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Cocoa, Florida

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Cocoa, Florida
City
Location in Brevard County and the state of Florida
Location in Brevard County and the state of Florida
Country United States
State Florida
County Brevard
Government
 • TypeCouncil-Manager
 • MayorMichael C. Blake
 • City ManagerRic Holt
 • Deputy MayorClarence Whipple
Area
 • Total9.6 sq mi (24.6 km2)
 • Land7.5 sq mi (19.3 km2)
 • Water2.1 sq mi (5.3 km2)
Elevation
36 ft (11 m)
Population
 (1 July 2008)[1][2]
 • Total16,478
 • Density2,197.1/sq mi (853.8/km2)
 Census Bureau estimate
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
Area code321
FIPS code12-13150Template:GR
GNIS feature ID0280608Template:GR
Websitewww.cocoafl.org

Cocoa is a city in Brevard County, Florida, United States. The population was 16,412 at the 2000 census. As of 2008, the estimated population according to the U.S. Census Bureau was 16,478.[1] It is part of the Palm Bay–Melbourne–Titusville Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Cocoa was founded by fishermen with the first families arriving around 1860. A post office was established at Magnolia Point and the city's first commercial building was erected around 1881. First plats of the new settlement were made in 1882 under the name "Indian River City" on land owned by Captain R. A. Hardee. The name Indian River City was unacceptable to the U.S. Postal authorities who claimed it was too long for use on a postmark.

The origin of the city's name is uncertain. In 1925, the Cocoa Tribune published several reader-supplied accounts of the town's naming. One reader credited Captain R.C. May with recommending the name at a town meeting in 1884. At Captain May's suggestion, the group finally chose the name "Cocoa" for the town's association with the Cocoa tree. The name was forwarded to Washington, D.C. where it was approved. Another story suggests that an old woman was inspired by a box of baker's cocoa and her suggestion was adopted. Still another version suggests that along the bank of the Indian River lived an old woman who would supply hot cocoa to sailors as they traveled along the Indian River. As they passed, they would call out "cocoa, cocoa" until the woman supplied them with refreshment. Whatever its origin, by 1884 the name Cocoa had become permanently associated with what was then an infant settlement.

In 1885, the S. F. Travis Hardware store opened. It was still in business in 2009.[3]

Cocoa's business district was destroyed by fire in 1890, but soon, significant development began to occur with the extension of the Jacksonville, St. Augustine, and Indian River Railway to Cocoa.

The city was chartered in 1895.[4] In the winter of 1894-1895, Cocoa suffered a second severe economic setback when the "Great Freeze" destroyed the citrus crop and forced many citrus workers to seek new occupations. According to one source, by 1903, the population of Cocoa had dropped to 382.

During the second decade of the 20th century, population growth and economic development in Cocoa accelerated. The state business directory of 1911-1912 set the population at 550. By 1925, the population was estimated at 1,800. During the Great Depression, the local economy declined and the two local banks failed. Still, by 1930, the population had risen to 2,200.

The population rose dramatically following the development of the space industry, quadrupling from 3,098 in 1940 to 12,244 in 1960. Cocoa and the surrounding area also became integrated with the tourist industry for the first time as thousands visited the area to witness the launches from Cape Canaveral. By 1980, the population had grown to 16,096.[5]

Education was segregated until the 1960s at which time Monroe High School and elementary schools for black students, were closed.[6]

In 1964, the city built the Cocoa Expo Sports Center (Cocoa Stadium) for the Colt 45s spring baseball training and Grapefruit League games. The team later became the Houston Astros.[7] In the early 1980s, the city attempted to upgrade the stadium by asking the Astros to pay for needed repairs. In 1985, the team responded by moving its training to Osceola County Stadium in Kissimmee, Florida. As a result, it was decided that future negotiations with major league teams would be done by the county government.

Government

Cocoa first approved the Council-Manager form of government in 1959, and subsequent changes to the state statutes mirrored the City of Cocoa's Council-Manager Plan. The City Council serves as the Board of Directors for the City, with the Mayor as Chairman. The City Manager serves as the Chief Executive. The City Council for the City of Cocoa is made up of five members; the Mayor is elected at large and the four council members are elected by each of their districts.

  • Mayor - Mike Blake (Cocoa's first African American mayor)
  • Deputy Mayor and Councilman, District 1 - Clarence Whipple
  • Councilmember, District 2 - Jake Williams
  • Councilmember, District 3 - Patricia McCrary
  • Councilmember, District 4 - James McCarthy
  • City Manager (appointed) - Ric Holt

Downtown, now called "Cocoa Village", has been revived with a series of government grants and private investment. The Diamond Square Redevelopment Agency has been established with the goal of improving residential and commercial values in the city's minority areas.

In 2007, the city had a taxable real estate base of $1.18 billion.[8]

There are 66 police officers and 35 firemen. Employees paid 6.5% of their pay towards retirement; the city paid another 58.8% additional to the firemen's trust fund, and 22.3% to the police pension plan.[9]

Activities

From 2002–07, Cocoa subsidized YMCA membership at the Brevard Community College for city residents at a cost of $70,000 annually.[10]

Sister city

On October 7, 2007, the city became a sister city with Beit Shemesh.[11] Brevard Community College also stated that they would participate in the twinning by exchanging students.

