Melbourne Beach, Florida
Melbourne Beach, Florida | |
|---|---|
 Location in Brevard County and the state of Florida | |
 U.S. Census Bureau map showing town boundaries | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Florida |
| County |  Brevard |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.3 sq mi (3.4 km2) |
| • Land | 1 sq mi (2.7 km2) |
| • Water | 0.3 sq mi (0.7 km2) |
| Elevation | 10 ft (3 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 3,101 |
| • Density | 2,400/sq mi (910/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code | 32951 |
| Area code | 321 |
| FIPS code | 12-44000Template:GR |
| GNIS feature ID | 0286684Template:GR |
| Website | www.melbournebeachfl.org |
Melbourne Beach is a town in Brevard County, Florida, United States. The population was 3,101 at the 2010 census.[1] It is part of the Palm Bay–Melbourne–Titusville Metropolitan Statistical Area.
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.[2]
When Juan Ponce de León landed near Melbourne Beach in 1513, he became the first European to set foot in Florida.[3] 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.[4] His figures and findings are generally accepted by modern historians.[5]
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.[2]
The town was established[clarification needed] 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.
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.[6]
Government
![[icon]](/wiki/File:Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg){kind=small} | This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (April 2008) |
In 2007, the town had a taxable real estate base of $371.45 million.[7]
Mayors
- Bud Conroy 1982-1985
- Richard Coston c. 1985- c. 1997
- Robert Wille 1997 - 2002
- Mark Crispen 2003 (resigned before end of term)
- Steve Walters 2003-2004 (interim mayor)
- William Stacey 2004 - 2007[8]
- Rita A. Karpie 2007 - 2011 (died before end of term)
- Jean Marshall 2011 (interim mayor) (through Nov. 2011)
- Tom Davis 2012 - Present
Geography
Melbourne Beach is located at 28°04′04″N 80°33′42″W / 28.067745°N 80.561724°W.Template:GR It is situated on an (apparently unnamed) barrier island that separates the Indian River Lagoon from the Atlantic Ocean. This island, approximately 35 miles (56 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.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR 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% African American, 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.
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.[9]
Melbourne Beach is second in Brevard County for per capita income and 124 out of 887 places.
Points of interest
Notable residents
- Bobby Dall, musician, bass player with the rock band Poison
- Doug Flutie, football player, lived in Melbourne Beach for part of his childhood, and returned to raise his family
- Jorja Fox, television actress, raised in Melbourne Beach
- James Henry Gillis, Rear Admiral, retired here
- Homer Rodeheaver, music arranger for Billy Sunday; later formed a subdivision in town, "Christian Colony," for retired evangelists.
- Sybil_Leek author of "Diary of a Witch.
References
- ^ "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (DP-1): Melbourne Beach town, Florida". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Retrieved January 31, 2012.
- ^ a b Florida Today
- ^ And not at St. Augustine.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Moody, Norman (April 21, 2011). "Naming barrier island would honor state find". Florida Today. Melbourne, Florida. pp. 1A.
- ^ Brandon, Emily (June 11, 2007). 10 Bargain Retirement Spots. US News and World Report.
- ^ Dean, James (April 26, 2008). More taxes or fewer services. Florida Today.
- ^ [1]
- ^ http://www.neighborhoodscout.com/fl/melbourne-beach
External links
- Town of Melbourne Beach official website
- Melbourne Beach 32951, community website
- History of Melbourne Beach
- Melbourne Beach Wave - Community News
Municipalities and communities of Brevard County, Florida, United States | ||
|---|---|---|
| Cities |  | |
| Towns | ||
| CDPs | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Ghost towns | ||