Brevard County, Florida
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Brevard County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population is 476,230 (local 2005 estimate is 510,000). Its county seat is Titusville, Florida6.
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History
Ponce De Leon is said to have arrived in Florida at the shores of the future county in 1513. "Mosquito County" was formed while the state was still a territory, and on some maps is absorbed into an unofficial "Leigh Read" county between 1839 and 1845. "Saint Lucia County" was created in 1844: it was renamed Brevard County in 1855 after George Washington Brevard: who served as Florida State Controller from 1854 to 1860. Between 1907 & 1910, St. Lucie County was created from the southern third of the county. There was a drive in the mid-1990s of creating a county out of the northern-third of the current borders, but it did not pass.
Features
- The Space Coast, as Brevard County is known, is the home of the Kennedy Space Center, as well as the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.
- The area code for the entire county was made "321" in 1999: as in the "3...2...1... Blast Off!" countdown sequence.
- It is possible to observe a Cape Canaveral rocket launch from anywhere in the county, as well as experience related structural shuddering throughout most of the county.
- In 1989, county administration was moved to a government complex at Viera, as part of a mid-county development project that included Space Coast Stadium, and a master-planned community.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 4,032 km² (1,557 mi²). 2,637 km² (1,018 mi²) of it is land and 1,395 km² (539 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 34.60% water: primary components of which are the St. Johns River and the Indian River Lagoon.
Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there are 476,230 people, 198,195 households, and 132,394 families residing in the county. The population density is 181/km² (468/mi²). There are 222,072 housing units at an average density of 84/km² (218/mi²). The racial makeup of the county is 86.81% White, 8.40% Black or African American, 0.37% Native American, 1.50% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 1.09% from other races, and 1.77% from two or more races. 4.61% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 198,195 households out of which 26.50% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.00% are married couples living together, 10.20% have a female householder with no husband present, and 33.20% are non-families. 26.90% of all households are made up of individuals and 11.60% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.35 and the average family size is 2.84.
In the county the population is spread out with 22.00% under the age of 18, 6.80% from 18 to 24, 27.10% from 25 to 44, 24.30% from 45 to 64, and 19.90% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 41 years. For every 100 females there are 95.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 93.30 males.
The median income for a household in the county is $40,099, and the median income for a family is $47,571. Males have a median income of $36,542 versus $24,632 for females. The per capita income for the county is $21,484. 9.50% of the population and 6.80% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 13.00% of those under the age of 18 and 6.50% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Sports teams
Minor League Baseball
Brevard County is the home of the Brevard County Manatees.
Major League Baseball
Spring training at Space Coast Stadium
Cities and towns
Incorporated
- City of Cocoa
- City of Cocoa Beach
- Town of Indialantic
- City of Indian Harbour Beach
- City of Melbourne
- Town of Melbourne Beach
- Town of Melbourne Village
- City of Palm Bay
- City of Rockledge
- City of Satellite Beach
- City of Titusville
- City of West Melbourne
Unincorporated
- Cape Canaveral
- Cocoa West
- June Park
- Kennedy Space Center
- Malabar
- Merritt Island
- Micco
- Mims
- Palm Shores
- Port St. John
- Sharpes
- South Patrick Shores
- Suntree
- Viera
External links
Government links/Constitutional offices
- Brevard County Government / Board of County Commissioners (http://countygovt.brevard.fl.us/)
- Brevard County Supervisor of Elections (http://brevardelections.org/)
- Brevard County Property Appraiser (http://www.brevardpropertyappraiser.com/)
- Brevard County Sheriff's Office (http://www.sheriff.co.brevard.fl.us/nindex.html)
Special Districts
- Brevard County Public Schools (http://www.brevard.k12.fl.us/)
- St. Johns River Water Management District (http://www.sjrwmd.com)
Judicial branch
- Brevard County Clerk of Courts (http://www.brevardclerk.us/)
- Brevard County Public Defender (http://countygovt.brevard.fl.us/publicdefender/)
- Office of the State Attorney, 18th Judicial Circuit (http://sa18.state.fl.us/) serving Brevard and Seminole Counties
- Circuit and County Court for the 18th Judicial Circuit of Florida (http://www.jud18.flcourts.org/)
Local References
- Florida Today "Fact Book" on Brevard County (http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?category=factbook)
- USF Maps of Historical Brevard County (http://fcit.usf.edu/florida/maps/county/brevard/brevard.htm)
- Explanation of "Leigh Read" county (http://www.cfhf.net/maps/1839.htm)