Orchid Island (Florida)

For other use see Orchid Island.
Indian River shoreline of Sebastian Inlet State Park
Survivors' and Salvagers' Camp - 1715 Fleet historic marker near 13180 North A1A, Orchid Island, Florida

Orchid Island, Florida, an Atlantic coastal barrier island located in Indian River County, Florida, is actually the Indian River County part of North Hutchinson Island, although that term in not used in Indian River County.[1] Orchid Island is separated from the mainland on the west by the Indian River Lagoon. Its southern boundary is the county line between Indian River and St. Lucie counties, while its northern boundary is the Sebastian Inlet, which is the county line between Indian River and Brevard counties. The entire island constitutes the Vero Beach, Florida 32963 Zip Code. The island is home to many wealthy residents and luxurious homes.

Main Roads

The principal north-south road on the island is State Road A1A which runs the entire length of the island. It is called South A-1-A from Beachland Boulevard south and North A-1-A north of Beachland Boulevard, Signs at each county line and at the foot of each bridge from the mainland welcome the visitor to Orchid Island.

South Beach CDP

The area from the southern county line to the Vero Beach city limits is in the South Beach CDP or census-designated place.

Sites of Interest

County-maintained Round Island Park abuts the county line on the south and runs from the ocean to the river.[2]

Vero Beach portion

The City of Vero Beach lies on both sides of the Indian River, with its main business and residential areas on the mainland. Two of the island's three bridges from the mainland lie within the city limits. The island part of Vero Beach is primarily residential but has a business area located along Beachland Boulevard which runs from the New Merrill Barber Bridge east to Sexton Plaza on the Ocean front, The Riomar Country Club built in the 1920s set the tone for residential development on the island, but two 13-story condominium apartment buildings built in the 1970s threatened to change that. The city, though, adopted stringent planning and zoning regulation to prevent further highrise development.[3]

Sites of interest

Town of Indian River Shores

The upscale town of Indian River Shores borders the City of Vero Beach on the south and the Wabasso Beach CDP on the north.[6]

John's Island

John's Island is an upscale gated country club community on 1,650 acres (6.7 km2) within the Town of Indian River Shores.[7]

Wabasso Beach CDP

Wabasso Beach is a CDP or census-designated place lying north of the Town of Indian River Shores and south of the Town of Orchid and is centered around the intersection of North A-1-A and Wabasso Road, which comes across the Wabasso Bridge from the mainland. County-maintained Wabasso Beach Park is located just east of this intersection.[2]

Sites of interest

Town of Orchid

The Town of Orchid lies north of the Wabasso Beach CDP and is mainly to the north of Wabasso Road (SR 510) and now consists primarily of the Orchid Island Golf and Beach Club, although it was originally incorporated by the grove owners located in the area and covered somewhat different lands. The town does have some territory on the Atlantic.[9]

North Beach CDP

A portion of the unincorporated area north of Orchid to the Sebastian Inlet is in the Windsor CDP, or census-designated place.

Sites of interest

Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge

The Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge established for the protection of sea turtles extends from Wabasso Beach on Orchid Island north along the coast to Melbourne Beach

Income on the island

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Orchid Island (Florida).

Coordinates: 27°51′31″N 80°26′59″W / 27.85861°N 80.44972°W