View source for Palm Bay, Florida

{{Short description|City in Florida, United States}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
<!-- Basic info  ---------------->| name               = Palm Bay, Florida
| settlement_type    = [[City (Florida)|City]]
| image_skyline      = PalmBayFL2020.png
| imagesize          = 280px
| image_caption      = From top (left to right): Palm Bay, Palm Bay City Hall, Palm Bay overpass sign on [[Interstate 95 in Florida|I-95]], and [[Turkey Creek (Indian River tributary)|Turkey Creek]]
| image_flag         = Flag of Palm Bay, Florida.svg
| flag_size          = 
| image_seal         = Seal of Palm Bay, Florida.png
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| image_shield       = 
| shield_size        = 
| image_blank_emblem = 
| blank_emblem_type  = 
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| motto              = "A perfect place to grow!"<ref name="About Palm Bay">[http://www.palmbayflorida.org/citycouncil/about/emb.html City Council/City Clerk - City Emblems] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130821132240/http://palmbayflorida.org/citycouncil/about/emb.html |date=2013-08-21 }}, Palm Bay City Emblems.</ref>
<!-- images and maps  ----------->| image_map          = Brevard_County_Florida_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Palm_Bay_Highlighted.svg
| mapsize            = 250x200px
| map_caption        = Location of Palm Bay in [[Brevard County, Florida|Brevard County]] (left) and in [[Florida]] (right)
| image_map1         = 
| mapsize1           = 
| map_caption1       = <!-- Location ------------------>
| coordinates        = {{coord|27|59|52.52|N|80|40|12.03|W|region:US-FL|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name   = {{nowrap|{{US}}}}
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in Florida|County]]
| subdivision_name1  = {{flag|Florida}}
| subdivision_name2  = {{flagicon image|Flag of Brevard County, Florida.png}} [[Brevard County, Florida|Brevard]]
| established_title  = [[Settler colonialism|Settled (Tillman)]]
| established_date   = {{circa|Late 1870s|lk=yes}}<ref name="eriksen"/>
| established_title2 = <!-- Incorporated (town) -->
| established_date2  = 
| established_title3 = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated<br>(City of Palm Bay)]]
| established_date3  = January 16, 1960<ref name=PBFLInc/>
<!-- Area    --------------------->| government_footnotes = 
| government_type    = [[Council-manager government|Council-Manager]]
| leader_title       = [[Mayor]]
| leader_name        = Rob Medina
| leader_title1      = [[Deputy Mayor]]
| leader_name1       = Mike Jaffe
| leader_title2      = [[City Council|Councilmembers]]
| leader_name2       = Mike Hammer, Kenny Johnson, and<br> Chandler Langevin
| leader_title3      = [[City Manager]]
| leader_name3       = Matt Morton
| leader_title4      = [[City Clerk]]
| leader_name4       = Terese Jones
| unit_pref          = Imperial
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_12.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=October 31, 2021}}</ref>
| area_magnitude     = 
| area_total_km2     = 232.05
| area_total_sq_mi   = 89.60
| area_land_km2      = 223.82
| area_land_sq_mi    = 86.42
| area_water_km2     = 8.23
| area_water_sq_mi   = 3.18
| area_water_percent = 4.56
| area_metro_sq_mi   = 
| area_blank1_title  = 
| area_blank1_sq_mi  = <!-- Population   ----------------------->
<!---Please do not put bogus guesses in here from the Palm Bay site. This is NOT a PB promo site. It is an encyclopedia that we would like people to trust. They can't trust us when we stop quoting the US census and take local "guesses" as to possible population.--->| elevation_footnotes = 
| elevation_m        = 5
| elevation_ft       = 19
<!-- Area/postal codes & others -------->| population_total   = 119760
| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes = 
| population_density_sq_mi = 1385.82
| population_urban   = 510,675 ([[List of United States urban areas|US: 82nd]])
| population_density_urban_km2 = 787.0
| population_density_urban_sq_mi = 2,038.3
| population_metro   = 606,612 ([[Metropolitan statistical area|US: 95th]])
| population_density_metro_sq_mi = <!-- General information  --------------->
| population_note    = 
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]s
| postal_code        = 32905-32911
| area_code          = [[Area code 321|321]]
| website            = {{URL|http://www.palmbayfl.gov/|palmbayfl.gov}}
| footnotes          = 
| timezone           = [[Eastern Time Zone (North America)|Eastern (EST)]]
| utc_offset         = −5
| timezone_DST       = EDT
| utc_offset_DST     = −4
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 12-54000<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = 0288389<ref name="GR3">{{cite web|url=http://geonames.usgs.gov|access-date=2008-01-31|title=US Board on Geographic Names|publisher=[[United States Geological Survey]]|date=2007-10-25}}</ref>
| population_density_km2 = 535.07
| pop_est_as_of      = 
| pop_est_footnotes  = 
| population_est     = 
}}

'''Palm Bay''' is a city in [[Brevard County, Florida]], [[United States]]. The city's population was 119,760 at the [[2020 United States census]], up from 103,190 at the 2010 census,<ref name="Census 2010">{{cite web| url=https://www.census.gov| title=Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (DP-1): Palm Bay city, Florida| publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]| access-date=January 30, 2012}}</ref> making it the most populous city in the county and the largest by land mass. The historic section of the city lies on the mouth of the [[Turkey Creek (Indian River tributary)|Turkey Creek]] and the [[Palm Bay (Florida)|Palm Bay]]. Palm Bay has historically expanded south and to the west. The newer section is mostly situated west of [[Interstate 95 in Florida|Interstate 95]] and south of the Tillman Canal.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Palm Bay|url=https://www.google.com/maps/place/Palm+Bay,+FL/@27.9699955,-80.6479916,12z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x88de0d3474edb837:0xb256832a4d2d844e!8m2!3d28.0344479!4d-80.588665|access-date=2020-11-25|website=Google Maps|language=en}}</ref>

Palm Bay is a principal city<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/bulletins/fy2007/b07-01.pdf |title=Update of Statistical Area Definitions and guidance on their uses |publisher=[[Office of Management and Budget]] |access-date=2007-11-25|url-status=dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071120114200/http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/bulletins/fy2007/b07-01.pdf <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 2007-11-20}}</ref> of the Palm Bay−[[Melbourne, Florida|Melbourne]]−[[Titusville, Florida]] [[Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area|Metropolitan Statistical Area]], which had a population of 606,612 at the 2020 census.<ref name="Census 2010"/>

==History==
The [[Ais people]], attracted to the mouth of [[Turkey Creek (Indian River)|Turkey Creek]] at the [[Indian River (Florida)|Indian River]] by freshwater springs, fish, oysters, and wildlife, are thought to have been the first inhabitants in the Palm Bay area.

