Titusville, Florida facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Titusville, Florida
|
||
|---|---|---|
.JPG)
Historic Brevard County Courthouse in 2006
|
||
|
||
| Nickname(s):
"Miracle City"
|
||
| Motto(s):
"Gateway To Nature And Space"
|
||
Location in Brevard County and the U.S. state of Florida
|
||
| Country | United States | |
| State |  Florida |
|
| County |  Brevard |
|
| Settled (Sand Point) |
1859-1873 | |
| Incorporated (city) | 1887 | |
| Founded by | Henry T. Titus | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Council-Manager | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 34.31 sq mi (88.87 km2) | |
| • Land | 29.22 sq mi (75.69 km2) | |
| • Water | 5.09 sq mi (13.18 km2) | |
| Elevation | 10 ft (3 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
|
||
| • Total | 48,789 | |
| • Density | 1,669.48/sq mi (644.59/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) | |
| ZIP codes |
32780-32783, 32796
|
|
| Area code(s) | 321 | |
| FIPS code | 12-71900 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 0292319 | |
Titusville is a city in Brevard County, Florida, United States. It is also the county seat. In 2020, about 48,789 people lived there. This was more than the 43,761 people counted in 2010.
Titusville is located along the Indian River. It is west of Merritt Island and the famous Kennedy Space Center. South of the city is the Canaveral National Seashore. Titusville is a main city in the larger Palm Bay–Melbourne–Titusville area.
Close to Titusville, you can find the Windover Archeological Site. This is a very important place because it holds human remains and tools from a very old time, between 6,000 and 5,000 BC.
Since 1989, a second county office has been in Viera, Florida. This helps serve the southern part of the county, where more people live.
Contents
History of Titusville
Early Inhabitants and European Arrival
People have lived in this area for thousands of years. The Windover Archeological Site, found in 1982, shows this. It dates back to 6000 to 5000 BC. This site is a National Historic Landmark because of its important findings.
When Europeans first arrived, the Ais Indians lived here. They gathered berries like palmetto and cocoplum. They also fished in the Indian River, which the Spanish called Rio de Ais. By 1760, the Ais tribe had mostly disappeared. This was due to diseases, slave raids, and the effects of rum.
The United States took control of Florida from Spain in 1821. The Seminole Wars then slowed down new settlements in this area.
How Titusville Got Its Name
This community was first called Sand Point. A post office opened here in 1859 but closed a few months later. Henry T. Titus arrived in 1867. He wanted to build a town on land owned by his wife, Mary Hopkins Titus.
Henry Titus planned out roads and built the Titus House in 1870. This was a large hotel next to a saloon. He also gave land for four churches and a courthouse. He hoped this would help the town become the county seat.
A local story says that Titus played a game of dominoes with Capt. Clark Rice. The winner would get to name the town. Titus won, and Sand Point was renamed Titusville in 1873. The city officially became a city in 1887. This was the same year construction began on St. Gabriel's Episcopal Church. Titusville was once called "The City of Churches".
Railroads and Growth
The Atlantic Coast, St. Johns & Indian River Railroad reached Titusville in 1885. Henry Flagler extended his Florida East Coast Railroad here in 1892. Many tourists came by train to enjoy the mild winter weather.
The railroad also helped farmers ship their goods north. The Indian River area became a center for shipping pineapple and citrus fruits. A wooden bridge was built to Playalinda Beach in 1922.
In October 1918, Titusville was the first place in the county to close all public gathering spots. This included schools, churches, and movie theaters. This was done to stop the spread of the Spanish flu.
The Space Age and Modern Changes
Starting in the late 1950s, the growth of Cape Canaveral and the Kennedy Space Center on Merritt Island boosted Titusville's economy. The city's population and tourism also grew. Because of its link to the space program, Titusville earned nicknames like "Space City USA" and "Miracle City" in the 1960s.
Searstown Mall opened in 1966. Miracle City Mall opened in 1968. It had a large covered shopping area.
The jail at the county courthouse became too full by the 1980s. A new jail was built in Sharpes in 1986.
The magazine Computer Shopper started in Titusville in 1979. It was first a small newspaper. Later, it became a huge magazine with over 800 pages. It was published in Titusville until 1989.
The A. Max Brewer Bridge opened on February 5, 2011. This bridge connects Titusville to the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge and Canaveral National Seashore. It replaced an older bridge built in 1949.
In 2012 and 2013, the Brevard County School Board closed two elementary schools due to budget reasons.
