Cape Canaveral, Florida
Encyclopedia
Cape Canaveral is a city in Brevard County
, Florida
, United States
. The population was 8,829 at the 2000 census. As of 2008, the estimated population according to the U.S. Census Bureau was 10,147. It is part of the Palm Bay
–Melbourne
–Titusville
Metropolitan Statistical Area.
on the Atlantic coast of Florida. It is due south of the geographical feature Cape Canaveral
(known as Cape Kennedy from 1963 to 1973). It is separated from the mainland by the Banana River
, Merritt Island
and the Indian River
from east to west. Port Canaveral
is an important port for cruise liners, which take passengers for cruises to the Caribbean
.
Cape Canaveral is located at 28.388382°N 80.603498°W.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 2.3 square miles (6 km²). 2.3 square miles (6 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (0.85%) is water.
In the early 1920s, a group of Orlando journalists invested more than $150,000 in the beach acreage that now encompasses the area of presidentially-named streets in Cape Canaveral. They called their development Journalista (now Avon-by-the-Sea) in honor of their trade. This seasonal retreat for inland residents was anticipated to become as popular a resort area as Cocoa Beach to the south, due to the construction of wooden bridge connecting Merritt Island to the area.
At that time, fishermen, retirees, and descendants of Captain Mills Burnham—the original official keeper of the Cape Canaveral Light
—resided in the northern part of the present city. They owned acreage named Artesia that occupied the area that is now Port Canaveral
.
Due to the hardships caused by the Great Depression, many investors defaulted on their holdings. Much of this land was recovered by newspaper owner R.B. Brossier and his son, Dickson, after they sold their Orlando home and used the remaining $4,500 to purchase much of the Avon area. It was their dream that a port would be developed and a direct route to Orlando would be constructed.
By 1958 the area had grown with the Space Program. At that time, an adjacent city could annex an unincorporated area without a vote of the residents, so property owners were discussing the feasibility of forming a new city to prevent possible annexation by the City of Cocoa Beach. Landowners were asked for their opinion on this matter, and, due to substantial city debt and land taxes, most residents preferred not to become part of Cocoa Beach. So it was decided that the time was right to pursue incorporation
and create a city
of their own.
. The City Council
consists of 5 members, including the mayor
. All seats on the City Council are filled by nonpartisan election as outlined in the City Charter. The City Manager
is an appointed position that acts as the city's administrative leader and carries out the council's acts and directives.
In 2007, the city had a taxable real estate base of $1.46 billion.
In 2009-10, the city paid $833,100 for solid waste disposal
. This was furnished at a cost from $4.95 to $7.38 monthly per residence.
Federally, Cape Canaveral is part of Florida's 15th congressional district
, represented by Republican Bill Posey
, elected in 2008.
of 2000, there were 8,829 people, 5,066 households, and 2,097 families residing in the city. The population density
was 3,788.0 inhabitants per square mile (1,463.0/km²). There were 6,641 housing units at an average density of 2,849.3 per square mile (1,100.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.68% White, 1.43% African American, 0.32% Native American, 1.70% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.42% from other races
, and 1.40% from two or more races. Out of all of which Hispanics or Latinos of constituted 3.48% of the population, regardless of race.
There were 5,066 households out of which 11.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 30.7% were married couples
living together, 7.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 58.6% were non-families. 47.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.74 and the average family size was 2.41.
In the city the population was spread out with 11.3% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 30.4% from 25 to 44, 28.8% from 45 to 64, and 23.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females there were 109.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 107.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $30,858, and the median income for a family was $43,109. Males had a median income of $33,571 versus $22,423 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $23,537. About 9.2% of families and 11.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.7% of those under age 18 and 7.1% of those age 65 or over.
to the north.
The median home price in 2007 was $215,000.
The largest hotel in Brevard is located in the city. It has 284 rooms and 30000 ft2 of meeting space.
SR A1A
is the major road, running north-south within the city.
To the north of Cape Canaveral, SR 528 heads east, connecting the city to Merritt Island, the mainland, and Orlando.
To the south of Cape Canaveral, SR 520 provides a similar eastward route, but while 528 is an freeway, 520 has many stop lights and intersections.
A group of east-west roads is named for U.S. presidents in order of their administrations, starting with Washington in the north of town to Harding in the south, and skipping identical last-named presidencies of the second Adams and the second Harrison.
