Vero Beach, Florida

Vero Beach is a city in and the seat of Indian River County, Florida, United States. It is thirty-four miles south from Melbourne. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2010 data, the city had a population of 15,220.[6]

City of Vero Beach, Florida
City
Nickname(s): 
Hibiscus City
Motto(s): 
Where the Tropics Begin
Location in Indian River County and the state of Florida
Vero Beach
Location in the United States
Vero Beach
Vero Beach (the United States)
Coordinates: 27°39′N 80°23′W
CountryUnited States
State Florida
CountyIndian River
Settled1870
Incorporated (Vero)1919
Incorporated (Vero Beach)1925
Government
 • TypeCommission-Manager
 • MayorRobbie Brackett[1]
Area
 • City13.35 sq mi (34.58 km2)
 • Land11.45 sq mi (29.65 km2)
 • Water1.91 sq mi (4.93 km2)  14.31%
Elevation
13 ft (4 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • City15,220
 • Estimate 
(2019)[3]
17,503
 • Density1,529.18/sq mi (590.40/km2)
 • Metro
130,100
 Census Bureau
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP codes
32960 thru 32969
Area code(s)772
FIPS code12-74150[4]
GNIS feature ID0292760[5]
Websitehttp://www.covb.org

History

Pre-Columbian
See also: Vero man

Parts of a human skeleton were found north of Vero in association with the remains of Pleistocene animals in 1915. The find was controversial, and the view that the human remains dated from much later than the Pleistocene prevailed for many years.[7] In 2006, an image of a mastodon or mammoth carved on a bone was found in vicinity of the Vero man discovery. A scientific forensic examination of the bone found the carving had probably been done in the Pleistocene.[8] Archaeologists from Mercyhurst University, in conjunction with the Old Vero Ice Age Sites Committee (OVIASC), conducted excavations at the Old Vero Man site in Vero Beach in 2014–15.[9] Starting in 2016, archaeologists from Florida Atlantic University joined the Old Vero Man site excavations.[10]

Post-Columbian

In 1715, a Spanish treasure fleet wrecked off the coast of Vero. Eleven out of twelve Spanish ships carrying tonnes of silver foundered in a hurricane. The remains of the silver attracted pirates. A group of 300 unemployed English privateers led by Henry Jennings stole about £87,500 in gold and silver in their first acts of piracy.

In 1872 Captain Allen W. Estes officially established the first land patent between the Atlantic Ocean and the Indian River Lagoon, after settling in the area in 1870.

In 1893 Henry Flagler’s Florida East Coast Railway began operation through the area.[11]

The town of Vero was chartered on June 13, 1919.[12][13]

Vero was officially renamed "Vero Beach" and was switched from being part of St. Lucie County to become the county seat of Indian River County when it was formed in June, 1925.[14] There are many theories on possible origin of the city name, but there's no consensus.[14]

During the war year of 1942 the U.S. Navy selected 1,500 acres (6.1 km2) surrounding the Vero Beach Municipal Airport as the site of Fort Pierce Naval Amphibious Training Base, a Naval Air Station. Due to the bombing practices conducted during the WWII, there are many buried explosives and the Army Corps officials have conducted ongoing search & clearing exercises for the potentially dangerous items since 2014.[15][16]

In 1951 Barber Bridge was built from mainland to barrier islands. It was later demolished and replaced in 1995 with the Merrill P. Barber Bridge. It is named after Merrill P. Barber who was the mayor of Vero beach in 1947.[17]

In 1957 Piper Aircraft began research and development in Vero Beach. In 1961 Piper Aircraft moved administrative and manufacturing operations to Vero after completing building additions.[18]

In 1965 the A1A bridge over the Sebastian Inlet connected the two barrier islands.[19][11] In 1979, the 17th Street Bridge was completed, allowing a second point of access from Vero Beach mainland to the barrier islands.

Demographics

As of the 2010 census,[4][20] there were 15,220 people, 7,505 households, and 3,946 families residing in the city. There were 10,258 housing units. The racial makeup of the city was 87.5% White, 4.8% Black, 0.30% Native American, 1.8% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 3.7% from other races, and 1.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10.7% of the population.

There were 7,505 households, out of which 16.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.2% were married couples living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 47.4% were non-families. 19.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older, with 4.8% being 85 years and older. The average household size was 2.01 and the average family size was 2.65.

In the city the population was spread out, with 14.1% under the age of 16, 84.1% over 18, 4.3% from 15 to 19, 4.9% from 20 to 24, 5.5% from 20 to 25 and 29.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 50.9 years.

For every 100 females, there were 92.8 males. The population consists of 51.3% female and 48.7% male.

