Editing Sebastian, Florida

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = City of Sebastian
|name                     = Sebastian, Florida
|other_name               = 
|nickname                 = 
|settlement_type          = [[City (Florida)|City]]
|motto                    = "Home Of Pelican Island"<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.cityofsebastian.org/|title= City of Sebastian Florida|publisher= City of Sebastian Florida |access-date= September 19, 2012}}</ref><br />''"Friendly People and Six Old Grouches"''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2009/mar/11/russ-lemmon-origin-sebastians-six-old-grouches-rem/|title=Russ Lemmon: Origin of Sebastian's 'Six Old Grouches' remains a mystery}}</ref><ref>[https://archive.today/20130411214107/http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/bizarre/content/who-are-sebastians-six-old-grouches "Who are Sebastian's "six old grouches"?"], ''Tampa Bay Times''</ref>
|image_skyline            = Sebastian FL city hall01.jpg
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = City hall
|image_flag               = 
|flag_size                = 
|image_seal               = 
|seal_size                = 
|image_shield             = 
|shield_size              = 
|image_blank_emblem       = Sebastian, FL Logo.png
|blank_emblem_type        = Logo
|blank_emblem_size        = 
|image_map                = Indian_River_County_Florida_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Sebastian_Highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 250x200px
|map_caption              = Location in [[Indian River County, Florida|Indian River County]] and the state of [[Florida]]
|image_map1               = 
|mapsize1                 = 
|map_caption1             = 
|image_dot_map            = 
|dot_mapsize              = 
|dot_map_caption          = 
|dot_x                    = 
|dot_y                    = 
|pushpin_map              = USA
|pushpin_map_caption      = Location in the United States
<!-- Location ------------------>
|subdivision_type         = Country
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[Florida]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Florida|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Indian River County, Florida|Indian River]] 
|subdivision_type3        = 
|subdivision_name3        = 
|subdivision_type4        = 
|subdivision_name4        = <!-- Politics ----------------->
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = [[Council-manager government]]
|leader_title             = 
|leader_name              = 
|leader_title1            = 
|leader_name1             = 
|leader_title2            = 
|leader_name2             = 
|established_title        = Settled
|established_date         = 1870s
|established_title2       = First settlers
|established_date2        = [[Andrew Canova]], Ed Marr, Thomas New, and David Peter Gibson
|established_title3       = Incorporated (municipality)
|established_date3        = Dec. 6, 1924
|established_title4       = Incorporated (city)
|established_date4        = May 18, 1925
<!-- Area    --------------------->
|area_magnitude           = 
|unit_pref                = Imperial
|area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_12.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=December 2, 2021}}</ref>
|area_total_km2           = 38.44
|area_land_km2            = 36.26
|area_water_km2           = 2.18
|area_total_sq_mi         = 14.84
|area_land_sq_mi          = 14.00
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.84
|area_water_percent       = 
|area_urban_km2           = 
|area_urban_sq_mi         = 
|area_metro_km2           = 
|area_metro_sq_mi         = 
|area_blank1_title        = 
|area_blank1_km2          = 
|area_blank1_sq_mi        = <!-- Population   ----------------------->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = 
|population_note          = 
|population_total         = 25054
|population_density_km2   = 691.02
|population_density_sq_mi = 1789.70
|population_metro         = 
|population_density_metro_km2     = 
|population_density_metro_sq_mi   = 
|population_urban                 = 
|population_density_urban_km2     = 
|population_density_urban_sq_mi   = 
|population_blank1_title          = 
|population_blank1                = 
|population_density_blank1_km2    = 
|population_density_blank1_sq_mi  = <!-- General information  --------------->
|timezone                 = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
|utc_offset               = −5
|timezone_DST             = EDT
|utc_offset_DST           = −4
|coordinates              = {{Coord|27|46|58|N|80|28|56|W|region:US-FL_type:city(25,000)|display=inline,title}}
|elevation_footnotes      = <!--for references: use <ref> </ref> tags-->
|elevation_m              = 6
|elevation_ft             = 20
<!-- Area/postal codes & others -------->
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP Code]]s
|postal_code              = 32958, 32978
|area_code                = [[Area code 772|772]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 12-64825<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 0295607<ref name="GR3">{{cite web|url=http://geonames.usgs.gov|access-date=2008-01-31|title=US Board on Geographic Names |publisher=[[United States Geological Survey]]|date=2007-10-25}}</ref>
|website                  = [http://www.cityofsebastian.org/ City of Sebastian Florida]
|footnotes                = 
|pop_est_as_of            = 
|pop_est_footnotes        = 
|population_est           = 
}}

