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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. It is part of the Palm Bay–Melbourne–Titusville
Metropolitan Statistical Area.
The city of Cape Canaveral is located at the northern tip
of a barrier island on the Atlantic coast of Florida. It is
due south of the geographical feature Cape Canaveral (known
as Cape Kennedy from 1963 to 1973). It is separated from the
mainland by the Banana River, Merritt Island and the Indian
River from east to west. Port Canaveral is an important port
for cruise liners, which take on passengers here for cruises
to the Caribbean.
Cape Canaveral is located at 28°23'18?N 80°36'13?W?
/ ?28.388382°N 80.603498°W? / 28.388382; -80.603498.[6]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has
a total area of 6.1 km² (2.3 mi²). 6.0 km²
(2.3 mi²) of it is land and 0.1 km² (0.04 mi²)
of it (0.85%) is water.
History
In the early 1920s, a group of Orlando journalists invested
more than $150,000 in the beach acreage that now encompasses
the area of presidentialy-named streets in Cape Canaveral.
They called their development Journalista (now Avon-by-the-Sea)
in honor of their trade. This seasonal retreat for inland
residents was anticipated to become as popular a resort area
as Cocoa Beach to the south, due to the construction of wooden
bridge connecting Merritt Island to the area.
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. They owned acreage named Artesia that occupied
the area that is now Port Canaveral.
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 wand used the remaining
$4,500 to purchase much of the Avon area. It was their dream
that a port would be developed and a direct route to Orlando
would be constructed.
By 1958 the area had grown with the Space Program. At that
time, an adjacent city could annex an unincorporated area
without a vote of the residents, so property owners were discussing
the feasibility of forming a new city to prevent possible
annexation by the City of Cocoa Beach. Landowners were asked
for their opinion on this matter, and, due to substantial
city debt and land taxes, most residents preferred not to
become part of Cocoa Beach. So it was decided that the time
was right to pursue incorporation and create a city of their
own.
Government
Cape Canaveral is run by a Council-Manager government. The
City Council consists of 5 members, including the Mayor. All
seats on the City Council are filled by nonpartisan election
as outlined in the City Charter. The City Manager is an appointed
position that acts as the city's administrative leader and
carries out the council's acts and directives.
In 2007, the city had a taxable real estate base of $1.46
billion.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 8,829 people, 5,066
households, and 2,097 families residing in the city. The population
density was 1,463.0/km² (3,788.0/mi²). There were
6,641 housing units at an average density of 1,100.5/km²
(2,849.3/mi²). 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.
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 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.
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 is mostly residential. Many people work at
NASA on the space shuttle to the north but a great number
of people work in service industry.[citation needed]
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%.
Housing
In 2008, no building permits were issued. This was down from
5 permits for 6 units in 2007, which was down from 19 permits
for 42 units in 2006.
The median home price in 2007 was $215,000.
Transportation
The primary transportation is by road.
Florida A1A.svg SR A1A is the major road, running north-south
within the city.
Florida 528.svg To the north of Cape Canaveral, SR 528 heads
east, connecting the city to Merritt Island, the mainland,
and Orlando.
Florida 520.svg To the south of Cape Canaveral, SR 520 provides
a similar eastward route, but while 528 is an freeway, 520
has many stop lights and intersections.
A group of east-west roads are named for Presidents starting
with Washington in the north of town to Harding in the south
and skipping redundant last named presidencies of the second
Adams and the second Harrison.[13]
Public transportation is provided by Space Coast Area Transit.
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, Florida.
Port Canaveral serves the region as a world-class deep-water
cargo and cruise port. |