Cocoa Beach, Florida
Encyclopedia
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. It is part of the Palm Bay
–Melbourne
–Titusville
Metropolitan Statistical Area.
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 (2.4 km²) and he had stopped practicing law to devote all his efforts to developing the area.
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. A little less than a month later, plans for a pier became official.
In 1935, the FDOT opened up, what is now A1A, as a one lane dirt road to Eau Gallie. In 1938, a policeman (called a "Deputy Marshal) was appointed to "to act in emergencies at night or at other times" for $.25/hour ($ in dollars). By 1939, the town had 49 residents. In 1940, the town requested that State Road 140 (now A1A) be routed on Orlando Avenue instead of Atlantic Avenue. In 1942, the town prepared to receive men assigned to the newly opened Naval Air Station Banana River
. Establishing regular garbage collection was discussed when the town discovered that the Air Station was having theirs collected.
On May 1, 1942 the German submarine torpedoed the La Paz off the shore of Cocoa Beach. The crew was able to beach it with the help of tugs. Eventually it was returned to shipping. On May 3, the same U-boat sunk the SS Laertes close to the same place. Local boys were recruited for salvaging efforts and to rid the beach of the subsequent debris. Shortly after, the federal government realized the danger from backlighting from the coast, making easy targets of passing shipping, and ordered a blackout for the remainder of the war.
During World War II, Cocoa Beach experienced money shortages for employees, and money to fix roads.
In 1944, the town successfully fought a bill introduced in the Florida legislature which would have dissolved the city government. In 1947 a single police officer was hired for $1/hour. The same year, the city constructed works for the distribution of potable water. In 1950, a volunteer fire department was created which used a second-hand vehicle. In 1950, a proposal to stop people from driving on the beach was defeated. In 1951, the city sought to place a stoplight, the city's first, at the intersection of what is now A1A and Minuteman Causeway. In 1953, the city decided to mark the names on all streets. In 1953, the city planned to pave A1A south from 520 down Orlando Avenue. The city intended to bear 1/3 of the costs, the adjacent property owners, 2/3. In 1954, the Woman's Club opened a library in the building used by the Fire Department. In 1955, the speed limit in most of the town was raised to 35 miles per hour (15.6 m/s). In 1955, the city prepared to house the people that were going to be launching missiles from what is now Cape Canaveral Air Force Station
. In 1956, the city attorney warned the council that blacks might attempt to use the beach. If they did, he recommended clearing the beach of all persons, white and black. The 1954 decision, Brown v. Board of Education
, had, in theory, at least, integrated all public facilities. Actual integration came later.
The city proposed selling the town dump to the School Board for a Junior High School, in order to keep students from being bused to Merritt Island.
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.
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.
Cocoa Beach started its major growth during the 1960s (1000% population increase from 1950 to 1960) due to America's space program. NASA's
John F. Kennedy Space Center
is located approximately 15 miles (24.1 km) 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.
After NASA's Apollo program came to an end, and before the Shuttle program was in full swing, the town's economy reacted to the layoffs. At one point, in 1975, unemployment was 14.3%. 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 star Barbara Eden
made only two visits during the show's production (both in 1969 for publicity), and no episodes were actually filmed there. Cocoa Beach High School was used as the school in the 2002 movie Race to Space
.
The 2010 Nebula Award
s were held in the city.
, 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.
The city owns and runs a golf course on the Banana River.
In 2007, the city had a taxable real estate base of $2.09 billion.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 15 square miles (38.8 km²). 4.9 square miles (12.7 km²) of it is land and 10.1 square miles (26.2 km²) 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
.
Many of the homes in Cocoa Beach are built on dredged mud and sand from the Banana River
.
. Historically, the commissioners were elected at-large
to three-year terms but with a successful referendum on the 2010 ballot to hold elections on even-years, terms were increased to four years in duration. The 2010 election also resulted in the re-election of Skip Williams and a successful campaign by Dave Netterstrom for Seat #5 over the incumbent, Don John. Following the election, a Vice Mayor is then selected from the Commission members at an organizational meeting. The Mayor presides over all meetings and performs duties as delegated to the Mayor by the City Commission. Seats affected by the 2010 referendum include Seat #1, Seat #4 and Seat #5.
.
of 2000, there were 12,482 people, 6,529 households, and 3,532 families residing in the city. The population density
was 2,552.1 inhabitants per square mile (985.5/km²). There were 8,709 housing units at an average density of 1,780.6 per square mile (687.6/km²). 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.
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.
, a surf shop, receives 2 million visitors a year. Cocoa Beach is home to the East Coast Surfing Hall of Fame.
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. An annual Beach Fest is held in May.
An air show in 2009 drew a crowd estimated at 30,000.
