Melbourne Beach, Florida

Melbourne Beach is a town in Brevard County, Florida. The population was 3,101 at the 2010 United States Census.[5] It is part of the Palm Bay–Melbourne–Titusville Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Melbourne Beach, Florida
Town
Town of Melbourne Beach
Seal
Location in Brevard County and the state of Florida
U.S. Census Bureau map showing town boundaries
Coordinates: 28°4′4″N 80°33′42″W
Country United States of America
State Florida
County Brevard
Area
 • Total1.40 sq mi (3.63 km2)
 • Land0.99 sq mi (2.56 km2)
 • Water0.41 sq mi (1.07 km2)
Elevation
10 ft (3 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total3,101
 • Estimate 
(2019)[2]
3,298
 • Density3,338.06/sq mi (1,289.37/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
32951
Area code(s)321
FIPS code12-44000[3]
GNIS feature ID0286684[4]
Websitewww.MelbourneBeachFL.org

History

The Ais Indians resided in the area in pre-Columbian times. In 2010, a midden near Aquarina included a burial ground for a chief and two handmaidens.[6]

It has been suggested that Juan Ponce de León landed near Melbourne Beach in 1513, where he then became the first European to set foot in Florida.[7] A determination of this was made by a historian in the 1990s, who believed that the spot was "within five to eight nautical miles" on the barrier island with a proposed name of Ponce de León Island.[8] However, this suggestion has not been met with wide acceptance from historians who state that de Leon's landing place cannot be known within a leeway of less than a hundred miles or so.[9] A statue of Ponce de León was erected at "Juan Ponce de León Landing" in Melbourne Beach to commemorate his discovery.[10]

Melbourne Beach is Brevard County's oldest beach community.

In 1879, a hotel, the Oak Lodge, was built for researchers and naturalists on a 164-acre (66 ha) location near Aquarina.[6]

The town was established in 1883 by a retired Union general. Pineapples were grown until 1895, when freezing weather wiped out crops and ended commercial farming.

In 1921, the Melbourne Causeway was built, connecting Melbourne Beach to the mainland via the town of Indialantic. In 1923 it was incorporated as a town.

In 1928, Harry J. Brooks, attempting to set a long distance record, crashed a Ford Flivver off the coast of Melbourne Beach, resulting in his death.[11]

The town's population oscillated until World War II, when it began growing steadily. Currently, it is largely residential, with an elementary school, some businesses, and many condominiums in the unincorporated areas to the north and south.

In 2007, it was voted one of ten best bargain retirement spots in America.[12]

In 2016, a Publix located four miles south of Melbourne Beach sold one of the winning tickets in the $1.3 billion Powerball.

Geography

Melbourne Beach is located at 28°04′04″N 80°33′42″W.[13] It is situated on a (apparently unnamed) barrier island that separates the Indian River Lagoon from the Atlantic Ocean. This island, approximately 45 miles (72 km) in length, stretches from Cape Canaveral to the north to the Sebastian Inlet to the south. Melbourne Beach is bordered by the town of Indialantic to the north.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.3 square miles (3.3 km2). 1.0 square miles (2.7 km2) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.6 km2) of it (19.53%) is water.

Fauna

Shorebirds include black-bellied plovers, red knots (winter), gannets, seabirds (offshore), and red-throated loons (winter).[14]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
193072—
19409025.0%
1950230155.6%
19601,004336.5%
19702,262125.3%
19802,71319.9%
19903,02111.4%
20003,33510.4%
20103,101−7.0%
2019 (est.)3,298[2]6.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[15]

As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 3,335 people, 1,422 households, and 992 families residing in the town. The population density was 3,243.5 inhabitants per square mile (1,250.1/km2). There were 1,556 housing units at an average density of 1,513.3 per square mile (583.3/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.51% White, 0.09% Black, 0.12% Native American, 0.99% Asian, 0.24% from other races, and 1.05% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.28% of the population.

