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Some of the first people to call Cocoa Beach home were the Native Americans of the Ais tribe. However, in the 1860s, after the American Civil War ended, the first non-native settlement was created by a family of freed slaves. In 1885, a hurricane destroyed the settlement, which forced the inhabitants to leave the area. By 1888, a group of Cocoa men arrived in the area and decided to purchase the land. It remained untouched for a period of time until an attorney named Gus Edwards bought the land and began developing it. Cocoa Beach was established on June 5, 1925. However, before this, the city was known as Oceanus. It wasn’t until June of 1957 that Cocoa Beach was officially incorporated.

Cocoa Beach became more popular throughout the 1960s with the John F. Kennedy Space Center’s establishment just 15 miles away. The space center served as a significant employer for residents living on Florida’s Space Coast. Cocoa Beach, in particular, became well populated from 1960 to 1970 with an increase of nearly 7,000 residents. Schools became overcrowded, and it was common to have upwards of 40 children per classroom. The growing population was a factor that helped shape Cocoa Beach into the city it is now. The once small city of Cocoa Beach saw civic changes and housing accommodations that turned it into the thriving community that stands today.

As of 2020, the population in Cocoa Beach reached 11,933, making it the 161st largest city in the state of Florida. Currently, the population is growing at a rate of 0.83%, and in the last ten years, the Cocoa Beach community has increased by 6.25%. The city spans 15 miles which gives it a population density of 2,562 people per square mile. Over 90% of Cocoa Beach residents were born in the United States, and of those, 20.7% were born in Florida. 9.9% of residents were born outside of the United States, and 3.6% are not United States citizens. Cocoa Beach has proven to be linguistically diverse, with over 13% of its population being fluent in languages other than English. The most commonly spoken foreign languages fall under the category of Indo-European, with 5.4% of the community being fluent speakers. However, 86.8% of people in Cocoa Beach only speak the English language.

The population has a racial composition of 95.3% Caucasians, 1.27% Black or African Americans, 1.24% Asians, 0.42% Native Americans, and 0.68% are two or more races. The median age in this city is 56.9 years. For women, the median age is 56.3 years old, and for males, it is 57.6 years old. The majority of the community is female, with a 52.6% composition, whereas 47.4% of the community is male. The average family size is 2.72 people, and the average household size is 1.99 people.

Much like other cities along the Space Coast, Cocoa Beach experiences hot and humid summers and warm winters. July is the city’s hottest month, with an average high temperature of 90 degrees. Historically, there are seven comfortable months where the high temperature ranges from 70 to 85 degrees. Cocoa Beach residents can expect the most pleasant weather during the months of November, April, and March. On average, the city sees about 59 days where the temperature exceeds 90 degrees, which is cooler than most places in Florida. Cocoa Beach has nearly 233 sunny days, which is greater than the national average of 205. 

January is Cocoa Beach’s coldest month, with an average nighttime low temperature of 49 degrees. Compared to other places throughout the state of Florida, this is about average. The city only experiences about three days annually where the nighttime low temperature drops below freezing, which is also consistent with other cities in Florida. Rarely, if ever, does the temperature in Cocoa Beach fall below zero degrees, and the city does not receive snow. However, the city does get an abundance of rain.

The yearly average rainfall in Cocoa Beach is 53 inches, exceeding the national average of 28 inches. When comparing the city’s annual rainfall to other Florida cities, 53 inches is about average. When moving to Cocoa Beach, you can expect nearly 115 rainy days on average, which makes this city rainier than most places in the state. August is the wettest month with an average of 7.7 inches of rainfall, whereas January is the driest month with 2.4 inches of rainfall. Cocoa Beach’s rainiest season is Autumn, which gets rain 36% of the time. In contrast, Summer is the city’s driest season, with rain occurring only 18% of the time.

If you are planning on moving to Cocoa Beach in search of new job opportunities, now is a great time to do so. In the last year, the job market has seen an increase of 1.9%, and the future job growth is expected to exceed 42% within the next ten years. Currently, the city employs around 4,590 people and has a labor force participation rate of 45.7%. The city’s employment rate is 41.8%, whereas its unemployment rate is 6.6%. Some of Cocoa Beach’s most prominent industries include health care and social assistance, food services, and retail trade. Among the highest paying industries in Cocoa Beach include manufacturing, public administration, and professional, scientific, and technical services.

