Cocoa Beach, Florida

Cocoa Beach, Florida
—  City  —
An empty Cocoa Beach on a cloudy day
Location in Brevard County and the state of Florida
Coordinates:
Country	United States
State	Florida
County	Brevard
Established	June 5, 1925
Incorporated (city)	June 29, 1957
Government
- Type	Council-Manager
- Mayor	Dr. Leon "Skip" Beeler
- City Manager	Charles Billias
- Vice Mayor	Kevin S. Pruett
Area
- Total	15 sq mi (39 km2)
- Land	4.9 sq mi (12.7 km2)
- Water	10.1 sq mi (26.3 km2)
Elevation	0 ft (0 m)
Population (1 July 2008)[1][2]
- Total	11,920
- Density	2,432.7/sq mi (938.6/km2)
	Census Bureau estimate
Time zone	Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
- Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP codes	32931-32932
Area code(s)	321
FIPS code	12-13175[3]
GNIS feature ID	0280609[4]
Website	www.cityofcocoabeach.com

Cocoa Beach is a city in Brevard County, Florida, United States. The population was 12,482 at the 2000 census. According to the U.S. Census Bureau estimates of 2008, the city had a population of 11,920.^[5] It is part of the Palm Bay–Melbourne–Titusville Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Contents 1 History 2 Government 2.1 City Commission 2.2 City Manager 3 Public transportation 4 Geography 4.1 Surrounding areas 4.2 Climate 5 Demographics 6 Economy 6.1 Personal income 6.2 Industry 6.3 Tourism 6.4 Workforce 6.5 Housing 7 Education 8 Points of interest 9 Infrastructure 9.1 Roads 9.2 Utilities 10 Notable residents 11 Criticism 12 Sister cities 13 See also 14 References 15 External links

History

The first non-native settlement in the area was by a family of freed slaves following the Civil War. In 1888, a group of men from Cocoa bought the entire tract of land, which went undeveloped until it was bought out in 1923 by a member of the group—Gus Edwards, Cocoa's city attorney. At that time, Edwards' total holdings included approximately 600 acres and he had stopped practicing law to devote all his efforts to developing the area.^[6][7][8]

The Town of Cocoa Beach was established on June 5, 1925. Gus C. Edwards was elected as mayor and served as a commissioner along with J.A. Haisten, and R.Z. Grabel. On July 27, 1925, Cocoa Beach held its first official meeting at the Cocoa Beach Casino, and adopted the City Seal.^[9] A little less than a month later, plans for a pier became official. By 1939, the town had 49 residents.

On May 1, 1942 the German submarine U-109 sunk the La Paz off the shore of Cocoa Beach. Local boys were recruited for salvaging efforts and to rid the beach of the subsequent debris.^[10] During World War II, Cocoa Beach experienced money shortages for employees, and money to fix roads.

On June 29, 1957, the town of Cocoa Beach incorporated into a city. In September, 1959, the city voted to add more sidewalks, improve the streets in residential areas and the main streets, and to pave more roads.^[11]

In 1965, Cocoa Beach High School requested that Cocoa Avenue, the street that the school was located on, be changed to Minutemen Blvd., in honour of the school's mascot, the Minuteman. Over the next couple decades, the school would come to offer the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, and was ranked the 46th best high school in America in 2006.

Cocoa Beach started its major growth during the 1960s (1000% population increase from 1950 to 1960)^[7] due to America's space program. NASA's John F. Kennedy Space Center is located approximately 15 miles north of the town. Many people moved to Cocoa Beach due to their jobs involving the space program, and in search of new opportunity.

After manned space flights, the town held parades in honor of the astronauts.

Many of the homes in Cocoa Beach are built on dredged mud and sand from the Banana River. After NASA's Apollo program came to an end, and before the Shuttle program was in full swing, the town suffered from layoffs. At one point, in 1975, unemployment was 14.3%.^[8] Many families lost their jobs or simply moved away. People could not sell their homes and some walked away from them.

