A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | CH | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9
Cocoa, Florida | |
|---|---|
| City of Cocoa | |
  Top: Cocoa welcome sign; Bottom: Cocoa City Hall | |
 Seal | |
 Location in Brevard County and the state of Florida | |
| Coordinates: 28°22′10″N 80°44′38″W / 28.36944°N 80.74389°W | |
| Country |  United States of America |
| State |  Florida |
| County |  Brevard |
| Government | |
| • Type | Council-Manager |
| • Mayor | Michael Blake |
| • City Manager | Stockton Whitten |
| Area | |
| • Total | 14.75 sq mi (38.21 km2) |
| • Land | 13.73 sq mi (35.57 km2) |
| • Water | 1.02 sq mi (2.64 km2) |
| Elevation | 36 ft (11 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
| • Total | 19,041 |
| • Density | 1,386.51/sq mi (535.32/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Area code | 321 |
| FIPS code | 12-13150[2] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0280608[3] |
| Website | www.CocoaFL.org |
Cocoa is a city in Brevard County, Florida. The population was 19,041 at the 2020 United States Census, up from 17,140 at the 2010 census.[4] It is part of the Palm Bay–Melbourne–Titusville Metropolitan Statistical Area.
History
Etymology
Several stories circulate among Cocoa old timers as to how the town got its name. One story says that the mail used to come by river boat and was placed in an empty tin box labeled Baker's Cocoa. The box was nailed to a piling in the river next to downtown. Additionally, an early hotel in the area, located on the Indian River lagoon, was named Cocoa House.[5] Another story speaks of an elderly African American woman who lived on the banks of the Indian River. She would supply hot cocoa to sailors traversing the Indian River. It was said, the sailors approaching her house would yell out "Cocoa! Cocoa!" alerting the woman that they were present and wanted the beverage.[6]
19th Century
In 1885, the S. F. Travis Hardware store opened. As of 2023, the business remains open.[7] Cocoa's business district was mostly destroyed by fire in 1890. But soon, significant development was stimulated by the extension of the Jacksonville, St. Augustine, and Indian River Railway to Cocoa.[8]
The city was chartered on October 1, 1895.[9] In the winter of 1894–1895, Cocoa had an economic setback when the "Great Freeze" destroyed the citrus crop and forced many citrus workers to seek new jobs. By 1903, the population of Cocoa had declined to 382.[10]
Early 20th Century
In the 1910s, population growth in Cocoa accelerated. The state business directory of 1911–1912 stated the population was 550.[10]
In October 1918, the mayor of Cocoa proclaimed that all places of assembly, including schools, churches, and movies be closed to avoid spreading the Spanish flu.[11]
By 1925, the population was estimated at 1,800. By 1930, despite the Great Depression, the population had risen to 2,200.[10]
World War II and beyond
The population rose dramatically following the development of the space industry, quadrupling from 3,098 in 1940 to 12,244 in 1960. Cocoa and the surrounding area also became integrated with the tourist industry for the first time, as thousands visited the area to witness the launches from Cape Canaveral. By 1980, the population had grown to 16,096.[12]
Education was segregated until the 1960s, at which time Monroe High School and elementary schools for black students were closed.[13]
In 1964, the Cocoa Expo Sports Center (Cocoa Stadium) was built for the Colt 45s spring baseball training and Grapefruit League games. The team later became the Houston Astros.[14] In the early 1980s, the city attempted to upgrade the stadium by asking the Astros to pay for needed repairs. In 1985, the team responded by moving its training to Osceola County Stadium in Kissimmee. As a result, it was decided that future negotiations with major league teams would be done by the county government.
