts
Disney's Vero Beach Resort is officially located in Wabasso Beach, a small town north of Vero Beach. As of 2021[update], the city hosts 14 private golf clubs.[26]
Historic Dodgertown
Vero Beach is home to Historic Dodgertown, which initially started operations during World War II as a U.S. Naval Air Station, and later served as the Spring Training facility of the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team, until 2008. After the team's departure for a new Spring home in Arizona in 2008, it has served as a year-round multi-purpose facility for athletes of all ages. As of January 2, 2019, MLB has assumed control of the historic facilities with plans to expand the complex and rename it The Jackie Robinson Training Complex. This is to honor both the late Jackie Robinson and the site's history as the first racially integrated spring-training center in the American South.[27]
National Register of Historic Places
- Driftwood Inn
- Hallstrom House
- Old Indian River County Courthouse
- Judge Henry F. Gregory House
- Maher Building
- McKee Jungle Gardens
- Old Palmetto Hotel
- Pueblo Arcade
- Royal Park Arcade
- Theodore Hausmann Estate
- Old Vero Beach Community Building
- Vero Beach Diesel Power Plant
- Vero Beach Woman's Club
- Vero Railroad Station
- Vero Theatre
Infrastructure
Transportation
Air
Vero Beach Regional Airport is a public airport one mile northwest of Vero Beach, offering commercial jet service by Elite Airways. Breeze Airways began flying on February 2, 2023.[28]
Bus
Vero Beach is served by GoLine Bus routes.[29]
Rail
The Florida East Coast Railway (FEC) mainline bisects Vero Beach, with an active team track in town serving two off-line lumber/building products customers, who receive boxcars, flatcars and gondolas, .[30] The Vero Railroad Station served the transportation needs of the community and its surrounding agricultural area for almost 65 years from 1903 to 1968.[31] It now serves as a county historical exhibit center.[32]
Education
Public schools
The Indian River County School District operates the following public schools serving Vero Beach:[33]
- Vero Beach High School
- Gifford Middle School
- Oslo Middle School
- Storm Grove Middle School
- Beachland Elementary School
- Citrus Elementary School
- Dodgertown Elementary School
- Glendale Elementary School
- Indian River Academy (elementary school)
- Liberty Magnet School (elementary)
- Osceola Magnet School (elementary)
- Rosewood Magnet School (elementary)
- Vero Beach Elementary School
- Alternative Center for Education
Charter schools
- Indian River Charter High School
- Imagine South Vero
- North County Charter Elementary
- St. Peter's Academy
Private schools
- Saint Edward's School. Independent College Preparatory in Episcopal School Tradition; grades pre-K–12
- St. Helen Catholic School
- Anderson Academy. grades 8–12
- Masters Academy. grades pre-K–12
- Tabernacle Christian School. grades K-8
- SunCoast School. grades pre-K–8
Colleges
- Indian River State College – Mueller Campus
- Treasure Coast Technical College[34]
Notable people
- Fred Barnes, journalist, editor of The Weekly Standard and Fox News contributor[35]
- Lake Bell, actress, attended school in Vero Beach[36] and her film I Do... Until I Don't is set there
- Jade Cargill, professional wrestler signed to AEW and fitness model
- Alex Cobb, pitcher for the Los Angeles Angels, attended Vero Beach High School
- Gloria Estefan, singer, has a house and owns a hotel in Vero Beach[37]
- Tom Fadden, actor[38]
- Prince Fielder, professional baseball player[39]
- Mardy Fish, former professional tennis player and Olympic Silver medalist
- Calvin Souther Fuller, inventor of the solar cell, died 1994[40]
- Horace Gifford, architect
- David Alan Gore, serial killer
- Carl Hiaasen, journalist, novelist, and author[41]
- Sandy Koufax, former professional baseball player[42]
- Ivan Lendl, former professional tennis player[43]
- Richard Littlejohn, columnist for the Daily Mail, lives in Vero Beach[44]
- Debbie Mayfield, Florida state senator[45]
- F. James McDonald, former president and chief operating officer of General Motors[46]
- Alison Mosshart, lead singer of The Kills and The Dead Weather[47]
- Jake Owen, country music singer-songwriter, graduate of Vero Beach High School, 1999[48][49]
- Peter George Peterson, co-founder, Blackstone Group[50]
- Albert Reed, model, 2007 Dancing with the Stars competitor, actor, graduate of Vero Beach High School, 2003[51]
- Priscilla Renea, singer-songwriter signed to Capitol Records, debut album entitled "Jukebox" released in 2009[52]
- Norman Sas, inventor of Electric football[53]
- Waldo E. Sexton, early settler and pioneer
- Parvati Shallow, winner of Survivor: Micronesia, runner-up in Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains[54]
