WPA

HISTORY OF BREVARD COUNTY

In 1855 Brevard County was organized from what was known as St. Lucie County. It was named in honor of Dr. John Brevard, member of a distinguished North Carolina family, author and signer of the Mecklenburgh Declaration of Independence, adopted by that colony in 1775.

The first County Board meeting was held October 30, 1871 at a country store known as Savage’s place. All following meetings were held either at the home of some member of the board or at a country store.

On September 12, 1874, it was ordained by the board to let a contract for the building of a Court House at the County Site of Brevard County—township 27 S., range 36 E.—known as Lakeview, some three to nine miles west of Eau Gallie. Specifications were drawn as follows: 12ft. x 16ft. round logs, floored with puncheons or boards, covered with two foot boards, with one door and two windows of usual size. The contract was let to the lowest bidder, the amount being forty-seven dollars and fifty cents ($47.50) which was paid to John Q. Stewart. Board members were as follows: John Houston, president of board, William H. Sharpe, R. A. Hardee and A. A. Stewart, Clerk.

In 1879 the southern part of Volusia County was added to Brevard County and in October of 1879 the Board of County Commissioners met for the purpose of locating a new County Site, this being put to the vote of the people. At this time there were 343 qualified voters in the county. Three sites were selected and voted on with the following results: Eau Gallie 35 votes, Rockledge 39 votes and Titusville 195 votes. As Titusville received a majority of the votes polled it was declared the County Site of Brevard County. At this time the full and efficient organization of the county was made by the appointment of a full set of county officials and for the first time in history, taxes were systematically collected. In 1880 the board met in a church rented from Coloner Titus at twenty-five dollars ($25.00) per year, Mr. Titus keeping up all repairs on building; then the board held meetings in the T. W. Lund packing house paying ten dollars ($10.00) a month

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The Island lies parallel to the Atlantic Coast for all its length of thirty-two miles and varies in width from a mere point at its southern tip, to a maximum of seven or eight miles as it trends northward. There are several small towns scattered along the Indian River line. Audobon, a recently established post-office to the north; then Courtney, Indianola, Merritt, Footman, Georgiana, Lotus, Banyan, and Tropic. The latter sits on the southern tip of the island--the “jumping off place.” All of these little villages are pleasant to look upon and pleasant to live in.

Information for the history of Brevard County was obtained from the following sources:

H. H. Hudson, editor and publisher of the “Star Advocate”

J. P. Wilson, City clerk.

E. B. Wager, a retired editor and publisher.

Gus Nelson, janitor of the County Court House.

Old newspaper files and pamphlets.