Public transportation is provided by Space Coast Area Transit
(SCAT). The #9 Beach Trolley bus line circles through Cape Canaveral and runs down to Cocoa Beach and connects with other SCAT bus lines serving Brevard County.
Port Canaveral
serves the region as a deep-water cargo and cruise
port.
, Switzerland
Sagres, Faro
, Portugal
Guidonia Montecelio, Lazio
, Italy
Ithaca, Kefallinia
, Greece
Brevard County, Florida
Brevard County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida, along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. As of 2007 U.S. Census Bureau estimates, the population is 536,521, making it the 10th most populous county in the state. Influenced by the presence of the John F. Kennedy Space Center, Brevard...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 8,829 at the 2000 census. As of 2008, the estimated population according to the U.S. Census Bureau was 10,147. It is part of the Palm Bay
Palm Bay, Florida
Palm Bay is a city in Brevard County, Florida, United States. The U.S. Census Bureau estimated the city's population as 100,786 on 1 July 2008; it is the most populous city in the county...
–Melbourne
Melbourne, Florida
Melbourne is a city in Brevard County, Florida, United States. As of 2009, the population estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau is 78,323. The municipal area is the second largest by size and by population in the county. Melbourne is a principal city of the Palm Bay – Melbourne – Titusville, Florida...
–Titusville
Titusville, Florida
Titusville is a city in Brevard County, Florida in the United States. It is the county seat of Brevard County. Nicknamed Space City, USA, Titusville is on the Indian River, west of Merritt Island and the Kennedy Space Center and south-southwest of the Canaveral National Seashore...
Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Geography
The city of Cape Canaveral is located at the northern tip of a barrier islandBarrier island
Barrier islands, a coastal landform and a type of barrier system, are relatively narrow strips of sand that parallel the mainland coast. They usually occur in chains, consisting of anything from a few islands to more than a dozen...
on the Atlantic coast of Florida. It is due south of the geographical feature Cape Canaveral
Cape Canaveral
Cape Canaveral, from the Spanish Cabo Cañaveral, is a headland in Brevard County, Florida, United States, near the center of the state's Atlantic coast. Known as Cape Kennedy from 1963 to 1973, it lies east of Merritt Island, separated from it by the Banana River.It is part of a region known as the...
(known as Cape Kennedy from 1963 to 1973). It is separated from the mainland by the Banana River
Banana River
The Banana River is a lagoon that lies between Cape Canaveral and Merritt Island in Brevard County, Florida in the United States. It is part of the Indian River Lagoon system, and connects at its south end to the Indian River; it is the only part of the lagoon system not in the Intracoastal...
, Merritt Island
Merritt Island, Florida
Merritt Island is a census-designated place in Brevard County, Florida, United States. It is located on the east coast of the state on the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2000 census, the population was 36,090. It is part of the Palm Bay – Melbourne – Titusville, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area...
and the Indian River
Indian River (Florida)
The Indian River is a waterway in Florida, a part of the Indian River Lagoon system which forms the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. It extends southward from the Ponce de Leon inlet in New Smyrna Beach, Florida [Volusia County] southward and across the "Haulover Canal" and along the western shore...
from east to west. Port Canaveral
Port Canaveral
Port Canaveral is a cruise, cargo and naval port in Brevard County, Florida, United States. It is one of the busiest cruise ports in the world with nearly 2.8 million multi-day cruise passengers passing through during 2010. As a deep water cargo port, it has a high volume of traffic. Over of bulk...
is an important port for cruise liners, which take passengers for cruises to the Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
.
Cape Canaveral is located at 28.388382°N 80.603498°W.
According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 2.3 square miles (6 km²). 2.3 square miles (6 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (0.85%) is water.
Climate
On August 20, 2008, Tropical Storm Fay dropped 20.03 inch of rain.History
The first permanent settlement in present-day Brevard was established near Cape Canaveral in 1848. After the establishment of a lighthouse, a few families moved in and a small, but stable settlement was born. Gradually, as the threat of Seminole Indian attacks was becoming increasingly unlikely, people began to move into the area around the Indian River.In the early 1920s, a group of Orlando journalists invested more than $150,000 in the beach acreage that now encompasses the area of presidentially-named streets in Cape Canaveral. They called their development Journalista (now Avon-by-the-Sea) in honor of their trade. This seasonal retreat for inland residents was anticipated to become as popular a resort area as Cocoa Beach to the south, due to the construction of wooden bridge connecting Merritt Island to the area.