The earliest place names for this area on early maps of the late 1700s were ''Turkey Creek,'' ''Elbow Creek'' and ''Crane Creek''. An 1870 map of the Indian River by John Andrew Bostrom shows the area void of any settlements within about 15 miles of Turkey Creek. The first prominent [[European-American]] [[settler]] was John Tillman in the late 1870s. Tillman's wharf marked the mouth of Turkey Creek at what became known as Palm Bay on the Indian River.<ref name="eriksen"/>

By the late 1880s, Tillman was operating a profitable orange and banana grove on the north shore of the creek. He had the most notable banana grove on the Indian River. Tillman's wharf also attracted settlers, as it was a [[steamboat]] stop.<ref name="eriksen">Eriksen, John M. [http://johneriksen.net/feb/BooksByEbook-Browser/BrevardCountyHistoryTo1955.pdf ''Brevard County, Florida: A Short History to 1955''], Chapter Seven</ref>

By the mid-nineteenth century, there was a lumber operation,{{clarify|reason=Changed 'lumbering' to 'lumber' operation,|date=April 2017|sawmill. harvesting hardwoods or what?}} orange groves, and packing house. Growth was slow until the arrival of the [[Florida East Coast Railway|railroad]] in 1894. Then goods were brought in and produce was shipped to market faster.
[[File:Turkey Creek in Palm Bay, FL.jpg|thumb|Turkey Creek in 2015]]

===1900s===
Between 1910 and 1914, a land company known as the Indian River Catholic Colony became established at Tillman. Attempting to grow two crops a season, farmers quickly depleted the soil, and the colony failed. Those remaining built St. Joseph's Church on Miller Street, the oldest building still standing.

In the 1920s, the city was renamed as Palm Bay, after the bay bordered with [[Sabal palmetto|sabal palm trees]] known as [[Palm Bay (Florida)|Palm Bay]], located at the mouth of Turkey Creek.<ref name="eriksen"/> A group of Tillman businessmen established the Melbourne-Tillman Drainage District, and issued $1.5 million worth of bonds. Starting in 1922, a {{convert|180|mi}} grid of 80 [[canal]]s was dug to drain {{convert|40000|acre|km2}} of swampy land west of Palm Bay for other uses. The canals made it possible to control flooding and redevelop marsh lands to agricultural use. These actions had the unintended consequences of leaving the land more vulnerable to flooding from storms and destroying important habitats for complex ecology.

Farmers planted citrus groves and truck farms which shipped winter produce by the [[Florida East Coast Railroad]] to northern markets. Farmers sold timber and land to paper companies. Based on use of the Tillman and Hopkins canals, ranchers raised beef cattle in West Melbourne.<ref name = bj2017>{{Cite journal |first=Rosemary |last=DeFrancisci |year=2017 |title= West Melbourne Cowboys|journal=The Journal of the Brevard County Historical Commission |volume=XVI |issue=2 |pages=4, 5}}</ref>

In 1926, a fire among the dredges and a severe hurricane caused extensive damage, leading to an economic downturn in Palm Bay. The Melbourne-Tillman Drainage District went bankrupt.

In 1959, [[General Development Corporation]] purchased and platted extensive tracts of land in Palm Bay for a large residential project known as Port Malabar. The city of Palm Bay incorporated on January 16, 1960.<ref name=PBFLInc>{{cite news | first=Susan | last=Cervenka | title=Parade kicks off Palm Bay birthday | url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20091205/NEWS01/912050316/Parade-to-kick-off-city-s-birthday | publisher=Florida Today | location=Melbourne, Florida | pages=1B | date=5 December 2009 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091219063630/http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20091205/NEWS01/912050316/Parade-to-kick-off-city-s-birthday | archive-date=2009-12-19 | url-status=dead }}</ref> Prior to expanding its borders, the city population was 2,808 that year.<ref>{{Cite news | first=Keyonna | last=Summers | title=Looking back at 50 years | url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20100117/NEWS01/1170334/Looking-back-at-50-years | publisher=Florida Today | location=Melbourne, Florida | pages=1B | date=17 January 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140713041818/http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20100117/NEWS01/1170334/Looking-back-at-50-years | archive-date=2014-07-13 | url-status=dead }}</ref>

The active development of the city after that point was intertwined with GDC, which laid out and built many of the streets, sold and built many of the city's homes, and built a water treatment plant. This was later purchased by the city of Palm Bay after GDC filed for bankruptcy in 1991.

The Melbourne-Tillman Water District was revived under the auspices of the County Government. In 2019, it controlled {{convert|100|mi2}} of land.<ref>{{Cite news | first=Dave | last=Berman | title=Fine: Add party affiliation in city elections | url=https://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/local/2019/01/14/fine-list-political-party-affiliations-municipal-election-ballots/2568174002/| newspaper=Florida Today | location=Melbourne, Florida| pages= 1A,2A | date=January 16, 2019 | access-date=January 16, 2019}}</ref>

On April 23, 1987, [[1987 Palm Bay shooting|William Bryan Cruse Jr. shot and killed six people]], including two college students and two police officers, at a local shopping center. He also wounded ten other people. The shooting by the 59-year-old, who was retired or unemployed and caring for a chronically ill wife, made national news.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/04/25/us/florida-gunman-charged-with-killing-6.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm | work=The New York Times | first=Jon | last=Nordheimer | title=FLORIDA GUNMAN CHARGED WITH KILLING 6 | date=25 April 1987}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://crime.about.com/od/deathrow/ig/Florida-Death-Row-Inmates/William-Cruse.htm |title=William Cruse - Florida Death Row Inmate William Cruse |publisher=Crime.about.com |date=1987-04-23 |access-date=2012-12-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928114624/http://crime.about.com/od/deathrow/ig/Florida-Death-Row-Inmates/William-Cruse.htm |archive-date=2011-09-28}}</ref> Convicted and sentenced to death, Cruse died on Florida's death row in 2009.<ref name="fdoc">{{cite web|url=https://pubapps.fdc.myflorida.com/OffenderSearch/detail.aspx?Page=Detail&DCNumber=117051&TypeSearch=IR|title=Inmate Release Information Detail – Inmate 117051|publisher=[[Florida Department of Corrections]]|access-date=May 16, 2022}}</ref>

