Vero Beach, Florida

Vero Beach is a city in and the county seat of Indian River County, Florida, United States. According to the 2020 census, the city had a population of 16,354. Nicknamed "The Hibiscus City", Vero is situated about southeast of Orlando along the Indian River Lagoon and the Atlantic Ocean on Florida's Treasure Coast. The main roadways in the city are U.S. Route 1, Florida State Road A1A, and Florida State Road 60 (20th Street), which has its eastern terminus at Sexton Plaza in the city.

History

Pre-Columbian

Parts of a human skeleton were found north of Vero in association with the remains of Pleistocene animals in 1915. The find was controversial, and the view that the human remains dated from much later than the Pleistocene prevailed for many years. In 2006, an image of a mastodon or mammoth carved on a bone was found in vicinity of the Vero man discovery. A scientific forensic examination of the bone found the carving had probably been done in the Pleistocene. Archaeologists from Mercyhurst University, in conjunction with the Old Vero Ice Age Sites Committee (OVIASC), conducted excavations at the Old Vero Man site in Vero Beach in 2014–2015. Starting in 2016, archaeologists from Florida Atlantic University joined the Old Vero Man site excavations.

Post-Columbian

In 1715, a Spanish treasure fleet wrecked off the coast of Vero. Eleven out of twelve Spanish ships carrying tonnes of silver foundered in a hurricane. The remains of the silver attracted pirates. A group of 300 unemployed English privateers led by Henry Jennings stole about £87,500 in gold and silver in their first acts of piracy. The coins still wash to the shore to this day.

In 1872, Captain Allen W. Estes officially established the first land patent between the Atlantic Ocean and the Indian River Lagoon, after settling in the area in 1870.

In 1893, Henry Flagler's Florida East Coast Railway began operation through the area. with a population of 71 residents.

Vero was switched from being part of St. Lucie County to being designated the county seat of the newly-formed Indian River County on May 19, 1925 and was officially renamed "Vero Beach". thumb|left|Vero Beach, 1932 There are many theories on possible origin of the city name, but there's no consensus.

During the war year of 1942, the U.S. Navy selected surrounding the Vero Beach Municipal Airport as the site of Fort Pierce Naval Amphibious Training Base, a Naval Air Station. Due to the bombing practices conducted during the WWII, there are many buried explosives and the Army Corps officials have conducted ongoing search & clearing exercises for the potentially dangerous items since 2014.

left|thumb|249x249px|Merrill P. Barber Bridge in 2023

In 1951, Barber Bridge was built from mainland to barrier islands. It was later demolished and replaced in 1995 with the Merrill P. Barber Bridge. It is named after Merrill P. Barber who was the mayor of Vero beach in 1947.

In 1957, Piper Aircraft began research and development in Vero Beach. In 1961 Piper Aircraft moved administrative and manufacturing operations to Vero after completing building additions.

In 1965, the A1A bridge over the Sebastian Inlet connected the two barrier islands. In 1979, the 17th Street Bridge was completed, allowing a second point of access from Vero Beach mainland to the barrier islands.

Geography

thumb|Vero Beach FL Treasure Hammock Ranch Farmstead02

Like much of Florida, Vero Beach is mostly flat, stretching from the beach and running inland. The average elevation of the city is 23 feet above sea level.

The exact coordinates for the city of Vero Beach are

Climate

Under the Köppen climate classification, Vero Beach has a humid subtropical climate, bordering very closely on a tropical monsoon climate, with hot and humid summers and warm, drier winters. Nevertheless, the city experiences a significant amount of rainfall, even during the month with historically low precipitation levels. Vero Beach experiences tropical storms and hurricanes, and its hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30.

Economy

Industry

Vero Beach is home to general aviation manufacturer Piper Aircraft, which is the largest private employer in Indian River County. As of July 2015, Piper employed approximately 750 people. Aside from Piper, the bulk of commercial activity in Vero Beach centers around tourism, the citrus industry, and service activities. Vero Beach's citrus industry has been negatively affected in recent years by citrus greening disease.

Retail

There are two shopping malls: the Indian River Mall, and the Vero Beach Outlets just west of I-95 on State Road 60.

There are small specialty shops along Ocean Drive on the barrier island. There are also a set of shops directly inland in what is called "Miracle Mile". The Historic Downtown is a newly revitalized area of shopping, dining, antique stores, and art galleries.