'''Sebastian''' is a city in [[Indian River County, Florida]], United States at the confluence of the [[St. Sebastian River]] and the [[Indian River Lagoon|Indian River]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Google Maps|url=https://www.google.com/maps|access-date=2021-11-17|website=Google Maps|language=en-NZ}}</ref> It is two miles away from the [[Atlantic Ocean]]. It is the largest city in Indian River County and the biggest population center between [[Palm Bay, Florida|Palm Bay]] and [[Fort Pierce, Florida|Fort Pierce]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Florida Cities by Population|url=https://www.florida-demographics.com/cities_by_population|access-date=2021-11-17|website=www.florida-demographics.com}}</ref> The city's economy is heavily reliant on tourism.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2015-10-26|title=Visit Indian River County {{!}} Official Travel & Tourism Information|url=https://visitindianrivercounty.com/|access-date=2021-11-17|website=Visit Indian River County|language=en-US}}</ref> It has numerous resorts in the local area, such as [[Disney's Vero Beach Resort]]. It is very close to many natural and scenic areas like the [[Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge]], [[Sebastian Inlet State Park]], and [[St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Explore Nature Vero Beach Sebastian Fellsmere Florida|url=https://visitindianrivercounty.com/item_category/explore-nature/|access-date=2021-11-17|language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2020, the population recorded by the [[U.S. Census Bureau]] was 25,054.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/all?q=Sebastian%20city,%20Florida |title = United States Census |access-date=14 July 2022}}</ref>

Sebastian is a principal city of the Sebastian−[[Vero Beach, Florida|Vero Beach]] [[Sebastian-Vero Beach, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area|Metropolitan Statistical Area]], which includes all of Indian River County.

==History==
[[File:Sebastian historical marker 01.jpg|thumb|left|220px|Sebastian Historical Marker]]

In 1715, several Spanish ships loaded with treasure (known as the [[1715 Treasure Fleet]]) encountered a storm off the shores of the Treasure Coast and were lost.<ref name="cti.com">{{Cite web|url=http://www.citytowninfo.com/places/florida/sebastian|title = Sebastian, Florida - City Information, Fast Facts, Schools, Colleges, and More}}</ref> It is estimated that only a portion of the sunken treasure has been found. The value placed on the treasure lost from the 1715 fleet has been estimated at more than US$500 million.

The town of Sebastian was a fishing village as early as the 1870s. In the early 1880s David Peter Gibson and Thomas New settled in the area. New filed to start a post office under the name '''New Haven'''. However, New got into legal trouble for misuse of his position as postmaster and was removed. Officially, Sebastian was founded in 1882<ref name="cti.com"/> and named St. Sebastian, after [[Saint Sebastian]].<ref name=":1">{{cite web|url= http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/genInfo.php?locIndex=8911|title= Profile for Sebastian, Florida, FL|publisher= ePodunk |access-date= September 19, 2012}}</ref> Later, “St.” was removed from the name of the town, but not from the river. Sebastian was incorporated as a city in 1923.

Nearby [[Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge|Pelican Island]] was declared the first [[National Wildlife Refuge]] in the United States in 1903.<ref>{{Cite web|title=History - Pelican Island - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service|url=https://www.fws.gov/refuge/pelican_island/about/history.html|access-date=2021-03-13|website=www.fws.gov}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total land area of {{Convert|13.66|sqmi|km2}}.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Sebastian city, Florida; United States|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/sebastiancityflorida,US/PST045219|access-date=2021-03-13|website=www.census.gov|language=en}}</ref>

