Sebastian, Florida

History

In 1715, several Spanish ships loaded with treasure (known as the 1715 Treasure Fleet) encountered a storm off the shores of the Treasure Coast and were lost. It is estimated that only a portion of the sunken treasure has been found. The value placed on the treasure lost from the 1715 fleet has been estimated at more than US$500 million. A significant portion of the treasure was discovered by Mel Fisher, who established a permanent museum in Sebastian in 1992.

The town of Sebastian was a fishing village as early as the 1870s. In the early 1880s David Peter Gibson and Thomas New settled in the area. New filed to start a post office under the name New Haven. However, New got into legal trouble for misuse of his position as postmaster and was removed. Officially, Sebastian was founded in 1882 and named St. Sebastian, after Saint Sebastian. Later, “St.” was removed from the name of the town, but not from the river. Sebastian was incorporated as a city in 1923.

Nearby Pelican Island was declared the first National Wildlife Refuge in the United States in 1903.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total land area of 13.66 sqmi.

Climate

| Jun record low F = 55 | Mar record low F = 26 | Apr record low F = 37 | May record low F = 46 | Oct record low F = 44 | Jul record low F = 62 | Aug record low F = 63 | Sep record low F = 61 | Jan record low F = 24 | Nov record low F = 31 | Feb record low F = 29 | Aug record high F = 97 | Dec record high F = 90 | Nov record high F = 90 | Oct record high F = 93 | Sep record high F = 99 | Jul record high F = 102 | Jun record high F = 98 | May record high F = 99 | Apr record high F = 95 | Mar record high F = 92 | Feb record high F = 90 | Jan record high F = 88 | Dec record low F = 24

Demographics

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 25,054 people, 10,684 households, and 6,691 families residing in the city.

In 2020, 14.4% of the population were people under the age of 18, and 35.5% were people over the age of 65. The average household size was 2.39. 51.6% of the population were female and 48.4% male.

In 2020, the median household income for the city was $54,986 in 2020, and the per capita income was $32,400. About 10.6% of the population were below the poverty line.

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 21,929 people, 9,114 households, and 6,319 families residing in the city.

Government

The Government of the City of Sebastian follows a council-manager government model with a five-member city council as the elected governing body and a city manager as the chief operating officer. Members of the city council serve two-year terms with staggered elections.

Public safety

Fire Rescue

Indian River County Fire-Rescue provides fire protection and emergency medical services to the citizens of Sebastian. There are two fire stations assigned to the city:

• Station 8: Engine 8, Rescue 8, Battalion 1.
• Station 9: Quint 9, Rescue 9.

Police Department

The Sebastian Police Department provides police protection for the city. It operates from the municipal complex, and has an authorized strength of approximately 48 sworn officers.

Education

The School District of Indian River County operates public schools.

There are three elementary schools (Sebastian Elementary, Pelican Island Elementary and Treasure Coast Elementary,) two middle schools (Sebastian River Middle School and Sebastian Charter Junior High) and one high school (Sebastian River High School) in the city.

Located to the west of the city center on County Road 512, the North County Public Library is part of the Indian River County Library System.

Transportation

The GoLine Bus system operates buses out of the North County Transit Hub at 90th Avenue & Sebastian Blvd to various parts of Indian River County.

Notable people

• Bryan Augenstein, pitcher in Major League Baseball in 2009 and 2011; born in Sebastian
• G. Holmes Braddock, American politician
• Jim Gary, American sculptor, was born in Sebastian
• Arlo Guthrie, American folk singer-songwriter
• Paul Kroegel, American conservationist

References

References

1. "City of Sebastian Florida". City of Sebastian Florida.
2. "Russ Lemmon: Origin of Sebastian's 'Six Old Grouches' remains a mystery".
3. [https://archive.today/20130411214107/http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/bizarre/content/who-are-sebastians-six-old-grouches "Who are Sebastian's "six old grouches"?"], ''Tampa Bay Times''
4. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
5. "U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].
6. {{GNIS. 2405438
7. "Google Maps".
8. "Florida Cities by Population".
9. (2015-10-26). "Visit Indian River County {{!}} Official Travel & Tourism Information".
10. "Explore Nature Vero Beach Sebastian Fellsmere Florida".
11. "United States Census".
12. "Sebastian, Florida - City Information, Fast Facts, Schools, Colleges, and More".
13. "Mel Fisher's Treasure Museum".
14. "Mel Fisher's Treasures - Historic Shipwreck Recovery - Sebastain, Florida".
15. "Profile for Sebastian, Florida, FL". ePodunk.
16. "History - Pelican Island - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service".
17. "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Sebastian city, Florida; United States".
18. "Monthly Weather-Sebastian, FL". The Weather Channel.
19. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov.
20. "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Sebastian city, Florida".
21. "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Sebastian city, Florida".
22. "S1101 HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES - 2020: Sebastian city, Florida".
23. "United States Census".
24. "S1101 HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES - 2010: Sebastian city, Florida".
25. "Fire Rescue Division".
26. "Indian River County Emergency Services Org Chart".
27. "Police Scorecard: Sebastian, FL".
28. "Sebastian Annual Budget".
29. "Sebastian Elementary School".
30. "Pelican Island Elementary School".
31. "Treasure Coast Elementary School".
32. "Sebastian River Middle School".
33. "Goline Transportation".
34. "Bryan Augenstein". MLB.com.
35. Cohen, Howard. (July 24, 2025). "'He shaped the futures of millions of students.' G. Holmes Braddock dies at 100". [[Miami Herald]].