Cocoa, Florida facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Cocoa, Florida
City
City of Cocoa
Top: Cocoa welcome sign; Bottom: Cocoa City Hall
Seal
Location in Brevard County and the state of Florida
Country	United States of America
State	Florida
County	Brevard
Government
• Type	Council-Manager
Area
• Total	14.75 sq mi (38.21 km2)
• Land	13.73 sq mi (35.57 km2)
• Water	1.02 sq mi (2.64 km2)
Elevation	36 ft (11 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	19,041
• Density	1,386.51/sq mi (535.32/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Area code(s)	321
FIPS code	12-13150
GNIS feature ID	0280608

Cocoa is a city located in Brevard County, Florida. In 2020, about 19,041 people lived there. This was more than the 17,140 people counted in 2010. Cocoa is part of a larger group of cities called the Palm Bay–Melbourne–Titusville Metropolitan Statistical Area. This means it's connected to other nearby cities for things like jobs and services.

Exploring Cocoa's Past

How Cocoa Got Its Name

There are a few interesting stories about how Cocoa got its name. One story says that mail used to arrive by river boat. It was put in an empty tin box labeled "Baker's Cocoa." This box was nailed to a pole in the river near downtown.

Another story tells of an old hotel by the Indian River lagoon called "Cocoa House." A third story suggests an elderly woman living by the Indian River would give hot cocoa to sailors. When sailors came near her house, they would shout "Cocoa! Cocoa!" to let her know they were there.

Cocoa in the 1800s

In 1885, the S. F. Travis Hardware store opened. It is still open today! A big fire destroyed most of Cocoa's business area in 1890. But the city soon grew again when the Jacksonville, St. Augustine, and Indian River Railway came to Cocoa.

The city officially became a city on October 1, 1895. However, in the winter of 1894–1895, a very cold period called the "Great Freeze" damaged the citrus crops. Many citrus workers had to find new jobs. By 1903, Cocoa's population had dropped to 382 people.

Growing in the Early 1900s

Cocoa's population started to grow much faster in the 1910s. By 1911–1912, about 550 people lived there.

In October 1918, the mayor of Cocoa ordered all public places like schools, churches, and movie theaters to close. This was to help stop the spread of the Spanish flu.

By 1925, the population was estimated to be 1,800. Even during the Great Depression, the population kept growing, reaching 2,200 by 1930.

Cocoa After World War II

The number of people living in Cocoa grew a lot after the space industry started. The population went from 3,098 in 1940 to 12,244 in 1960. Cocoa also became a place for tourists. Thousands of visitors came to watch rocket launches from Cape Canaveral. By 1980, the population had reached 16,096.

For a long time, schools were separated based on race. But in the 1960s, this changed. Monroe High School and elementary schools for black students were closed.

In 1964, the Cocoa Expo Sports Center (also known as Cocoa Stadium) was built. It was used for spring baseball training by the Colt 45s team, which later became the Houston Astros. The Astros moved their training in 1985.

Clearlake Middle School closed in 2013. Its students moved to Cocoa High School, which then became a school for both junior and senior high students.

Cocoa's Location and Nature

Cocoa in 1933

Cocoa is located at 28°22′10″N 80°44′38″W / 28.369334°N 80.743779°W / 28.369334; -80.743779.

The city covers about 39.9 square kilometers (15.4 square miles). Most of this area, about 34.5 square kilometers (13.3 square miles), is land. The rest, about 5.4 square kilometers (2.1 square miles), is water. Cocoa is home to the highest point in Brevard County. This spot is about 11 meters (36 feet) above sea level.

Local Wildlife

Since 1950, the Cocoa Bird Count has happened every year. People count different types of birds in and around Cocoa. In 2010, they counted 150 different kinds of birds! Before this, there was an annual "Christmas Bird Count" that started in 1900.

Cocoa's Weather

People of Cocoa

Population Changes Over Time

In 2020, Cocoa had 19,041 people living in 8,062 households. About 4,550 of these were families.

In 2010, there were 17,140 people in 7,429 households, with 4,480 families.

Cocoa's Economy and Jobs

Medal of Honor recipient Emory Bennett's statue in Cocoa Riverfront Park

Money and Income

Based on 2020 information:

• The average household income was $45,011 per year.
• The average income per person was $26,831.
• About 13.0% of the population lived below the poverty line.

Main Industries

As of 2017, the biggest job areas in Cocoa were construction and retail (stores). Kel-Tec CNC Industries, located in Cocoa, was the third-largest maker of pistols in the United States in 2008. Cocoa has 1,381 registered businesses. These include small factories, stores, and offices. Cocoa is also home to one of the places where SpaceX Starship rockets are built.

Working in Cocoa

In 2017, 9,633 people had jobs in Cocoa. About 84% of these workers had finished high school or had more education.

Fun Things to Do in Cocoa

Aladdin Theater (also known as Cocoa Playhouse)

Many tourists visit the historic downtown area. People on cruises from Port Canaveral often come for day trips. Visitors also enjoy historic places and attractions like the Brevard Museum of History & Natural Science. You can also visit the Eastern Florida State College Planetarium and Observatory.

Other popular spots include Historic Cocoa Village, the Indian River Queen boat, and the Indian River Drive scenic road. The Aladdin Theater, Historic Porcher House, and Riverfront Park are also popular. Historic Cocoa Village has many shops and restaurants. The city hosts over 50 special events each year.

