Palm Bay, Florida

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Palm Bay
settlement_type = City
motto = A perfect place to grow


imagesize =
image_caption =


flag_size =
image_

seal_size =
image_shield =
shield_size =
image_blank_emblem = PalmBayLogo.jpg
blank_emblem_type = Logo
blank_emblem_size =

---

mapsize = 250x200px
map_caption = Location in Brevard County and the state of Florida


mapsize1 =
map_caption1 =
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = flag|United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = flag|Florida
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = noflag|Brevard
government_footnotes =
government_type = Council-Manager
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = John Mazziotti
leader_title1 = City Manager
leader_name1 = Lee Feldman
established_title =
established_date =
established_title2 =
established_date2 =
established_title3 =
established_date3 =
unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes = cite web |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/GCTTable?_bm=y&-geo_id=04000US12&-_box_head_nbr=GCT-PH1&-ds_name=DEC_2000_SF1_U&-format=ST-7 |title=Florida by place Population, Housing Units, Area and Density:2000 |publisher=US Census Bureau |accessdate=2007-07-24]
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 172.9
area_land_km2 = 164.8
area_water_km2 = 8.0
area_total_sq_mi = 66.75
area_land_sq_mi = 63.65
area_water_sq_mi = 3.1
area_water_percent = 4.64
area_metro_sq_mi =
area_blank1_title =
area_blank1_sq_mi =
population_as_of = 1 July 2007
population_footnotes = cite web |url=http://www.census.gov/popest/cities/tables/SUB-EST2007-04-12.xls |title=Annual Estimates of the population for the Incorporated Places of Florida |publisher=US Census Bureau |accessdate=2008-07-11 |format=XLS]
population_note = Census Bureau estimate
population_total = 100116
population_density_sq_mi =
population_metro = 536131
population_density_metro_sq_mi =
timezone = Eastern (EST)
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
latd = 27 |latm = 59 |lats = 52.52 |latNS = N
longd = 80 |longm = 40 |longs = 12.03 |longEW = W
elevation_footnotes = [cite web |url=http://www.fallingrain.com/world/US/12/Palm_Bay.html |title=Palm Bay, United States Page |publisher=Falling Rain Genomics |accessdate=2007-08-08]
elevation_m = 5
elevation_ft = 19
postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 32905-32911
area_code = 321
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 12-54000GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0288389GR|3
website = http://www.palmbayflorida.org
footnotes =

Palm Bay is a city in Brevard County, Florida, United States. The U.S. Census Bureau estimated the city's population as 100,116 on 1 July 2007; it is the most populous city in the county. Palm Bay is a Principal City [cite web |url=http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/bulletins/fy2007/b07-01.pdf |title=Update of Statistical Area Definitions and guidance on their uses |publisher=Office of Management and Budget |accessdate=2007-11-25|format=PDF] of the Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had an estimated population of 536,161 on 1 July 2007.cite web |url=http://www.census.gov/population/www/estimates/metro_general/2007/CBSA-EST2007-01.xls |title=Annual Estimates of the Population of Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2007 |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |accessdate=2008-07-11|format=XLS]

History

The Timucuan Indians, attracted to the mouth of Turkey Creek at the Indian River by fresh water springs, fish, oysters, and wildlife, are thought to have been the first inhabitants in the Palm Bay area.

Palm Bay's recent history began in the 1850s when the first European settlers built homes along Turkey Creek. Originally referred to as Tillman, the settlement was described as a "small strip of hammock...on each side of Turkey Creek...mostly pine and palmetto, miserable sandy barren oak scrub, some ponds and interspersed with sawgrass and gallberry."Fact|date=August 2007

By the mid-nineteenth century, there was a lumbering operation, packing house, and orange groves, but growth was slow until the arrival of the railroad in 1894. Goods were brought in and produce was shipped to market faster.

Between 1910 and 1914, Tillman became the center for a land company known as the Indian River Catholic Colony. Attempting to grow two crops a season, farmers quickly depleted the soil, and the colony failed. Those remaining built St. Joseph's Church on Miller Street, the oldest building still standing.

