Vero Beach

About Vero Beach

Vero Beach is a small beachfront city in Florida's Indian River County, located on the state's eastern coast. The city's scenic beaches are counted as part of Florida's Treasure Coast, named for the Spanish treasure fleet that was wrecked during a hurricane in 1715. It's also the site of the Indian River Lagoon, providing a number of water recreation activities like boating, diving and kayaking.

The History of Vero Beach

Pioneers began settling the area that's now Vero Beach in the 1880s. Henry T. Gifford, a prominent member of the fledgling community, established a citrus grove and built a small store that also served as the town's post office.

Vero Beach made great strides in 1893 when the St. Augustine and Indian River Railroad tracks were constructed. The new railway provided an easy trip along the state's eastern coast and made it possible for businesses to ship supplies to Vero Beach. Suddenly, residents had access to farm equipment and building supplies that they could use to expand the town.

Although Vero Beach was an established community for quite some time, it wasn't recognized as an official town until 1919. After gaining recognition, Vero Beach was still under control of St. Lucie County, an arrangement that many residents disliked because of ideological differences. Local politicians were able to take control away from St. Lucie County in 1925 when the state senate voted in favor of creating Indian River County. Today, Vero Beach is its county seat.

Jobs in Vero Beach

Vero Beach is home to a diverse, active economy that houses a number of businesses in the tourism, citrus and aviation industries. Piper Aircraft is headquartered in the city, providing hundreds of jobs to the small community. Disney's Vero Beach Resort is also a significant presence in the city, bolstering the local economy and supplying a number of jobs in leisure and hospitality.

If you're looking for a job in retail, Vero Beach has two large shopping malls with a number of retailers to choose from. The Fashion Outlet Mall and the Indian River Mall offer many retail and food service jobs, as does the historic downtown district and the city's "Miracle Mile."

Vero Beach Schools

Vero Beach's elementary, middle and high schools are served by the School District of Indian River County. The school district also operates an adult education center, an alternative school and a school for children who have disabilities. There are several private schools in the city, including both faith-based campuses and secular schools.

You can work toward your professional and educational goals at the local Indian River State College campus, which offers several different degree programs.

Resources for Moving to Vero Beach

As you prepare for your move to Vero Beach, here are a few resources that might prove helpful:

• Utilities: Florida Power & Light is Vero Beach's primary energy provider. The city facilitates water and sewer services, offering online payment options for your convenience.
• Garbage and Recycling: Trash and recyclables are collected every week, with curbside service provided for single-family homes. Special collection services are available for a small fee, including electronics and yard waste.
• Transportation: The county's public transit system is called GoLine, offering a number of bus routes throughout Indian River County.

Vero Beach Housing

Like many beachfront cities, Vero Beach has a median home price that's considerably higher than the national averages. However, when compared to a number of other Florida coastal cities, it's actually fairly affordable. You'll find plenty of housing options to choose from, ranging from compact rental apartments to large family homes.