Fellsmere, Florida | |
|---|---|
| City of Fellsmere | |
 Location inIndian River County and the state ofFlorida | |
  Fellsmere, Florida Location in the United States | |
| Coordinates:27°46′0″N80°35′55″W / 27.76667°N 80.59861°W /27.76667; -80.59861 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Florida |
| County | Indian River |
| Incorporated | 1911 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Joel Tyson |
| • Vice Mayor | Fernando Herrera |
| • Council Members | Inocensia Hernandez, Gerald Renick, and Mayor Pro Tem Jessica Salgado |
| • City Manager | Mark D. Mathes |
| • City Clerk | Maria Suarez-Sanchez |
| Area | |
• Total | 57.79 sq mi (149.67 km2) |
| • Land | 57.58 sq mi (149.13 km2) |
| • Water | 0.21 sq mi (0.54 km2) |
| Elevation | 23 ft (7 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 4,834 |
| • Density | 83.9/sq mi (32.41/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code | 32948 |
| Area code | 772 |
| FIPS code | 12-22100[2] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0282414[3] |
| Website | www |
Fellsmere is a city inIndian River County,Florida, United States. It is part of theSebastian–Vero BeachMetropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 4,834 at the 2020 census.
It is home of theFellsmere Frog Leg Festival and was home to the now closedNational Elephant Center. Fellsmere is the first place in Florida where women were allowed to vote. In a municipal election on June 19, 1915, resident Zena M. Dreier became the first woman to legally cast a ballot in theAmerican South, five years before the19th Amendment established women's suffrage nationally.
On November 16, 2023, historic rainfall hit Fellsmere and surrounding areas causingsignificant flooding in the city.[4]
In 1915, Fellsmere became the first municipality in Florida[5] (or anywhere south of theMason–Dixon line)[6] to grantwomen the right to vote. It also, at the same time, held the first election in whichcorporations could vote. Mrs. Zena M. Dreier was the first woman to cast a vote in the city, and E. Nelson Fell cast a vote on behalf of his company Fellsmere Farms. The city had unanimously adopted a charter in February 1915,[6] which granted these rights, and the city charter was ratified by the state legislature without any notice being paid to this provision. This, despite the fact that several statewide suffrage measures had failed in the legislature that year.[5] Women's suffrage was not granted nationally in the United States until five years later, in August 1920, with the passage of the19th Amendment.
On November 16, 2023, Fellsmere experiencedmajor flooding after nearly 14 inches of rain fell in the area. These floods came only four months after flooding on July 31, 2023.[7][8][9][4]
The exact coordinates for the City of Fellsmere is located in central Indian River county at27°46′00″N80°35′55″W / 27.766771°N 80.598642°W /27.766771; -80.598642.[10]
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 57.7 square miles (149.4 km2), of which 57.5 square miles (148.9 km2) are land and 0.2 square miles (0.5 km2), or 0.45%, are water.[11]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1920 | 333 | — | |
| 1930 | 356 | 6.9% | |
| 1940 | 643 | 80.6% | |
| 1950 | 649 | 0.9% | |
| 1960 | 732 | 12.8% | |
| 1970 | 813 | 11.1% | |
| 1980 | 1,161 | 42.8% | |
| 1990 | 2,179 | 87.7% | |
| 2000 | 3,813 | 75.0% | |
| 2010 | 5,197 | 36.3% | |
| 2020 | 4,834 | −7.0% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[12] | |||
| Race | Pop 2010[13] | Pop 2020[14] | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White (NH) | 691 | 545 | 13.30% | 11.27% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 246 | 299 | 4.73% | 6.19% |
| Native American orAlaska Native (NH) | 15 | 3 | 0.29% | 0.06% |
| Asian (NH) | 5 | 3 | 0.10% | 0.06% |
| Pacific Islander orNative Hawaiian (NH) | 1 | 4 | 0.02% | 0.08% |
| Some other race (NH) | 3 | 15 | 0.06% | 0.31% |
| Two or more races/Multiracial (NH) | 21 | 55 | 0.40% | 1.14% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 4,215 | 3,910 | 81.10% | 80.89% |
| Total | 5,197 | 4,834 | 100.00% | 100.00% |
As of the2020 United States census, there were 4,834 people, 1,244 households, and 970 families residing in the city.[15]
As of the2010 United States census, there were 5,197 people, 1,323 households, and 1,137 families residing in the city.[16]
As of thecensus[2] of 2000, there were 3,813 people, 865 households, and 718 families residing in the city. Thepopulation density was 277.8 people/km2 (719 people/sq mi). There were 918 housing units at an average density of 66.9 units/km2 (173 units/sq mi). The racial makeup of the city was 60.11%White, 6.69%African American, 0.47%Native American, 0.10%Asian, 0.05%Pacific Islander, 30.68% fromother races, and 1.89% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 70.0% of the population.
In 2000, there were 865 households, out of which 52.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.6% weremarried couples living together, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 16.9% were non-families. 12.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.94 and the average family size was 4.18.
In 2000, in the city, the population was spread out, with 33.3% under the age of 18, 15.4% from 18 to 24, 32.8% from 25 to 44, 13.0% from 45 to 64, and 5.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 26 years. For every 100 females, there were 139.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 149.8 males.
In 2000, the median income for a household in the city was $30,395, and the median income for a family was $31,318. Males had a median income of $19,195 versus $15,521 for females. Theper capita income for the city was $10,258. About 21.7% of families and 24.3% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 25.2% of those under age 18 and 12.9% of those age 65 or over.
The large Hispanic population of Fellsmere owes to the surrounding agriculture industry, namelycitrus groves and other crop types. In the city, many locally owned niche businesses thrive, including restaurants, ethnic food, architectural salvage, gifts, guitar, and motorized vehicle repair establishments.
Fellsmere is served by the #10 bus route ofGoLine, providing service to the North County Transit Hub.[17]
The first railroad to reach Fellsmere was the narrow-gauge Sebastian-Cincinnatus Railroad, built by the sons of printing magnateAnthony Octavius Russell.[18] It was replaced by the standard-gauge Fellsmere Railroad in 1910. The line was later extended west to the now-gone town of Broadmoor before being bought by the Trans-Florida Central Railroad in 1924. The line was abandoned in 1952.[19]
Municipalities and communities ofIndian River County, Florida,United States | ||
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| Cities |  | |
| Towns | ||
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| Unincorporated communities | ||
| International | |
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| National | |