In October 1994, $500,000 of gold and gems stolen from a jewelry store which was at the time the largest single robbery in the city's history. Police suspected a connection with a similar robbery in May 1994 in Daytona Beach. [[Larry Lawton]] was later charged in 1996 with the crime after fingerprint evidence linked him to the crime.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Decker|first=Susan|date=December 30, 1996|title=Police get break in Gem Heist|page=A1|work=Florida Today|location=[[Cocoa, Florida]]|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/174985705/}}</ref>

===2000s===
For three consecutive years between 2003 and 2005, Palm Bay was a finalist for the [[All-America City Award]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.communityguide360.com/location/fl/palm-bay.html|title=Palm Bay, Florida|website=www.communityguide360.com|access-date=11 August 2017}}</ref>

In 2008, the city was named in an article from ''U.S. News & World Report'' as the second "Drunkest City" in the US behind Reno, Nevada.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://health.usnews.com/health-news/diet-fitness/photos/americas-top-10-booziest-cities?slide=2|title=America's Top Ten Booziest Cities|last=Johnson|first=Megan|date=2008-12-17|website=US News|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180105011558/https://health.usnews.com/health-news/diet-fitness/photos/americas-top-10-booziest-cities?slide=2|archive-date=2018-01-05|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 2008, the former Port Malabar Country Club property was revalued at $300,000. This was considered an essentially "worthless" valuation because [[arsenic]] had been found in the groundwater and remediation would cost an estimated $12 million to clean up.<ref>{{Cite news | first=Kimberly C. | last=Moore | title=Old country club value nose dives | url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/floridatoday/access/1702969211.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Jun+19%2C+2008&author=KIMBERLY+C+MOORE&pub=Florida+Today&edition=&startpage=B.1&desc=Old+country+club+value+nose-dives | archive-url=https://archive.today/20130131145025/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/floridatoday/access/1702969211.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Jun+19,+2008&author=KIMBERLY+C+MOORE&pub=Florida+Today&edition=&startpage=B.1&desc=Old+country+club+value+nose-dives | url-status=dead | archive-date=January 31, 2013 | newspaper=[[Florida Today]] | location=Melbourne, Florida | date=June 19, 2008 }}</ref>

Hundreds of miles of roads in the city are in such poor condition that the city Public Works Department considers them unserviceable. The voters have consistently defeated measures to raise money to invest in infrastructure to improve the roads, which are described as the worst in Brevard County. In 2005, they voted down a $58.7 million bond measure. In 2009, they defeated a $75.2 million tax referendum. In 2010, voters living in areas with the worst roads voted 9–1 against $44.7 million assessment for repairing them. In 2011, the city government created a Palm Bay Road Maintenance District that they hope can levy taxes and alleviate the situation.<ref>{{Cite news | first=Matt | last=Reed | title=Vote makes way for pothole patching | url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20110306/COLUMNISTS0207/103060319/Matt-Reed-Vote-makes-way-pothole-patching | newspaper=[[Florida Today]] | location=Melbourne, Florida | pages=1B | date=6 March 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140509081010/http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20110306/COLUMNISTS0207/103060319/Matt-Reed-Vote-makes-way-pothole-patching | archive-date=2014-05-09 | url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 2008, fires on [[Mother's Day (United States)|Mother's Day]] destroyed 37 homes in the southwest area of the city. [[Arson]] has been blamed as the cause of at least a few of the numerous fires. After the fires roared through the city, many roads and homes were left in disrepair for extended periods of time.  <ref>{{Cite news | first=Bill | last=Berger | title=An eventful time | newspaper=[[Florida Today]] | location=Melbourne, Florida | pages= 13A | date=22 January 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://listserv.palmbayflorida.org/cgi-bin/wa.exe?A2=POLICE_DEPARTMENT;OhkZPw;20080517145621-0400 |title=City of Palm Bay, Florida LISTSERV - POLICE_DEPARTMENT Archives |publisher=Listserv.palmbayflorida.org |date=2008-05-17 |access-date=2012-12-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714192321/http://listserv.palmbayflorida.org/cgi-bin/wa.exe?A2=POLICE_DEPARTMENT;OhkZPw;20080517145621-0400 |archive-date=2014-07-14 |url-status=dead }}</ref><!---latter ref corrects date to 2008 vs a later date--->

In 2009, the [[Brevard Zoo]] moved the remaining 15 [[Florida scrub jay]] families native to the city to Buck Lake Conservation Area in [[Mims, Florida|Mims]]. The Florida scrub jay is a threatened species due to it being territorial; it is unable to move to better grounds when its habitat is jeopardized.<ref>{{cite news | first=Jim | last=Waymer | title=A new home, new hope for scrub jay | url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20091220/NEWS01/912200323/1010/NEWS0302/A+new+home++new+hope+for+scrub+jay | publisher=Florida Today | location=Melbourne, Florida | pages=1A | date=20 December 2009 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100105170628/http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20091220/NEWS01/912200323/1010/news0302/A+new+home++new+hope+for+scrub+jay | archive-date=5 January 2010 | url-status=dead | df=dmy-all }}</ref>

===2010s===
In 2010, plans were revealed by a private company to develop Emerald City, a large [[planned city|planned development]] within the city limits. The company intends to develop a multi-use, eco-friendly urban community to include residential zones consisting of townhouses, and commercial zones consisting of state-of-the-art medical facilities, research and development centers for technology firms, and urbanized retail shopping centers. As of February 2016, Emerald City is in the development phase.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://emeraldcity-florida.com/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100410221557/http://emeraldcity-florida.com/|url-status=dead|archive-date=10 April 2010|title=Emerald City - Palm Bay Florida - A New Urbanist Inspired "Green" Community in the heart of Florida's Space Coast - Home Page|website=emeraldcity-florida.com|access-date=11 August 2017}}</ref>

