Vero Beach

Home Sweet Home

"A small town with a cozy atmosphere and big-city amenities." That's how the Realtors Association of Indian River County, describes Vero Beach. There is something for every buyer's taste and budget--apartments in a retirement condominium, a three-bedroom, two-bathroom, two-car garage home at $75,000, a five-acre mini-estate with horse barn and stocked fishpond in the $150,000 range or an oceanfront estate in a gated community.

Typically, about 1,250 single-family houses are listed in the Multiple Listing System (MLS). The average sales price is around $137,500. This figure is heavily affected by the sale of homes on the barrier island (the strip of land between the Intracoastal Waterway and the Atlantic Ocean). One-third of all listings and one-fifth of all sales come from the barrier island, where the average sale price is about $350,000.

Most condominiums are located on the barrier island. They constitute about half of the market here. Average price is about $175,000 in a range that runs from $40,000 for a small efficiency unit to $1 million for a spacious, three-bedroom condominium home located on the ocean and within a gated community.

Vital Stats

(Indian River County is not in a Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). Statistics are for the entire county.)
Population: 99,155
Median age: 46.7
New citizens: 2,160 annually
New job creation: N/A
Unemployment rate: 11 percent in August, 1999
Cost of living: 100.05 percent
Per capita income: $34,374
Median household income: $33,667

Rain & Shine

Indian River County is "where the tropics begin," and the weather lives up to the slogan with an average annual temperature of 73 degrees Fahrenheit. In winter the average temperature is 65.8 degrees; in summer it is 80.7. In January the average temperature is 53.3; in July it's 81.6. Annual rainfall is 57.3 inches, but 32 of those inches fall between June and October, which is the rainy season. Afternoon rain and a pleasant breeze off the Atlantic Ocean moderate the summer heat. Most of the year, sunny skies and pleasant temperatures prevail.

Job Market

Major economic engines include agriculture/citrus, tourism and light industry. Four of the top 15 employers in the county are involved in the citrus industry. At the height of the season, nearly 2,800 workers help bring to market the products from Indian River's citrus acreage. Some agricultural (327,000 acres, including citrus groves) and citrus industry jobs are seasonal, and so is unemployment, which ranges from about 7 percent during the winter season to nearly 14 percent in mid-summer. The world-famous citrus crop notwithstanding, more than 30 percent of the county's workers provide services; another 23 percent work in retail occupations. The biggest employers include: Indian River County School Board (2,127), county government (1,361), Indian River Memorial Hospital (1,350), Sun Agriculture Inc. (800 at the height of the season), Publix Corporation (750), City of Vero Beach (597), Gracewood Fruit Co. (465), Hale/Kennedy Groves (450 at the height of the season), Graves Brothers, Inc. (450 at the height of the season), Dodgertown Complex (450 during spring training). The New Piper Aircraft Corp., Johns Island (resort), Sebastian River Medical Center, Wal-Mart and Winn-Dixie also employ numerous workers.

Class Notes

Extensive information about the schools in this area is online at the state's Department of Education (http://www.firn.edu/doe/doehome.htm). There you'll discover everything you'll need to know about Florida schools -- in general and in particular. All you need is the name of your county and the names of the schools students from your neighborhood attend.

Use links from the DOE home page for general information about entrance requirements, immunizations and so forth.

For the nitty-gritty details that really matter, click on the logo for the "Florida School Indicators Report."

Getting Around

The Vero Beach Municipal Airport may be small, but it's special. It beat out more than 80 other Florida aviation facilities to be named the General Aviation Airport of the Year for 1995. Approximately 250 planes, including a fleet of 100 used for pilot training, are based here. (Sebastian maintains a smaller municipal airport restricted to use by light private aircraft.) A commuter plane charters flights to Key West and other popular Florida destinations. International airports are about an hour-and-a-half to two hours away in various directions: Orlando's to the northwest, Daytona Beach's to the north, Palm Beach to the south. Closer, the Melbourne International Airport in southern Brevard County is only 30 minutes north via I-95.

No deep-water ports exist in the county, but they are available in St. Lucie County, 14 miles to the south, or in Port Canaveral, about 65 miles north in neighboring Brevard County. Freight comes by truck or by Florida East Coast Railway. Interstate 95 runs north and south through the county. State Road 60 links Vero Beach to I-95. Route 512 travels through pasture lands and citrus groves on its way from I-95 into Sebastian in north Indian River County. Along the coast, U.S. Highway 1 runs north and south between the cities. The Florida Turnpike, which moves toll-paying traffic efficiently from Interstate-75 in mid-Florida through Orlando and on to Miami, is also accessible not far to the west of Vero Beach. Residents rely on their automobiles to get around the area.

