Indian River County, Florida
Encyclopedia
.jpg)
County (United States)
In the United States, a county is a geographic subdivision of a state , usually assigned some governmental authority. The term "county" is used in 48 of the 50 states; Louisiana is divided into parishes and Alaska into boroughs. Parishes and boroughs are called "county-equivalents" by the U.S...
located in the Treasure Coast
Treasure Coast
The Treasure Coast is a region in the U.S. state of Florida, generally considered to include Indian River, St. Lucie, and Martin counties. The area stretches from Hobe Sound in the south to north of Sebastian in the north and includes the cities of Stuart, Port St. Lucie, Fort Pierce, and Vero Beach...
region in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. As of 2000, the population was 112,947. The U.S. Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
2005 estimate for the county is 128,594 http://www.census.gov/popest/counties/tables/CO-EST2005-01-12.xls. Its county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
is Vero Beach, Florida
Vero Beach, Florida
Vero Beach is a city in Indian River County, Florida, USA. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2006 estimates, the city had a population of 16,939. It is the county seat of Indian River County...
.
It is Florida's 6th richest county and one of the top 100 richest counties in the U.S.
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, in 1824 it became part of Mosquito County (original name of Orange County), and in 1844 its 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. It was named for the Indian River LagoonIndian River Lagoon
The 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....
, which runs through the eastern portion of the county.
Elected officials
County Commissioners:District 1 - Wesley Davis
District 2 - Joe Flescher
District 3 - Gary C. Wheeler
District 4 - Peter D. O'Bryan
District 5 - Bob Solari
The following are considered state officials but are elected and paid by the county:
Sheriff - Deryl Loar
Clerk of the Courts - Jeffrey K. Barton
Property Appraiser - David C. Nolte
Tax Collector - Carole Jean Jordan
Supervisor of Elections - Kay Clem
School Board Members:
District 1 - Karen Disney-Brombach
District 2 - Matthew McCain
District 3 - Carol Johnson
District 4 - Claudia L. Jimenez
District 5 - Debbie MacKay
County Circuit Court Judges:
Group 1 - David Morgan
Group 2 - Joe Wild
Hospital District:
Seat 1 - Thomas J. Spackman, M.D.
Seat 2 - Alma Lee Loy
Seat 3 - Harry J. Bolwell
Seat 4 - William H. Chadwick
Seat 5 - Hugh K. McCrystal, M.D.
Seat 6 - Burton J. Lee
Seat 7 - Michael Weiss
Soil and Water Conservation District:
Seat 1 - Marvin Carter
Seat 2 - David E. Gunter
Seat 3 - Robert C. Aldair
Seat 4 - Robert J. Lindsey, Sr.
Seat 5 - Alexander Kromhout
Mosquito Control District:
Seat 1 - David Foster
Seat 2 - Keith D. Hedin
Seat 3 - Janice Broda
Geography
According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 616.92 square miles (1,597.8 km²), of which 503.23 square miles (1,303.4 km²) (or 81.57%) is land and 113.69 square miles (294.5 km²) (or 18.43%) is water.Indian River County is the sole county in the Sebastian-Vero Beach Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Adjacent counties
- Brevard County, FloridaBrevard County, FloridaBrevard 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...
- north - St. Lucie County, FloridaSt. Lucie County, FloridaSt. Lucie County is a county located in the state of Florida. The county seat is the city of Fort Pierce. In the year 2000, the population was 192,695. As of the year 2010, the United States Census Bureau sets the population at 277,789.- History :...
- south - Okeechobee County, FloridaOkeechobee County, FloridaOkeechobee County is a county located in the state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 35,910. According to 2005 U.S. Census estimates, its population had grown to 39,836. The county seat is Okeechobee, Florida. The county comprises the Okeechobee, Florida Micropolitan Statistical Area.-...
- southwest - Osceola County, FloridaOsceola County, FloridaOsceola County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 172,493. The U.S. Census Bureau 2006 estimate for the county is 244,045, making it the 17th fastest-growing county in the United States. Its county seat is Kissimmee.- History :Osceola County was...
- west
National protected areas
- Archie Carr National Wildlife RefugeArchie Carr National Wildlife RefugeThe Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge is part of the United States National Wildlife Refuge System, located along a twenty mile section of coastline from Melbourne Beach to Wabasso Beach, Florida along Florida State Road A1A. The 900 acre refuge was established in 1991, to protect the...
(part) - Pelican Island National Wildlife RefugePelican Island National Wildlife RefugePelican Island National Wildlife Refuge is a United States National Wildlife Refuge located just off the western coast of Orchid Island in the Indian River Lagoon east of Sebastian, Florida. The refuge consists of a island that includes an additional of surrounding water and is located off the...