Clearlake Middle School was closed in 2013. Students were moved to Cocoa High School, which was converted to a junior and senior high school.[15]
Government
Cocoa first approved the Council-Manager form of government in 1959, and subsequent changes to the state statutes mirrored the City of Cocoa's Council-Manager Plan. The City Council serves as the board of directors for the city, with the Mayor as chairman. The City Manager serves as the Chief Executive. The City Council for the City of Cocoa is made up of five members; the Mayor is elected at large and the four council members are elected by each of their districts.[9]
- Mayor – Michael C. Blake
- Councilman, District 1 – Alex Goins
- Councilman, District 2 – Lavander Hearn
- Councilman, District 3 – Matthew Barringer (appointed, upon resignation of previous councilman)[16]
- Councilwoman, District 4 – Lorraine Koss
- City Manager (appointed) – Stockton Whitten
In 2007, the city had a taxable real estate base of $1.18 billion.[18]
Cocoa has its own police and fire department. The Cocoa Police Department is the primary law enforcement agency within the city. It is aided by the Brevard County Sheriff's Office, for court and civil process. The Cocoa Fire Department has three stations. Brevard County Fire Rescue also has a station within the city limits.[19]
In 2021, the city had an authorized police force of 72 police officers and 44 firefighters.
Geography
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Cocoa is located at 28°22′10″N 80°44′38″W / 28.369334°N 80.743779°W.[20]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 15.4 square miles (39.9 km2). 13.3 square miles (34.5 km2) of it is land and 2.1 square miles (5.4 km2) of it (13.46%) is water.[21] Cocoa is home to the highest point in Brevard County, listed by the USGS as being 83 feet (25 m) above sea level at its apex.[22]
Fauna
The Cocoa Bird Count has annually counted species of birds in or near Cocoa since 1950. In 2010, it counted 150 species. There was an annual "Christmas Bird Count" before this, starting in 1900.[23]
Climate
| Climate data for Cocoa, FL | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 91 (33) |
92 (33) |
94 (34) |
97 (36) |
102 (39) |
103 (39) |
108 (42) |
101 (38) |
101 (38) |
99 (37) |
93 (34) |
88 (31) |
108 (42) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 86 (30) |
88 (31) |
91 (33) |
94 (34) |
98 (37) |
100 (38) |
100 (38) |
99 (37) |
97 (36) |
93 (34) |
89 (32) |
86 (30) |
100 (38) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 70 (21) |
73 (23) |
77 (25) |
81 (27) |
86 (30) |
87 (31) |
92 (33) |
91 (33) |
89 (32) |
84 (29) |
78 (26) |
70 (21) |
82 (28) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 60 (16) |
63 (17) |
68 (20) |
72 (22) |
77 (25) |
79 (26) |
83 (28) |
83 (28) |
82 (28) |
73 (23) |
70 (21) |
62 (17) |
73 (23) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 50 (10) |
53 (12) |
58 (14) |
62 (17) |
68 (20) |
71 (22) |
74 (23) |
75 (24) |
74 (23) |
62 (17) |
61 (16) |
53 (12) |
63 (18) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | 25 (−4) |
28 (−2) |
34 (1) |
41 (5) |
52 (11) |
61 (16) |
64 (18) |
64 (18) |
62 (17) |
47 (8) |
35 (2) |
26 (−3) |
25 (−4) |
| Record low °F (°C) | 19 (−7) |
23 (−5) |
26 (−3) |
36 (2) |
47 (8) |
56 (13) |
54 (12) |
33 (1) |
51 (11) |
30 (−1) |
27 (−3) |
19 (−7) |
19 (−7) |
| Source: [24] | |||||||||||||
Demographics
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1890 | 312 | — | |
| 1900 | 382 | 22.4% | |
| 1910 | 613 | 60.5% | |
| 1920 | 1,445 | 135.7% | |
| 1930 | 2,164 | 49.8% | |
| 1940 | 3,098 | 43.2% | |
| 1950 | 4,245 | 37.0% | |
| 1960 | 12,294 | 189.6% | |
| 1970 | 16,110 | 31.0% | |
| 1980 | 16,096 | −0.1% | |
| 1990 | 17,722 | 10.1% | |
| 2000 | 16,412 | −7.4% | |
| 2010 | 17,140 | 4.4% | |
| 2020 | 19,041 | 11.1% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[25] | |||