Cape Canaveral, Florida

Template:Short description Template:About Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox settlement

Cape Canaveral is a city in Brevard County, Florida. It is part of the Palm Bay–Melbourne–Titusville Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 9,912 at the 2020 US census.

History

Template:Further After the establishment of a lighthouse in 1848,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> a few families moved into the area and a small but stable settlement was born. As the threat of Seminole Indian attacks became increasingly unlikely, other settlers began to move into the area around the Indian River. Post offices and small community stores with postal facilities were established at Canaveral, Canaveral Harbor and Artesia. It is thought the Artesia post office was so named for the ground water of artesian springs that are prevalent in the area.

In 1890, a group of alumni from Harvard University students established a hunters gun club called the Canaveral Harvard Club with a holding of over Template:Convert. Their game hunts helped clear the wilderness for other settlers to move into the area.<ref name="Text">Template:Cite book</ref>

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.<ref name="Text" /> A wooden bridge linking Merritt Island with the area had just been constructed. The developers anticipated a growing number of seasonal visitors.Template:Citation needed

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.Template:Citation needed

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.

In the 1930s, archaeologists from Yale University surveyed various Native American sites in the area.Template:Citation needed

In 1951, anthropologist Irvine Rouse of Yale University visited the area and performed research.<ref name="RiverArchaeology">Template:Cite book</ref>

By 1958, the workforce and the economy had grown with the space exploration program. At that time, state statute allowed an adjacent city to annex an unincorporated area without a vote of the residents. Local property owners were concerned that Cocoa Beach might annex them. Landowners felt that Cocoa Beach had more city debt and higher land taxes than they wished to support.<ref>City History City of Cape Canaveral - Official Site. Retrieved on 2009-06-25.</ref>

The City of Cape Canaveral started in 1961, when a committee was formed to incorporate.<ref name="Text" /> Due to paperwork delays the city charter was made into bill 167 and approved by the Florida State Legislature in Tallahassee on May 16, 1963.<ref name="TheHistoryCC">Template:Cite book</ref>

In 1967, the annual Sun and Space Festival was started. It had flyovers and a parade that included a stop at the newly opened Museum of Sunken Treasure.<ref name="Text" /> This contained artifacts from the 1715 Treasure Fleet.<ref>The Treasure of Cape Canaveral published in Indian River Journal by Brevard Historical Commission</ref>

An annual celebration was started on October 9, 1990, The Patriot's Day Parade in honor of the last naval battle of the American Revolution that was fought off the Cape Canaveral coast in 1783.<ref name="Text" />

In 2000, The Washington Post reported that the city's divorce rate was the highest in the country, 22%. It was the same rate in 2018.<ref name=ft180528>Template:Cite news</ref>

At a Heritage Day event in March 2013 part of the festivities for the city's 50th anniversary included author Jay Barbree who delivered an oral history of the early days. On the 50th anniversary date of May 16, 2013, a 50-year time capsule was sealed and a pictorial postmark of the city's anniversary was stamped.

In 2017, the city won "Most Fit City" in the Mayor's Fitness Challenge, hosted by Health First.<ref name="Fitness">Template:Cite web</ref>

Geography

The city of Cape Canaveral is located on a barrier island on the Atlantic coast of Florida. It is due south of the geographical feature Cape Canaveral. It is separated from the mainland by the Banana River, Merritt Island and the Indian River from east to west.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of Template:Convert. Template:Convert of it is land and Template:Convert of it (0.85%) is water.

Climate

Cape Canaveral has a humid subtropical climate (Cfa in the Köppen climate classification). It has hot wet summers, and warm winters with moderate rainfall. In late summer and fall tropical cyclones can brush the area. On August 20, 2008, Tropical Storm Fay dropped Template:Convert of rain.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Template:Weather box

Demographics

Template:US Census population

2010 and 2020 census

**Cape Canaveral racial composition**
(Hispanics excluded from racial categories)
(*NH = Non-Hispanic*)
Race	Pop 2010<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	Pop 2020<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	% 2010	% 2020
White (NH)	8,766	8,475	88.44%	84.99%
Black or African American (NH)	221	217	2.23%	2.18%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH)	27	43	0.27%	0.43%
Asian (NH)	179	155	1.81%	1.55%
Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian (NH)	7	6	0.07%	0.06%
Some other race (NH)	14	51	0.14%	0.51%
Two or more races/Multiracial (NH)	136	391	1.37%	3.92%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	562	634	5.67%	6.36%
Total	9,912	9,972	100.00%	100.00%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 9,972 people, 5,951 households, and 2,633 families residing in the city.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 9,912 people, 5,431 households, and 2,684 families residing in the city.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

2000 census

As of the census<ref name="GR2">Template:Cite web</ref> of 2000, there were 8,829 people, 5,066 households, and 2,097 families residing in the city. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 6,641 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. 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.