City fiscal concern over firefighters' pensions rose during 2010. Firefighters' salaries averaged $71,100 annually plus $5,590 overtime pay. They were eligible for 100% of base pay after 28 years of service.<ref>{{cite news| title=Editorial (Our view):Day of reckoning - Palm Bay firefighters pension dispute requires straight talk, compromise| url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20100523/OPINION/100521019/Our+views++Day+of+reckoning+%28May+23%29| publisher=Florida Today| location=Melbourne, Florida| pages=18A| date=23 May 2010| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140713045431/http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20100523/OPINION/100521019/Our+views++Day+of+reckoning+%28May+23%29| archive-date=2014-07-13| url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 2012, construction began on the St. John's Heritage Parkway (also known as the Palm Bay Parkway), an arterial roadway that runs north to south along with the western limits of the city.<ref>{{Cite web |title=St. John's Heritage Parkway|last=Hickman |first=Lisa |publisher=Space Coast Transportation Planning Organization |date=23 June 2014 |access-date=24 May 2020 |url= https://spacecoasttpo.com/plan/subject/st-johns-heritage-parkway/ }}</ref> A portion of the parkway opened to the public in 2015. The project was in development for more than a decade. It is intended to alleviate traffic for commuters on the main thoroughfares of [[Florida State Road 507|SR 507]], [[List of county roads in Brevard County, Florida|CR 509]], and [[Interstate 95 in Florida|I-95]]. Later phases of the project will bring the roadway further south and then east following the lower city limits, eventually connecting to I-95 just north of Micco Road.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cflroads.com/project/426904-3/I-95_INT_ST_JOHNS_HERITAGE_PKWY_PALM_BAY_PK_WY_N_OF_MICCO_RD|title=426904-3 I-95 Interchange at St. Johns Heritage Parkway/Palm Bay Parkway North of Micco Road|website=www.cflroads.com|access-date=11 August 2017}}</ref> A state roadway improvement project includes planned widening SR 507 (Babcock Street) from four lanes to six.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://spacecoasttpo.com/implement/babcock-street/|title=Babcock Street - Space Coast Transportation Planning Organization|website=spacecoasttpo.com|access-date=11 August 2017}}</ref>

In 2015, the Harris Corporation constructed a new 464,000-square-foot technology center near Palm Bay Road and Troutman Boulevard. The building is one of the largest in the northeast section of the city and is reported to house approximately 1,400 scientists and engineers for the company.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Harris unveils state-of-art facility in Palm Bay |last1=Berman |first1=Dave |last2=Price |first2=Wayne T. |work=floridatoday |date=24 February 2015 |access-date=24 May 2020 |url= https://eu.floridatoday.com/story/money/business/2015/02/23/harris-unveils-state-art-facility-palm-bay/23880711/ }}</ref>

In 2017, construction began on the southern Interstate 95 interchange and the southern portion of the St. John's Heritage Parkway. The [[Florida Department of Transportation]] (FDOT) is constructing a new [[diverging diamond interchange]] DDI on Interstate 95 just north of Micco Road within the city limits. The city is working on the southern portion of the parkway to extend from Babcock Street SE to Micco Road. The project is intended to improve traffic capacity, operations, and safety, as well as promote economic development in southern Brevard County.

The city formerly monitored some intersections with [[Red light camera|radar cameras]], resulting in the issuing of [[traffic ticket]]s to drivers who ran red lights. In 2013, these monitored intersections were found to be no safer than unmonitored ones.<ref>{{Cite news| title=Editorial:Thumbs up, thumbs down| url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20130925/OPINION/309250031/Thumbs-up-thumbs-down| newspaper=Florida Today| location=Melbourne, Florida| pages=9A| date=September 25, 2013| access-date=September 26, 2013| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130928005556/http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20130925/OPINION/309250031/Thumbs-up-thumbs-down| archive-date=2013-09-28| url-status=dead}}</ref>  These cameras were removed in 2014.

In 2018, voters passed a referendum in the November 2018 elections, electing to fund a city-wide road repair project with a [[general obligation bond]] worth $150,000,000 payable from annual ad valorem taxes. Planning, design, and construction for the city's four quadrants are currently underway with a tentative 8-year plan projected. Construction of several units began in August 2019.

=== 2020s ===
In November 2023, Palm Bay was one of the hardest hit areas [[November 2023 Central Florida floods|by flooding]] after 11 inches of rain fell in the city. Unofficial estimates state that southern Palm Bay received upwards of 20 inches of rain.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Historic rain event sets records in Central Florida, causes major flooding along coast {{!}} FOX 35 Orlando |url=https://www.fox35orlando.com/news/flooding-shuts-down-roads-in-palm-bay-40-cars-stranded-in-waters-officials.amp |access-date=2025-06-14 |website=www.fox35orlando.com}}</ref>

==Geography==
The approximate coordinates for the City of Palm Bay is located at {{coord|27|59|52.52|N|80|40|12.03|W|}}.

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|101.4|mi|order=flip|mi}}, of which {{convert|97.86|mi|order=flip|mi}} is land and {{convert|8.1|sqkm|order=flip}}, or 4.56%, is water.<ref name=censusarea>{{cite web| url=https://www.census.gov| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Palm Bay city, Florida| publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]| access-date=January 30, 2012}}</ref>

The city is often referred to in four quadrants: Northwest, Northeast, Southwest, and Southeast, each containing multiple zip codes. The most urban area is in Northeast. The most rural area is in Southwest, containing an area called [[The Compound]]. This area is home to [[Bombardier Recreational Products]]. “The compound” area is primarily used by recreational off road vehicles and persons engaging in various recreational activities.

During the early 1990s, [[Fred Poppe Regional Park]] (formerly Palm Bay Regional Park), a soccer and athletic complex in the western part of the city, was constructed. It is the largest of a citywide system of parks and recreation areas. The [[Turkey Creek Sanctuary]] is a small nature reserve in the northeast part of the city.<ref name="turkey1">{{cite web|title=Turkey Creek Sanctuary|url=http://www.palmbayflorida.org/government/departments/parks-and-recreation/recreation/turkey-creek-sanctuary|website=City of Palm Bay Florida|access-date=28 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161116071810/http://www.palmbayflorida.org/government/departments/parks-and-recreation/recreation/turkey-creek-sanctuary|archive-date=2016-11-16|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Climate===
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild winters. According to the [[Köppen climate classification]], the City of Palm Bay has a [[humid subtropical climate]] zone (''Cfa'').