Miracle City Mall closed in January 2013. This happened because the local economy slowed down after the Space Shuttle program ended in 2012. Also, many people had moved to the southern part of the county. The mall was torn down in February 2015. The area has been rebuilt into a new outdoor shopping center called Titus Landing.
Because the population went down, the USPS closed two post offices in Titusville by 2013. They also thought about closing a third.
Geography and Nature
Titusville is located in the northern part of Brevard County. The city covers about 34.31 square miles (88.87 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, but about 5.09 square miles (13.18 square kilometers) is water. Titusville sits on the Indian River Lagoon, which is part of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway.
Unique Plants: Titusville Mint
Titusville is the only place in the world where a special plant grows. It is called the endangered Dicerandra thinicola, or "Titusville mint." These plants are found along a 13-mile strip between the Titusville wellfield and Mims.
Climate in Titusville
Titusville has a humid subtropical climate. This means it has hot, humid summers. The winters are usually mild.
| Climate data for Titusville, Florida, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1901–present | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 88 (31) |
92 (33) |
94 (34) |
97 (36) |
102 (39) |
103 (39) |
103 (39) |
101 (38) |
101 (38) |
99 (37) |
93 (34) |
88 (31) |
103 (39) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 82.3 (27.9) |
84.1 (28.9) |
87.0 (30.6) |
88.9 (31.6) |
93.3 (34.1) |
95.3 (35.2) |
96.3 (35.7) |
95.7 (35.4) |
93.7 (34.3) |
90.6 (32.6) |
86.1 (30.1) |
83.3 (28.5) |
97.3 (36.3) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 68.8 (20.4) |
71.2 (21.8) |
75.1 (23.9) |
79.4 (26.3) |
84.1 (28.9) |
87.7 (30.9) |
89.9 (32.2) |
89.3 (31.8) |
87.1 (30.6) |
82.6 (28.1) |
76.1 (24.5) |
71.2 (21.8) |
80.2 (26.8) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 59.6 (15.3) |
62.4 (16.9) |
66.2 (19.0) |
71.0 (21.7) |
76.4 (24.7) |
80.3 (26.8) |
82.1 (27.8) |
82.0 (27.8) |
80.5 (26.9) |
75.6 (24.2) |
68.4 (20.2) |
62.8 (17.1) |
72.3 (22.4) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 50.4 (10.2) |
53.5 (11.9) |
57.2 (14.0) |
62.5 (16.9) |
68.8 (20.4) |
72.9 (22.7) |
74.3 (23.5) |
74.8 (23.8) |
73.9 (23.3) |
68.5 (20.3) |
60.7 (15.9) |
54.3 (12.4) |
64.3 (17.9) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | 33.3 (0.7) |
36.9 (2.7) |
41.3 (5.2) |
49.7 (9.8) |
59.4 (15.2) |
67.9 (19.9) |
69.6 (20.9) |
70.5 (21.4) |
68.4 (20.2) |
54.0 (12.2) |
44.7 (7.1) |
37.8 (3.2) |
31.3 (−0.4) |
| Record low °F (°C) | 19 (−7) |
23 (−5) |
26 (−3) |
35 (2) |
45 (7) |
56 (13) |
58 (14) |
60 (16) |
51 (11) |
40 (4) |
27 (−3) |
19 (−7) |
19 (−7) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 3.05 (77) |
2.56 (65) |
3.37 (86) |
2.69 (68) |
3.71 (94) |
7.87 (200) |
6.77 (172) |
7.80 (198) |
7.46 (189) |
5.06 (129) |
2.51 (64) |
2.35 (60) |
55.20 (1,402) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 8.5 | 6.3 | 7.2 | 5.7 | 7.5 | 14.3 | 13.8 | 14.7 | 13.9 | 10.2 | 7.4 | 8.0 | 117.5 |
| Source: NOAA | |||||||||||||
People of Titusville
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1890 | 746 | — | |
| 1900 | 756 | 1.3% | |
| 1910 | 868 | 14.8% | |
| 1920 | 1,361 | 56.8% | |
| 1930 | 2,089 | 53.5% | |
| 1940 | 2,220 | 6.3% | |
| 1950 | 2,604 | 17.3% | |
| 1960 | 6,410 | 146.2% | |
| 1970 | 30,515 | 376.1% | |
| 1980 | 31,910 | 4.6% | |
| 1990 | 39,394 | 23.5% | |
| 2000 | 40,670 | 3.2% | |
| 2010 | 43,761 | 7.6% | |
| 2020 | 48,789 | 11.5% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Population and Diversity
In 2020, Titusville had 48,789 people living in 18,930 households. About 11,012 of these were families.
