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Sebastian, Florida

Coordinates:27°46′58″N80°28′56″W/ 27.78278°N 80.48222°W/27.78278; -80.48222
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sebastian, Florida
City
City of Sebastian
City hall
City hall
Official logo of Sebastian, Florida
Logo
Motto(s):
"Home Of Pelican Island"[1]
"Friendly People and Six Old Grouches"[2][3]
Location in Indian River County and the state of Florida
Location inIndian River Countyand the state ofFlorida
Sebastian, Florida is located in the United States
Sebastian, Florida
Sebastian, Florida
Location in the United States
Coordinates:27°46′58″N80°28′56″W/ 27.78278°N 80.48222°W/27.78278; -80.48222
CountryUnited States
StateFlorida
CountyIndian River
Settled1870s
First settlersAndrew Canova,Ed Marr, Thomas New, and David Peter Gibson
Incorporated (municipality)Dec. 6, 1924
Incorporated (city)May 18, 1925
Government
• TypeCouncil-manager government
Area
[4]
• Total14.84 sq mi (38.44 km2)
• Land14.00 sq mi (36.26 km2)
• Water0.84 sq mi (2.18 km2)
Elevation
20 ft (6 m)
Population
(2020)
• Total25,054
• Density1,789.70/sq mi (691.02/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5(Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)UTC−4(EDT)
ZIP Codes
32958, 32978
Area code772
FIPS code12-64825[5]
GNISfeature ID0295607[6]
WebsiteCity of Sebastian Florida

Sebastianis a city inIndian River County,Florida,United States at the confluence of theSt. Sebastian Riverand theIndian River.[7]It is two miles away from theAtlantic Ocean.It is the largest city in Indian River County and the biggest population center betweenPalm BayandFort Pierce.[8]The city's economy is heavily reliant on tourism.[9]It has numerous resorts in the local area, such asDisney's Vero Beach Resort.It is very close to many natural and scenic areas like thePelican Island National Wildlife Refuge,Sebastian Inlet State Park,andSt. Sebastian River Preserve State Park.[10]

In 2020, the population recorded by theU.S. Census Bureauwas 25,054.[11]

Sebastian is a principal city of the Sebastian−Vero BeachMetropolitan Statistical Area,which includes all of Indian River County.

History[edit]

Sebastian Historical Marker

In 1715, several Spanish ships loaded with treasure (known as the1715 Treasure Fleet) encountered a storm off the shores of the Treasure Coast and were lost.[12]It is estimated that only a portion of the sunken treasure has been found. The value placed on the treasure lost from the 1715 fleet has been estimated at more than US$500 million.

The town of Sebastian was a fishing village as early as the 1870s. In the early 1880s David Peter Gibson and Thomas New settled in the area. New filed to start a post office under the nameNew Haven.However, New got into legal trouble for misuse of his position as postmaster and was removed. Officially, Sebastian was founded in 1882[12]and named St. Sebastian, afterSaint Sebastian.[13]Later, “St.” was removed from the name of the town, but not from the river. Sebastian was incorporated as a city in 1923.

NearbyPelican Islandwas declared the firstNational Wildlife Refugein the United States in 1903.[14]

Geography[edit]

According to theUnited States Census Bureau,the city has a total land area of 13.66 square miles (35.4 km2).[15]

Climate[edit]

Climate data for Sebastian
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 88
(31) 		90
(32) 		92
(33) 		95
(35) 		99
(37) 		98
(37) 		102
(39) 		97
(36) 		99
(37) 		93
(34) 		90
(32) 		90
(32) 		102
(39)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 73
(23) 		74
(23) 		77
(25) 		80
(27) 		85
(29) 		88
(31) 		89
(32) 		89
(32) 		87
(31) 		83
(28) 		77
(25) 		73
(23) 		81
(27)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 54
(12) 		56
(13) 		59
(15) 		64
(18) 		68
(20) 		72
(22) 		74
(23) 		74
(23) 		74
(23) 		69
(21) 		62
(17) 		56
(13) 		65
(18)
Record low °F (°C) 24
(−4) 		29
(−2) 		26
(−3) 		37
(3) 		46
(8) 		55
(13) 		62
(17) 		63
(17) 		61
(16) 		44
(7) 		31
(−1) 		24
(−4) 		24
(−4)
Averageprecipitationinches (mm) 2.1
(53) 		2.2
(56) 		3.5
(89) 		3.5
(89) 		3.6
(91) 		5.1
(130) 		5.8
(150) 		6.0
(150) 		9.1
(230) 		7.1
(180) 		2.4
(61) 		1.6
(41) 		52
(1,320)
Source:[16]

Demographics[edit]

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1930386—
194042510.1%
1950376−11.5%
196069885.6%
197082518.2%
19802,831243.2%
199010,205260.5%
200016,18158.6%
201021,92935.5%
202025,05414.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[17]
Sebastian racial composition
(Hispanics excluded from racial categories)
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
Race Pop 2010[18] Pop 2020[19] % 2010 % 2020
White(NH) 18,695 20,376 85.25% 81.33%
Black or African American(NH) 1,120 1,143 5.11% 4.56%
Native AmericanorAlaska Native(NH) 42 39 0.19% 0.16%
Asian(NH) 252 337 1.15% 1.35%
Pacific IslanderorNative Hawaiian(NH) 5 5 0.02% 0.02%
Some other race(NH) 30 71 0.14% 0.28%
Two or more races/Multiracial(NH) 260 854 1.19% 3.41%
Hispanic or Latino(any race) 1,525 2,229 6.95% 8.90%
Total 21,929 25,054