Industry
It is home to general aviation manufacturer Piper Aircraft http://newpiper.com, and Velocity Aircraft http://www.velocityaircraft.com/, CVS distribution Center. Indian River County is home to the world famous Indian River Citrus, a locally harvested fruit, that is sold world wide.Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 112,947 people, 49,137 households, and 32,725 families residing in the county. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 224 people per square mile (87/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
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 8.19% Black
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.25% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.74% Asian
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.03% Pacific Islander
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 2.15% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.21% from two or more races. 6.53% of the population were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
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
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
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.
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
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
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.
Bus Systems
Goline is Indian River County's main method of public transportation. The program was introduced in 1994, to introduce an alternative option to driving.In the mid 2000's, Indian River county had planned for a series of routes for the Buses from Barefoot bay to the south end of Vero Beach, due to the mass population in the early and mid 2000's. In 2006, Goline (formally Indian River Transit) was introduced with more stops along and through the Treasure Coast
Treasure Coast
The Treasure Coast is a region in the U.S. state of Florida, generally considered to include Indian River, St. Lucie, and Martin counties. The area stretches from Hobe Sound in the south to north of Sebastian in the north and includes the cities of Stuart, Port St. Lucie, Fort Pierce, and Vero Beach...
. By 2010, it had a total of 14 stops with 3 or 4 more stops planned for 2011/2012. There is no fee to board the bus, though people are encouraged to donate to the system. Currently the times are from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm on Weekdays and from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm on Saturdays. On some routes, there are extended hours.
For route listings please refer to this website http://www.golineirt.com/GoLineGuide.pdf
Train
There is a planned Amtrak station in Vero Beach. Details for the meetings for the initial process are on this page. http://www.irmpo.com/Documents/Amtrak.pdf There are also planned stations in Melbourne and Ft. Pierce, connecting the Space CoastSpace Coast
The Space Coast is a region in the U.S. state of Florida around Kennedy Space Center , where NASA launched space shuttles until the last one on July 8th, 2011 at 11:29am; and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, site of unmanned civilian and military space launches...
and Treasure Coast
Treasure Coast
The Treasure Coast is a region in the U.S. state of Florida, generally considered to include Indian River, St. Lucie, and Martin counties. The area stretches from Hobe Sound in the south to north of Sebastian in the north and includes the cities of Stuart, Port St. Lucie, Fort Pierce, and Vero Beach...
regions with the rest of the country.
Libraries
- 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
Elementary Schools
- Beachland Elementary
- Citrus Elementary
- Dodgertown Elementary
- Fellsmere Elementary
- Glendale Elementary
- Highlands Elementary
- Imagine Schools of South Vero
- Liberty Magnet
- North County Charter Elementary
- Osceola Magnet
- Pelican Island Elementary
- Rosewood Magnet
- Sebastian Elementary
- Treasure Coast Elementary
- Vero Beach Elementary
Middle Schools
- Gifford Middle
- Oslo Middle
- Sebastian Charter Junior High
- Sebastian River Middle
- Storm Grove Middle
High Schools
- Freshman Learning Center (VBHS)
- Indian River Charter High School
- Sebastian River High SchoolSebastian River High SchoolSebastian River High School is a co-educational International Baccalaureate high school. It opened August 1994 and was ranked 304th by Newsweek's 1,000 top U.S. High schools. The school is operated by the Indian River County School District.-Features:...
- Vero Beach High SchoolVero Beach High SchoolVero Beach High School is located in Vero Beach, Florida, the county seat of Indian River County. Founded in 1925 , VBHS is a large, comprehensive high school, located on Florida’s east coast. The high school serves 2,675 students in grades 9-12 who reside in the southern portion of Indian River...
Other Schools
- Alternative Education Center
- Indian River County Adult Education Center
- Thompson Learning Center
- Wabasso School
Private Schools
- Glendale Christian School
- Indian River Christian School
- Master's Academy
- St. Edwards Lower School
- St. Edwards Upper School
- St. Helen's Catholic School
- Tabernacle Baptist School
- The Willow School
Colleges and Universities
- Barry UniversityBarry UniversityBarry University is a private, Catholic university, which was founded in 1940 in Miami Shores, Florida, a suburb north of Downtown Miami. It is part of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Miami....
Vero Beach Campus - Florida Institute of TechnologyFlorida Institute of TechnologyFlorida Institute of Technology, also known as Florida Tech, is an independent private technical research university located in Melbourne, Florida, United States. Founded in 1958 as Brevard Engineering College, the institute has been known by its present name since 1966. Florida Tech's curriculum...