In 2010, the average age of people in Titusville was 43.4 years. For adults aged 25 and older, 89.3% had finished high school. Also, 22.6% had at least a bachelor's degree.
| Race | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White (NH) | 33,445 | 33,944 | 76.43% | 69.57% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 5,727 | 6,430 | 13.09% | 13.18% |
| Native American or Alaska Native (NH) | 168 | 139 | 0.38% | 0.28% |
| Asian (NH) | 596 | 890 | 1.36% | 1.82% |
| Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian (NH) | 37 | 40 | 0.08% | 0.08% |
| Some other race (NH) | 69 | 239 | 0.16% | 0.49% |
| Two or more races/Multiracial (NH) | 894 | 2,432 | 2.04% | 4.98% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 2,825 | 4,675 | 6.46% | 9.58% |
| Total | 43,761 | 48,789 |
Income and Economy
In 2018, the average household income in Titusville was $43,765. This amount grew from $42,561 in 2017.
The economy of Titusville changed after the space shuttle program ended in 2011. Many people who worked there lived in Titusville. This led to a higher unemployment rate in the city.
Economy and Jobs
Main Industries and Employers
Many of Titusville's main employers are aerospace companies. Knight's Armament Company in Titusville is thought to be Florida's largest maker of small arms. Parrish Medical Center is the biggest employer in the city.
Tourism and Events
Titusville gets many visitors because of its connection to the space program. The TICO Warbird Air Show happens every March. It brings about 40,000 to 50,000 visitors.
Even though it's 47 miles away, the city sees an economic boost from bikers. They pass through on their way to the yearly Daytona Beach Bike Week.
Titusville was also home to a now-closed amusement park called Tropical Wonderland.
Workforce and Housing
In 2007, about 20,716 people were part of Titusville's workforce. About 19,879 of them had jobs. This meant the unemployment rate was 4 percent. By December 2010, the city had the highest unemployment rate in the county, at 13.8 percent.
In 2008, 55 building permits were given for 64 new homes. This was less than in previous years. The average price for a home in 2007 was $158,900.
Shopping Areas
Popular shopping centers include Walmart Supercenter and Target. These stores are in the city's main shopping area. It is located at the southern end of the city.
Arts, Culture, and Learning
Historic Places and Museums
Titusville has several interesting historic sites and museums:
- Judge George Robbins House
- North Brevard Historical Museum
- Pritchard House
- St. Gabriel's Episcopal Church
- Spell House
- Titusville Commercial District
- American Police Hall of Fame & Museum
- United States Astronaut Hall of Fame
- US Space Walk of Fame and Museum
- Valiant Air Command Warbird Museum
- Wager House
Public Library
The Titusville Public Library is part of the Brevard County Library System.
Education in Titusville
In 2007, it was estimated that 88.1 percent of adults aged 25 or older in Titusville had graduated from high school. Also, 23.6 percent had a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public schools are managed by the Brevard County School Board.
Elementary Schools
- Apollo Elementary School
- Coquina Elementary School
- Imperial Estates Elementary School
- Oak Park Elementary School
- South Lake Elementary School
Middle Schools
- Jackson Middle School
- Madison Middle School
- Sculptor Charter School
High Schools
- Astronaut High School
- Titusville High School
Private Schools
- Lake Fern Montessori Academy
- Park Avenue Christian Academy
- Sculptor Charter School
- St. Teresa Catholic School
- Temple Christian School
Media and Communication
Television and Radio
- TitusvilleCityTV is available on Spectrum Channel 498 and AT&T U-verse Channel 99.
- Radio stations include WIXC-AM, WNUE-FM, and WPIO-FM.
Newspapers
- Titusville Star-Advocate: This newspaper started in 1920. It became Brevard's first daily newspaper in 1965. It stopped daily publication in 1975 and became a weekly insert. It stopped publishing completely in July 2013.
- The North Brevard Beacon: This newspaper was published every two weeks from 2003 to 2010.
- The News Observer of North Brevard: This newspaper was published twice a week for 15 years. It stopped in 2003.
City Infrastructure
Roads and Transit
Major roads in Titusville include:
- U.S. 1
- Interstate 95
- SR 50
- CR 402 (also known as A. Max Brewer Memorial Parkway)
- CR 405
- SR 405
- CR 406
- SR 406
- SR 407
Titusville is served by SCAT bus routes #1, #2, and #5.