Geography

The Hubert H. Humphrey Bridge spans the Indian River Lagoon, linking Cocoa with Merritt Island.

Cocoa is located at 28°22′10″N 80°44′38″W / 28.369334°N 80.743779°W / 28.369334; -80.743779.Template:GR

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 24.7 km² (9.5 mi²). 19.3 km² (7.5 mi²) of it is land and 5.3 km² (2.1 mi²) of it (21.64%) is water.

Infrastructure

Water

Water tower

Cocoa is the largest supplier of water in the county. It serves about 200,000 customers.[12] The city provides water not only to its residents but to surrounding cities and towns and county at a premium, including Port St. John, south to the Pineda Causeway in north Melbourne, and includes residents from Merritt Island, Cocoa Beach, Suntree, Viera, Rockledge, Kennedy Space Center, Patrick Air Force Base, and Cape Canaveral.[13] The city stores about 500,000,000 US gallons (1.892705892000×109 L) of water underground using aquifer storage and recovery technology.[14]

Demographics

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 16,412 people, 6,939 households, and 4,232 families residing in the city. The population density was 849.4/km2 (2,200.3/mi2). There were 8,064 housing units at an average density of 417.4/km2 (1,081.1/mi2). The racial makeup of the city was 62.47% White, 32.28% African American, 0.63% Native American, 0.94% Asian, 0.23% Pacific Islander, 1.58% from other races, and 1.87% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.93% of the population.

There were 6,939 households out of which 28.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.0% were married couples living together, 19.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.0% were non-families. 32.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.5% 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 2.97.

In the city the population was spread out with 26.4% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 29.1% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 14.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 90.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.4 males.

Economy

Cocoa Drive-up-banking

Personal Income

According to the 2000 Census:

  • Median household income = $21,062
  • Median family income = $31,243
  • Median income for males = $27,294
  • Median income for females = $22,500
  • Per capita income = $15,665
  • Below the poverty line:
  • Families = 21.8%
  • Population = 34.1%
  • Those under age 18 = 58.7%
  • Those over age 64 = 11.8%

Industry

Kel-Tec CNC Industries, located in Cocoa, is the third-largest manufacturer of pistols in the United States.[15][16]

Workforce

In 2007, the average size of Cocoa's labor force was 9,068. Of that group, 8,427 were employed and 641 were unemployed, for an unemployment rate of 7.1%.[17]

Housing

In 2008, 49 building permits were issued. This was up from 37 permits in 2007, which was down from an estimated 57 permits in 2006.[18]

The median home price in 2007 was $180,000.[17]

Education

The city area has the following educational institutions:

Media

Radio stations

Points of interest

Historic Sites

City Point Community Church

Athletics

In 2009, the Space Coast Surge, a member of the Florida Winter Baseball League had Cocoa Stadium as its home stadium.[19] The league suspended operations in November 2009.[20].

Notable residents

References

  1. ^ a b "Annual Estimates of the population for the Incorporated Places of Florida" (CSV). US Census Bureau. Retrieved 2009-06-24.
  2. ^ "Annual Estimates of the population for Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas" (CSV). US Census Bureau. Retrieved 2009-06-24.
  3. ^ Price, Wayne (22 March 2009). "70 years & counting". Melbourne, Florida: Florida Today. pp. 1E.
  4. ^ "History". cocoafl.org. 2010-01-17. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |month= and |coauthors= (help)
  5. ^ History Cocoa, Fla. Official Website. Accessed on 2009-06-24.
  6. ^ Basu, Rebecca (14 March 2010). "Cocoa's class of 1950 shares life stories at reunion". Melbourne, Florida: Florida Today. pp. 1D.
  7. ^ Spring Training online "Houston Astros"
  8. ^ Dean, James (April 26, 2008). More taxes or fewer services. Florida Today.
  9. ^ Summers, Keyonna (26 January 2010). "Cocoa eys pension expenses tonight". Melbourne, Florida: Florida Today. pp. 1B.
  10. ^ Florida Today, "Cocoa holds off on YMCA", January 23, 2008
  11. ^ Schaefer, Gayla. "Communities create ties: Cocoa, Israeli town become sister cities with ceremony", Florida Today, September 28, 2007. Accessed October 7, 2007. "As of Sunday, Oct. 7, the city of Cocoa and the city of Beit Shemesh, Israel will become sisters."
  12. ^ "Editorial:Protecting liquid gold". Melbourne, Florida: Florida Today. 15 April 2009. pp. 10A.
  13. ^ Florida Today - Hooking up your utilities retrieved June 9, 2008
  14. ^ [1] retrieved June 24, 2008
  15. ^ according to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)
  16. ^ [2] retrieved August 24, 2008
  17. ^ a b Cocoa Community Data Sheet Economic Development Council of Florida's Space Coast. Retrieved on 2009-06-24.
  18. ^ Building Permits United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2009-06-24.
  19. ^ Space Coast Surge
  20. ^ Leesburg Daily Commercial article, November 19, 2009
  21. ^ Black History: Michael C. Blake - Central Florida News 13
  22. ^ Mike Blake: ZoomInfo Business People Information
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