=== Climate ===
<div style="width:60%">
{{Weather box
| location = Sebastian
| single line = Y
| metric first = 
| Jan high F = 73
| Feb high F = 74
| Mar high F = 77
| Apr high F = 80
| May high F = 85
| Jun high F = 88
| Jul high F = 89
| Aug high F = 89
| Sep high F = 87
| Oct high F = 83
| Nov high F = 77
| Dec high F = 73
| year high F = 
| Jan low F = 54
| Feb low F = 56
| Mar low F = 59
| Apr low F = 64
| May low F = 68
| Jun low F = 72
| Jul low F = 74
| Aug low F = 74
| Sep low F = 74
| Oct low F = 69
| Nov low F = 62
| Dec low F = 56
| year low F = 
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation inch = 2.1
| Feb precipitation inch = 2.2
| Mar precipitation inch = 3.5
| Apr precipitation inch = 3.5
| May precipitation inch = 3.6
| Jun precipitation inch = 5.1
| Jul precipitation inch = 5.8
| Aug precipitation inch = 6.0
| Sep precipitation inch = 9.1
| Oct precipitation inch = 7.1
| Nov precipitation inch = 2.4
| Dec precipitation inch = 1.6
| year precipitation inch = 
| source 1 = [http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather.php3?refer=&s=37537&cityname=Sebastian-Florida-United-States-of-America&refer=&cityname=Sebastian-Florida Weatherbase]
| Jun record low F = 55
| Mar record low F = 26
| Apr record low F = 37
| May record low F = 46
| Oct record low F = 44
| Jul record low F = 62
| Aug record low F = 63
| Sep record low F = 61
| Jan record low F = 24
| Nov record low F = 31
| Feb record low F = 29
| Aug record high F = 97
| Dec record high F = 90
| Nov record high F = 90
| Oct record high F = 93
| Sep record high F = 99
| Jul record high F = 102
| Jun record high F = 98
| May record high F = 99
| Apr record high F = 95
| Mar record high F = 92
| Feb record high F = 90
| Jan record high F = 88
| source = <ref name="weather.com">{{cite web |url=https://weather.com/weather/monthly/l/28b7bf6ab2239ff1fe7ef049f0d549ff94f86d8f65267a9742df8251aec29737 |title=Monthly Weather-Sebastian, FL |publisher=The Weather Channel |access-date=March 13, 2021 }}</ref>
| Dec record low F = 24
}}</div>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1930= 386
|1940= 425
|1950= 376
|1960= 698
|1970= 825
|1980= 2831
|1990= 10205
|2000= 16181
|2010= 21929
|2020= 25054
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}

{| class="wikitable"
|+'''Sebastian racial composition'''<br> (Hispanics excluded from racial categories)<br> (''NH = Non-Hispanic'')<br>
!Race
!Pop 2010<ref>{{Cite web|title=P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Sebastian city, Florida|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Sebastian+city;+Florida+&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!Pop 2020<ref>{{Cite web|title=P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Sebastian city, Florida|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Sebastian+city;+Florida+&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!% 2010
!% 2020
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] (NH)
|18,695
|20,376
|85.25%
|81.33%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] (NH)
|1,120
|1,143
|5.11%
|4.56%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] (NH)
|42
|39
|0.19%
|0.16%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] (NH)
|252
|337
|1.15%
|1.35%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] or [[Native Hawaiian]] (NH)
|5
|5
|0.02%
|0.02%
|-
|[[Other races (U.S. Census)|Some other race]] (NH)
|30
|71
|0.14%
|0.28%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Two or more races/Multiracial]] (NH)
|260
|854
|1.19%
|3.41%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|1,525
|2,229
|6.95%
|8.90%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''21,929'''
|'''25,054'''
|
|
|-
|}

As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 25,054 people, 10,684 households, and 6,691 families residing in the city.<ref>{{Cite web|title=S1101 HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES - 2020: Sebastian city, Florida|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Sebastian+city;+Florida+&tid=ACSST5Y2020.S1101|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>

In 2020, 14.4% of the population were people under the age of 18, and 35.5% were people over the age of 65. The average household size was 2.39. 51.6% of the population were female and 48.4% male.<ref name=QFseb>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/sebastiancityflorida/PST045221| title = United States Census |access-date=14 July 2022}}</ref>

In 2020, the [[median household income]] for the city was $54,986 in 2020, and the [[per capita income]] was $32,400. About 10.6% of the population were below the [[poverty line]].<ref name=QFseb/>

As of the [[2010 United States census]], there were 21,929 people, 9,114 households, and 6,319 families residing in the city.<ref>{{Cite web|title=S1101 HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES - 2010: Sebastian city, Florida|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Sebastian+city;+Florida+&tid=ACSST5Y2010.S1101|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>

==Government==
The Government of the City of Sebastian follows a [[council-manager government]] model with a five-member city council as the elected governing body and a city manager as the chief operating officer. Members of the city council serve two-year terms with staggered elections.