At that time, fishermen, retirees, and descendants of Captain Mills Burnham—the original official keeper of the Cape Canaveral Light
Cape Canaveral Light
The Cape Canaveral Light is a historic lighthouse on the east coast of the U.S. state of Florida.-History:The current Cape Canaveral Light is not the first lighthouse on Cape Canaveral. A 60-foot tall brick structure was built on the Cape in 1848. The light consisted of 15 lamps each with a...
—resided in the northern part of the present city. They owned acreage named Artesia that occupied the area that is now Port Canaveral
Port Canaveral
Port Canaveral is a cruise, cargo and naval port in Brevard County, Florida, United States. It is one of the busiest cruise ports in the world with nearly 2.8 million multi-day cruise passengers passing through during 2010. As a deep water cargo port, it has a high volume of traffic. Over of bulk...
.
Due to the hardships caused by the Great Depression, many investors defaulted on their holdings. Much of this land was recovered by newspaper owner R.B. Brossier and his son, Dickson, after they sold their Orlando home and used the remaining $4,500 to purchase much of the Avon area. It was their dream that a port would be developed and a direct route to Orlando would be constructed.
By 1958 the area had grown with the Space Program. At that time, an adjacent city could annex an unincorporated area without a vote of the residents, so property owners were discussing the feasibility of forming a new city to prevent possible annexation by the City of Cocoa Beach. Landowners were asked for their opinion on this matter, and, due to substantial city debt and land taxes, most residents preferred not to become part of Cocoa Beach. So it was decided that the time was right to pursue incorporation
Municipal corporation
A municipal corporation is the legal term for a local governing body, including cities, counties, towns, townships, charter townships, villages, and boroughs. Municipal incorporation occurs when such municipalities become self-governing entities under the laws of the state or province in which...
and create a city
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
of their own.
Government
Cape Canaveral is run by a Council-Manager governmentCouncil-manager government
The council–manager government form is one of two predominant forms of municipal government in the United States; the other common form of local government is the mayor-council government form, which characteristically occurs in large cities...
. The City Council
City council
A city council or town council is the legislative body that governs a city, town, municipality or local government area.-Australia & NZ:Because of the differences in legislation between the States, the exact definition of a City Council varies...
consists of 5 members, including the mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
. All seats on the City Council are filled by nonpartisan election as outlined in the City Charter. The City Manager
City manager
A city manager is an official appointed as the administrative manager of a city, in a council-manager form of city government. Local officials serving in this position are sometimes referred to as the chief executive officer or chief administrative officer in some municipalities...
is an appointed position that acts as the city's administrative leader and carries out the council's acts and directives.
- Mayor - Rocky Randels
- Mayor Pro Tem - Bob Hoog
- Councilmember - Jim Morgan
- Councilmember - Buzz Petsos
- Councilmember - Betty Walsh
- City Manager (appointed) - David Greene
- City Clerk (appointed) - Angela Apperson, CMC
In 2007, the city had a taxable real estate base of $1.46 billion.
In 2009-10, the city paid $833,100 for solid waste disposal
Municipal solid waste
Municipal solid waste , commonly known as trash or garbage , refuse or rubbish is a waste type consisting of everyday items we consume and discard. It predominantly includes food wastes, yard wastes, containers and product packaging, and other miscellaneous inorganic wastes from residential,...
. This was furnished at a cost from $4.95 to $7.38 monthly per residence.
Federally, Cape Canaveral is part of Florida's 15th congressional district
Florida's 15th congressional district
Florida's 15th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Florida. The district contains most of Brevard County south of the city of Cocoa, all of Indian River County, most of Osceola County, and a very small portion of Polk County...
, represented by Republican Bill Posey
Bill Posey
William "Bill" Posey is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2009. He is a member of the Republican Party. He formerly served in the Florida Senate and the Florida House of Representatives....
, elected in 2008.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 8,829 people, 5,066 households, and 2,097 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 3,788.0 inhabitants per square mile (1,463.0/km²). There were 6,641 housing units at an average density of 2,849.3 per square mile (1,100.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.68% White, 1.43% African American, 0.32% Native American, 1.70% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.42% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.40% from two or more races. Out of all of which Hispanics or Latinos of constituted 3.48% of the population, regardless of race.
There were 5,066 households out of which 11.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 30.7% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 7.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 58.6% were non-families. 47.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.74 and the average family size was 2.41.
