West Melbourne is a city in Brevard County,

Florida Florida ( ; ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders the Gulf of Mexico to the west, Alabama to the northwest, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia to the north, the Atlantic ...

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

. It was created in 1959 to stop the area from being annexed into the city of

Melbourne Melbourne ( , ; Boonwurrung language, Boonwurrung/ or ) is the List of Australian capital cities, capital and List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city of the States and territories of Australia, Australian state of Victori ...

.City History
''West Melbourne, FL - Official Website''. Retrieved on 2009-06-25. Since 2000, the city has experienced the highest population growth percentage of any municipality in Brevard County. It is part of the Palm Bay–

–

Titusville, Florida Titusville is a city in and the county seat of Brevard County, Florida, United States. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population of the city was 48,789, up from 43,761 at the 2010 census. Titusville is located along the ...

Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2020 US Census, the population was 25,924, up from 18,355 at the 2010 census.

History

Voters created the city in 1959 to stop the area from being annexed into the City of Melbourne. In 1970, the city's population was approximately 3,050.West Melbourne Community Data Sheet
Economic Development Council of Florida's Space Coast. Retrieved on 2009-06-25. Since 2000, the city has experienced the highest population growth percentage of any municipality in Brevard County. In 2005, the City of West Melbourne started charging property taxes for the first time in its existence (since 1959). Prior to 2005, the city survived on a "fees only" tax revenue system for its $17 million budget. From 2005 to 2014, home-schooled students, all three children from a West Melbourne family, won the state spelling bee championship a total of seven times, from two to three times each.

Government

The City of West Melbourne utilizes a Council-Manager form of government. The

City Council A municipal council is the legislative body of a municipality or local government area. Depending on the location and classification of the municipality it may be known as a city council, town council, town board, community council, borough counc ...

consists of the

mayor In many countries, a mayor is the highest-ranking official in a Municipal corporation, municipal government such as that of a city or a town. Worldwide, there is a wide variance in local laws and customs regarding the powers and responsibilitie ...

and six council members.City of West Melbourne, Florida.
"City Council"
''West Melbourne, FL - Official Website''. Accessed January 23, 2009. The City Management consists of a

city manager A city manager is an official appointed as the administrative manager of a city in the council–manager form of city government. Local officials serving in this position are referred to as the chief executive officer (CEO) or chief administ ...

and a twelve-person executive management team.City of West Melbourne, Florida.
"City Management"
''West Melbourne, FL - Official Website''. Accessed November 20, 2007. The city government offices are located at the West Melbourne City Hall. In 2007, the city had a taxable real estate base of $1.32 billion. In 2011, about half the city general fund was spent on the police department.

City council

*Pat Bentley, Mayor (November 2020 – Present) *Diana Adams, Deputy Mayor (November 2022 – Present) *Andrea Young, Council Member (November 2022 – Present) *John Dittmore, Council Member, Council Member (November 2022 – Present) *Stephen Phrampus, Council Member (November 2020 – Present) *Daniel McDow, Council Member (November 2020 – Present) *Helen Voltz, Council Member (November 2023 – Present)

City management

The city experienced a 35% increase in crime for 2010, the highest rise in Brevard County, most areas of which experienced a drop in crime. This included 48.5% more burglaries. In 2010 the number of police officers dropped from 38 to 33, due to a hiring freeze. The fee for garbage disposal was $10.24 per month per household in 2011–2012. Personnel who operate the city government, under the guidance of the city council, include: *Tim Rhode, City Manager"City Administration"
/ref> *Gregory Vesta, Police Chief *John Cary, City Attorney

Geography

The approximate coordinates for the City of West Melbourne is located at (28.077895, −80.665326). According to the

U.S. Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The U.S. Census Bureau is part of the U ...

, the city has a total area of . of it is land, and of it (0.21%) is water.

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild winters. According to the

Köppen climate classification The Köppen climate classification divides Earth climates into five main climate groups, with each group being divided based on patterns of seasonal precipitation and temperature. The five main groups are ''A'' (tropical), ''B'' (arid), ''C'' (te ...

, the City of West Melbourne has a

humid subtropical climate A humid subtropical climate is a subtropical -temperate climate type, characterized by long and hot summers, and cool to mild winters. These climates normally lie on the southeast side of all continents (except Antarctica), generally between ...

zone (''Cfa'').