Cocoa Beach was the setting for the 1960s sitcom I Dream of Jeannie, although only one episode was actually filmed there (Jeannie's wedding) in November 1969.^[12] Also, Cocoa Beach High School was used as the school in the 2000 movie Race to Space.^[13]

The 2010 Nebula Awards were held in the city.^[14]

Government

Cocoa Beach run by a Commission-Manager government, agreed to by its citizens in 1958. The City Commission acts as the legislative branch of the city government, guided by the provisions of the Charter of the City of Cocoa Beach. The City Commission enacts ordinances and resolution that the City Manager administers as the appointed executive officer of the city government.^[15]

The city owns and runs a golf course on the Banana River.^[16]

In 2007, the city had a taxable real estate base of $2.09 billion.^[17]

City Commission

The City Commission is made up of five members, one of which is the Mayor. The commissioners are elected at-large to three-year terms. A Vice Mayor is then selected from among them at an organizational meeting held after the election. The Mayor presides over all meetings and performs duties as delegated to the Mayor by the City Commission.^[15]

• Mayor/Commissioner, Seat #1 - Dr. Leon "Skip" Beeler (term expires 2011)
• Commissioner, Seat #2 - Kenneth Griffin (term expires 2009)
• Vice Mayor/Commissioner, Seat #3 - Kevin S. Pruett (term expires 2009)
• Commissioner, Seat #4 - Skip William (term expires 2010)
• Commissioner, Seat #5 - Don John (term expires 2010)

City Manager

The City Manager is appointed by the City Commission and is responsible for the city's day-to-day operation. The city's charter has established a separation of powers and responsibility between the Commission and the Manager: The elected Commission establishes policy that the Manager and staff carry out. The City Manager conducts day-to-day operations through four city departments: Administrative, Public Safety, Utilities, and Recreation.^[18] Charles Billias has filled this office since 1998.^[19]

Public transportation

Public transportation in Cocoa Beach, Cape Canaveral, and surrounding Brevard County is provided by Space Coast Area Transit.

Geography

Cocoa Beach is located at .^[20]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 39.0 km² (15.0 mi²). 12.7 km² (4.9 mi²) of it is land and 26.3 km² (10.1 mi²) of it (67.49%) is water. Bordered on the north is Cape Canaveral; on the south is Cresent Beach; on the east is the Atlantic Ocean (5.6 miles of oceanfront); on the west is the Banana River.

Propelled by a powerful hurricane, the ocean pushed its way through the barrier islands centuries ago and formed the Thousand Islands in the Indian River.^[21][22]

Surrounding areas

• Merritt Island
• Atlantic Ocean
• Cape Canaveral
• Crescent Beach

Climate

Cocoa Beach's climate can be classified as subtropical.

Monthly Normal and Record High and Low Temperatures
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Rec High °F	89	92	93	97	97	101	102	101	98	96	91	89
Norm High °F	72	73	77	81	85	89	91	90	88	83	78	73
Norm Low °F	50	51	55	60	66	71	72	73	72	67	60	53
Rec Low °F	17	27	25	35	47	55	60	60	58	41	30	21
Precip (in)	2.48	2.49	2.92	2.08	3.94	5.83	5.38	5.78	7.20	4.76	3.12	2.31
Source: The Weather Channel [6]

Demographics

As of the census^[3] of 2000, there were 12,482 people, 6,529 households, and 3,532 families residing in the city. The population density was 985.5/km² (2,552.1/mi²). There were 8,709 housing units at an average density of 687.6/km² (1,780.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.64% White, 0.62% African American, 0.22% Native American, 1.07% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.30% from other races, and 1.08% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.52% of the population.

There were 6,529 households out of which 12.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.5% were married couples living together, 5.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 45.9% were non-families. 38.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.91 and the average family size was 2.47.

In the city the population was spread out with 12.2% under the age of 18, 3.8% from 18 to 24, 22.0% from 25 to 44, 27.6% from 45 to 64, and 34.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 54 years. For every 100 females there were 99.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.4 males.

Economy

Personal income

The median income for a household in the city was $42,372, and the median income for a family was $51,795. Males had a median income of $39,418 versus $27,113 for females. The per capita income for the city was $28,968. About 3.7% of families and 6.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.8% of those under age 18 and 4.0% of those age 65 or over.

Cocoa Beach is a retirement area, with the average age being 54.^[23]

Industry

Ron Jon's, a surf shop, receives 2 million visitors a year.^[24] Cocoa Beach is home to the East Coast Surfing Hall of Fame.^[25]

The Cocoa Beach Pier, formerly known as the Cape Canaveral Pier, was built in 1962. An annual Easter Surfing Festival began in 1964. An estimated 100,000 spectators watch.^[26] An annual Beach Fest is held in May.