In the city the population was spread out with 11.3% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 30.4% from 25 to 44, 28.8% from 45 to 64, and 23.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females there were 109.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 107.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $30,858, and the median income for a family was $43,109. Males had a median income of $33,571 versus $22,423 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $23,537. About 9.2% of families and 11.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.7% of those under age 18 and 7.1% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
Cape Canaveral is mostly residential. Many residents work in the service industry and at the Kennedy Space CenterKennedy Space Center
The John F. Kennedy Space Center is the NASA installation that has been the launch site for every United States human space flight since 1968. Although such flights are currently on hiatus, KSC continues to manage and operate unmanned rocket launch facilities for America's civilian space program...
to the north.
Workforce
In 2007, the average size of Cape Canaveral's labor force was 5,824. Of that group, 5,533 were employed and 291 were unemployed, for an unemployment rate of 5%.Housing
In 2008, no building permits were issued. This was down from 5 permits for 6 units in 2007, which was down from 19 permits for 42 units in 2006.The median home price in 2007 was $215,000.
Tourism
Tourism is a major part of the economy as in any Florida beachside community.The largest hotel in Brevard is located in the city. It has 284 rooms and 30000 ft2 of meeting space.
Transportation
The primary transportation is by road. SR A1AFlorida State Road A1A
State Road A1A is a Florida State Road that runs mostly along the Atlantic Ocean, with sections from Key West at the southern tip of Florida, to Callahan, just south of Georgia. It is the main road through most oceanfront towns. SR A1A is designated the A1A Scenic and Historic Coastal Highway, a...
is the major road, running north-south within the city.
To the north of Cape Canaveral, SR 528 heads east, connecting the city to Merritt Island, the mainland, and Orlando. To the south of Cape Canaveral, SR 520 provides a similar eastward route, but while 528 is an freeway, 520 has many stop lights and intersections.A group of east-west roads is named for U.S. presidents in order of their administrations, starting with Washington in the north of town to Harding in the south, and skipping identical last-named presidencies of the second Adams and the second Harrison.
Public transportation is provided by Space Coast Area Transit
Space Coast Area Transit
Space Coast Area Transit is the municipal bus system serving the Brevard County, Florida area. Besides providing routine transportation, low cost service is available to disabled and disadvantaged citizens....
(SCAT). The #9 Beach Trolley bus line circles through Cape Canaveral and runs down to Cocoa Beach and connects with other SCAT bus lines serving Brevard County.
Port Canaveral
Port Canaveral
Port Canaveral is a cruise, cargo and naval port in Brevard County, Florida, United States. It is one of the busiest cruise ports in the world with nearly 2.8 million multi-day cruise passengers passing through during 2010. As a deep water cargo port, it has a high volume of traffic. Over of bulk...
serves the region as a deep-water cargo and cruise
Cruise ship
A cruise ship or cruise liner is a passenger ship used for pleasure voyages, where the voyage itself and the ship's amenities are part of the experience, as well as the different destinations along the way...
port.
Notable residents
- Allison AndersAllison AndersAllison Anders is an American film and television director. Anders has directed many independent films, on which she frequently collaborates with fellow UCLA film school graduate Kurt Voss.-Biography:...
, raised in the city, filmed Things Behind the SunThings Behind the SunThings Behind the Sun is a 2001 film starring Kim Dickens and Gabriel Mann and directed by Allison Anders. Its title is taken from a song by Nick Drake....
in Brevard County in 2001.
Sister cities
Kloten, ZurichKloten
-External links:* -References:...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
Sagres, Faro
Sagres
Sagres Point , is a windswept shelf-like promontory located in the southwest Algarve region of southern Portugal. Only 4 km to the west and 3 km to the north lies Cape St. Vincent which is usually taken as the southwesternmost tip of Europe. The vicinity of Sagres Point and Cape St...
, Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
Guidonia Montecelio, Lazio
Guidonia Montecelio
Guidonia Montecelio is a town and comune in the province of Rome, Lazio, central Italy.- Geography :The community of Guidonia Montecelio lies to the north-east of Rome, some kilometres from the Grande Raccordo Anulare - a ring-shaped motorway which forms a circle around the capital...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
Ithaca, Kefallinia
Ithaca
Ithaca or Ithaka is an island located in the Ionian Sea, in Greece, with an area of and a little more than three thousand inhabitants. It is also a separate regional unit of the Ionian Islands region, and the only municipality of the regional unit. It lies off the northeast coast of Kefalonia and...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
External links
- City of Cape Canaveral official site