Indian River County, Florida facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Indian River County
U.S. county
Indian River County Courthouse in Vero Beach
Seal
Location within the U.S. state of Florida
Florida's location within the U.S.
Country	United States
State	Florida
Founded	May 30, 1925
Named for	Indian River Lagoon
Seat	Vero Beach
Largest city	Sebastian
Area
• Total	617 sq mi (1,600 km2)
• Land	503 sq mi (1,300 km2)
• Water	114 sq mi (300 km2)  18.5%%
Population  (2020)
• Total	159,788
• Density	318/sq mi (123/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	8th

Indian River County is a county located in the southeastern part of Florida, a state in the United States. In 2020, about 159,788 people lived here. The main city and government center, called the county seat, is Vero Beach.

Indian River County is known as Florida's 7th richest county. This is based on the average income per person, also known as per capita income. The county is part of a larger area called the Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area. This means it's a busy area with many cities and towns close together.

A Look Back: Indian River County's History

Before 1821, the land that is now Indian River County was part of a Spanish colony called East Florida. After 1821, it became part of St. Johns County. Later, in 1824, it joined Mosquito County, which is now known as Orange County.

Early Conflicts and County Changes

A war called the Second Seminole War happened in Florida from 1835 to 1839. During this time, a place called Fort Vinton was built in the area. This fort helped protect people during the conflict.

Over the years, the county's boundaries changed several times. In 1844, it became part of a new county called St. Lucia County. This county was later renamed Brevard County in 1855.

How Indian River County Was Formed

In 1905, St. Lucie County was created from the southern part of Brevard County. Finally, in 1925, Indian River County was officially formed from the northern part of St. Lucie County. It was named after the beautiful Indian River, which flows through the eastern side of the county.

Exploring Indian River County's Geography

Indian River County covers a total area of about 617 square miles. Most of this area, about 503 square miles, is land. The remaining 114 square miles, or 18.5%, is water.

Neighboring Counties

Indian River County shares its borders with several other counties:

• Brevard County to the north
• St. Lucie County to the south
• Okeechobee County to the southwest
• Osceola County to the northwest

Special Protected Areas

The county is home to parts of two important national protected areas. These areas help keep nature safe:

• Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge (part of it)
• Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge

Birds and Climate Change

Scientists have found that eight types of birds in Indian River County are very sensitive to climate change. This means their homes and lives could be affected by changes in the weather and environment. These birds include:

• Red-headed woodpecker
• Gray kingbird
• Fish crow
• Brown thrasher
• Eastern towhee
• Boat-tailed grackle
• Snail kite
• Yellow-throated warbler

Who Lives in Indian River County?

In 2020, there were 159,788 people living in Indian River County. There were also 60,959 households, which are groups of people living together in one home.

Diversity in the County

The county is home to people from many different backgrounds. Here's a look at the racial makeup of Indian River County in 2020:

In 2000, about 21.7% of households had children under 18. The average age in the county was 47 years old.

Getting Around: Transportation in Indian River County

There are several ways to travel in and out of Indian River County.

Airports for Travel

The county has a few airports:

• New Hibiscus Airpark
• Sebastian Municipal Airport
• Vero Beach Regional Airport

Bus System: GoLine

GoLine is the main public bus system in Indian River County. It started in 1994 to give people another way to get around without driving. The bus system has grown over the years. By 2010, GoLine had 14 stops, with more planned. The best part is that riders do not have to pay a fee to ride the bus!

Train Services

There are plans to build an Amtrak train station in Vero Beach. The Florida East Coast Railway also serves the area. It helps businesses that need to ship goods by train.

What Drives the Economy?

Many people in Indian River County work in healthcare, education, government, and retail (stores). These are some of the biggest job areas.

Major Employers in the County

As of 2019, here are some of the largest employers in Indian River County:

Learning and Reading: Education and Libraries

Indian River County has many places for learning and reading.

Libraries for Everyone

The Indian River County Library System has several locations:

• Indian River County Main Library, in Vero Beach
• North Indian River County Library, in Sebastian
• The Brackett Library, at the Indian River State College Mueller Campus, in Vero Beach

Public Schools in the County

The Indian River County School District runs the public schools. Here are some of the public high schools:

• Freshman Learning Center (VBHS)
• Indian River Charter High School
• Sebastian River High School
• Vero Beach High School

Private Schools Available

There are also several private schools in the area:

• Glendale Christian School
• Indian River Christian School
• Master's Academy
• St. Edwards School
• St. Helen Catholic School
• Tabernacle Baptist School
• The Willow School
• SunCoast Primary School

Colleges and Universities

For higher education, students can attend:

• Indian River State College Mueller Center
• Indian River State College Sebastian Campus

How People Vote: Elections in Indian River County

Indian River County has a history of voting for the Republican Party in presidential elections. The last time a Democrat won the majority of votes in the county was in 1944.

Presidential Election Results

Here's how Indian River County has voted in recent presidential elections:

Voter Registration Details

As of July 2022, most registered voters in Indian River County are Republicans.

Cities and Towns in Indian River County

Vero Beach

Indian River County has several cities, towns, and other communities.

Cities in the County

• Fellsmere
• Sebastian
• Vero Beach

Towns in the County

• Indian River Shores
• Orchid

Census-Designated Places

These are areas that are like towns but are not officially incorporated as cities or towns:

Other Communities (Unincorporated)

These are smaller communities that are not part of any city or town:

Images for kids

• 

  Indian River County Courthouse in Vero Beach

• 

  Vero Beach

See also

In Spanish: Condado de Río Indio para niños