Public transportation is provided by The Community Coach, which offers an excellent route with many stops between shopping hubs and other key locations in both the south and north areas of the county.

Great Outdoors

Much of Indian River County's high quality of life is traceable to its beautiful beaches, plentiful parks and wildlife areas. The Atlantic Ocean, Indian River lagoon and the Sebastian River meet in Sebastian Inlet State Park, a 738-acre gem at the north end of the county (and the south end of neighboring Brevard County). Famous for its surfing, the inlet park features fishing, swimming, boating, diving and water sports in abundance. Hiking, camping and picnicking activities are also encouraged. Yet the park is part of the larger Archie Carr Wildlife Refuge, so endangered sea turtles and numerous animal and bird species including manatees are not only sighted but also protected. Pelican Island, the first wildlife refuge in the United States, became a National Historic Landmark in 1963. It's off-limits to people but continues to attract birds to its mangrove island bastion in the Indian River southeast of Sebastian.

To appreciate numerous botanical delights, visit McKee Botanical Gardens, which preserves in an 18-acre parcel what was once an 80-acre Florida tourist attraction (McKee Jungle Gardens). Another ecological resource is the Environmental Learning Center on Wabasso Island, which contains 51 acres of marsh and uplands associated with the estuary. Daytime and evening courses and field trips are offered. Thirty-six rare or endangered species live among the many thousands of bird, animal and plant varieties within the center. It's possible to trek through three distinct ecosystems within this one small environmental and educational treasure. Kids learn by walking the boardwalk through a mangrove forest or following the native plant trail; they enjoy the butterfly garden and observe creatures large and small that inhabit the waters. Or they can sign up for classes like Tanks A Lot (home aquariums), It's a Jungle Out There (family biking on jungle trail) and Ask Dr. Bug (for families).

Good Sports

Divers discover beauties at reefs and ledges within easy swimming distance from shore, and both divers and snorkelers enjoy the waters of Indian River County. Surfing, boating and fishing are popular, with good reason, because the waves and the catches impress observers. Public and private tennis courts with surfaces of all types and a couple of dozen golf courses, some designed by famous links architects, challenge avid golfers. Canoeing, kayaking, hiking, jogging and biking are also popular outdoor activities. Polo your game? The Windsor Polo Club's two fields host local league play matches to benefit community organizations and tournaments.

Stuff To Do and A Little Culture

There are activities for everyone in Indian River County. If you're a birder, Indian River County has an incredibly diverse bird population--310 species--said to be the most varied anywhere in the United States. Ecotourism thrives because of the community's reverence for nature and the natural environment. The county boasts 10 garden clubs and organizations, a rather extraordinary number for a small community.

For the senior citizens there are unlimited activities. There's bridge, bingo, shuffleboard or table tennis -- not to mention line-dancing classes, chartered bus tours and ballroom dancing -- all offered by the Recreation Department. For the growing population of young professionals, there are softball teams to join, sports restaurants to take the whole family to and professional service clubs to network in.

Youngsters like the Environmental Learning Center and the Creative Playground on 17^th Avenue. Also well-attended are Easter egg hunts in the spring and children's art festivals in the fall. The Mashed Potato Players entertain area youth at schools, parks and libraries with their comedy routines, while the Agnes Wahlstrom Youth Playhouse presents a dozen productions annually.

There's no lack of culture in Indian River County. Vero Beach Choral Society and Vero Beach Opera Guild present concerts of high quality, as does the Community Church and other churches in the county.

For theater lovers, Riverside Theatre is a 633-seat theater that offers a full season of professional entertainment, including Broadway plays, musical groups, nationally known artists; plus Riverside 2 presents serious, off-Broadway-type productions and performances by local youth. Riverside Childrens Theatre provides productions for and by local children. The Vero Beach Theatre Guild presents theatrical productions throughout the year at its 312-seat theater on San Juan Avenue. The Guild, which is now celebrating its 40^th anniversary, offers community theater using local talent.

Local art galleries and the architecturally pleasing neo-classical Center for the Arts appeal to lovers of the visual and performing arts. More than 100,000 visitors annually enjoy exhibitions of international, national and regional importance. The center also presents films, lectures and seminars and operates the largest museum art school in Florida.