The cost of living index in Cocoa Beach, Florida, falls at 108.3, whereas the United States has a baseline cost of living index at 100. This means that it is slightly more expensive to reside in Cocoa Beach when compared to the average United States city. In general, housing and groceries are more expensive in this city when compared to both the state and the national costs. However, health care, utilities, and transportation cost less than the majority of the cities throughout the state and the nation. This information can be helpful when moving to Cocoa Beach for budgeting reasons.

In Cocoa Beach, Florida, the average household income is $87,222. The median house value falls at $306,000, and the average rental price per month is around $1,179. The city has a homeownership rate of 65.9%. The average poverty rate in Cocoa Beach is 7.9%, with 7.75% of the male population living in poverty and 8.03% of females living in poverty.

Being located on the Atlantic coast, you can expect to find some of the freshest seafood around in Cocoa Beach, Florida. Florida’s Fresh Fish Grill has been a local favorite since 2013. Their menu features seafood and steakhouse classics but also caters to vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free diets, so there is something that everybody can enjoy. As the name suggests, you are guaranteed fresh fish and ingredients when you dine at Florida’s Fresh Fish Grill. Additionally, all of their soups, dressings, and sauces are homemade daily.

Fat Kahuna’s Beach Side Grille is another Cocoa Beach favorite for seafood but with a Hawaiian twist. The owner of Fat Kahuna’s is a Cocoa Beach native. However, he moved to Maui to live out his dream of residing in Hawaii. He later opened his restaurant in Florida to bring a taste of Hawaii to Cocoa Beach. Fat Kahuna’s has been ranked the number two restaurant in the city behind Florida’s Fresh Fish Grill. They are open for dinner and offer a broad menu containing seafood, steaks, chicken, and vegetarian options. The people of Cocoa Beach enjoy Fat Kahuna’s Beach Side Grille for its outstanding food, service, and atmosphere. When moving to the Space Coast, Fat Kahuna’s “welcomes you to come taste the aloha.”

For those with a sweet tooth, Ice Cream Hut is the place to go. Here, they serve unique Amish-made ice cream flavors, such as red velvet cake, Caribbean rum raisin, white chocolate raspberry, and more. Ice Cream Hut is known for its amazing sundaes with a variety of toppings that hit the spot every time. They have locations in both Cocoa Beach and Rockledge, so be sure to stop by for a tasty treat.

Upon moving to Cocoa Beach, Florida, or any new city, it is good to gauge how safe the community is. Cocoa Beach is safer than 35% of cities in Florida and 22% of cities across the country. The violent crime rate is 9% lower than the national average, but the non-violent crime rate is 47% above the national average. However, yearly crime has recently been decreasing at a rate of 25%. The probability of being a victim of violent crime is 1 in 288 in Cocoa Beach. To put this into perspective, this is less than a 0.4% chance of being victimized. The chances of falling victim to property crime are 1 in 30, which is a 3.3% chance.

When moving to Cocoa Beach, Florida, with children, it is helpful to gain some insight into the city’s education system. The public schools in Cocoa Beach fall under the Brevard County Public School District, consisting of elementary, middle, and high schools throughout the county. This district educates over 73,000 students annually. On average, the public schools have an expenditure of $8,466 per student, which is less than the national average expenditure of $12,383 per student. These schools also have an average student-to-teacher ratio of 15:1.

Cocoa Beach Junior/Senior High is one of Brevard County’s top-rated public schools. Unlike most high schools, this facility educates students from seventh grade through twelfth grade. It has a student enrollment of 1,013 and an average student-to-teacher ratio of 18:1. Students at Cocoa Beach Junior/Senior High tend to test above average on standardized state exams and show great promise for college readiness. According to state exams, 71% of students at Cocoa Beach Junior/Senior High are proficient in reading, and 67% are proficient in math. 94% of students here graduate in four years, which significantly exceeds the state average of 82%. Of these graduates, 83% pursue a higher-level education, which again is greater than the Florida state average of 76%. The school also has a 41% Advanced Placement course enrollment. When comparing Cocoa Beach Junior/Senior High to other public schools in the state, this facility ranks number 101 out of 656 public schools. Compared to the public schools in the Brevard County School District, Cocoa Beach Junior/Senior High comes in at number four.

From water sports to museums to nature preserves, the opportunities for family fun are endless in Cocoa Beach. For those who love the ocean, Cocoa Beach may be the place for you. The city’s numerous beaches are a favorite place for locals to surf, kayak, paddleboard, and swim. Cocoa Beach offers kayak and paddleboard tours that allow guests to experience some of the ocean’s exotic wonders. You can expect to see manatees, dolphins, sea turtles, and a variety of fish on these tours. You may also find the bioluminescent organisms that light up the rivers and lagoons from June to November along Florida’s Space Coast. The unique kayak tours offer a one-of-a-kind experience that will not disappoint.