Tourism

Beaches

The beaches in Vero Beach are part of Florida's Treasure Coast. Vero's three main public beaches are South Beach, accessible at the eastern end of Florida State Road 656 at the eastern end of 17th Street; Humiston Park, in Vero's Central Beach Business District on Ocean Drive and Jaycee Park which is adjacent to Conn Beach.

There are of oceanfront shore in Indian River County.

Vero Beach also has other free public access trails and walkways with beach access, such as Riomar Beach, Sea Cove, Sea Grape Trail, Sexton Plaza, and Turtle Trail.

Parks

There are several public parks in Vero Beach, including Humiston Beach Park, Riverside Park, Jaycee Beach Park, Veterans' Island Memorial Sanctuary, and Pocahontas Park.

Water recreation in the Indian River Lagoon

The Indian River Lagoon, passing through Vero Beach, forms a significant portion of the Intracoastal Waterway, and is a hub for boating, fishing, water skiing, diving, kayaking, and other small-craft waterborne activities.

Resorts

Disney's Vero Beach Resort is officially located in Wabasso Beach, a small town north of Vero Beach. Costa d'Este Beach Resort & Spa, owned by Gloria and Emilio Estefan, is located on Ocean Drive. , the city hosts 14 private golf clubs.

Historic Dodgertown

thumb|Vero Beach had been the [[spring training home of the Los Angeles Dodgers since 1948. The Dodgers left Vero Beach in 2008 for Glendale, AZ.]]

Vero Beach is home to Historic Dodgertown, which initially started operations during World War II as a U.S. Naval Air Station, and later served as the spring training facility of the Brooklyn Dodgers and successor Los Angeles Dodgers baseball teams, until 2008. After the team's departure for a new Spring home in Arizona in 2008, it has served as a year-round multi-purpose facility for athletes of all ages. As of January 2, 2019, MLB has assumed control of the historic facilities with plans to expand the complex and rename it The Jackie Robinson Training Complex. This is to honor both the late Jackie Robinson and the site's history as the first racially integrated spring training center in the American South.

National Register of Historic Places

thumb|Vero Railroad Station

thumb|McKee Jungle Gardens

Driftwood Inn
Hallstrom House
Old Indian River County Courthouse
Judge Henry F. Gregory House
Maher Building
McKee Jungle Gardens
Old Palmetto Hotel
Pueblo Arcade
Royal Park Arcade
Theodore Hausmann Estate
Old Vero Beach Community Building
Vero Beach Diesel Power Plant
Vero Beach Woman's Club
Vero Railroad Station
Vero Theatre
Osceola Park Historic Residential District
Ryburn Apartments
Treasure Hammock Ranch Farmstead

Demographics

Racial and ethnic composition

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"

|+Vero Beach city, Florida – Racial and ethnic composition

!Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)

!Pop 2000

!Pop 2010

!style="background-color: #ffffb3;" |Pop 2020

!% 2000

!% 2010

!style="background-color: #ffffb3;" |% 2020

|White alone (NH)

|15,695

|12,394

|style='background: #ffffe6; |12,741

|88.65%

|81.43%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |77.91%

|Black or African American alone (NH)

|581

|676

|style='background: #ffffe6; |681

|3.28%

|4.44%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |4.16%

|Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)

|34

|26

|style='background: #ffffe6; |32

|0.19%

|0.17%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.20%

|Asian alone (NH)

|213

|279

|style='background: #ffffe6; |360

|1.20%

|1.83%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |2.20%

|Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)

|14

|style='background: #ffffe6; |7

|0.02%

|0.09%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.04%

|Other race alone (NH)

|20

|17

|style='background: #ffffe6; |88

|0.11%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.54%

|Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)

|133

|180

|style='background: #ffffe6; |508

|0.75%

|1.18%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |3.11%

|Hispanic or Latino (any race)

|1,025

|1,634

|style='background: #ffffe6; |1,937

|5.79%

|10.74%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |11.84%

|Total

|17,705

|15,220

|style='background: #ffffe6; |16,354

|100.00%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |100.00%

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Vero Beach had a population of 16,354. The median age was 55.6 years. 13.2% of residents were under the age of 18 and 33.8% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females, there were 93.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.7 males age 18 and over.

100.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.0% lived in rural areas.

There were 8,165 households in Vero Beach, of which 16.4% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 39.2% were married-couple households, 22.2% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 31.8% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 39.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 21.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

2024 estimate

As of July 2024, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated the population to be 17,556.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 15,220 people residing in the city.

