Grant-Valkaria, Florida

Grant-Valkaria is a town in Brevard County, Florida. The town's population was 3,850 at the 2010 United States Census.[2]

Grant-Valkaria, Florida
Town
Town of Grant-Valkaria
Driving through U.S. Route 1 in Grant-Valkaria
Grant-Valkaria, Florida
Grant-Valkaria, Florida
Coordinates: 27°56′03″N 80°33′57″W
Country United States of America
State Florida
County Brevard
Incorporated (town)2006
Government
 • MayorDel Yonts
Area
 • Total30.26 sq mi (78.36 km2)
 • Land27.22 sq mi (70.50 km2)
 • Water3.03 sq mi (7.86 km2)
Population
 • Total3,850
 • Estimate 
(2019)[3]
4,286
 • Density157.45/sq mi (60.79/km2)
 Census Bureau estimate
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP codes
32949, 32950, 32909
Area code(s)321
FIPS code12-73625
GNIS feature ID292723
Websitewww.GrantValkaria.org

Grant-Valkaria is located south of Melbourne, between Palm Bay and Sebastian. It is 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.

Geography

Grant-Valkaria is located at 27°56′03″N 80°33′57″W.[4]

Surrounding areas

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
20103,850—
2019 (est.)4,286[3]11.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[5]

Government

In 2007, the town had a taxable real estate base of $503.37 million.[6]

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 it has a history as a fishing village, with agriculture also a part of both communities' histories.

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.

Culture

A largely rural town in the south end of the county, the town includes older homes, newer homes on acre-plus lots and the county-owned Habitat Golf Course, a 6,836-yard (6,251 m), par-72 course near the Valkaria Airport.

The town has held 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.[7] The proceeds go towards college scholarships for local children, as well as summer break activities for the community's children.

The town has the historic Bensen House as well as the historic Jorgensen's General Store.

Transportation
  • U.S. 1-This US highway runs along the Indian River Lagoon.
  • CR 507-Locally known as Babcock Street, CR 507 forms the western boundaries of Grant-Valkaria.
  • Palm Bay Parkway-A proposed highway of Palm Bay, which may terminate in Grant-Valkaria, at I-95. One of the planned intersections would be at Babcock Street.
  • The Valkaria Airport serves small general aviation aircraft.[8]

Notable people
  • Billy Horschel, professional golfer, born in Grant
  • Jefferson W. Speck, Arkansas politician, lived for many years in Grant

References
  1. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  2. "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (DP-1): Grant-Valkaria town, Florida". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 30, 2012.
  3. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  4. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  5. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  6. Dean, James (April 26, 2008). More taxes or fewer services. Florida Today.
  7. Grant Seafood Festival website Archived 2008-02-05 at the Wayback Machine accessed February 24, 2008
  8. Valkaria Airport
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