==Public safety==
===Fire Rescue===
Indian River County Fire-Rescue provides fire protection and emergency medical services to the citizens of Sebastian.  There are two fire stations assigned to the city:

* Station 8: Engine 8, Rescue 8, Battalion 1.
* Station 9: Quint 9, Rescue 9.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ircgov.com/emergencyservices/firerescue/|title=Fire Rescue Division |website=Indian River County| access-date=2 July 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://ircgov.com/emergencyservices/ORGCHART.pdf| title=Indian River County Emergency Services Org Chart|website=Indian River County| access-date=2 July 2022}}</ref>

===Police Department===
The Sebastian Police Department provides police protection for the city. It operates from the municipal complex, and has an authorized strength of approximately 48 sworn officers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://policescorecard.org/fl/police-department/sebastian|title=Police Scorecard: Sebastian, FL|website=Police Scorecard: Sebastian, FL}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cityofsebastian.org/DocumentCenter/View/2671/FY25-DRAFT-Budget-Dated-090924?bidId=| title= Sebastian Annual Budget}}</ref>

==Education==
The [[School District of Indian River County]] operates public schools.

There are three elementary schools (Sebastian Elementary,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ses.indianriverschools.org/| title=Sebastian Elementary School|access-date=14 July 2022}}</ref> Pelican Island Elementary<ref>{{cite web|url=https://pie.indianriverschools.org/|title=Pelican Island Elementary School|access-date=15 July 2022}}</ref> and Treasure Coast Elementary,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tce.indianriverschools.org//|title=Treasure Coast Elementary School|access-date=15 July 2022}}</ref>) two middle schools (Sebastian River Middle School<ref>{{cite web|url=https://srms.indianriverschools.org///|title=Sebastian River Middle School|access-date=15 July 2022}}</ref> and Sebastian Charter Junior High) and one high school ([[Sebastian River High School]]) in the city.

Located to the west of the city center on County Road 512, the North County Public Library is part of the Indian River County Library System.

==Transportation==
The [[GoLine]] Bus system operates buses out of the North County Transit Hub at 90th Avenue & Sebastian Blvd to various parts of Indian River County.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.seniorresourceassociation.org/services/transportation/|title=Goline Transportation|access-date=15 July 2022}}</ref>

==Notable people==
<!-- Arlo Guthrie does not live in Sebastian. He lives in Roseland, an unincorporated area in the county, just outside of Sebastian. -->
* [[Bryan Augenstein]], [[pitcher]] in [[Major League Baseball]] in 2009 and 2011; born in Sebastian<ref>{{cite web|url= http://mlb.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=446248|title= Bryan Augenstein|work= MLB.com |access-date= September 19, 2012}}</ref>
* [[Jim Gary]], American sculptor, was born in Sebastian 
* [[Arlo Guthrie]], American folk singer-songwriter
* [[Paul Kroegel]], American conservationist

== See also ==
* [[Ais people]]
* [[Alvaro Mexia]]
* [[Andrew Canova]]
* [[Bartram Trail]]
* [[Robert A. Hardee]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [http://www.cityofsebastian.org/ City of Sebastian Florida] Portal style website, Government, Business, Library, Recreation and more
* [http://www.city-data.com/city/Sebastian-Florida.html City-Data.com] Comprehensive Statistical Data and more about Sebastian
* [http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/genInfo.php?locIndex=8911 ePodunk]
* ''[https://www.sebastiandaily.com/ Sebastian Daily]''

{{Indian River County, Florida}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1924 establishments in Florida]]
[[Category:Cities in Brevard County, Florida]]
[[Category:Cities in Florida]]
[[Category:Cities in Indian River County, Florida]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1924]]
[[Category:Populated places on the Intracoastal Waterway in Florida]]