In 2010, there were 7,505 households, out of which 16.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.2% were married couples living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 47.4% were non-families. 19.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older, with 4.8% being 85 years and older. The average household size was 2.01 and the average family size was 2.65.

Transportation

Air

Vero Beach Regional Airport is a public airport one mile northwest of Vero Beach, offering commercial jet service by Breeze Airways since February 2023. Additional commercial service was added by JetBlue in December 2025 and by American Airlines in February 2026.

Bus

Vero Beach is served by GoLine Bus routes. The permanent location for the main transit hub for GoLine is located in Vero Beach.

Rail

The Florida East Coast Railway (FEC) mainline bisects Vero Beach, with an active team track in town serving two off-line lumber/building products customers, who receive boxcars, flatcars and gondolas. The Vero Railroad Station served the transportation needs of the community and its surrounding agricultural area for almost 65 years from 1903 to 1968. It now serves as a county historical exhibit center. As of September 2023, Brightline began a nonstop route between Miami and Orlando on the FEC, passing through Vero Beach without stopping.

Government

The city government of Vero Beach follows a Council-manager model form of government

Police Department

The Vero Beach Police Department provides police protection for the city. Its headquarters is located at 1055 20th Street, Vero Beach, FL, and it is staffed with approximately 61 sworn officers.

Education

Public schools

The Indian River County School District operates the following public schools serving Vero Beach:

Vero Beach High School
Gifford Middle School
Oslo Middle School
Storm Grove Middle School
Beachland Elementary School
Citrus Elementary School
Dodgertown Elementary School
Glendale Elementary School
Indian River Academy (elementary)
Liberty Magnet School (elementary)
Osceola Magnet School (elementary)
Rosewood Magnet School (elementary)
Vero Beach Elementary School
Alternative Center for Education

Charter schools

Indian River Charter High School
Imagine South Vero
North County Charter Elementary
St. Peter's Academy

Private schools

Trinity Episcopal School; grades pre-K-3
Saint Edward's School. Independent College Preparatory in Episcopal School Tradition; grades pre-K–12
St. Helen Catholic School
Masters Academy; grades pre-K–12
Tabernacle Christian School; grades K–8
SunCoast School; grades pre-K–8

Colleges

Indian River State College – Mueller Campus
Treasure Coast Technical College

Notable people

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thumb|180px|[[Sandy Koufax]]

thumb|180px|[[Ivan Lendl]]

Fred Barnes, journalist, editor of The Weekly Standard and Fox News contributor
Lake Bell, actress, attended school in Vero Beach and her film I Do... Until I Don't is set there
Jade Cargill, professional wrestler signed to WWE and fitness model
Alex Cobb, pitcher for the Los Angeles Angels, attended Vero Beach High School
Gloria Estefan, singer, has a house and owns a hotel in Vero Beach
Tom Fadden, actor
Prince Fielder, former professional MLB baseball player
Mardy Fish, former professional tennis player and Olympic Silver medalist
Calvin Souther Fuller, inventor of the solar cell, died 1994
Horace Gifford, architect
David Alan Gore, serial killer
Carl Hiaasen, journalist, novelist, and author
Sandy Koufax, former MLB professional baseball player, member of the Baseball Hall of Fame
Ivan Lendl, former professional tennis player, member of the Tennis Hall of Fame
Richard Littlejohn, columnist for the Daily Mail, lives in Vero Beach
JT, hip hop artist and member of City Girls
Debbie Mayfield, Florida state senator
F. James McDonald, former president and chief operating officer of General Motors
Alison Mosshart, lead singer of The Kills and The Dead Weather
Mark Mulvoy, sports journalist and Sports Illustrated managing editor
Jake Owen, country music singer-songwriter, graduate of Vero Beach High School, 1999
Peter George Peterson, co-founder, Blackstone Group
Albert Reed, model, 2007 Dancing with the Stars competitor, actor, graduate of Vero Beach High School, 2003
Priscilla Renea, singer-songwriter signed to Capitol Records, debut album entitled "Jukebox" released in 2009
Norman Sas, inventor of Electric Football
Waldo E. Sexton, early settler and pioneer
Parvati Shallow, winner of Survivor: Micronesia, runner-up in Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains
Eric Smith, former professional football player for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League
Bryan Stork, former professional football player for the Washington Redskins of the NFL
Roscoe Tanner, former professional tennis player
Rick Wiles, Christian broadcaster and antisemitic conspiracy theorist