Vero Beach is a city in and the seat of Indian River County, Florida, United States. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2010 data, the city had a population of 15,220.
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Demographics
As of the 2010 census, 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.
History
Pre-Columbian
A neolithic skull was discovered in 1915, but it has since been misplaced. It appeared to represent a culture from 11,000 to 14,000 years ago, with 13,000 years ago as the most likely timeframe.
Post-Columbian
In 1872 Captain Allen W. Estes officially established the first land patent between the Atlantic Ocean and the Indian River Lagoon.
In 1893 Henry Flagler’s Florida East Coast Railway began operation through the area.
The town of Vero was chartered in 1919.
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 1925.
During the war year of 1942 the U.S. Navy selected 1,500 acres (6.1Â km2) surrounding the Vero Beach Municipal Airport as the site of a Naval Air Station. It was commissioned November.
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.
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.
In 1965 the A1A bridge over the Sebastian Inlet connected the two barrier islands.
In 1979, the 17th Street Bridge was completed, allowing a second point of access from Vero Beach mainland to the barrier islands.
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 large shopping malls the Indian River Mall and the Fashion Outlet Mall 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 the "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)
Points of interest
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 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. These beaches are lifeguard protected from 9:00Â am to 5:00Â pm. There are 26 miles 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.
National Register of Historic Places
- Driftwood Inn
- Hallstrom House
- Old Indian River County Courthouse
- Judge Henry F. Gregory House
- Maher Building
- McKee Jungle Gardens
- Old Palmetto Hotel
- Pueblo Arcade
- Royal Park Arcade
- Theodore Hausmann Estate
- Old Vero Beach Community Building
- Vero Beach Diesel Power Plant
- Vero Beach Woman's Club
- Vero Railroad Station
- Vero Theatre
Infrastructure
Transportation
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.
Rail
The Florida East Coast Railway (FEC) mainline bisects Vero Beach, with an active team track in town serving a lumber/building products customer.
Notable people
- Fred Barnes, journalist, editor of The Weekly Standard and Fox News contributor
- Lake Bell, actress, attended school in Vero Beach
- Alex Cobb, pitcher for the Tampa Bay Rays, attended Vero Beach High School
- Gloria Estefan, singer, has a house and owns a hotel in Vero Beach
- Tom Fadden, actor
- Prince Fielder, professional baseball player
- Calvin Souther Fuller, inventor of the solar cell, died 1994
- Carl Hiaasen, journalist, novelist, and author
- Sandy Koufax, former professional baseball player
- Ivan Lendl, former professional tennis player
- Debbie Mayfield, Florida state senator
- F. James McDonald, former president and chief operating officer of General Motors
- Alison Mosshart, lead singer of The Kills and The Dead Weather
- Jake Owen, country music singer-songwriter, graduate of Vero Beach High School, 1999
- Peter George Peterson, co-founder, Blackstone Group
- Albert Reed, model, 2007 Dancing with the Stars competitor, actor, graduate of Vero Beach High School, 2003
- Priscilla Renea, singer-songwriter signed to Capitol Records, debut album entitled "Jukebox" released in 2009
- Norman Sas, inventor of Electric football
- Parvati Shallow, winner of Survivor: Micronesia, runner-up in Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains
- Bryan Stork, professional football player for the Washington Redskins of the NFL
- Roscoe Tanner, former professional tennis player
- Mardy Fish, former professional tennis player and Olympic Silver medalist
Education
Public schools
The Indian River County School District operates the following public schools:
- Vero Beach High School. The first high school founded in Vero Beach; grades 9â€"12
- Indian River Charter High School. Charter school; grades 9â€"12
- Alternative Center for Education. Public; grades 5â€"12
- Rosewood Magnet School. Public; grades pre-Kâ€"5
- Imagine South Vero. Charter school; grades Kâ€"8
- Oslo Middle School. Public; grades 6â€"8
Private schools
- St. Helen Catholic School
- Saint Edward's School. Independent College Preparatory in Episcopal School Tradition; grades pre-Kâ€"12
- Anderson Academy. Private; grades 8â€"12
- Masters Academy. Private; grades pre-Kâ€"12
- Tabernacle Baptist Christian School. Private; grades Kâ€"12
- SunCoast School. Private; grades pre-Kâ€"8
Colleges
- Indian River State College â€" Mueller Campus
References
External links
- Official website
- Vero Beach, Florida on Facebook