{{Weather box|width=auto
|location = Palm Bay, Florida, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 2000–present
|single line = Y

|Jan avg record high F = 83.3
|Feb avg record high F = 85.6
|Mar avg record high F = 88.8
|Apr avg record high F = 90.8
|May avg record high F = 93.4
|Jun avg record high F = 95.5
|Jul avg record high F = 96.4
|Aug avg record high F = 96.6
|Sep avg record high F = 94.4
|Oct avg record high F = 92.2
|Nov avg record high F = 86.8
|Dec avg record high F = 84.9
|year avg record high F = 97.9

| Jan high F = 72.9
| Feb high F = 75.4
| Mar high F = 78.5
| Apr high F = 82.8
| May high F = 86.6
| Jun high F = 89.9
| Jul high F = 91.3
| Aug high F = 91.8
| Sep high F = 89.2
| Oct high F = 84.9
| Nov high F = 79.0
| Dec high F = 74.6
|year high F = 83.1
|Jan mean F = 61.0
|Feb mean F = 63.5
|Mar mean F = 66.5
|Apr mean F = 71.4
|May mean F = 76.0
|Jun mean F = 80.3
|Jul mean F = 82.0
|Aug mean F = 82.3
|Sep mean F = 80.4
|Oct mean F = 75.7
|Nov mean F = 68.8
|Dec mean F = 63.5
|year mean F = 72.6
| Jan low F = 49.0
| Feb low F = 51.5
| Mar low F = 54.5
| Apr low F = 60.0
| May low F = 65.4
| Jun low F = 70.7
| Jul low F = 72.6
| Aug low F = 72.8
| Sep low F = 71.5
| Oct low F = 66.5
| Nov low F = 58.5
| Dec low F = 52.3
|year low F = 62.1

|Jan avg record low F = 33.0
|Feb avg record low F = 35.4
|Mar avg record low F = 39.0
|Apr avg record low F = 49.8
|May avg record low F = 56.3
|Jun avg record low F = 66.9
|Jul avg record low F = 68.9
|Aug avg record low F = 70.5
|Sep avg record low F = 67.0
|Oct avg record low F = 52.1
|Nov avg record low F = 44.4
|Dec avg record low F = 39.2
|year avg record low F = 31.2

|Jan record high F = 88
|Feb record high F = 90
|Mar record high F = 94
|Apr record high F = 97
|May record high F = 98
|Jun record high F = 101
|Jul record high F = 105
|Aug record high F = 100
|Sep record high F = 96
|Oct record high F = 96
|Nov record high F = 92
|Dec record high F = 89
|year record high F =
|Jan record low F = 23
|Feb record low F = 27
|Mar record low F = 30
|Apr record low F = 40
|May record low F = 46
|Jun record low F = 64
|Jul record low F = 64
|Aug record low F = 67
|Sep record low F = 57
|Oct record low F = 41
|Nov record low F = 36
|Dec record low F = 25
|year record low F =
|precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation inch = 2.64
| Feb precipitation inch = 2.42
| Mar precipitation inch = 3.04
| Apr precipitation inch = 2.81
| May precipitation inch = 4.37
| Jun precipitation inch = 7.62
| Jul precipitation inch = 6.58
| Aug precipitation inch = 7.11
| Sep precipitation inch = 7.95
| Oct precipitation inch = 5.60
| Nov precipitation inch = 2.95
| Dec precipitation inch = 2.46
|year precipitation inch = 55.55
|Jan snow inch =
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|unit snow days = 0.1 in
|Jan snow days =
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|source 1 = NOAA (mean maxima/minima 2006–2020)<ref>{{cite web
| url = https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=mlb
| title = NOWData - NOAA Online Weather Data
| publisher = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]
| accessdate = May 24, 2021
| archive-date = September 5, 2015
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150905111301/http://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=mlb
| url-status = dead
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
| url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USC00086761&format=pdf
| title = Summary of Monthly Normals 1991–2020
| publisher = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]
| accessdate = May 24, 2021
}}</ref> }}

===Surrounding areas===
* [[St. Johns River]]; [[Sawgrass Lake]]; [[Lake Hell 'n Blazes]]; [[Osceola County, Florida|Osceola County]] [[File:West.svg]]
* [[Grant-Valkaria, Florida|Grant-Valkaria]]; [[Malabar, Florida|Malabar]]; [[Indian River Lagoon]] [[File:Boxed East arrow.svg]]
* [[West Melbourne, Florida|West Melbourne]]; [[Melbourne, Florida|Melbourne]] [[File:North.svg]]
* [[Indian River County, Florida|Indian River County]] [[File:South.svg]]

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1960= 2808
|1970= 7176
|1980= 18560
|1990= 62632
|2000= 79413
|2010= 103190
|2020= 119760
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}

===2010 and 2020 census===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+'''Palm Bay, Florida – Racial and ethnic composition'''<br><small>{{nobold|''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.''}}</small>
!Race / Ethnicity <small>(''NH = Non-Hispanic'')</small>
!Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>{{Cite web|title=P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Palm Bay city, Florida|url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=160XX00US1254000&tid=DECENNIALSF12000.P004|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Palm Bay city, Florida|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US1254000&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!{{partial|Pop 2020}}<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Palm Bay city, Floridas|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US1254000&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!% 2000
!% 2010
!{{partial|% 2020}}
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] (NH)
|60,549
|65,967
|style='background: #ffffe6; |67,826
|76.25%
|63.93%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |56.63%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] (NH)
|8,634
|17,590
|style='background: #ffffe6; |20,426
|10.87%
|17.05%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |17.06%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] (NH)
|241
|349
|style='background: #ffffe6; |286
|0.30%
|0.34%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.24%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] (NH)
|1,325
|1,789
|style='background: #ffffe6; |2,273
|1.67%
|1.73%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1.90%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] or [[Native Hawaiian]] (NH)
|32
|50
|style='background: #ffffe6; |84
|0.04%
|0.05%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.07%
|-
|[[Other races (U.S. Census)|Some other race]] (NH)
|196
|331
|style='background: #ffffe6; |902
|0.25%
|0.32%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.75%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed race or Multiracial]] (NH)
|1,586
|2,542
|style='background: #ffffe6; |6,527
|2.00%
|2.46%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |5.45%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|6,850
|14,572
|style='background: #ffffe6; |21,436
|8.63%
|14.12%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |17.90%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''79,413'''
|'''103,190'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''119,760'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%'''
|-
|}

As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 119,760 people, 39,109 households, and 26,872 families residing in the city.<ref>{{Cite web|title=S1101 HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES - 2020: Palm Bay city, Florida|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Palm+Bay+city;+Florida+&tid=ACSST5Y2020.S1101|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>

As of the [[2010 United States census]], there were 103,190 people, 36,940 households, and 26,528 families residing in the city.<ref>{{Cite web|title=S1101 HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES - 2010: Palm Bay city, Florida|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Palm+Bay+city;+Florida+&tid=ACSST5Y2010.S1101|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>

===2000 census===
As of 2000, 34.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.0% were married couples living together, 12.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.2% are non-families. 21.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.03.

