# Indian River County, Florida

Indian River County (Spanish: Condado de Río Indio) is a county located in the southeastern and east-central portions of the U.S. state of Florida. As of the 2020 census, the population was 159,788. Its seat is Vero Beach. It is Florida's 7th richest county and in 2000 was the 87th richest county in the U.S. by per capita income.
Indian River County comprises the Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area. The MSA was first defined as the Vero Beach, Florida MSA in 2003. It was renamed Sebastian-Vero Beach, Florida MSA in 2005, and Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor, Florida MSA in 2023. The MSA is included in the Miami-Port St. Lucie-Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Combined Statistical Area.

## History

Prior to 1821 the area of Indian River County was part of the Spanish colony of East Florida. In 1822 this area became part of St. Johns County, and in 1824 it became part of Mosquito County (original name of Orange County).
The Second Seminole War was fought in 1835 and from 1838 to 1839. Fort Vinton was built for this purpose near the intersection of present-day Florida State Road 60 and 122nd Avenue.
In 1844 the county's portion of Mosquito County became part of newly created St. Lucia County. In 1855 St. Lucia County was renamed Brevard County. In 1905 St. Lucie County was formed from the southern portion of Brevard County; in 1925 Indian River County was formed from the northern portion of St. Lucie County. It was named for the Indian River, which runs through the eastern portion of the county.

## Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 617 square miles (1,600 km$^2$), of which 503 square miles (1,300 km$^2$) is land and 114 square miles (300 km$^2$) (18.5%) is water.

### Adjacent counties

* Brevard County - north
* St. Lucie County - south
* Okeechobee County - southwest
* Osceola County - northwest

### National protected areas

* Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge (part)
* Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge

### Climate and birds

Eight bird species in Indian River County are listed as "highly vulnerable" to climate change:
* Red-headed woodpecker
* Gray kingbird
* Fish crow
* Brown thrasher
* Eastern towhee
* Boat-tailed grackle
* Snail kite
* Yellow-throated warbler

## Demographics

Indian River County racial composition as of 2020 (NH = Non-Hispanic) :
| Race | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
| White (NH) | 106,780 | 117,422 | 77.36% | 73.49% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 12,074 | 13,079 | 8.75% | 8.19% |
| Native American or Alaska Native (NH) | 277 | 273 | 0.2% | 0.17% |
| Asian (NH) | 1,646 | 2,341 | 1.19% | 1.47% |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 49 | 52 | 0.04% | 0.03% |
| Some Other Race (NH) | 189 | 730 | 0.14% | 0.46% |
| Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) | 1,548 | 5,059 | 1.12% | 3.17% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 15,465 | 20,832 | 11.2% | 13.04% |
| Total | 138,028 | 159,788 | | |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 159,788 people, 60,959 households, and 37,647 families residing in the county.
As of the census of 2000, there were 112,947 people, 49,137 households, and 32,725 families residing in the county. The population density was 224 inhabitants per square mile (86/km$^2$). There were 57,902 housing units at an average density of 115 per square mile (44/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the county was 87.43% White, 8.19% Black or African American, 0.25% Native American, 0.74% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 2.15% from other races, and 1.21% from two or more races. 6.53% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 49,137 households, out of which 21.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.50% were married couples living together, 8.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.40% were non-families. 28.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.72.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 19.20% under the age of 18, 6.00% from 18 to 24, 22.30% from 25 to 44, 23.30% from 45 to 64, and 29.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47 years. For every 100 females there were 93.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.80 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $39,635, and the median income for a family was $46,385. Males had a median income of $30,870 versus $23,379 for females. The per capita income for the county was $27,227. About 6.30% of families and 9.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.60% of those under age 18 and 5.70% of those age 65 or over.

## Transportation
### Airports

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

### Bus systems

GoLine is Indian River County's main method of public transportation. The program was introduced in 1994 to provide an alternative option to driving. Due to County population increases in the early and mid 2000s, Indian River County devised a series of bus routes from Barefoot Bay in southern Brevard County to the south end of Vero Beach. In 2006, GoLine (formerly known as Indian River Transit) was introduced with more stops along and through the Treasure Coast. By 2010, the GoLine system had a total of 14 stops with an additional four stops planned for 2011/2012. Riders pay no fare or fee to board the bus. In 2010 the buses operated between 8:00 A.M. and 5:00 P.M. weekdays and from 9:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. on Saturdays. Some routes have extended operating hours depending on location.

### Train

There is planning underway for an Amtrak station in Vero Beach. Florida East Coast Railway serves a team yard in Vero Beach for off-line customers that don't have direct rail service via spurs. There are two lumber and sheetrock/structural steel customers who receive boxcars, center beam and bulkhead flatcars, and occasionally- gondolas, at the team yard.

