Melbourne Beach, Florida

Melbourne Beach, Florida
—  Town  —
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 / 28.06778°N 80.56167°W / 28.06778; -80.56167Coordinates: 28°4′4″N 80°33′42″W / 28.06778°N 80.56167°W / 28.06778; -80.56167
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 (2000)
– Total	3,335
– Density	2,565.4/sq mi (980.9/km2)
Time zone	Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
– Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code	32951
Area code(s)	321
FIPS code	12-44000[1]
GNIS feature ID	0286684[2]
Website	www.melbournebeachfl.org

Melbourne Beach is a town in Brevard County, Florida, United States. The population was 3,335 at the 2000 census. As of 2005, the population estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau is 3,314.^[3] 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.^[4]

When Ponce de Leon landed near Melbourne Beach in 1513, he became the first European to set foot in Florida.^[5] A determination of this was made by a historian in the 1990s, who believed that the spot was "within five to eight nautical miles." His figures and findings are generally accepted by modern historians.^[6]

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 acres (66 ha) location near Aquarina.^[4]

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.^[7]

Government

In 2007, the town had a taxable real estate base of $371.45 million.^[8]

Mayors

1. Bud Conroy 1982-1985
2. Richard Coston c 1985- c. 1997
3. Robert Wille 1997 - 2002
4. Mark Crispin 2003 (Resigned before end of term)
5. Steve Walters 2003-2004 (Interim mayor)
6. William Stacey 2004 - 2007^[9]
7. Rita A. Karpie 2007 - 2011 (Died before end of term)
8. Jean Marshall 2011 (Interim mayor)

Geography

Melbourne Beach is located at 28°04′04″N 80°33′42″W / 28.067745°N 80.561724°W / 28.067745; -80.561724.^[10] 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 (see The Sebastian Inlet State Park) to the south. Melbourne Beach is neighbored 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 census^[1] 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 ^[11]

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

Points of interest

• Melbourne Beach Pier
• Old Melbourne Beach Town Hall
• Ryckman Park

Notable residents

• Bobby Dall, musician, bass player with the rock band Poison
• Jorja Fox, television actress, was raised in Melbourne Beach
• Doug Flutie, football player, lived in Melbourne Beach for part of his childhood, and returned to raise his family.
• James Henry Gillis, Rear Admiral, retired here
• Homer Rodeheaver, Billy Sunday's music arranger; later formed a subdivision in town, "Christian Colony," for retired evangelists. Rody Road intersects with SR A1A north of the Oak Lodge site.^[4]

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
2. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. http://geonames.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
3. ^ http://www.census.gov/popest/cities/tables/SUB-EST2005-04-12.xls
4. ^ ^{a b c} Florida Today
5. ^ And not at St. Augustine.
6. ^ Moody, Norman (April 21, 2011). "Naming barrier island would honor state find". Florida Today (Melbourne, Florida): pp. 1A. http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20110421/NEWS01/104210318/Some-want-Brevard-barrier-island-named-Spanish-conquistador-Ponce-de-Leon. 
7. ^ Brandon, Emily (June 11, 2007). 10 Bargain Retirement Spots. US News and World Report. 
8. ^ Dean, James (April 26, 2008). More taxes or fewer services. Florida Today. 
9. ^ [1]
10. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html. Retrieved 2011-04-23. 
11. ^ http://www.neighborhoodscout.com/fl/melbourne-beach

External links

• Official Website of the Town of Melbourne Beach
• Town of Melbourne Beach Local Information
• History of Melbourne Beach