There is a store that sells dinosaur and other fossils.
The Ron Jon Easter Surfing Festival drew 50,000 visitors in 2009.
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.
The median home price in 2007 was $409,000.
94% of all residents 25 years or older are high school graduates. 38.6% have a Bachelor's Degree
or higher.
for electricity, paying 10.689 cents per kilowatt-hour in 2010.
An area spokesman replied that it was common everywhere to jack up room rates for major events.
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 12,482 at the 2000 census. According to the U.S. Census Bureau estimates of 2008, the city had a population of 11,920. 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.
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 CocoaCocoa, Florida
Cocoa is a city in Brevard County, Florida, United States. The population was 16,412 at the 2000 census. As of 2008, the estimated population according to the U.S. Census Bureau was 16,478. It is part of the Palm Bay–Melbourne–Titusville Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:Cocoa was...
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
City attorney
A city attorney can be an elected or appointed position in city and municipal government in the United States. The city attorney is the attorney representing the city or municipality....
. At that time, Edwards' total holdings included approximately 600 acres (2.4 km²) and he had stopped practicing law to devote all his efforts to developing the area.
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. A little less than a month later, plans for a pier became official.
In 1935, the FDOT opened up, what is now A1A, as a one lane dirt road to Eau Gallie. In 1938, a policeman (called a "Deputy Marshal) was appointed to "to act in emergencies at night or at other times" for $.25/hour ($ in dollars). By 1939, the town had 49 residents. In 1940, the town requested that State Road 140 (now A1A) be routed on Orlando Avenue instead of Atlantic Avenue. In 1942, the town prepared to receive men assigned to the newly opened Naval Air Station Banana River
Naval Air Station Banana River
Naval Air Station Banana River was a U.S. Navy airfield and seaplane base located just north of Satellite Beach, Florida along the Banana River prior to and during World War II...
. Establishing regular garbage collection was discussed when the town discovered that the Air Station was having theirs collected.
On May 1, 1942 the German submarine torpedoed the La Paz off the shore of Cocoa Beach. The crew was able to beach it with the help of tugs. Eventually it was returned to shipping. On May 3, the same U-boat sunk the SS Laertes close to the same place. Local boys were recruited for salvaging efforts and to rid the beach of the subsequent debris. Shortly after, the federal government realized the danger from backlighting from the coast, making easy targets of passing shipping, and ordered a blackout for the remainder of the war.
During World War II, Cocoa Beach experienced money shortages for employees, and money to fix roads.
In 1944, the town successfully fought a bill introduced in the Florida legislature which would have dissolved the city government. In 1947 a single police officer was hired for $1/hour. The same year, the city constructed works for the distribution of potable water. In 1950, a volunteer fire department was created which used a second-hand vehicle. In 1950, a proposal to stop people from driving on the beach was defeated. In 1951, the city sought to place a stoplight, the city's first, at the intersection of what is now A1A and Minuteman Causeway. In 1953, the city decided to mark the names on all streets. In 1953, the city planned to pave A1A south from 520 down Orlando Avenue. The city intended to bear 1/3 of the costs, the adjacent property owners, 2/3. In 1954, the Woman's Club opened a library in the building used by the Fire Department. In 1955, the speed limit in most of the town was raised to 35 miles per hour (15.6 m/s). In 1955, the city prepared to house the people that were going to be launching missiles from what is now Cape Canaveral Air Force Station
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station is an installation of the United States Air Force Space Command's 45th Space Wing, headquartered at nearby Patrick Air Force Base. Located on Cape Canaveral in the state of Florida, CCAFS is the primary launch head of America's Eastern Range with four launch pads...
. In 1956, the city attorney warned the council that blacks might attempt to use the beach. If they did, he recommended clearing the beach of all persons, white and black. The 1954 decision, Brown v. Board of Education
Brown v. Board of Education
Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, 347 U.S. 483 , was a landmark decision of the United States Supreme Court that declared state laws establishing separate public schools for black and white students unconstitutional. The decision overturned the Plessy v. Ferguson decision of 1896 which...
, had, in theory, at least, integrated all public facilities. Actual integration came later.
The city proposed selling the town dump to the School Board for a Junior High School, in order to keep students from being bused to Merritt Island.
On June 29, 1957, the town
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
of Cocoa Beach incorporated into 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...
. 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.
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.
Cocoa Beach started its major growth during the 1960s (1000% population increase from 1950 to 1960) due to America's space program. NASA's
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
John F. Kennedy Space Center
Kennedy 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...
is located approximately 15 miles (24.1 km) 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.
