Indialantic, Florida

Indialantic is situated on the barrier island that separates the Indian River Lagoon from the Atlantic Ocean. This island, approximately 25 miles (40 km) in length, stretches south from Cape Canaveral to the Sebastian Inlet. The Melbourne Causeway connects Indialantic to the city of Melbourne across the Indian River Lagoon. Indialantic is bordered on the south by the town of Melbourne Beach and on the north by unincorporated Brevard County.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.3 square miles (3.4 km²). 0.97 square miles (2.5 km²) of it is land, and 0.35 square miles (0.9 km²) of it (25.80%) is water.[7]

From 1919 to 1921, Ernest Kouven-Hoven, who bought the land that ultimately became Indialantic, settled in the area, and built a wooden bridge connecting Indialantic with Melbourne[8] (Bridge #1)

In the 1920s - The Indialantic Hotel was built. Its name was later changed to the Tradewinds Hotel.[9] The hotel was on what is now South Shannon Avenue, the current location of Tradewinds Terrace.

By 1924, the Indialantic Casino was built. Its name was later changed to the Bahama Beach Club.[9][10] This is the location of Nance Park today.

From 1941 to 1947, the wooden bridge was replaced with a drawbridge, delayed by the war years. (Bridge #2)

In 1952, Indialantic was incorporated with the official (but rarely used in common parlance) name "Indialantic-By-The-Sea".

In 1985, a modern causeway was built with an elevated span to avoid obstructing boats using the Indian River (Bridge #3)

As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 2,944 people, 1,330 households, and 848 families residing in the town. The population density was 2,840.6 inhabitants per square mile (1,093.0/km²). There were 1,467 housing units at an average density of 1,415.5 per square mile (544.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 50.27% African American, 47.32% White, 0.14% Native American, 0.71% Asian, 0.58% from other races, and 0.99% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.34% of the population.

There were 1,330 households, out of which 21.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.2% were married couples living together, 7.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.2% were non-families. 27.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.72.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 17.6% under the age of 18, 4.7% from 18 to 24, 26.4% from 25 to 44, 27.3% from 45 to 64, and 24.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.4 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $62,181, and the median income for a family was $76,109. Males had a median income of $51,830 versus $30,047 for females. The per capita income for the town was $41,126. About 1.1% of families and 2.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 1.9% of those age 65 or over.

The per capita income of $41,126 places the town of Indialantic first in Brevard County and 58 in the state (out of 887 places).

The town publishes a quarterly report to all residents.[13]

Officers are as follows:

• Mayor - David Berkman (longest-serving mayor in town's history)
• Deputy Mayor - Stu Glass (term ends 2020)
• Councilmember - Simon Kemp (term ends 2020)
• Councilmember - Julie McKnight (term ends 2021)
• Councilmember - Doug Wright (term ends 2021)

The following are all appointed or hired:

• Town Manager - Michael Casey
• Police Chief - Michael Connor
• Public Works Director - Joe Gervais
• Town Attorney - Paul Gougelman
• Town Clerk - Rebekah Raddon
• Fire Chief - Tom Flamm[14]
• Building Official - Clifford Stokes

In 2008, the town had a taxable real estate base of $367.69 million.[15] The budget for fiscal year 2012 was $4,060,999.[16]

There are two local schools, both of which lie outside the city boundaries in the adjacent unincorporated part of Indialantic; they are under the jurisdiction of the Brevard County School Board: Indialantic Elementary and Hoover Middle School. The state evaluated Hoover "Grade A" from 2000-2008.[22]<

In 2005, Hoover contained grades 7 and 8. There were 512 students and 32 teachers, for a ratio of 16:1. 11.3% qualified for free or reduced lunch. Indialantic Elementary contained grades Pre-kindergarten though sixth. There were 812 students and 54 teachers for a ratio of 15:1. 13.3% qualified for free or reduced lunch.

• Florida Today published a free bi-weekly paper, The Indialantic Wave, which served Indialantic until about 2009. Then it substituted The Breeze, which contained all South Beaches communities.[23]
• The Hometown News is a free weekly paper distributed to each home.

• Brian Bollinger, NFL player[27]
• Kathy Johnson, gymnast
• Ernest Kouwen-Hoven, businessman
• Robert F. Marx, pioneer scuba diver and author
• Pat Neshek, MLB pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies
• Stefanie Scott, actress
• John Siptroth, U.S. Politician and public figure

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Indialantic, Florida.

• Official website