Area history finds many supporters at the Indian River Citrus Museum, the Heritage Center, the McLarty Museum (1715 shipwrecks offshore) and Mel Fisher's Treasure Museum. The annual Art Under the Oaks in the spring attracts crowds, while Summerfest, the early August festival held annually in Riverside Park, brings local and regional artists and craftsmen to display their wares. Art galleries are located on the beachside and in the downtown area, the latter holding a monthly Art Gallery Stroll for the public's enjoyment. In December, numerous Christmas events crowd the calendar, including Santa's Sail In, the annual Christmas House fund-raiser, the Old-Fashioned Christmas Celebration, which highlights the arts, and the Vero Beach Christmas Boat Parade.

Shop 'til You Drop

Small specialty shops and boutiques dot beachside locations. Buyers and browsers can visit the Village Shops in Indian River Shores. Downtown Vero Beach revitalized its 14^th Street downtown district, making it a pleasant place to shop and stroll. Along Route 69 (east/west) and U.S. Highway 1 (north/south) you'll find great shopping. The new Indian River Mall led the way to expansion on Route 60, resulting in super stores of all kinds to fit every need. Bargain hunters love the 87 brand-name stores that are part of the Horizon Outlet shops at the I-95 interchange. Other major shopping venues include Miracle Mile Plaza, Treasure Coast Plaza, Indian River Plaza and Indian River Commons.

Nightlife and Dining Out

Yearn for a place to live it up? Music and dancing are alive in the downtown area at Bombay Louie's, Brewhahas and Espresso Alley, while out west the Atlantic Grille and The Surf offer a sports-bar atmosphere plus food, music and dancing. The beach bops to live music at Riverside Café, The Menu, Waldo's and the Holiday Inn Oceanside. Entertainment for the whole family can be found at Downtown Friday, a street dance held once a month to bring focus on the downtown area. Also, Sunset Saturday is held monthly on Ocean Drive to attract residents and tourists to the beach area. Both events offer food, live entertainment and an opportunity to see "everyone you know."

In Sebastian, sample Captain Hiram's -- with entertainment nightly in season and weekends year-round -- or Hurricane Harbor -- featuring live entertainment most nights and a Dixieland band on Sundays. A few miles north of the Sebastian Inlet, great blues, rock 'n' roll and jazz artists can be enjoyed at Sebastian Beach Inn on weekend nights, plus you can join the fun at their Sunday afternoon reggae parties on the deck overlooking the ocean.

There's an abundance of great restaurants in Indian River County offering food for all tastes. In Vero Beach there's the historic Ocean Grill, the Black Pearl, Tangos, Café du Soir, The Gazebo, Chez Yannick, Monte's, The Patio and Guytano's. In the Sebastian area, there's Captain Hiram's, Hurricane Harbor and The Windjammer on Indian River Drive. Farther north on A1A, you can visit Disney's Vero Beach Resort and sample food at either Sonya's Restaurant or Shutter's Restaurant.

College Scene

Several campuses associated with Florida's two-year community college system are readily available to residents of Indian River County. Although the main campus of Indian River Community College (IRCC) is in Fort Pierce (in St. Lucie County), some of its seven locations are in Indian River County. In 1995, more than 6,000 Indian River County residents enrolled in the system for at least one class. At the Mueller Center, many courses are geared to adult learners; they're offered days, evenings and weekends. Computer classes via IRCC meet at the new Sebastian River High School. Numerous telecourses are also easily accessible. IRCC's award-winning Tech Prep program works with four county school boards in the region. And two of Brevard Community College's five locations are not far from Sebastian in Palm Bay and Melbourne. Traditional-age students and adult learners make good use of these community educational resources--and also of the extensive out-of-class learning system called the Indian River Education Network (I.R.E.N.E.). Residents can connect to this community telecomputing network and the Internet by reading the access agreement, providing identification and paying a one-time registration fee of $10.

Just for Seniors

Activities abound for seniors: dance classes, art lessons, musical affairs, sporting events and plenty of bridge games -- not to mention birding and gardening, fishing and golfing. For special social activities, senior centers operate in both Sebastian and Vero Beach. Lots of 60-plus people volunteer for United Way of Indian River County or get involved in projects of the Volunteer Action Center. A substantial senior-to-senior volunteer program is also in place: Telephone reassurance and various RSVP projects assist the elderly who need help and involve other seniors in providing that assistance. The Elder Helpline is 561/569-8555. Use it for information regarding services, including personal care, homemaker services, Alzheimer's respite care, meals on wheels and adult day care provided or administered by the Indian River County Council on Aging (561/569-0760). Additional services are available from for-profit providers of medically equipped transport and other healthcare services.