- Eric Smith, former professional football player for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League
- Bryan Stork, professional football player for the Washington Redskins of the NFL
- Roscoe Tanner, former professional tennis player[55]
- Rick Wiles, Christian Broadcaster and antisemitic conspiracy theorist[56]
References
- ^ Richards, J. Noble (1968). Florida's Hibiscus City, Vero Beach. Brevard Graphics. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
- ^ Zahner, Lisa (November 19, 2020). "Brackett lauded as 'excellent choice' as Vero Beach mayor". VB32963. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
- ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
- ^ a b "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
- ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. from the original on February 12, 2012. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
- ^ a b "Vero Beach 100 History". Vero Beach Centennial. from the original on May 8, 2019. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
- ^ . National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- ^ Mitchem, Jeffery M. (2006). The Vero and Melbourne Discoveries: Scientific Controversy in the Early Twentieth Century. 58th Annual Meeting of the Florida Anthropological Society. pp. 1–3. from the original on May 8, 2019. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
- ^ Purdy, Barbara A., Kevin S. Jones, John J. Mecholsky, Gerald Bourne, Richard C. Hurlbert Jr., Bruse J. MacFadden, Krista L. Church, Michael W. Warren, Thomas F. Jorstad, Dennis J. Stanford, Melvin J. Wachowiak, and Robert J. Speakman (November 2011). "Earliest Art in the Americas: incised image of a proboscidean on a mineralized extinct animal bone from Vero Beach, Florida". Journal of Archaeological Science. 38 (11): 2908–2913. doi:10.1016/j.jas.2011.05.022.
- ^ Begley, Janet (November 20, 2015). "Mercyhurst University pulls out of Old Vero Man site excavations". TCPalm. from the original on May 8, 2019. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
- ^ "Partnership-FAU/Harbor Branch". Old Vero Ice Age Sites Committee. from the original on May 8, 2019. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
- ^ Smalls, Isaac. "He was searching a Florida beach for treasure. What he found predated the United States". MiamiHerald.com. Miami Herald. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
- ^ a b "A Brief History of Vero Beach, Sebastian, Fellsmere & Indian River County". verobeach.com. from the original on May 8, 2019. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
- ^ "Vero Beach to celebrate centennial with year-long bash". TCPalm. February 28, 2018. from the original on May 8, 2019. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
- ^ a b Cooper, Pamela J. (2019). "Where did Vero Beach get its name?" (PDF). Vero Beach Centennial. (PDF) from the original on May 8, 2019. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
- ^ Historic Properties Survey of Vero Beach, FL (PDF) (Report). City of Vero Beach. November 1990. p. 27. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
- ^ "Munitions search scheduled for Wednesday at South Beach Park – Vero News". veronews.com. from the original on May 8, 2019. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
- ^ "Parts of South Beach Park in Vero Beach closed during search for buried WWII explosives". TCPalm. from the original on May 7, 2019. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
- ^ Thomas, Milt (April 1, 2019). "History of Vero's bridges immortalized with marker". Indian River Guardian. from the original on May 8, 2019. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
- ^ "History". Piper. from the original on May 8, 2019. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
- ^ "Vero Beach Florida History and Photos". messiahnj.org. from the original on May 14, 2019. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
- ^ US Census bureau. "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010". Archived from the original on May 21, 2019. Retrieved August 1, 2012.
- ^ "NOWData - NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved May 24, 2021.
- ^ "Summary of Monthly Normals 1991-2020". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved May 24, 2021.
- ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
- ^ Thomas, Steven M. (November 27, 2021). "Private clubs are thriving with soaring real estate market". Vero News. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
- ^ "Former Dodgers Spring Training site in Vero Beach to be renamed Jackie Robinson Training Complex". MLB.com. from the original on 2019-10-09. Retrieved 2019-10-09.
- ^ "Breeze Airways lands inaugural flight in Vero Beach". TCPalm. Retrieved 2023-02-02.