After NASA's Apollo program came to an end, and before the Shuttle program was in full swing, the town's economy reacted to the layoffs. At one point, in 1975, unemployment was 14.3%. 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
1960s
The 1960s was the decade that started on January 1, 1960, and ended on December 31, 1969. It was the seventh decade of the 20th century.The 1960s term also refers to an era more often called The Sixties, denoting the complex of inter-related cultural and political trends across the globe...
sitcom I Dream of Jeannie
I Dream of Jeannie
I Dream of Jeannie is a 1960s American sitcom with a fantasy premise. The show starred Barbara Eden as a 2,000-year-old genie, and Larry Hagman as an astronaut who becomes her master, with whom she falls in love and eventually marries...
; although star Barbara Eden
Barbara Eden
Barbara Eden is an American film and television actress and singer who is best known for her starring role in the sitcom I Dream of Jeannie.-Early years:...
made only two visits during the show's production (both in 1969 for publicity), and no episodes were actually filmed there. Cocoa Beach High School was used as the school in the 2002 movie Race to Space
Race to Space
Race to Space is an American family/drama film. The film was shot on location at Cape Canaveral and Cocoa Beach and Edwards AFB CA in cooperation with NASA and the U.S. Air Force.-Plot:...
.
The 2010 Nebula Award
Nebula Award
The Nebula Award is given each year by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America , for the best science fiction/fantasy fiction published in the United States during the previous year...
s were held in the city.
Government
Cocoa Beach run by a Commission-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...
, agreed to by its citizens in 1958. The City Commission
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...
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
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...
administers as the appointed executive officer of the city government.
The city owns and runs a golf course on the Banana River.
In 2007, the city had a taxable real estate base of $2.09 billion.
Geography
Cocoa Beach is located at 28.331035°N 80.613035°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 15 square miles (38.8 km²). 4.9 square miles (12.7 km²) of it is land and 10.1 square miles (26.2 km²) of it (67.49%) is water. Bordered on the north is Cape Canaveral
Cape Canaveral, Florida
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...
; on the south is Cresent Beach; on the east is the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
(5.6 miles of oceanfront); on the west is 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...
.
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
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...
.
Many of the homes in Cocoa Beach are built on dredged mud and sand from 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...
.
City Commission
The City Commission is made up of five members, one of which is the MayorMayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
. Historically, the commissioners were elected at-large
At-Large
At-large is a designation for representative members of a governing body who are elected or appointed to represent the whole membership of the body , rather than a subset of that membership...
to three-year terms but with a successful referendum on the 2010 ballot to hold elections on even-years, terms were increased to four years in duration. The 2010 election also resulted in the re-election of Skip Williams and a successful campaign by Dave Netterstrom for Seat #5 over the incumbent, Don John. Following the election, a Vice Mayor is then selected from the Commission members at an organizational meeting. The Mayor presides over all meetings and performs duties as delegated to the Mayor by the City Commission. Seats affected by the 2010 referendum include Seat #1, Seat #4 and Seat #5.
- Mayor/Commissioner, Seat #1 - Dr. Leon "Skip" Beeler (term expires 2012)
- Vice-Mayor, Seat #2 - Kenneth Griffin (term expires 2012)
- Commissioner, Seat #3 - Kevin S. Pruett (term expires 2012)
- Commissioner, Seat #4 - Skip Williams (term expires 2014)
- Commissioner, Seat #5 - Dave Netterstrom (term expires 2014)
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. Charles Billias has filled this office since 1998.Public transportation
Public transportation in Cocoa Beach, Cape Canaveral, and surrounding Brevard County is provided by Space Coast Area TransitSpace 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....
.
Surrounding areas
- Merritt Island
- Atlantic OceanAtlantic OceanThe Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
- Cape CanaveralCape Canaveral, FloridaCape 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...
- Crescent BeachCrescent Beach, Brevard County, FloridaCrescent Beach is an unincorporated area between Cocoa Beach and Patrick Air Force Base. Because of its location, it is known as South Cocoa Beach. At the intersection of 35th Street and State Road A1A, the area is known as Orlando 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 http://weather.yahoo.com/climo/USFL0089_f.html | ||||||||||||
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 12,482 people, 6,529 households, and 3,532 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 2,552.1 inhabitants per square mile (985.5/km²). There were 8,709 housing units at an average density of 1,780.6 per square mile (687.6/km²). 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
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 1.08% 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
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, 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.
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 incomePer 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 $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
Retirement
Retirement is the point where a person stops employment completely. A person may also semi-retire by reducing work hours.Many people choose to retire when they are eligible for private or public pension benefits, although some are forced to retire when physical conditions don't allow the person to...
area, with the average age being 54.
Tourism
Ron Jon'sRon Jon Surf Shop
Ron Jon Surf Shop is a retail store founded in 1959 in Ship Bottom, New Jersey, by Ron DiMenna. The store specializes in surfing and bodyboarding equipment, and their Cocoa Beach, Florida, store is currently the largest surfing shop in the world...