Cocoa Beach, Florida, is home to the Ron Jon Surf Shop, the world’s largest surf shop. This 52,000 square foot store has everything beach-related that you could need. Ron Jon also has locations in New Jersey, South Carolina, Alabama, and Maryland and has been recognized worldwide as a symbol of the surf and beach lifestyle. With apparel, swimwear, accessories, and more, this store has something for everyone, even if you are not into surfing.

One of Cocoa Beach’s most fantastic attractions is the Westgate Cocoa Beach Pier. This pier was established in 1962 and was originally known as Canaveral Pier. Since 2014, it has seen renovations worth more than $4 million. The transformations that Westgate Cocoa Beach Pier has undergone over the years have turned it into one of the Sunshine State’s must-see attractions. This historic landmark stretches over 800 feet over the Atlantic Ocean and houses many restaurants, bars, and shops. You can even expect to find live entertainment on the pier throughout the week. If you plan a day at the beach, West Gate Pier has beach rentals, fishing equipment rentals, freshwater public showers, and sand volleyball courts. The beach itself is monitored by lifeguards all year, making it a safe and enjoyable family attraction.

The Museum of Dinosaurs and Ancient Culture offers a family-friendly and educational experience for people of all ages. The museum features hundreds of artifacts and fossils discovered all over the world. The exhibits will take you back in time to the Devonian and Cretaceous periods and allow you to explore historical discoveries, including King Tut’s tomb, Ancient Mexico’s Temple of Warriors, and Emperor Qin’s Terracotta Army. This attraction offers three different experiences; however, guests are not limited to just one. You can visit the Dinosaur Store, the museum, or the adventure zone.

There are many options for long and short-distance travel services in Cocoa Beach, Florida. One of the most reputable that offers both is the Cocoa Beach Shuttle. For over 30 years, Cocoa Beach Shuttle has been central Florida’s premier professional transportation service. They offer affordable and safe transportation to and from Orlando International Airport, the cruise ship ports in Cape Canaveral, Orlando theme parks, and Cocoa Beach. Cocoa Beach Shuttle has more than 40 vehicles with a fleet of sedans, passenger vans, minibusses, and passenger coach busses. This bus company is dedicated to providing customers with a high-quality transportation service at low costs. Since 1984, they have analyzed and compared rates to ensure customer satisfaction.

For long-distance travel, Cocoa Beach is centrally located to three major airports: Orlando International Airport, Melbourne International Airport, and Orlando Sanford International Airport. All three are hubs for domestic and international travel. The closest to Cocoa Beach is Melbourne Airport which is conveniently located only 20 miles to the south. Orlando Airport is 50 miles northwest of Cocoa Beach, and Sanford lies 66 miles to the northwest. Cocoa Beach provides a variety of shuttle services that will bring residents to and from these airports. Among these include Road Runner Shuttle, Happy Hour Shuttle, 888 Transportation, and VIP Limo and Taxi.

When moving to Cocoa Beach, Florida, it is helpful to know what medical facilities are nearby. Cocoa Beach is home to Cape Canaveral Hospital, which is located off of SR 520 on the banks of the Banana River. This hospital is operated by Health First, which employs 240 trained and highly educated health professionals. Cape Canaveral Hospital also has a 21-bed level II emergency department that connects to a six-story medical plaza. This 150-bed general hospital offers services in cardiothoracic care, cancer care, labor and delivery, orthopedics, outpatient services, and more. Health First also operates multiple hospitals along the Space Coast, including Holmes Regional Medical Center, Palm Bay Hospital, and Viera Hospital. The organization was founded in 1995 and is Central Florida’s only non-profit, fully integrated delivery network. The hospitals that Health First operates have received accreditation, awards, and certificates on various occasions. Cape Canaveral Hospital, in particular, has been given a five-star rating from the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services in 2019. It is also accredited by The Joint Commission and the International Commission for Accreditation of Echo Laboratories (ICAEL).

If you are planning on moving to Florida’s Space Coast, consider all that Cocoa Beach has to offer. From quality dining options to entertainment for the whole family to enjoy, Cocoa Beach is a wonderful city to call home. To help make your move hassle-free, be sure to utilize the various moving services that Cocoa Beach offers or mobile storage containers for rent in the area.