- ^ "GoLineIRT.com - Indian River Transit - GoLine bus transit". golineirt.com. from the original on December 16, 2017. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
- ^ "Virgin Trains faces challenge with downtown crossings | 32963 News". Vero News. 2019-07-04. Retrieved 2020-06-21.
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- ^ . Archived from the original on November 30, 2011.
- ^ "School District of Indian River County". indianriverschools.com. 2019. from the original on June 25, 2014. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
- ^ "Treasure Coast Technical College". tctc.indianriverschools. 2019. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
- ^ "Home Alone". The Weekly Standard. June 11, 2001. from the original on October 7, 2012. Retrieved February 28, 2012.
- ^ "Lake Bell - Biography". IMDb. from the original on January 11, 2018. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
- ^ "Q&A: Gloria Estefan on her Florida hotels". USATODAY.com. from the original on July 10, 2017. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
- ^ "Famous Iowans - Tom Fadden". DesMoinesRegister.com. Archived from the original on February 21, 2015. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
- ^ Santucci, Jon (March 17, 2012). "Fielder's career path takes him from St. Edward's to the Tigers » TCPalm.com". Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers. from the original on July 24, 2013. Retrieved July 25, 2012.
Fielder, who lived briefly in Vero Beach growing up, spoke with Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers about his memories of St. Edward's high school, his offseason and his new team.
- ^ "SOLAR CELL INVENTOR DIES". Palm Beach Post. 2 November 1994.
- ^ Goodnow, Cecelia (September 29, 2005). "Carl Hiaasen relishes reachinga new generation of greenies". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. from the original on November 6, 2012. Retrieved July 27, 2012.
Hiaasen said by phone from his home in Vero Beach, Fla.
- ^ "Sandy Koufax's House in Vero Beach, FL". Virtual Globetrotting. from the original on September 1, 2017. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
- ^ Potter, Jerry (December 7, 2006). "Fatherhood, golf keep Lendl busy". USA Today. from the original on December 10, 2006. Retrieved July 25, 2012.
He lives with his family in Florida, splitting time between Vero Beach and Bradenton
- ^ "The Vero Beach, Florida home of Richard Littlejohn Stock Photo: 226891230 - Alamy". from the original on 2019-12-13. Retrieved 2019-12-12.
- ^ "Senator Mayfield - The Florida Senate". flsenate.gov. from the original on November 13, 2017. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
- ^ via Associated Press. "F. James McDonald, Former G.M. President, Is Dead at 87" 2016-11-09 at the Wayback Machine, The New York Times, June 15, 2010. Retrieved July 2, 2010.
- ^ RIEMENSCHNEIDER, Chris (July 28, 2009). "Weather front: An interview with Alison Mosshart". Star Tribune. from the original on November 6, 2012. Retrieved July 27, 2012.
having spent her childhood in Vero Beach, Fla., where she fronted an emo-ish punk band
- ^ Isenberg, Barbara (December 14, 2007). "Country music star comes home to Vero Beach". My Hometown News. from the original on February 13, 2009. Retrieved April 6, 2008.
- ^ "Jake Owen biography". Great American Country. Archived from the original on January 2, 2013. Retrieved April 6, 2008.
- ^ American legacy: the story of John & Caroline Kennedy – Clemens David Heymann. Simon and Schuster. 2007. p. 487. Retrieved February 28, 2012 – via Internet Archive.
Pete Peterson Vero Beach.
- ^ Vero Beach Press Journal (August 13, 2005) Good for you. Section: Today on the Treasure Coast; Page E8.
- ^ Kaufman, Gil. "Jukebox". Priscilla Renea's Jukebox on the Link. MTV. from the original on November 12, 2012. Retrieved July 27, 2012.
- ^ Yardley, William (July 12, 2012). "Norman Sas, Inventor of Electric Football, Dies at 87". New York Times. from the original on July 19, 2012. Retrieved July 24, 2012.
- ^ Harris, Bill. "CANOE – JAM! Television – TV Shows – Survivor: 'Survivor' gal sexy & Shallow". Canoe.ca. Archived from the original on January 15, 2013. Retrieved July 27, 2012.
- ^ Roscoe Tanner, Ex-Tennis Star, Says He's Trying to Change 2017-07-01 at the Wayback Machine New York Times, February 13, 2012.
- ^ "Pastor Rick Wiles Asks for $100 Million to Set-Up End Times Global Broadcasting Network". ChristianHeadlines.com. from the original on 2019-08-31. Retrieved 2019-08-31.
External links
- Official website