In 2000, 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 2000, 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.

In 2000, 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.

Economy

Cape Canaveral has a cross section of both single family and multifamily residences. A number of hotels and time shares are located in the area. Many residents work in the service industry, engineering firms, and at the Kennedy Space Center to the north.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

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%.<ref name="edc">Cape Canaveral Community Data Sheet Template:Dead link Economic Development Council of Florida's Space Coast. Retrieved on 2009-06-25.</ref>

Housing

In 2008, no building permits were issued. This was down from five permits for six units in 2007, which was down from 19 permits for 42 units in 2006.<ref>Building Permits Template:Webarchive United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2009-06-25.</ref>

The median home price in 2007 was $215,000.<ref name="edc" />

Tourism

Tourism plays a major role in the economy as in any Florida beachside community. The largest hotel in Brevard County is located in the city. It has 284 rooms and Template:Convert of meeting space.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Government

Cape Canaveral is run by a council–manager government. The City Council consists of five members, including the mayor. All seats on the City Council are filled by nonpartisan election as outlined in the City Charter.<ref>Elected Officials City of Cape Canaveral official website. Retrieved on 2009-06-25.</ref> The City Manager is an appointed position that acts as the city's administrative leader and carries out the council's acts and directives.<ref>City Manager City of Cape Canaveral - Official Site. Retrieved on 2009-06-25.</ref>

Mayor – Wes Morrison<ref name="Council">Template:Cite web</ref>
Mayor Pro Tem – Mickie Kellum
Council Member – Kim Davis
Council Member – Kay Jackson
Council Member – Don Willis
City Manager (appointed) – Todd Morley<ref name="Man">Template:Cite web</ref>
City Clerk (appointed) – Mia Goforth<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2007, the city had a taxable real estate base of $1.46 billion.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

In 2009–2010, the city paid $833,100 for solid waste disposal. This was furnished at a cost from $4.95 to $7.38 monthly per residence.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Federally, Cape Canaveral is part of Florida's 8th congressional district, represented by Republican Bill Posey, elected in 2008.

Past Mayors

Raymond Jamieson, March 1962 – June 1963<ref name="Past Mayors">Template:Cite web</ref>
Richard Thurm, June 1963 – June 1970<ref name="Past Mayors"/>
Leo Nicholas, June 1970 – June 1971<ref name="Past Mayors"/>
George Firkins Jr., June 1971 – June 1973<ref name="Past Mayors"/>
Franklyn Maclay, June 1973 – June 1976<ref name="Past Mayors"/>
Leo Nicholas, June 1976 – November 1977<ref name="Past Mayors"/>
Ann Thurm, November 1977 – June 1979<ref name="Past Mayors"/>
Johnson Murphy Jr., June 1979 – November 1982<ref name="Past Mayors"/>
Wayne Rutherford, November 1982 – November 1985<ref name="Past Mayors"/>
Patrick Lee, November 1985 – November 1988<ref name="Past Mayors"/>
Joy Salamone, November 1988 – November 1994<ref name="Past Mayors"/>
John Porter, November 1994 – November 1997<ref name="Past Mayors"/>
Rocky Randels, November 1997 – November 2015<ref name="Past Mayors"/>
Bob Hoog, November 2015 – November 2021<ref name="Past Mayors"/>
Wes Morrison, November 2021 – Present<ref name="Council"/>

Infrastructure

Transportation

The primary transportation is by road.

File:Florida A1A.svg SR A1A, known officially as Astronaut Boulevard in the central and northern parts of the town and Atlantic Avenue in the southern parts, is the main road, running north–south within the city. Major intersections include George King Boulevard (diamond interchange), Central Boulevard, and Atlantic Avenue.
File:Florida 528.svg SR 528 is a controlled-access highway that connects the city with the mainland. It is concurrent with SR A1A until George King Boulevard, where SR 528 then ends, and SR A1A becomes a normal surface road.

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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Water

Residents obtain potable water from the city of Cocoa. A single potable water line from Cocoa runs under the Sykes Creek Bridge at Sea Ray Drive.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Notable people

Allison Anders, raised in the city, filmed Things Behind the Sun in Brevard County in 2001
Mills O. Burnham, member of the Florida House of Representatives. Moved here in 1853 and was keeper of the Cape Canaveral Light for 30 years<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
Enrico Pucci, achieved heaven in this city, expanding his fullest potential from his stand "C-Moon" to "Made in Heaven", in the popular japanese anime series - Jojo's Bizarre adventure.