In the 1920s, the city was renamed after the bay bordered with palm trees known as Palm Bay located at the mouth of Turkey Creek. A group of Tillman businessmen established the Melbourne-Tillman Drainage District, and issued $1.5 million worth of bonds. Starting in 1922, a 180 mile grid of 80 canals was dug to drain 40,000 acres (160 km²) of swampy land west of Palm Bay. The canals made it possible to control flooding and turn marsh lands to agricultural use. Farmers planted citrus groves and truck farms which shipped winter produce by the Florida East Coast Railroad to northern markets. Farmers sold timber and land to paper companies. In 1926, a fire among the dredges and a severe hurricane economically depressed Palm Bay. The Melbourne-Tillman Drainage District went bankrupt.

In 1959, General Development Corporation purchased land for a residential project now known as the Port Malabar subdivision.

In 2008 the former Port Malabar Country Club property was revalued at $300,000, essentially "worthless" because of arsenic in the groundwater which would require and estimated $12 million dollars to clean up. [ [http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080619/NEWS01/806190324/1006&referrer=NEWSFRONTCAROUSEL Florida Today] retrieved June 19, 2008]

Geography

Palm Bay is located at coord|27|59|52.52|N|80|40|12.03|W|display=inline,title. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 66.75 mi²( km²), of which convert|63.65|sqmi|km2|0 is land and convert|3.1|sqmi|km2|0 is water (4.64%).

The city is broken up into four sections: Northwest, Northeast, Southwest, and Southeast, each contain multiple zip codes. The most urban area is in the Northeast. The most rural area is in the Southwest, containing an area called The Compound. This area is home to Bombardier Recreational Products. A small portion of Bayside Lakes lies in the area.

Drainage continues to be a problem in some parts of the city, caused primarily by the sudden unplanned transfer from General Development Corporation to the city of the responsibility for planning future growth and designing adequate drainage. This problem has been mitigated since 2000 with the continued design and construction work by Palm Bay City employees. During the early 1990s, Palm Bay Regional Park, a soccer and athletic complex in the Western part of the city, was constructed. It is the largest of a citywide system of parks and recreation areas. The Turkey Creek Sanctuary is a small nature reserve in the northeast part of the city.

urrounding Areas

*St. Johns River; Sawgrass Lake; Lake Hellen Blazes; Indian Fields; St. John's Marsh; Osceola County
*Grant-Vakaria; Malabar; Indian River Lagoon
*West Melbourne; Melbourne
*Deer Run; St John's Marsh

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 79,413 people, 30,336 households, and 21,781 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,247.7/mi² (481.7/km²). There were 32,902 housing units at an average density of 517.0/mi² (199.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 77.54% White, 14.31% African American, 0.35% Native American, 1.71% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 2.38% from other races, and 2.66% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.63% of the population.

There were 30,336 households out of which 34.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.0% were married couples living together, 12.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.2% were non-families. 21.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.03.

In the city the distribution by age was: 26.5% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 29.6% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 14.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 95.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.4 males.

In 2008, the Census Bureau ranked the city as the 25th fastest growing large city in the United States. [ [http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080710/NEWS01/807100340/1006&referrer=NEWSFRONTCAROUSEL Florida Today] retrieved July 10, 2008]

Economy

Personal income

The median income for a household in the city was $36,508, and the median income for a family was $41,636. Males had a median income of $31,060 versus $22,203 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,992. About 7.1% of families and 9.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.5% of those under age 18 and 8.1% of those age 65 or over.

Industry

The following corporations are located in the city:
* Harris Corporation manufacturing
* Intersil

The Big Squeeze Festival promotes Florida citrus, exotic fruit and vegetable juices & related products. It is held the last weekend in March. 30,000 people attended in 2007. [cite book | author = Moore, Kimberly C. |title = Crowds have juicy time at Big Squeeze | publisher = Florida Today | date = April 1, 2007]

Palm Bay is developing its Bayfront "downtown" to create a focus for the city.