Demographics

2010 and 2020 census

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 25,924 people, 8,941 households, and 5,332 families residing in the city. As of the 2010 United States census, there were 18,355 people, 6,923 households, and 4,598 families residing in the city.

2000 census

As of the 2000

census A census (from Latin ''censere'', 'to assess') is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording, and calculating population information about the members of a given Statistical population, population, usually displayed in the form of stati ...

, there were 9,824 people, 4,497 households, and 2,693 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 4,874 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 93.68%

White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no chroma). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully (or almost fully) reflect and scatter all the visible wa ...

, 1.40%

African American African Americans, also known as Black Americans and formerly also called Afro-Americans, are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, American racial and ethnic group that consists of Americans who have total or partial ancestry from an ...

, 0.13% Native American, 2.08% Asian, 0.03%

Pacific Islander Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, Pacificans, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the list of islands in the Pacific Ocean, Pacific Islands. As an ethnic group, ethnic/race (human categorization), racial term, it is used to describe th ...

, 1.21% from other races, and 1.47% from two or more races.

Hispanic The term Hispanic () are people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or broadly. In some contexts, Hispanic and Latino Americans, especially within the United States, "Hispanic" is used as an Ethnici ...

or Latino of any race were 3.84% of the population. In 2000, there were 4,497 households, out of which 19.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.0% were

married couples Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognised union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children (if any), and b ...

living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.1% were non-families. 34.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.08 and the average family size was 2.63. In 2000, the population in the city was spread out, with 15.9% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 24.2% from 25 to 44, 23.1% from 45 to 64, and 31.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 49 years. For every 100 females, there were 85.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.3 males.

Education

West Melbourne served by the Brevard Public Schools. Schools within West Melbourne include:

Elementary schools

*Meadowlane Primary/Intermediate Elementary
West Melbourne Elementary School for Science

Middle school

*Central Middle School

Private schools

*Brevard Christian School
Calvary Chapel AcademyNew Hope Lutheran Academy
*West Melbourne Christian Academy, K–12

Economy

Personal income

In 2000, the median income for a household in the city was $37,391, and the median income for a family was $46,486. Males had a median income of $38,693 versus $27,040 for females. The

per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or average income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. In many countries, per capita income is determined using regular population surveys, such ...

for the city was $24,006. About 4.9% of families and 7.8% of the population were below the

poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line, or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for ...

, including 9.9% of those under age 18 and 6.8% of those age 65 or over.

Workforce

In 2007, the average size of West Melbourne's labor force was 5,074. Of that group, 4,783 were employed and 291 were unemployed, for an unemployment rate of 5.7%.

Housing

In 2008, 83 building permits were issued. This was down from 174 permits in 2007, which was up from 142 permits in 2006. The median home price in 2007 was $226,000.

Infrastructure

Roads

Interstate 95 Interstate 95 (I-95) is the main north–south Interstate Highway on the East Coast of the United States, running from U.S. Route 1 (US 1) in Miami, Florida, north to the Houlton–Woodstock Border Crossing between Maine and the ...

– There is one exit in West Melbourne: Exit 180 (U.S. 192). The newer Exit 182 is nearby to West Melbourne, however. * US 192

U.S. 192 – The main route through West Melbourne, locally known as New Haven Avenue. Almost all economic activity is located along this road. Major intersections include Interstate 95, CR 511, and CR 509. * Brevard County Road 509 FL

CR 509 – Locally known as Wickham Road north of U.S. 192 and Minton Road south of U.S. 192, this route forms a main transportation route through the south-central part of the county. Major intersections include U.S. 192 and Ellis Road. * Brevard County Road 511 FL

CR 511 – Locally known as John Rodes Parkway, this road is a non-freeway parallel to Interstate 95. Major intersections include U.S. 192 and Ellis Road.

Potable water

In 2017, West Melbourne residents were still purchasing their water from the utility owned by the neighboring City of Melbourne. It cost slightly over 1.1 cents per gallon, for a consumer of monthly. The city owns its underground network of conduits.

Recreation

On the fifth of January 2016, the Space Coast Field of Dreams opened to the public in the West Melbourne Community Park.

References

External links

*
City Codes and Ordinances
{{authority control Cities in Brevard County, Florida Populated places established in 1959 Cities in Florida 1959 establishments in Florida