In 2000, the city's population was spread out, with 26.5% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 29.6% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 14.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.4 males.

In 2000, the median income for a household in the city was $36,508, and the median income for a family was $41,636. Males had a median income of $31,060 versus $22,203 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,992. 9.5% of the population and 7.1% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 11.5% were under the age of 18 and 8.1% were 65 or older.

===Languages===
As of 2000, [[English language|English]] spoken as a [[first language]] accounted for 88.55% of all residents, while 11.44% spoke other languages as their first language. The most significant was [[Spanish language|Spanish]] speakers who made up 7.45% of the population.<ref>[http://www.mla.org/map_data_results&SRVY_YEAR=2000&geo=&state_id=12&county_id=&mode=&lang_id=&zip=&place_id=8150&cty_id=&region_id=&division_id=&ll=&a=&ea=&order=r&pc=1 Modern Language Association Data Center Results of Brandon, Florida].</ref>

==Economy==

===Industry===
[[File:Pink Walmart in Palm Bay Cropped.jpg|thumb|right|Pink [[Wal-Mart]] Supercenter built in 2005: the city uses [[Key West]] [[vernacular architecture]].]]
''[[Forbes]]'' magazine ranked the city the 11th most innovative in the nation in 2010.<ref>{{Cite news | first=Britt | last=Kennerly | title=Palm Bay census a letdown | url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20110102/NEWS01/101020324/Palm-Bay-census-a-letdown| newspaper=[[Florida Today]] | location=Melbourne, Florida | pages= 1B | date=2 January 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.101smallbusinessopportunity.com/forbes-magazine-names-palm-bay-11th-most-innovative-city-in-america.html|title=Explanation of criteria for "innovative" ranking|access-date=11 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110905185357/http://www.101smallbusinessopportunity.com/forbes-magazine-names-palm-bay-11th-most-innovative-city-in-america.html|archive-date=2011-09-05|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Large employers in the city include:
* [[L3Harris Technologies]] has 3,400 employees on its Palm Bay campus on Palm Bay Road<ref>{{Cite news | first=Patrick | last=Peterson | title=Harris considers PB overhaul | url=http://m.floridatoday.com/news.jsp?key=355471&rc=bz | publisher=Florida Today | location=Melbourne, Florida | pages=1E | date=17 October 2010 }}{{dead link|date=March 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
* [[Intersil]] employed 700 people in 2010<ref>{{Cite news | first=Patrick | last=Peterson | title=Spin-off success stories | url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20100218/BUSINESS/2180311/Spin-off-success-stories | publisher=Florida Today | location=Melbourne, Florida | pages=8C | date=18 February 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140713021840/http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20100218/BUSINESS/2180311/Spin-off-success-stories | archive-date=2014-07-13 | url-status=dead }}</ref>
* [[Palm Bay Hospital]]

===Workforce===
In 2007, the average size of Palm Bay's labor force was 49,935. Of that group, 47,542 were employed and 2,393 were unemployed, for an unemployment rate of 4.8%.<ref name="edc">[http://spacecoastedc.org/portals/0/municipalities/palm%20bay/palm%20bay%20community%20data.pdf Palm Bay Community Data Sheet]{{Dead link|date=August 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Economic Development Council of Florida's Space Coast. Retrieved on 2009-07-24.</ref> This figure had risen to 6,571 (12.7%) and was the highest rate in the county.<ref>{{Cite news | title=Indicators already show weak economy | work=Florida Today | location=Melbourne, Florida | pages= 6A | date=10 January 2010 }}</ref>

===Tourism===
The city has some frequently visited recreational locations, such as the area known as "the compound" and the Turkey Creek area. The city has a riverfront area that the city government is attempting to further develop and focus on.

The 2015 [[Tough Mudder]] {{convert|12.5|mi}} race drew 9,875 visitors to the area including 6,835 participants. The Brevard County Tourist Development Council spent $40,000 promoting and staging the event.<ref>{{Cite news | first=Rick | last=Neale | title=Report: Tough Modder accrued $4.7 million | url=http://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/2015/12/23/report-palm-bay-tough-mudder-generated-47-million/77710900/?from=global&sessionKey=T3lfZ5HJg5RSEDMXk6P2kUF0la7JWj5r-18x2dwnWBAOlLdDqqldtF3KgY1Qx3Dx3DcBYM8RzgKKqvSwm1VOKBTwx3Dx3D-7OiaAuMyZ0DZnpDlwH5hggx3Dx3D-BSbDHxx3VpNx2BzSS4fs9Qckgx3Dx3D&autologin=Z5NPE2x2Bx2Br3H8mGn3LjLyw1Jx2Box2Fgw4teHCAvaJGx2FAMJkx3D| newspaper=Florida Today | location=Melbourne, Florida| pages= 3A | date=December 29, 2015 | access-date=December 29, 2015}}</ref>

==Government==
[[File:Palmbayfl citycouncil 2003.jpg|thumb|right|Members of the Palm Bay city government in 2003]]
{{See also|List of mayors of Palm Bay, Florida}}

Palm Bay utilizes the [[Council-manager government|council-manager]] form of government.<ref name="govinfo">{{cite web |url=http://www.palmbayflorida.org/government |title=City of Palm Bay Government |publisher=Palm Bay, Florida |access-date=2017-08-25}}</ref>

The [[Mayor]] and [[City Council]] are the [[legislative branch]] of city government; its members are the community's decision makers. The Mayor is the presiding officer at the Council Meetings and is the official head of the city for all ceremonial occasions. Power is centralized in the elected Mayor and Council (City Council), which approves the budget, determines the tax rate, focuses on the community's goals, major projects, and such long-term considerations as community growth, land use development, capital improvement plans, capital financing, and strategic planning.

In Palm Bay, a five-member Mayor and Council, operate in accordance with the [[City Charter]]. Three positions created by the Charter (Charter Officers) are appointed by and report directly to the City Council: [[City Manager]], [[City Attorney]], and [[City Clerk]].