As of the2020 United States census,there were 25,054 people, 10,684 households, and 6,691 families residing in the city.[20]

In 2020, 14.4% of the population were people under the age of 18, and 35.5% were people over the age of 65. The average household size was 2.39. 51.6% of the population were female and 48.4% male.[21]

In 2020, themedian household incomefor the city was $54,986 in 2020, and theper capita incomewas $32,400. About 10.6% of the population were below thepoverty line.[21]

As of the2010 United States census,there were 21,929 people, 9,114 households, and 6,319 families residing in the city.[22]

Government[edit]

The Government of the City of Sebastian follows acouncil-manager governmentmodel with a five-member city council as the elected governing body and a city manager as the chief operating officer. Members of the city council serve two-year terms with staggered elections.

Public safety[edit]

Fire Rescue[edit]

Indian River County Fire-Rescue provides fire protection and emergency medical services to the citizens of Sebastian. There are two fire stations assigned to the city:

  • Station 8: Engine 8, Rescue 8, Battalion 1.
  • Station 9: Quint 9, Rescue 9.[23][24]

Police Department[edit]

The Sebastian Police Department provides police protection for the city. It operates from the municipal complex, and is staffed by approximately 43 sworn officers.[25][26]

Education[edit]

TheSchool District of Indian River Countyoperates public schools.

There are three elementary schools (Sebastian Elementary,[27]Pelican Island Elementary[28]and Treasure Coast Elementary,[29]) two middle schools (Sebastian River Middle School[30]and Sebastian Charter Junior High) and one high school (Sebastian River High School) in the city.

Located to the west of the city center on County Road 512, the North County Public Library is part of the Indian River County Library System.

Transportation[edit]

The GoLine Bus system operates buses out of the North County Transit Hub at 90th Avenue & Sebastian Blvd to various parts of Indian River County.[31]

Notable people[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^"City of Sebastian Florida".City of Sebastian Florida.RetrievedSeptember 19,2012.
  2. ^"Russ Lemmon: Origin of Sebastian's 'Six Old Grouches' remains a mystery".
  3. ^"Who are Sebastian's" six old grouches "?",Tampa Bay Times
  4. ^"2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files".United States Census Bureau.RetrievedDecember 2,2021.
  5. ^"U.S. Census website".United States Census Bureau.RetrievedJanuary 31,2008.
  6. ^"US Board on Geographic Names".United States Geological Survey.October 25, 2007.RetrievedJanuary 31,2008.
  7. ^"Google Maps".Google Maps.RetrievedNovember 17,2021.
  8. ^"Florida Cities by Population".florida-demographics.RetrievedNovember 17,2021.
  9. ^"Visit Indian River County | Official Travel & Tourism Information".Visit Indian River County.October 26, 2015.RetrievedNovember 17,2021.
  10. ^"Explore Nature Vero Beach Sebastian Fellsmere Florida".RetrievedNovember 17,2021.
  11. ^"United States Census".RetrievedJuly 14,2022.
  12. ^ab"Sebastian, Florida - City Information, Fast Facts, Schools, Colleges, and More".
  13. ^"Profile for Sebastian, Florida, FL".ePodunk.RetrievedSeptember 19,2012.
  14. ^"History - Pelican Island - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service".fws.gov.RetrievedMarch 13,2021.
  15. ^"U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Sebastian city, Florida; United States".census.gov.RetrievedMarch 13,2021.
  16. ^"Monthly Weather-Sebastian, FL".The Weather Channel.RetrievedMarch 13,2021.
  17. ^"Census of Population and Housing".Census.gov.RetrievedJune 4,2015.
  18. ^"P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Sebastian city, Florida".United States Census Bureau.
  19. ^"P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Sebastian city, Florida".United States Census Bureau.
  20. ^"S1101 HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES - 2020: Sebastian city, Florida".United States Census Bureau.
  21. ^ab"United States Census".RetrievedJuly 14,2022.
  22. ^"S1101 HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES - 2010: Sebastian city, Florida".United States Census Bureau.
  23. ^"Fire Rescue Division".Indian River County.RetrievedJuly 2,2022.
  24. ^"Indian River County Emergency Services Org Chart"(PDF).Indian River County.RetrievedJuly 2,2022.
  25. ^"Police Scorecard: Sebastian, FL".Police Scorecard: Sebastian, FL.
  26. ^"Sebastian Annual Budget".
  27. ^"Sebastian Elementary School".RetrievedJuly 14,2022.
  28. ^"Pelican Island Elementary School".RetrievedJuly 15,2022.
  29. ^"Treasure Coast Elementary School".RetrievedJuly 15,2022.
  30. ^"Sebastian River Middle School".RetrievedJuly 15,2022.
  31. ^"Goline Transportation".RetrievedJuly 15,2022.
  32. ^"Bryan Augenstein".MLB.RetrievedSeptember 19,2012.

External links[edit]

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