Utilities and Water Supply
As of 2006, the city's water utility got about 3.8 million US gallons (14.4 million liters) of water each day. This water came from two wellfields that tap into a shallow underground water source. In 2016, a new wellfield was added. It can provide 2.75 million US gallons (10.4 million liters) of water per day from a deeper water source called the Floridan aquifer. In 2010, the water department served 22,000 customers.
Airports in the Area
- Space Coast Regional Airport handles commercial flights. It is just south of the city.
- Arthur Dunn Airpark is used for general aviation (smaller planes).
Healthcare Services
Parrish Medical Center is the hospital that serves Titusville. It was first called North Brevard Hospital and opened in 1958. A new, large hospital building was finished in 2002. It was designed to create a healing environment for patients.
Famous People from Titusville
- Herb Ball (1918–2000) – basketball player
- Jimi Beach (born 1971) – musician and inventor
- Sam Beddingfield (1933–2012) – test pilot and aerospace engineer
- John Bostic (born 1962) – football player
- Jim Browne (1930–2003) – basketball player
- Bob Buhl (1928–2001) – baseball player
- William M. Citron (1896–1976) – U.S. Representative
- Scott Clendenin (1968–2015) – bassist for bands Death and Control Denied
- Cris Collinsworth (born 1959) – football player and sports broadcaster
- Brad Davis (1949–1991) – actor
- Eugene M. Davis (born 1952) – actor
- Joe DeForest (born 1965) – football player and coach
- Bill DeMott (born 1966) – professional wrestler and trainer
- George Diller – public relations specialist for NASA
- Jim Duggan (born 1954) – professional wrestler
- Daniel Eaton (born 1992) – figure skater
- Jervonte Edmonds (born 1991) – Florida State Representative
- John D. Fitzgerald (1906–1988) – writer
- Michael G. Foster (born 1940) – martial artist
- Arthur Ford (1896–1971) – psychic and spiritualist medium
- Jeff Fulchino (born 1979) – baseball player
- Winston Gardner Jr. (born 1938) – Florida State Senator
- Bart Gunn (born 1965) – wrestler and mixed martial artist
- Michaela Hahn (born 1994) – soccer player
- Lanae' Hale (born 1983) – singer-songwriter
- Reggie Hannah (born 1959) – basketball player
- J. T. Hassell (born 1995) – football player
- Javian Hawkins (born 1999) – football player
- George L. Jones (1918–1997) – U.S. Army Air Force flying ace
- Eric Kelly (born 1980) – boxer
- Alethea Kontis (born 1976) – writer
- Mitzi Kremer (born 1968) – Olympic swimmer
- John Jurasek (born 1997 or 1998) – YouTuber and food critic
- Larry Laoretti (born 1939) – professional golfer
- Annie Laurie (1924–2006) – rhythm and blues singer
- Ed Levy (1916–2008) – baseball player
- Hiram Mann (1921–2014) – U.S. Air Force airman, Tuskegee Airmen
- Wilber Marshall (born 1962) – football player
- Evelyn M. Moore (1942–2012) – Paralympian
- JoAnn H. Morgan (born 1940) – Kennedy Space Center manager
- Latavius Murray (born 1990) – football player
- Stephen C. O'Connell (1916–2001) – Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Florida
- Mary Olmsted (1919–2018) – ambassador
- Kario Oquendo (born 2000) – college basketball player
- Frank Parker (1903–1999) – singer and TV personality
- Bernard Parrish (1919–1999) – politician
- Scott Rigell (born 1960) – politician
- Greg Shaw (born 1990) – sledge hockey player
- Doug Sisson (born 1963) – baseball player and coach
- Arthur Sixsmith (1880–1969) – ice hockey player
- Deney Terrio (born 1950) – choreographer and TV host
- Henry T. Titus (1823–1881) – pioneer and founder of Titusville
- Daniel Tosh (born 1970) – comedian and producer
- Wallace Turner (1921–2010) – journalist
- Forrest L. Vosler (1923–1992) – U.S. Army Air Force radio operator
- Aaron Walker (born 1980) – football player
- Mel Weinberg (1924–2018) – con artist and government informant
- Johnny Weissmuller (1904–1984) – Olympic swimmer and actor
- Gerald White (born 1964) – football player
- Thomas Williams (born 2004) – soccer player
See also
In Spanish: Titusville (Florida) para niños