Cocoa Village: A Historic Spot

Historic Cocoa Post Office, now the home of the Florida Historical Society State Headquarters

The old downtown area is called Cocoa Village. It's located along Florida Avenue and stretches to Riverfront Park by the Indian River. Here you'll find shops and restaurants. It's surrounded by old buildings and the beautiful Cocoa Riverfront Park.

The Florida Historical Society has its main office in the historic Cocoa Post Office. This building was built in 1939. The area has been improved with money for public spaces and private investments. Cocoa Village is also home to the Historic Cocoa Village Playhouse, which was once called The Aladdin Theatre.

Porcher House in Cocoa Village

Learning in Cocoa

The city has several schools and colleges:

Higher education:

• Eastern Florida State College, Cocoa Campus
• University of Central Florida, Cocoa Campus

Public schools:

• Cambridge Elementary School
• Cocoa High School
• Endeavor Elementary Magnet School
• Saturn Elementary School

Private schools:

• Emma Jewel Charter Academy
• St. Marks Episcopal Academy

Getting Around Cocoa

The Hubert H. Humphrey Bridge spans the Indian River Lagoon, linking Cocoa with Merritt Island.

Main Roads

Most major roads in Cocoa have at least four lanes.

• US 1 – This is the main road going north and south through the city. It's also called Cocoa Boulevard.
• I-95 – This major highway has three exits in Cocoa: SR 520 (exit 201), SR 524 (exit 202), and SR 528 (exit 205).
• SR 501 – This is another north-south road, known as Clearlake Road.
• SR 520 – This is the main road going east and west through the city. About 25,000 vehicles use it every day through Cocoa Village. It connects to Merritt Island via the Merritt Island Causeway.

Train Travel

The Florida East Coast Railway runs through Cocoa. In the past, people could take trains like the City of Miami or the South Wind to Chicago. They could also take trains like the East Coast Champion to New York City. Passenger train service stopped in 1963 due to a strike.

Brightline is a new train service that runs between Miami and Orlando. In March 2024, Brightline announced plans to build a new train station in Cocoa.

Bus Service

Space Coast Area Transit offers public bus service in Cocoa and the surrounding areas.

Water Supply

Updated look of the Cocoa water tower at night, as seen from US Route 1.

Since 1957, Cocoa has provided clean drinking water to many communities in central Brevard County. Cocoa has invested a lot in its water system.

In 2017, Cocoa supplied about 23 million gallons of water every day. This water went to over 80,000 customers, which is about 250,000 people! These customers are in Cocoa, Rockledge, Port St. John, Merritt Island, Cape Canaveral, Cocoa Beach, Suntree/Viera, Patrick Air Force Base, Kennedy Space Center, and Port Canaveral.

Cocoa's water system includes wells, a water treatment plant, and large pipes. The Dyal Water Treatment Plant processes about nine billion gallons of water each year. It can treat both ground water and surface water.

Cocoa water tower in 2009, with the original bicentennial paint scheme.

The city's water tower had a special painting of the American flag. A Greek immigrant painted it for free in 1976 to celebrate the United States Bicentennial. In 2014, the city repainted the tower with the same iconic American flags.

Media in Cocoa

Radio Stations

• WMMV 1350 AM
• WWBC 1510 AM
• WMIE-FM 91.5
• WQCP 93.9 FM
• WRRQ-LP 96.9 FM

Television Station

• WUCF-TV 68, a PBS station. It is run by the University of Central Florida and Eastern Florida State College.

Places to Visit

• Florida Solar Energy Center
• Brevard Museum of History & Natural Science
• Alma Clyde Field Library of Florida History

Historic Buildings

• Community Woman's Club
• Aladdin Theater
• Historic Derby Street Chapel
• Porcher House
• St. Mark's Episcopal Church

Sports in Cocoa

The Houston Astros baseball team held their spring training in Cocoa from 1964 to 1984. The Florida Marlins also trained there in 1993. Cocoa Stadium was also home to the Florida State League Cocoa Astros for many years.

In 2009, a baseball team called the Space Coast Surge played at Cocoa Stadium.

Cocoa High School has many state champion sports teams. In 2015, the Cocoa High School football team was ranked 13th in Florida. They also had a 35-game winning streak against other schools in Brevard County.

Famous People From Cocoa

• Emory L. Bennett (1929–1951), a soldier who received the Medal of Honor during the Korean War. There is a statue of him in Cocoa Riverfront Park.
• Tarean Folston (born 1995), a football player.
• Chauncey "C.J." Gardner-Johnson (born 1997), an NFL American football player.
• Jumaine Jones (born 1979), a professional basketball player.
• Abbie Sweetwine (1921–2009), a nurse known as "The Angel of Platform 6" for her brave work during a train crash.
• Scott Thompson (aka; Carrot Top) (born 1965), a famous American comedian and actor who graduated from Cocoa High School in 1983.

Sister City

• Beit Shemesh, State of Israel. On October 7, 2007, Cocoa became a sister city with Beit Shemesh. This means they share a special friendship. Eastern Florida State College announced that it would have a student exchange program with Beit Shemesh.

See also

In Spanish: Cocoa (Florida) para niños