, a surf shop, receives 2 million visitors a year. Cocoa Beach is home to the East Coast Surfing Hall of Fame.
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. An annual Beach Fest is held in May.
An air show in 2009 drew a crowd estimated at 30,000.
There is a store that sells dinosaur and other fossils.
The Ron Jon Easter Surfing Festival drew 50,000 visitors in 2009.
A Space Coast Art Festival is held annually.
The largest charity surfing festival, National Kidney Foundation
National Kidney Foundation
The National Kidney Foundation, Inc. is a major voluntary health organization in the United States, headquartered in New York City...
Pro-Am Surfing Festival, has been held every Labor Day
Labor Day
Labor Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the first Monday in September that celebrates the economic and social contributions of workers.-History:...
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%.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.The median home price in 2007 was $409,000.
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
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
or higher.
Landmarks
- Cocoa Beach Pier
- Alan Shepard Beachfront Park
- Thousand Islands Conservation Area
- Cocoa Beach Aquatic Center and Pool Complex
- I Dream of JeannieI Dream of JeannieI Dream of Jeannie is a 1960s American sitcom with a fantasy premise. The show starred Barbara Eden as a 2,000-year-old genie, and Larry Hagman as an astronaut who becomes her master, with whom she falls in love and eventually marries...
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.
Roads
The following roads are usually called by their numbers when spoken:-
SR A1AFlorida State Road A1AState 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 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 & LightFlorida Power & Light
Florida Power & Light Company, the principal subsidiary of NextEra Energy Inc. , commonly referred to by its initials, FPL, is a Juno Beach, Florida-based power utility which serves roughly 4.4 million customers in Florida. FPL Group holds power generation assets in more than 20 U.S...
for electricity, paying 10.689 cents per kilowatt-hour in 2010.
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 the county in 2001 - Zora Neale HurstonZora Neale HurstonZora Neale Hurston was an American folklorist, anthropologist, and author during the time of the Harlem Renaissance...
, author - Rick MartelRick MartelRichard Vigneault is a retired Canadian professional wrestler, best known for his appearances with the World Wrestling Federation between 1980 and 1995 under the ring name Rick Martel...
- professional wrestler - Allen NeuharthAllen NeuharthAllen Harold "Al" Neuharth is an American businessman, author, and columnist. He is the founder of USA Today, The Freedom Forum, and its Newseum.-Early life:...
- CEO of Gannett and columnist. Founder of USA TodayUSA TodayUSA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003... - Kelly SlaterKelly SlaterRobert Kelly Slater is an American professional surfer known for his competitive prowess and style. He has been crowned ASP World Champion a record 11 times, including 5 consecutive titles from 1994–98. He is the youngest and the oldest to win the title...
, professional surfer, 11-time World Champion - Melissa WitekMelissa WitekMelissa Witek is an entrepreneur and beauty queen who competed in the Miss USA pageant and appeared on the reality television show Treasure Hunters.-Biography:...
, Miss Florida USA 2005 and contestant on NBC's Treasure Hunters - George SteeleGeorge SteeleWilliam James Myers , better known by his ring name George "The Animal" Steele is a former American professional wrestler and actor...
, professional wrestler a.k.a. George "The Animal" Steele
- Joe WilliamsJoe Williams (basketball coach)Joe Williams is a retired college basketball coach. He was head coach of the Jacksonville University men's basketball team from 1964 to 1970, Furman University from 1970 to 1978 and the Florida State University from 1978 to 1986. He notably led Jacksonville University, to the Finals of the NCAA...
, former men's basketballCollege basketballCollege basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
coach at Jacksonville UniversityJacksonville UniversityJacksonville University is a private university in Jacksonville, Florida, on the banks of the St. Johns River. The school was founded in 1934 as a two year college and was known as Jacksonville Junior College until 1958, when it shifted its focus to four-year university degrees and adopted its...
, Furman UniversityFurman UniversityFurman University is a selective, private, coeducational, liberal arts college in Greenville, South Carolina, United States. Furman is one of the oldest, and more selective private institutions in South Carolina...
and Florida State UniversityFlorida State UniversityThe Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...
(1979–1986). Coached against John WoodenJohn WoodenJohn Robert Wooden was an American basketball player and coach. Nicknamed the "Wizard of Westwood", he won ten NCAA national championships in a 12-year period — seven in a row — as head coach at UCLA, an unprecedented feat. Within this period, his teams won a record 88 consecutive games...
's UCLA team in the 1970 NCAA Men's Basketball National Championship game.
Criticism
In 2010, a New York Times reporter, there to cover a launch, commented that the cityAn area spokesman replied that it was common everywhere to jack up room rates for major events.