There were 1,422 households, out of which 25.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.7% were married couples living together, 5.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.2% were non-families. 23.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.77.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 20.1% under the age of 18, 4.0% from 18 to 24, 24.6% from 25 to 44, 28.9% from 45 to 64, and 22.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females, there were 103.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.3 males.

2015

As of 2015 the largest self-reported ancestry groups in Melbourne Beach, Florida are:[16]

Largest ancestries (2015)Percent
English18.5%
German15.2%
Italian11.4%
Irish10.4%
"American"8.1%
Greek5.7%
Scots-Irish4.3%
French (except Basque)4.1%
Scottish2.9%
Swedish2.4%

[16]

Government

In 2007, the town had a taxable real estate base of $371.45 million.[17]

Mayors
  • Bud Conroy 1982-1984
  • Jean Becker 1984-1986
  • Richard Coston 1986-1989
  • James Lawrence 1989-1997
  • Robert Wille 1997 - 2002
  • Mark Crispen 2003 (resigned before end of term)
  • Steve Walters 2003-2004 (interim mayor)
  • William Stacey 2004 - 2007[18]
  • Rita A. Karpie 2007 - 2011 (died before end of term)
  • Jean Marshall 2011 (interim mayor) (through Nov. 2011)
  • Tom Davis 2012 - May 2013 (Resigned before the end of term )
  • Rocco Maglio May 2013 - August 2013 (Resigned before the end of term)
  • John Gurecki - September 2013 - Appointed by vote of remaining commission members. (Three commission members remaining)
  • James Simmons - November 2013 – Present

Economy

Personal income

The median income for a household in the town was $87,035, and the median income for a family was $62,139. Males had a median income of $46,424 versus $34,028 for females. The per capita income for the town was $31,489. About 1.6% of families and 3.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 2.2% of those age 65 or over.

Median home value was $321,498.00 in 2010.[19]

Melbourne Beach is second in Brevard County for per capita income and 124 out of 887 places.

Industry

Tourism

Coconut Point Park is a 36.9-acre (14.9 ha) community beachside park and sea turtle nesting site. The park is listed in the state of Florida Great Florida Birding Trail.[14]

Points of interest

Notable people

References
  1. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  2. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  3. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  4. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  5. "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (DP-1): Melbourne Beach town, Florida". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2012.
  6. Florida Today
  7. And not at St. Augustine.
  8. Datzman, Ken. "Did the famous explorer Ponce de Leon first hit Melbourne Beach", Brevard Business News, vol 30, no. 1 (Melbourne, Florida: January 02, 2012), p. 1 and 19.
  9. Neale, Rick (March 10, 2013). "Theory stirs strife". Florida Today. Melbourne, Florida. pp. 3A.
  10. "Ponce de León statue finally makes debut".
  11. Historical Society of Michigan. Chronicle. 24–26. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  12. Brandon, Emily (June 11, 2007). 10 Bargain Retirement Spots. US News and World Report.
  13. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  14. "Coconut Point Park". Brevard County. Brevard County Government. Retrieved 18 January 2016.
  15. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  17. Dean, James (April 26, 2008). More taxes or fewer services. Florida Today.
  19. "Melbourne Beach, FL - 32951 - Real Estate Information". neighborhoodscout.com. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  20. "Rock Star Finds Peace In Brevard". tribunedigital-orlandosentinel. Retrieved 2019-02-18.
  21. "Retired football hero Flutie pays $2.1M for 3,813-square-foot house in Melbourne Beach, FL".
  22. "Como James Henry Ellis" (PDF). Find a Grave. Retrieved February 18, 2019.
  23. "NORMA METROLIS". Florida Today. February 3, 2010. Retrieved March 8, 2019.
  24. "Armed with a newly rediscovered fastball, Pat Neshek is turning heads in Jupiter - FOX Sports". foxsports.com. 13 March 2014. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  25. "Rodeheaver owned property in Brevard County, FL". Florida Today. 2005-09-06. p. 32. Retrieved 2019-02-22.
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