| Establishment |
Town of Cocoa Beach was established on June 5, 1925, by Gus Edward, a local attorney, originally from Georgia. |
| First Settlers |
The first settlers were Indians, who were then captured by the Spaniards, they were then followed by freed slaves following the Civil War. In 1888, a group of Cocoa men bought the entire track of land. It was only when a prominent attorney arrived that the area started to develop |
| City Founder |
Gus Edwards |
| First Bridge |
In 1920, bridge construction to Cocoa Beach started, and it was completed in 1922 |
| Lot cost in 1922 |
$100 each lot |
| Access |
Access was widely available on July 4th, 1922, when road access was given to the new casino |
| Bus Tours |
Gus Edwards bought a bus in 1924 and offered tours to the beach |
| Beach Driving |
Racing on the beach was welcomed in 1924, with cars driving up to 180 miles per hour on the beach - then known as the world's greatest speedway |
| Electricity |
Electricity was available on the island in 1925 |
| Roads |
Funding was approved in 1932, for Route 104, now known as State Road A1A |
| Population in 1939 |
49 Residents |
| Naval Air Station |
Banana River Naval Air Station was commissioned in October of 1939. Renamed Patrick Air Force Base in 1948 |
| Water Service |
Water lines were installed on the island in 1947 |
| Police Department |
Police Department was established in 1947 with one part-time officer protecting the Town |
| Military Installments |
On May 11, 1949, President Harry Truman created a Long-Range Proving Ground for missiles at Cape Canaveral. |
| Population in 1949 |
246 Residents |
| Telephone Access |
Telephone lines were brought to the city in 1951 |
| Lot Cost in 1951 |
$750 to $900 |
| Sewage Treatment |
After overflowing septic tanks become an issue in 1954 a sewage treatment plant is set to be constructed. |
| First Town Manager |
Rodney Ketcham was appointed to Town Manager in 1955 and served till 1957. |
| City Incorporation |
Cocoa Beach was incorporated from a Town to a City in 1957 |
| First Motel |
Starlite Motel in 1956 has 100 rooms |
| Hospital |
Committee recommenced the construction of a Local Hospital in 1957 |
| First Bank and Store |
First bank and store in Cocoa Beach were established in 1957 |
| First School |
Cocoa Beach Elementary School was established in 1958 |
| Beach Driving Restricted |
Portion of the beach was closed to driving on the beach after a drunk driver struck and killed a 4 year old girl while driving 70 miles per hour. |
| Space Travel |
First Rocket Launch with a Human occurred on May 6, 1961, the Freedom 7 took flight making Alan Shepard the first American to travel into space. Many were in attendance to watch the launch on the beaches of Cocoa Beach. |
| Cocoa Beach Pier |
The now historic Cocoa Beach Pier was constructed in 1962 for $150,000 |
| Space Travel |
In 1962 more than 75,000 people came to Cocoa Beach to see Friendship 7, with Astronaut John Glenn, orbit the Earth. |
| Surfside Playhouse |
Playhouse was constructed in 1963 |
| Junior Senior High School |
Cocoa Beach Junior Senior High School was constructed in 1963 on land dredged and filled for this purpose. |
| Parks and Recreation |
Recreation Complex was also placed on a dredged and filled area. The complex was built in 1966, adding a Golf Course in 1968 |
| Famous Cocoa Beach |
Cocoa Beach was the home of Captain Tony Nelson in the TV Show " I Dream of Jeannie" with it's pilot episode airing in 1965. |
| Middle School |
Roosevelt Middle School opened in 1967. It is now known as Roosevelt Elementary School. |
| Population in 1968 |
12,000 residents |
| Beach Driving Banned |
In 1969 driving on the Beach was banned. |
| Space Travel |
Apollo 11, took flight on July 16, 1969 bringing about the first lunar landing. |
| Population on 1970 |
9,442 Residents |
| Population in 1975 |
12,000 Residents |
| Speed Limit |
The speed limit on A1A was lowered from 45 mph to 35 mph due to the death of the Mayor's wife in a car accident. |
| Time Capsule |
The City buried a time capsule in Fisher Park in 1975 with plans to be re-opened on July 4, 2076 |
| Indian Mound |
An Indian Mound was found in 1976, located at South Orlando Avenue between 14th Street and 15 Street |
| Population in 2003 |
12,800 Residents |