The City Manager is responsible for all activities related to the operations of the city. The City Manager hires a professional staff to assist in the administration and enforcement of the City Charter, ordinances, resolutions, financial conditions and all of the various procedures and policies that are required for the city to function properly. In 2011, the annual salary of the city manager was $168,000.<ref>{{cite news |first=Britt |last=Kennerly |title=Feldman among final 3 for job |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20110414/NEWS01/104140310/Palm-Bay-manager-Feldman-among-final-3-South-Florida-job |newspaper=[[Florida Today]] |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1B |date=April 14, 2011 |access-date=2011-04-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140713020242/http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20110414/NEWS01/104140310/Palm-Bay-manager-Feldman-among-final-3-South-Florida-job |archive-date=2014-07-13 |url-status=dead }}</ref>  The office of Mayor receives an annual salary of $0.20 per capita while council members receive $0.10 per capita.

As of 2024, the city is represented by the following people:
* '''Mayor''' – Rob Medina
* '''Deputy Mayor''' – Donny Felix
* '''Councilmembers''' – Kenny Johnson and Randy Foster
* '''City Manager''' – Suzanne Sherman
* '''City Attorney''' – Patricia Smith
* '''City Clerk''' – Terese Jones

In 2010, the city opened a data base to the public,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://open.palmbayflorida.org |title=Open.palmbayflorida.org |publisher=Open.palmbayflorida.org |date=2012-09-30 |access-date=2012-12-18}}</ref> that tracks city income and expenditures.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Susanne |last=Cervenka |title=Palm Bay opens its finances online |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20100117/NEWS01/1170335/Palm-Bay-opens-its-finances-online |work=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1B |date=17 January 2010 |access-date=2010-01-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140713021848/http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20100117/NEWS01/1170335/Palm-Bay-opens-its-finances-online |archive-date=2014-07-13 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 2010, the city employed 913 full-time equivalent workers.<ref>{{cite news |first=Kimberly C. |last=Moor |title=Cities find ways to trim budget |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20100306/NEWS01/3060319/Cities-find-ways-to-trim-budget |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1A |date=6 March 2010 |access-date=2010-03-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140713070212/http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20100306/NEWS01/3060319/Cities-find-ways-to-trim-budget |archive-date=2014-07-13 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 2008, the police department won an award for training patrolmen to properly collect DNA samples. At the time, they were the only police force in the world with this program.<ref>[http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20081124/NEWS01/811240335/1006] retrieved November 25, 2008 {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150509084215/http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20081124/NEWS01/811240335/1006|date=May 9, 2015}}</ref>

In 2007, the city had a taxable real estate base of $5.84 billion.<ref>{{cite news |author=Dean, James |title=More taxes or fewer services |url= https://www.newspapers.com/article/florida-today-more-taxes-or-fewer-servic/144589280/ |publisher=Florida Today |date=April 26, 2008 |page=5A}}</ref> This amount was the largest of any municipality in the county.

===Utilities Department===
In 2009, the utilities department had {{convert|545|mi}} of water lines, {{convert|300|mi}} of sewer lines, 2,250 fire hydrants, and 120 full-time equivalent employees.<ref>{{cite news |first=Kimberly |last=Moore|title=Care urged in water testing |work=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=4B |date=24 April 2009}}</ref>

==Public safety==

=== Police Department ===
The City of Palm Bay Police Department is authorized 206 sworn police officers, in addition to numerous civilian and support personnel.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2024-2025 Budget |url=https://www.palmbayflorida.org/government/city-departments-f-to-z/finance/budget |access-date=2020-11-19 |website=www.palmbayflorida.org}}</ref> The police agency is broken into various sections, such as the Uniform Services Division, Support Services Division, and the Criminal Investigations Division. Each section assigns officers to various tasks, such as patrol, traffic enforcement, training officers, detectives, and similar tasks. There are three police districts within the city. Police officers are assigned to each district.

A 2009 survey indicated that the city was ranked 263 out of 400 in crime statistics, with #1 being the worst. Crimes included murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, and motor vehicle theft.<ref>{{cite news | first=R. Norman | last=Moody | title=Brevard crime up, down | url=http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200991127032 | publisher=Florida Today | location=Melbourne, Florida | pages= 5B | date=28 November 2009 }}</ref>

In 2011, [[Skype]] was used 32 times to obtain warrants promptly.<ref>{{Cite news | first=J.D. | last=Gallop | title=Skype speeds warrants process | url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20110407/NEWS01/104070328/Skype-video-conferencing-speeds-warrants-process-Palm-Bay | newspaper=[[Florida Today]] | location=Melbourne, Florida | pages=1A | date=April 7, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110411212839/http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20110407/NEWS01/104070328/Skype-video-conferencing-speeds-warrants-process-Palm-Bay | archive-date=2011-04-11 | url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Fire Department===
Palm Bay Fire Rescue consists of 161 firefighters and seven stations.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.palmbayflorida.org/government/city-departments-f-to-z/fire-rescue |title=City of Palm Bay: Fire Rescue}}</ref> Most firefighters work 24 hour shifts followed by 48 hours off.<ref>{{cite web |title=Fire Rescue Shift Calendar |url=https://discover.pbcgov.org/pbcfr/Pages/ShiftCalendar.aspx |website=discover.pbcgov.org |publisher=Palm Beach County |access-date=6 October 2022}}</ref> The Palm Bay Fire Department responded to 18,777 calls in 2023 (ESO Ad-Hoc Data).

The fire department operates from 6 fire stations.
Fire Station 1 assigned units - Engine 1, Truck 1, Squad 1, District Chief 1, Brush 21, TRT 1, and TRT Trailer.
Fire Station 2 assigned units - Engine 2, Squad 2, District Chief 2, Brush 2, and Air 2.
Fire Station 3 assigned units - Engine 3, Tender 3 and Brush 3.
Fire Station 4 assigned units - Engine 4, Tender 4 and Brush 4.
Fire Station 5 assigned units - Engine 5, Tender 5 and Brush 5.
Fire Station 6 assigned units - Engine 6 and Brush 6.

