Vero Beach in Indian River County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
City of Vero Beach
Photographed By Richard E. Miller, October 28, 2014
1. City of Vero Beach Marker - Panel 1
Inscription.
City of Vero Beach. . The pattern of community development which occurred in Vero Beach provides insight into some important aspects of Florida's history. Although the coastal waters in the region attracted fishermen, settlement of this area did not occur until the 1880s. During that decade the problem of transportation which had deterred settlers was solved by railroad construction. In 1891 a post office named Vero was established at the home of Henry Gifford who had settled on the site in 1880. When the railroad was extended south to Lake Worth, a depot was built at Vero. With the railroad came tourism and a growing interest in the area. At that time, large scale drainage of swamp land such as that which surrounded Vero was being undertaken in Florida. An example of the way in which investors took advantage of the newly recognized potential of swampy areas may be found in creation of the Indian River River Farms Company., In 1909 Henry T. Zeuch of Davenport, Iowa, visited the Vero area. He saw land that could be drained and sold to citrus farmers and cattle raisers. A corporation, the Indian River Farms Company was chartered in 1912 with stockholders who were chiefly residents of Zeuch's home town. In 1913 the town of Vero was plated at the Company's direction. In 1915 the Vero Woman's Club was founded, an act which signified the vitality of the new community. A club house, located near this marker was built the next year on land donated by the Indian River Farms Company. The planned drainage program was completed in 1917. In that year, maintenance and extension of the drainage area was given over to the State of Florida. The name of the community was changed to Vero Beach in 1925, when the town became the county seat of newly created Indian River County. The Indian River Farms Company was dissolved in 1936. Vero Beach has remained the center of this productive citrus growing region.
Sponsored by Vero Beach Woman's Club in cooperation with Department of State..
The pattern of community development which occurred in Vero Beach provides insight into some important aspects of Florida's history. Although the coastal waters in the region attracted fishermen, settlement of this area did not occur until the 1880s. During that decade the problem of transportation which had deterred settlers was solved by railroad construction. In 1891 a post office named Vero was established at the home of Henry Gifford who had settled on the site in 1880. When the railroad was extended south to Lake Worth, a depot was built at Vero. With the railroad came tourism and a growing interest in the area. At that time, large scale drainage of swamp land such as that which surrounded Vero was being undertaken in Florida. An example of the way in which investors took advantage of the newly recognized potential of swampy areas may be found in creation of the Indian River River Farms Company.
In 1909 Henry T. Zeuch of Davenport, Iowa, visited the Vero area. He saw land that could be drained and sold to citrus farmers and cattle raisers. A corporation, the Indian River Farms Company was chartered in 1912 with stockholders who were chiefly residents of Zeuch's home town. In 1913 the town of Vero was plated at the Company's direction. In 1915 the Vero Woman's Club was founded, an act which signified the vitality of the
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new community. A club house, located near this marker was built the next year on land donated by the Indian River Farms Company. The planned drainage program was completed in 1917. In that year, maintenance and extension of the drainage area was given over to the State of Florida. The name of the community was changed to Vero Beach in 1925, when the town became the county seat of newly created Indian River County. The Indian River Farms Company was dissolved in 1936. Vero Beach has remained the center of this productive citrus growing region.
Sponsored by Vero Beach Woman's Club in cooperation with Department of State.
Erected 1975 by Vero Beach Women's Club. (Marker Number F-243.)
Location. 27° 38.395′ N, 80° 24.077′ W. Marker is in Vero Beach, Florida, in Indian River County. Marker is at the intersection of 21st Street and 16th Avenue, on the right when traveling east on 21st Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Vero Beach FL 32960, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Courthouse Executive Center (about 600 feet away, measured in a
Photographed By Richard E. Miller, October 28, 2014
Photographed By Richard E. Miller, October 28, 2014
3. "City of Vero Beach Marker" at the intersection of 21st Street & 16th Avenue
with buildings of city's Justice Center in the background.
Photographed By Richard E. Miller, October 28, 2014
4. Turtle sculpture on display outside the nearby Indian River Citrus Museum and Heritage Center
Credits. This page was last revised on November 10, 2019. It was originally submitted on May 1, 2015, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. This page has been viewed 514 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on May 3, 2015, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.