- Indian River State College Mueller Center
- Indian River State College Sebastian Campus
- University of FloridaUniversity of FloridaThe University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
Incorporated
- City of FellsmereFellsmere, FloridaFellsmere is a city in Indian River County, Florida, United States. The population was 3,813 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 4,658...
- Town of Indian River ShoresIndian River Shores, FloridaIndian River Shores is a town on Orchid Island, in Indian River County, Florida, United States. The population was 3,448 at the 2000 census. It is ranked ninth in Florida locations by per capita income....
- Town of OrchidOrchid, FloridaOrchid is a town in Indian River County, Florida, United States. The population was 140 at the 2000 census and was the 9th highest-income place in the United States. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 292. It is ranked sixth in Florida locations by per capita income...
- City of SebastianSebastian, FloridaSebastian 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...
- City of Vero BeachVero Beach, FloridaVero Beach is a city in Indian River County, Florida, USA. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2006 estimates, the city had a population of 16,939. It is the county seat of Indian River County...
Unincorporated
- Blue Cypress Village
- Cummings
- Florida RidgeFlorida Ridge, FloridaFlorida Ridge is a census-designated place in Indian River County, Florida, United States. The population was 15,217 at the 2000 census.Florida Ridge is part of the Sebastian–Vero Beach Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
- GiffordGifford, FloridaGifford is a census-designated place in Indian River County, Florida, United States. It is part of the Sebastian–Vero Beach Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 7,599 at the 2000 census. Gifford has a very rich African American history. There are several pioneer families that...
- Nevins
- North BeachNorth Beach, FloridaNorth Beach is a census-designated place on Orchid Island in Indian River County, Florida, United States. The population was 243 at the 2000 census...
- OsloOslo, FloridaFirst settled around 1883, Oslo is a community in southeastern Indian River County, Florida, United States. It is part of the Sebastian–Vero Beach Metropolitan Statistical Area. The town of Oslo, as it was once called was first established by the some of Indian River County's first pioneers,...
- Riomar
- RoselandRoseland, FloridaRoseland is a census-designated place in Indian River County, Florida, United States. The population was 1,775 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Sebastian–Vero Beach Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
- Royal Poinciana Park
- South BeachSouth Beach, FloridaSouth Beach is a census-designated place on Orchid Island in Indian River County, Florida, United States. The population was 3,457 at the 2000 census...
- Vero Beach SouthVero Beach South, FloridaVero Beach South is a census-designated place in Indian River County, Florida, United States. The population was 20,362 at the 2000 census...
- Vero Lake EstatesVero Lake Estates, FloridaVero Lake Estates is an unincorporated community in Indian River County, Florida, United States, off CR 510. It contains the western portion of Wabasso Road, although it is not connected to CR 510...
- WabassoWabasso, FloridaWabasso is a census-designated place in Indian River County, Florida, United States. The population was 918 at the 2000 census. It is located on the intersections of CR 605, U.S...
- Wabasso BeachWabasso Beach, FloridaWabasso Beach is a census-designated place in Indian River County, Florida, United States. The population was 1,075 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Sebastian–Vero Beach Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
- West Vero CorridorWest Vero Corridor, FloridaWest Vero Corridor is a census-designated place in Indian River County, Florida, United States. The population was 7,695 at the 2000 census...
- Winter BeachWinter Beach, FloridaWinter Beach is a census-designated place in Indian River County, Florida, United States. The population was 965 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Sebastian–Vero Beach Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
Politics
| Year | Republican Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S... |
Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
Other Third party (United States) The term third party is used in the United States for any and all political parties in the United States other than one of the two major parties . The term can also refer to independent politicians not affiliated with any party at all and to write-in candidates.The United States has had a... |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 56.7% | 42.0% | 1.3% |
| 2004 | 60.2% | 39.0% | 0.8% |
| 2000 | 57.7% | 39.8% | 2.5% |
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Indian River County, Florida
- Orchid IslandOrchid Island, FloridaOrchid Island, Florida, an Atlantic coastal barrier island located in Indian River County, Florida, is actually the Indian River County part of North Hutchinson Island, although that term in not used in Indian River County. Orchid Island is separated from the mainland on the west by the Indian...
- Pelican Island National Wildlife RefugePelican Island National Wildlife RefugePelican Island National Wildlife Refuge is a United States National Wildlife Refuge located just off the western coast of Orchid Island in the Indian River Lagoon east of Sebastian, Florida. The refuge consists of a island that includes an additional of surrounding water and is located off the...
- Vero beach power squadron
Governmental
- Board of County Commissioners
- Constitutional Officers
- School District
- Multi-county Districts