The City of Cape Canaveral is a 1.9 square-mile beach and coastal community with more than 8,900 residents. The community is an integral part of the north beaches area of Brevard County, catering to vacation, recreational, and seasonal visitors in addition to year-round residents.
Located on the Atlantic Ocean, it is bounded on the west by the Banana River and on the south by Cocoa Beach. To the north is Port Canaveral, the only deep water port between Fort Lauderdale and Jacksonville, and the busiest cruise port in the Western Hemisphere in 2000, with 3.8 million revenue cruise passengers.
Kennedy Space Center is located just north of the City of Cape Canaveral on State Road 3. Rockets have a long history on Cape Canaveral dating back to early 1950's military launches. The United States chose the area, among other factors, because its proximity to the ocean allows over-the-water launches and the climate is amenable to year-round operation.
CAPE CANAVERAL HISTORY
It is said that Juan Ponce de Leon arrived at its shores in 1513. The American Revolutionary War’s last naval battle, which was fought in 1783, off the shores of Cape Canaveral, took place between the HMS Sybill and the USS Alliance. The area which is now known as Cape Canaveral was first appraised by a group of vacationing journalists from Orlando.
The city of Cape Canaveral was established in 1844. Known as Cape Kennedy from 1963 to 1973, it sits east of Merritt Island, separated from it by the Banana River. Since many U.S. spacecraft are launched from both the station and the Kennedy Space Center on adjacent Merritt Island, the terms "Cape Canaveral," "Canaveral" or even "The Cape" have become metonyms that refer to both as the launch site of spacecraft.
CAPE CANAVERAL DEMOGRAPHICS
Typically the residents of Cape Canaveral are young, mobile, and in transition. Many live in shared households or in apartments while a portion of the population lives in homes in established neighborhoods. For entertainment, they enjoy outdoor activities and sports, as well as going to movie theaters and nightclubs.
THINGS TO DO IN CAPE CANAVERAL
While in Cape Canaveral, one can visit the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, the Canaveral National Seashore, Cherie Down Park, and Jetty Park. The Brevard Museum of History and Natural Science, and the American Police Hall of Fame and Museum, provide information about the historical and cultural background of the area. The Brevard Zoo is also located nearby. The Kennedy Space Center is one of the main attractions in Cape Canaveral.
CAPE CANAVERAL AND NEARBY ATTRACTIONS
Brevard Museum of History and Natural Science
Canaveral National Seashore
Brevard Museum of Art and Science
Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge
American Police Hall of Fame and Museum
William Beardall Tosohatchee State Preserve
CAPE CANAVERAL QUICK GLANCE:
Population: 10,244
Population Growth: 15.8%
Residents per square mile Population Density: 4,705
Median Age: 49 years
Median Income: $36,703
100 = national average, 110 = 10% more expensive Cost of Living Index: 98
CAPE CANAVERAL WEATHER:
January Avg Temp: 51°F
July Avg Temp: 90°F
Sunny Days: 240
Precipitation Days: 112
Rainfall (inches): 52
Snowfall (inches): 0
CAPE CANAVERAL JOBS AND POLITICS:
Unemployment Rate: 6%
Recent Job Growth: 0.2%
Future Job Growth: 17.5%
Democrat: 41.5%
Republican: 57.6%
Independent (others): 0.7%
CAPE CANAVERAL HOUSING STATISTICS:
Median Home Age: 23 years
Median Home Value: $215,910
CAPE CANAVERAL EDUCATION STATISTICS:
Expenditures per pupil ($) School Expenditures: $4,259
Pupil/Teacher Ratio: 13
Students/Librarian: 432
Students/Counselor: 507
CAPE CANAVERAL HIGHER EDUCATION: Students can pursue higher education at the University of Central Florida, Rollins College, and Valencia Community College.
CAPE CANAVERAL HIGH SCHOOLS - PUBLIC
Cocoa Beach Junior/Senior High School
1500 Minutemen Cswy., Cocoa Beach
(321) 783-1776
CAPE CANAVERAL MIDDLE SCHOOLS - PUBLIC
Cocoa Beach Junior/Senior High School
1500 Minutemen Cswy., Cocoa Beach
(321) 783-1776
CAPE CANAVERAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS - PUBLIC
Cape View Elementary
8440 N. Rosalind Ave.
(321) 784-0284