Geography

Climate

Vero Beach has a humid subtropical climate, with hot and humid summers and warm, sunny, and dry winters. The average annual temperature is 72.7 °F, with an annual high temperature of 81.4 °F and an annual low temperature of 64 °F. On average Vero Beach is frost free.[21]

Climate data for Vero Beach, Florida (1980-2010)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °F (°C) 72.8
(22.7)		 74.9
(23.8)		 77.8
(25.4)		 81.3
(27.4)		 85.8
(29.9)		 89.0
(31.7)		 90.5
(32.5)		 90.5
(32.5)		 88.7
(31.5)		 84.6
(29.2)		 79.3
(26.3)		 74.7
(23.7)		 82.5
(28.1)
Average low °F (°C) 50.4
(10.2)		 53.0
(11.7)		 56.5
(13.6)		 60.2
(15.7)		 66.2
(19.0)		 71.1
(21.7)		 72.6
(22.6)		 72.9
(22.7)		 72.1
(22.3)		 67.1
(19.5)		 59.8
(15.4)		 54.1
(12.3)		 63.0
(17.2)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 2.3
(58)		 2.5
(64)		 3.8
(97)		 2.7
(69)		 3.4
(86)		 6.8
(170)		 6.2
(160)		 7.4
(190)		 7.0
(180)		 4.7
(120)		 3.0
(76)		 2.2
(56)		 52
(1,326)
Source: USA.com[22]


Historical population
CensusPop.%±
1920793—
19302,268186.0%
19403,05034.5%
19504,74655.6%
19608,84986.5%
197011,90834.6%
198016,17635.8%
199017,3507.3%
200017,7052.0%
201015,220−14.0%
2019 (est.)17,503[3]15.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[23]

Economy

Industry

Vero Beach is home to general aviation manufacturer Piper Aircraft, which is the largest private employer in Indian River County. As of July 2015, Piper employed approximately 750 people. Aside from Piper, the bulk of commercial activity in Vero Beach centers around tourism, the citrus industry and service activities.

Retail

There are two shopping malls: the Indian River Mall, and the Vero Beach Outlets just west of I-95 on State Road 60. There are small specialty shops along Ocean Drive on the barrier island, and in what is called "Miracle Mile." The Historic Downtown is a newly revitalized area of shopping, dining, antique stores, and art galleries.

Tourism

A large part of tourism in Vero Beach is taken in part by The Disney Resort in Vero (Disney's Vero Beach Resort)

Beaches

The beaches in Vero Beach are part of Florida's Treasure Coast. Vero's three main public beaches are South Beach, accessible at the eastern end of Florida State Road 656 at the eastern end of 17th Street; Humiston Park, in Vero's Central Beach Business District on Ocean Drive and Jaycee Park which is adjacent to Conn Beach. There are 26 miles (42 km) of oceanfront shore in Indian River County. Vero Beach also has other free public access trails and walkways with beach access, such as Riomar Beach, Sea Cove, Sea Grape Trail, Sexton Plaza, and Turtle Trail.

Water recreation in the Indian River Lagoon

The Indian River Lagoon, passing through Vero Beach, forms a significant portion of the Intracoastal Waterway, and is a hub for boating, fishing, water skiing, diving, kayaking and other small-craft waterborne activities.

Resorts

Disney's Vero Beach Resort is officially located in Wabasso, a small town north of Vero Beach.

Historic Dodgertown

Vero Beach is home to Historic Dodgertown, which initially started operations during World War II as a U.S. Naval Air Station, and later served as the Spring Training facility of the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team, until 2008. After the team's departure for a new Spring home in Arizona in 2008, it has served as a year-round multi-purpose facility for athletes of all ages. As of January 2, 2019, MLB has assumed control of the historic facilities with plans to expand the complex and rename it The Jackie Robinson Training Complex. This is to honor both the late Jackie Robinson and the site's history as the first racially integrated spring-training center in the American South.[24]

Vero Beach had been the Spring training home of the Los Angeles Dodgers since 1948. The Dodgers left Vero Beach in 2008 for Glendale, AZ.
National Register of Historic Places
Vero Railroad Station
McKee Jungle Gardens

Infrastructure

Air

Vero Beach Regional Airport is a public airport one mile northwest of Vero Beach, offering commercial jet service by Elite Airways.

Bus

Vero Beach is served by GoLine Bus routes.[25]

Rail

The Florida East Coast Railway (FEC) mainline bisects Vero Beach, with an active team track in town serving a lumber/building products customer.[26]

Education

Public schools

The Indian River County School District operates the following public schools serving Vero Beach:[27]

  • Vero Beach High School
  • Gifford Middle School
  • Oslo Middle School
  • Storm Grove Middle School
  • Beachland Elementary School
  • Citrus Elementary School
  • Dodgertown Elementary School
  • Glendale Elementary School
  • Indian River Academy (elementary school)
  • Liberty Magnet School (elementary)
  • Osceola Magnet School (elementary)
  • Rosewood Magnet School (elementary)
  • Vero Beach Elementary School
  • Alternative Center for Education

Charter schools

Private schools
  • Saint Edward's School. Independent College Preparatory in Episcopal School Tradition; grades pre-K–12
  • St. Helen Catholic School
  • Anderson Academy. grades 8–12
  • Masters Academy. grades pre-K–12
  • Tabernacle Christian School. grades K-8
  • SunCoast School. grades pre-K–8

Colleges

Notable people

References
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