Grant-Valkaria, Florida
Encyclopedia
Grant-Valkaria is a town in Brevard County, Florida
, south of Melbourne
between Palm Bay
and Sebastian
(part of the Palm Bay
–Melbourne
–Titusville
Metropolitan Statistical Area). Grant-Valkaria was incorporated as a town on July 25, 2006 by joining the two previously unincorporated communities of Grant and Valkaria. The ZIP code is 32949 (and portions of 32950, and 32909), and the area code is 321.
The town charter reflects the reason for incorporation and calls for future development to be consistent with a rural and fishing village lifestyle that preserves the history and natural green spaces of the two communities.
Government services are to be kept to a minimum, density kept low and lot sizes kept large.
The community name of Valkaria derives from Valkyrie
, a warrior-maiden of Norse mythology.
A MISTRAM
missile tracking system was built by the US Air Force here in the early 1960s.
the county owned Habitat Golf Course, a 6836 yard, par-72 course set near the Valkaria Airport
.
The town has held a Seafood
festival, dubbed the "Grant Seafood Festival" every year on the last
weekend of February since 1966. In 1968, then U.S. Vice-President Hubert Humphrey
visited the Seafood Festival while campaigning for his 1968 presidential bid. The proceeds go towards college scholarships for local children, as well as summer break activities for the community's children. The town also has the historic Bensen House
.
Brevard County, Florida
Brevard County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida, along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. As of 2007 U.S. Census Bureau estimates, the population is 536,521, making it the 10th most populous county in the state. Influenced by the presence of the John F. Kennedy Space Center, Brevard...
, south of Melbourne
Melbourne, Florida
Melbourne is a city in Brevard County, Florida, United States. As of 2009, the population estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau is 78,323. The municipal area is the second largest by size and by population in the county. Melbourne is a principal city of the Palm Bay – Melbourne – Titusville, Florida...
between Palm Bay
Palm Bay, Florida
Palm Bay is a city in Brevard County, Florida, United States. The U.S. Census Bureau estimated the city's population as 100,786 on 1 July 2008; it is the most populous city in the county...
and Sebastian
Sebastian, Florida
Sebastian is a city in Indian River County, in the Treasure Coast region of Florida, United States. The population was 16,181 at the 2000 census. In 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau was 18,671. As of 2010, the population recorded by the U.S...
(part of the Palm Bay
Palm Bay, Florida
Palm Bay is a city in Brevard County, Florida, United States. The U.S. Census Bureau estimated the city's population as 100,786 on 1 July 2008; it is the most populous city in the county...
–Melbourne
Melbourne, Florida
Melbourne is a city in Brevard County, Florida, United States. As of 2009, the population estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau is 78,323. The municipal area is the second largest by size and by population in the county. Melbourne is a principal city of the Palm Bay – Melbourne – Titusville, Florida...
–Titusville
Titusville, Florida
Titusville is a city in Brevard County, Florida in the United States. It is the county seat of Brevard County. Nicknamed Space City, USA, Titusville is on the Indian River, west of Merritt Island and the Kennedy Space Center and south-southwest of the Canaveral National Seashore...
Metropolitan Statistical Area). Grant-Valkaria was incorporated as a town on July 25, 2006 by joining the two previously unincorporated communities of Grant and Valkaria. The ZIP code is 32949 (and portions of 32950, and 32909), and the area code is 321.
Geography
Grant-Valkaria is located at 27.92861°N 80.52667°W (27.92861, -80.52667).Surrounding Areas
- MalabarMalabar, FloridaMalabar is a town in Brevard County, Florida, United States. The population was 2,622 at the 2000 census. As of 2005, the population estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau is 2,772 . It is part of the Palm Bay–Melbourne–Titusville Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Malabar is...
- Indian River LagoonIndian River LagoonThe Indian River Lagoon is a grouping of three lagoons: Mosquito Lagoon, Banana River, and the Indian River, on the Atlantic Coast of Florida. It was originally named Rio de Ais after the Ais Indian tribe, who lived along the east coast of Florida....
;Floridana Beach - Palm BayPalm Bay, FloridaPalm Bay is a city in Brevard County, Florida, United States. The U.S. Census Bureau estimated the city's population as 100,786 on 1 July 2008; it is the most populous city in the county...
- MiccoMicco, FloridaMicco is a census-designated place in Brevard County, Florida, United States. The population was 9,498 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Palm Bay–Melbourne–Titusville Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
;Barefoot BayBarefoot Bay, FloridaBarefoot Bay is an unincorporated community and Recreation District in Brevard County, Florida, United States. It is located in the southern part of the county, on the Atlantic coast. The population was 8,348 at the 2000 census...