An annual art festival has been drawing tourists since its start in 1963.^[27]

An air show in 2009 drew a crowd estimated at 30,000.^[28]

Tourism

There is a store that sells dinosaur and other fossils.^[29][30]

The Ron Jon Easter Surfing Festival drew 50,000 visitors in 2009.^[31]

A Space Coast Art Festival is held annually.

The largest charity surfing festival, National Kidney Foundation Pro-Am Surfing Festival, has been held every Labor Day Weekend in Cocoa Beach.

Workforce

In 2007, the average size of Cocoa Beach's labor force was 6,344. Of that group, 6,006 were employed and 338 were unemployed, for an unemployment rate of 5.3%.^[32]

Housing

In 2008, 6 building permits were issued. This was down from 9 permits for 11 units in 2007, which was down from 20 permits for 34 units in 2006.^[33]

The median home price in 2007 was $409,000.^[32]

Education

The city has three public schools:

• Freedom 7 Elementary
• Theodore Roosevelt Elementary
• Cocoa Beach Jr./Sr. High School

94% of all residents 25 years or older are high school graduates. 38.6% have a Bachelor's Degree or higher.^[32]

Points of interest

• Cocoa Beach Pier
• Alan Shepard Beachfront Park
• Cocoa Beach Golf Course (27 holes)
• Cocoa Beach Tennis Courts and The Racquet Club (2 Clay Courts, 10 Hard Courts)
• Thousand Islands Conservation Area
• Cocoa Beach Aquatic Center and Pool Complex
• I Dream of Jeannie Lane
• A structure on A1A once contained a bank. It is glass and stood on spindly legs. It is still called the "Glass Bank" by locals. It was damaged by Hurricane Francis.^[34]

Infrastructure

Roads

The following roads are usually called by their numbers when spoken:

• SR A1A is also named "Atlantic Avenue". Proceeding northbound from the southern border of the city limits, the road forks into two double-laned roads north of the Oceanus Circle intersection. The southbound road is called "Orlando"; the northbound one, "Atlantic". The two roads merge into one again, just north of the intersection with Sunflower Street.
• SR 520

Utilities

The city contracted directly with Florida Power & Light for electricity, paying 10.689 cents per kilowatt-hour in 2010.^[35]

Notable residents

• Allison Anders, raised in the city. Filmed "Things Behind the Sun" in the county in 2001
• Rick Martel^[36] - professional wrestler
• Allen Neuharth - CEO of Gannett and columnist. Founder of USA Today^[37]
• Kelly Slater, professional surfer, 9-time World Champion
• Melissa Witek, Miss Florida USA 2005 and contestant on NBC's Treasure Hunters
• George Steele, professional wrestler a.k.a. George "The Animal" Steele^[38]
• Joe Williams, former men's basketball coach at Jacksonville University, Furman University and Florida State University (1979–1986). Coached against John Wooden's UCLA team in the 1970 NCAA Men's Basketball National Championship game.^[39]

Criticism

In 2010, a New York Times reporter, here to cover a launch, commented that the city

...isn't a dream destination ..(read:crowded, touristy and tacky) and...prices are astronomical during shuttle launchings

An area spokeman replied that it was common everywhere to jack up room rates for major events.^[40]

Sister cities

• Kyustendil, Bulgaria^[41]

See also

• Harbor Cay Condominium, which collapsed while under construction in 1981

References

External links

• City of Cocoa Beach
• Cocoa Beach travel guide from Wikitravel
• Thousand Islands

Municipalities and communities of Brevard County, Florida County seat: Titusville Cities Cape Canaveral | Cocoa | Cocoa Beach | Indian Harbour Beach | Melbourne | Palm Bay | Rockledge | Satellite Beach | Titusville | West Melbourne Towns Grant-Valkaria | Indialantic | Malabar | Melbourne Beach | Melbourne Village | Palm Shores CDPs Cocoa West | June Park | Merritt Island | Micco | Mims | Port St. John | Sharpes | South Patrick Shores Unincorporated communities Barefoot Bay | Canaveral Groves | Courtenay | Floridana Beach | Indianola | Melbourne Shores | Scottsmoor | Suntree | Viera