Government

Mayor - John Mazziotti; Councilmembers - Kristine Isnardi, Ed Geier, Milo Zonka, Pat Woodard; City Manager - Lee Feldman

In June 1999 Mazziotti was removed from office by then Governor Jeb Bush when it was revealed that the mayor had previously served two prison sentences and did not have his civil rights restored. Mazziotti had served 27 months in a federal penitentiary for a marijuana trafficking conviction in Pennsylvania and a second separate conviction for smuggling amphetamines across the Canadian border. [cite news |url=http://www.polkonline.com/stories/062699/sta_mayor.shtml |title=Governor Suspends Mayor |publisher=Associated Press |date=26 June 1999 |accessdate=2007-08-18] It was also discovered that, as a 17 year old, Mazziotti drove the getaway car during a robbery.cite web |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?s_site=floridatoday&f_site=floridatoday&f_sitename=Florida+Today+%28Melbourne%2C+FL%29&p_theme=gannett&p_product=FLTB&p_action=search&p_field_base-0=&p_text_base-0=john+mazziotti+prison&Search=Search&p_perpage=10&p_maxdocs=200&p_queryname=700&s_search_type=keyword&p_sort=_rank_%3AD&p_field_date-0=YMD_date&p_params_date-0=date%3AB%2CE&p_text_date-0=] |title=Florida Today archive search–keywords john mazzioti prison |publisher="Florida Today" |accessdate=2007-08-18] After having his civil rights restored, he ran again for the City Council and won. He ran unopposed during his last campaign for mayor in 2005.

In 2007, the city had a taxable real estate base of $5.84 billion. [cite book | author = Dean, James |title = More taxes or fewer services | publisher = Florida Today | date = April 26, 2008] This amount was the largest of any municipality in the county.

City Hall is located at: coord|27|59|52.52|N|80|40|12.03|W|display=inline,title

chools

* Brevard Community College - Palm Bay Campus
* Christa McAuliffe Elementary School
* Columbia Elementary School
* Covenant Christian School
* Cornerstone Christan School
* Oakwood Academy Charter School
* Palm Bay Academy Charter School
* Palm Bay Community Charter School
* River's Edge Charter Academy
* Royal Palm Charter School
* Odyssey Charter School
* Discovery Elementary School
* John F. Turner Sr. Elementary School
* Jupiter Elementary School
* Lockmar Elementary School
* Palm Bay Elementary School
* Port Malabar Elementary School
* Riviera Elementary School
* St. Joseph Catholic School
* Sunrise Elementary School
* Westside Elementary School
* Southwest Middle School
* Bayside High School
* Yet to be named High School in west Palm Bay. Currently code named CCC
* Palm Bay High School which actually lies within the city of Melbourne.

Transportation

Major roads in Palm Bay include:

* (exit 173).

*"' - This road serves the northeastern section of the city. It is intersected by 4 main roads: Malabar Road, Port Malabar Boulevard, Robert J. Conlan Boulevard and Palm Bay Road.

*, Waco Boulevard, Valkaria Road, Grant Road, Eldron Boulevard, and Cogan Drive.

*, San Filippo Drive, Emerson Drive, Jupiter Boulevard and Eldron Boulevard.

*Emerson Drive, Bayside Lakes Boulevard, and Bombardier Boulevard - All 3 roads make a large crescent-shaped roadway. The northern terminus is Amador Avenue, the southern terminus is a dead end in The Compound. There is a dirt road, Emerson Drive, off Degroodt Road. The western terminus of the route is Sappodilla Road. Main intersections include Wingham Drive, Sapodilla Road, Degroodt Road, Eldron Boulevard, Walden Boulevard, Waco Boulevard, Malabar Road, Minton Road, and Jupiter Boulevard.

Most roads in the area west of DeGroodt Road are unpaved.

Notable Residents

*Deanne Bell, an American reality television show host known for PBS's Design Squad and Discovery Channel's Smash Lab is originally from Palm Bay
*Xavier Carter, Louisiana State University track athlete
*Joe Cohen, San Francisco 49ers defensive tackle
*Tia Daniels, three time national boxing champion [ [http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081005/BREAKINGNEWS/81005014/1006/NEWS01] retrieved October 5, 2008]
*Reggie Nelson, Jacksonville Jaguars safety

References

External links

* [http://www.palmbayflorida.org/ City of Palm Bay]
* [http://aroundcentralflorida.com/communities/Brevard/palmbay.asp Palm Bay - Central Florida Community page] - Palm Bay events