Government
In 2007, the town had a taxable real estate base of $503.37 million.The town charter reflects the reason for incorporation and calls for future development to be consistent with a rural and fishing village lifestyle that preserves the history and natural green spaces of the two communities.
Government services are to be kept to a minimum, density kept low and lot sizes kept large.
History
The community of Grant was originally established in 1925, and has a history as a fishing village, with agriculture also a part of both communities' histories.The community name of Valkaria derives from Valkyrie
Valkyrie
In Norse mythology, a valkyrie is one of a host of female figures who decides who dies in battle. Selecting among half of those who die in battle , the valkyries bring their chosen to the afterlife hall of the slain, Valhalla, ruled over by the god Odin...
, a warrior-maiden of Norse mythology.
A MISTRAM
MISTRAM
MISTRAM was a high-resolution tracking system used by the United States Air Force to provide highly detailed trajectory analysis of rocket launches....
missile tracking system was built by the US Air Force here in the early 1960s.
Culture
A largely rural town in the south end of the county, the town includes older homes, newer homes on acre-plus lots andthe county owned Habitat Golf Course, a 6836 yard, par-72 course set near the Valkaria Airport
Valkaria Airport
Valkaria Airport is a public-use airport located west of the central business district of the city of Grant-Valkaria in Brevard County, Florida, United States. The airport is publicly owned.The airport was originally constructed by the U.S...
.
The town has held a Seafood
Seafood
Seafood is any form of marine life regarded as food by humans. Seafoods include fish, molluscs , crustaceans , echinoderms . Edible sea plants, such as some seaweeds and microalgae, are also seafood, and are widely eaten around the world, especially in Asia...
festival, dubbed the "Grant Seafood Festival" every year on the last
weekend of February since 1966. In 1968, then U.S. Vice-President Hubert Humphrey
Hubert Humphrey
Hubert Horatio Humphrey, Jr. , served under President Lyndon B. Johnson as the 38th Vice President of the United States. Humphrey twice served as a United States Senator from Minnesota, and served as Democratic Majority Whip. He was a founder of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party and...
visited the Seafood Festival while campaigning for his 1968 presidential bid. The proceeds go towards college scholarships for local children, as well as summer break activities for the community's children. The town also has the historic Bensen House
Bensen House (Grant, Florida)
The Bensen House, sometimes called the 1916 House or the Grant Historical House, is a historic U.S. home located at 5795 U.S. Route 1, Grant, Florida. The house was built in 1916 by Atley Bensen for his wife Clara. It now serves as a house museum and the home for the Grant Historical...
.
Transportation
- U.S. 1U.S. Route 1 in FloridaU.S. Route 1 in Florida runs along the state's east coast from Key West to its crossing of the St. Marys River into Georgia north of Boulogne, and south of Folkston. US 1 was designated through Florida when the U.S. Highway System was established in 1926.US 1 runs in the state of Florida, and...
-This US highway runs along the Indian River LagoonIndian River LagoonThe Indian River Lagoon is a grouping of three lagoons: Mosquito Lagoon, Banana River, and the Indian River, on the Atlantic Coast of Florida. It was originally named Rio de Ais after the Ais Indian tribe, who lived along the east coast of Florida....
.
- CR 507-Locally known as Babcock Street, CR 507 forms the western boundaries of Grant-Valkaria.
- Palm Bay Parkway-A proposed highway of Palm BayPalm Bay, FloridaPalm Bay is a city in Brevard County, Florida, United States. The U.S. Census Bureau estimated the city's population as 100,786 on 1 July 2008; it is the most populous city in the county...
, and may terminate in Grant-Valkaria, at I-95Interstate 95 in FloridaInterstate 95 is the main Interstate Highway on the east coast of the United States; it serves the Atlantic coast of Florida. It begins at a partial interchange with U.S. Highway 1 just south of downtown Miami, and heads north past Daytona Beach and Jacksonville to the Georgia state line at the St...
. One of the planned intersections would be at Babcock Street.
- The Valkaria Airport serves small general aviation aircraft.
Notables
- Billy HorschelBilly HorschelWilliam John Horschel is an American professional golfer who currently plays on the PGA Tour.-Amateur career:Horschel was born in Grant, Florida. He won the individual medalist honors at the 2006 U.S. Amateur, shooting a two day score of 138 at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minnesota...
, professional golfer, was born in Grant. - Jefferson W. SpeckJefferson W. SpeckJefferson W. Speck was a planter and businessman from Mississippi County, Arkansas, who was the Republican gubernatorial nominee in 1950 and again in 1952. He was a leader in the Dwight D...
, Arkansas politician, lived for many years in Grant.