## Economy

Healthcare, education, government, and retail sales are important employment segments in Indian River County. As of 2024 (some numbers have not been updated since 2019), the largest employers in the county were:
| Employer | Sector | Employees |
| School Board of Indian River County | Education | 2,234 |
| Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital | Healthcare | 2,027 |
| Indian River County | Government (including constitutional offices) | 1,455 |
| Publix Super Markets | Retail | 1,380 |
| Piper Aircraft | Manufacturing | 1,100 |
| Walmart | Retail | 806 |
| Sebastian River Medical Center | Healthcare | 750 |
| John's Island | Residential development and resort | 495 |
| Indian River Estates | Retirement community | 486 |
| Visiting Nurse Association | Healthcare | 500 |
| City of Vero Beach | Government | 328 |
| CVS Warehouse | Distribution | 440 |
| Disney's Vero Beach Resort | Resort | 279 |
| St. Edward's School | College-preparatory school | 223 |
| City of Sebastian | Government | 188 |
| Skyborne Airline Academy | Flight instruction | 170 |
| B & W Quality Growers | Agriculture | 142 |

## Libraries

* 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

## Education

Indian River County School District operates public schools. Public high schools include:
* Freshman Learning Center (VBHS)
* Indian River Charter High School
* Sebastian River High School
* Vero Beach High School

### Private schools

* 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

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

## Elections

Indian River County lies at the northern end of a belt stretching to Collier County in the southwest that was the first part of Florida to politically distance itself from the "Solid South": the last Democrat to win a majority in the county was Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1944. Only four Democrats have managed 40 percent or more of the county's vote since then.
In 1992, indeed, Ross Perot came second, fifteen votes ahead of President-elect Bill Clinton, this being one of only four Florida counties where he did so.
United States presidential election results for Indian River County, Florida :
| Year | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % |
| 2024 | 62,737 | 63.06% | 35,654 | 35.84% | 1,102 | 1.11% |
| 2020 | 58,872 | 60.23% | 37,844 | 38.72% | 1,024 | 1.05% |
| 2016 | 48,620 | 60.20% | 29,043 | 35.96% | 3,106 | 3.85% |
| 2012 | 43,450 | 60.70% | 27,492 | 38.41% | 638 | 0.89% |
| 2008 | 40,176 | 56.74% | 29,710 | 41.96% | 916 | 1.29% |
| 2004 | 36,938 | 60.15% | 23,956 | 39.01% | 520 | 0.85% |
| 2000 | 28,639 | 57.71% | 19,769 | 39.84% | 1,219 | 2.46% |
| 1996 | 22,714 | 51.66% | 16,375 | 37.24% | 4,883 | 11.10% |
| 1992 | 19,140 | 43.54% | 12,360 | 28.12% | 12,462 | 28.35% |
| 1988 | 24,630 | 69.71% | 10,451 | 29.58% | 252 | 0.71% |
| 1984 | 23,716 | 73.08% | 8,736 | 26.92% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1980 | 15,568 | 62.98% | 7,759 | 31.39% | 1,390 | 5.62% |
| 1976 | 9,818 | 52.63% | 8,512 | 45.63% | 324 | 1.74% |
| 1972 | 11,741 | 77.85% | 3,316 | 21.99% | 25 | 0.17% |
| 1968 | 6,518 | 51.25% | 3,179 | 24.99% | 3,022 | 23.76% |
| 1964 | 6,191 | 54.72% | 5,122 | 45.28% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 4,656 | 61.05% | 2,970 | 38.95% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 4,059 | 70.49% | 1,699 | 29.51% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1952 | 3,055 | 65.94% | 1,578 | 34.06% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1948 | 1,134 | 46.32% | 1,055 | 43.10% | 259 | 10.58% |
| 1944 | 759 | 37.01% | 1,292 | 62.99% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1940 | 904 | 37.81% | 1,487 | 62.19% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1936 | 532 | 29.52% | 1,270 | 70.48% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1932 | 446 | 25.43% | 1,308 | 74.57% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1928 | 847 | 55.61% | 657 | 43.14% | 19 | 1.25% |

### Voter registration

According to the Secretary of State's office, Republicans are a plurality of registered voters in Indian River County.
Indian River County Voter Registration & Party Enrollment as of July 31, 2022 :
| Political Party | Political Party | Total Voters | Percentage |
| | Republican | 57,050 | 48.24% |
| | Democratic | 30,487 | 25.78% |
| | No party affiliation | 28,005 | 23.68% |
| | Minor parties | 2,717 | 2.30% |
| Total | Total | 118,259 | 100.00% |

## Communities
### Cities

* Fellsmere
* Sebastian
* Vero Beach

### Towns

* Indian River Shores
* Orchid

### Census-designated places

* Florida Ridge
* Gifford
* Roseland
* South Beach
* Vero Beach South
* Wabasso
* Wabasso Beach
* West Vero Corridor
* Windsor (formerly North Beach)
* Winter Beach

### Other unincorporated communities

* Blue Cypress Village
* Citrus Ridge
* Cummings
* Nevins
* Oslo
* Riomar
* Royal Poinciana Park
* Vero Lake Estates