Grant-Valkaria, Florida

Grant-Valkaria is a town in Brevard County, Florida. It is part of the Palm Bay–Melbourne–Titusville, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area. The town's population was 4,509 as the 2020 census, up from 3,850 at the 2010 census.

History


The community of Grant was originally established in 1925, and it has a history as a fishing village, with agriculture also a part of both communities' histories.

The community name of Valkaria derives from Valkyrie, a warrior-maiden of Norse mythology.

A MISTRAM missile tracking system was built by the US Air Force here in the early 1960s.

Grant-Valkaria was incorporated as a town on July 25, 2006, by joining the two previously unincorporated communities of Grant and Valkaria. The ZIP code 32949 is solely within the Grant-Valkaria town limits, while portions of the 32950 and 32909 ZIP codes are part of the town as well. The town's area code is 321.

Geography
Grant-Valkaria is located at 27.9343°N, -80.56588°W.

Grant-Valkaria is located south of Melbourne, between Palm Bay and Sebastian.

Surrounding areas

 * Malabar [[Image:North.svg]]
 * Indian River Lagoon; Floridana Beach [[File:Boxed East arrow.svg]]
 * Palm Bay [[Image:West.svg]]
 * Micco; Barefoot Bay [[Image:South.svg]]

Climate
The Town of Grant-Valkaria has a humid subtropical climate zone (Cfa).

Demographics
Grant-Valkaria had a population of 4,449, and was the 510th most populated city in Florida, as of 2022.

In 2021, the median household income in Grant-Valkaria was $82,273 per year, although 6.3% of Grant-Valkaria's population lived in poverty. The median age for Grant-Valkaria was 54.

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 4,509 people, 1,476 households, and 1,197 families residing in the town.

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 3,850 people, 1,443 households, and 1,147 families residing in the town.

Government
In 2007, the town had a taxable real estate base of $503.37 million.

The town charter reflects the reason for incorporation and calls for future development to be consistent with a rural and fishing village lifestyle that preserves the history and natural green spaces of the two communities. Government services are to be kept to a minimum, density kept low and lot sizes kept large.

Culture
A largely rural town in the south end of the county, the town includes older homes, newer homes on acre-plus lots and the county-owned Habitat Golf Course, a 6836 yard, par-72 course near the Valkaria Airport.

The town has held the Grant Seafood Festival every year on the last weekend of February since 1966. In 1968, then U.S. Vice-President Hubert Humphrey visited the Seafood Festival while campaigning for his 1968 presidential bid. The proceeds go towards college scholarships for local children, as well as summer break activities for the community's children.

The town has the historic Bensen House as well as the historic Jorgensen's General Store.

Transportation

 * U.S. 1 – This US highway runs along the Indian River Lagoon.
 * CR 507 – Locally known as Babcock Street, CR 507 forms the western boundaries of Grant-Valkaria.
 * Palm Bay Parkway – A proposed highway of Palm Bay, which may terminate in Grant-Valkaria, at I-95. One of the planned intersections would be at Babcock Street.
 * The Valkaria Airport serves small general aviation aircraft.

Notable people

 * Billy Horschel, professional golfer, born in Grant