In May 2008 (Mothers Day Fires), a wild fire was started that burned a total of almost {{convert|26000|acres}}—{{convert|40|mi2}}, 30 homes were destroyed and 140 were damaged.{{Citation needed|date=March 2012}} Firefighters from Palm Bay and across the state fought the fires around the clock.{{Citation needed|date=March 2012}}

In 2013, the city concluded an agreement with the county to furnish fire and emergency medical aid to whichever governmental unit was closer to the problem: a Palm Bay unit or a Brevard County unit.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.brevardtimes.com/2013/02/no-boundaries-agreement-for-palm-bay.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140722084156/http://news.brevardtimes.com/2013/02/no-boundaries-agreement-for-palm-bay.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=July 22, 2014|title="No Boundaries Agreement" For Palm Bay, Brevard County Fire Rescue|website=news.brevardtimes.com|access-date=11 August 2017}}</ref>

On September 13, 2024, Palm Bay Fire Rescue held a groundbreaking ceremony for Fire Station 7 located in the northeast section of the city.  This new fire station will be able to accommodate future growth in the department.  Response times will be decreased with the addition of fire station 7.  A ladder truck and squad will be assigned to fire station 7.   Currently, there are plans for temporary fire stations located in the northwest (Fire Station 8) and the southeast (Fire Station 9).  These fire stations are needed to align with current and projected growth in the city.

==Education==
All public schools are run by the [[Brevard County Public Schools|Brevard County School Board]].

Public Elementary Schools:
{{col-begin}}
{{col-break}}
* Discovery Elementary School
* Christa McAuliffe Elementary School
* Columbia Elementary School
* John F. Turner Sr. Elementary School
* Jupiter Elementary School
* Lockmar Elementary School
* Palm Bay Elementary School
* Port Malabar Elementary School
* Riviera Elementary School
* Sunrise Elementary School
* Westside Elementary School
{{col-end}}

Public Middle School:
* Southwest Middle School

Public High Schools:
* [[Bayside High School (Palm Bay, Florida)|Bayside High School]]
* [[Palm Bay High School]] (located in Melbourne, but serves Palm Bay and Malabar)
* [[Heritage High School (Palm Bay, Florida)|Heritage High School]]

Higher Education:
{{columns-list|colwidth=30em|
* [[Eastern Florida State College]]}}

==Transportation==
[[File:Pbsignpatriotic cropped.jpg|thumb|right|City name marker erected on [[Interstate 95 in Florida|I-95]] in 2002]]
Major roads in Palm Bay include the following:
* [[File:US 1.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 1 in Florida|U.S. 1]] – This road serves the northeastern section of the city. It is intersected by three main roads: Port Malabar Boulevard, Robert J. Conlan Boulevard and Palm Bay Road.
* [[File:I-95.svg|20px]] [[Interstate 95 in Florida|Interstate 95]] – The major freeway serving the East Coast of the United States runs northwest to southeast through the center of the city's area. The city is served by interchanges 176 (Palm Bay Road), 173 (Malabar Road), and 166 (St. Johns Heritage Parkway).
* [[File:Florida 507.svg|20px]] [[Florida State Road 507|Babcock Street]] – The state road portion of Babcock Street runs through the northeastern portion of Palm Bay. It provides a route from [[Melbourne, Florida|Melbourne]], just north of the city, to Malabar Road and County Road 507. Main intersections include CR 516, Port Malabar Boulevard, and SR 514.
* [[File:Brevard County Road 507 FL.svg|20x20px]] [[List of county roads in Brevard County, Florida|Babcock Street]] – The county road portion of Babcock Street runs through the extreme southeast portion of Palm Bay. It provides a direct route to [[Fellsmere, Florida|Fellsmere]] in [[Indian River County, Florida|Indian River County]] from [[Brevard County, Florida|Brevard County]]. Main intersections include SR 514, Waco Boulevard, Valkaria Road/Wyoming Drive, Grant Road/Eldron Boulevard, and Cogan Drive.
* [[File:Florida 514.svg|20px]] [[Florida State Road 514|Malabar Road]] – The state road portion of Malabar Road connects the town of [[Malabar, Florida|Malabar]], which gives its name to the road, to eastern Palm Bay and I-95. The only main intersections are Interstate 95 and SR 507.
* [[File:Brevard County Road 514 FL.svg|20x20px]] [[List of county roads in Brevard County, Florida|Malabar Road]] – The county road portion of Malabar Road runs through the center of Palm Bay to CR 509. The City Hall, the Police Department and the main economic center of Palm Bay are all located on this road. Major intersections include Interstate 95, San Filippo Drive, Emerson Drive, Eldron Boulevard and CR 509.
* [[File:Brevard County Road 516 FL.svg|20px]] [[County Road 516 (Brevard County, Florida)|Palm Bay Road]] – This road serves the extreme northern part of Palm Bay, mainly the northeastern portion. It runs from SR 507 to CR 509. Major intersections include SR 507, Port Malabar Boulevard, Dairy Road, Hollywood Boulevard, Interstate 95, and CR 509.
* [[File:Brevard County Road 509 FL.svg|20x20px]] [[County Road 516 (Brevard County, Florida)|Minton Road]] – This road serves the western part of Palm Bay. It runs from West Melbourne to Malabar Road. Major intersections include CR 516, Emerson Drive, Americana Boulevard, and CR 514.

There are about {{convert|851|mi}} of city-maintained highways.<ref>{{cite news |first=Matt |last=Reed |title=Can Palm Bay defy its slump? |url=http://m.floridatoday.com/opinion/article?a=2012301260027&f=1227 |work=[[Florida Today]] |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=8A |date=January 26, 2012 }}{{Dead link|date=August 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Rick |last=Neale |title=Palm Bay's $162M road repair backlog |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/local/2015/02/06/palm-bay-still-facing-million-road-repair-backlog/23005095/|newspaper=[[Florida Today]] |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=7A |date=February 8, 2015 |access-date=February 8, 2015}}</ref> Most roads in the area west of DeGroodt Road are [[dirt road|unpaved]]. In 2013, the public works director reported that most roads in south Palm Bay were "failed roads," for lack of maintenance.<ref>{{cite news |first=Scott |last=Gunnerson |title=Road work falls miles behind |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20131229/NEWS01/312290055/Road-work-Brevard-falls-miles-behind|work=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida|pages=3A |date=December 29, 2013 |access-date=December 29, 2013}}</ref>

In 2012, Palm Bay had the lowest [[walkability]] of any city in the United States with a population over 100,000 people.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.walkscore.com/rankings/cities/ |title=Explore the Walkability of 2,500 Cities in the United States on Walk Score |publisher=Walkscore.com |access-date=2012-12-18}}</ref>

In 2018, The city's voters approved a bond referendum to pave the city's failing roadways. The city is repaving or reconstructing various sections or units each fiscal year.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Go Bond for Road Improvement Projects in Palm Bay {{!}} City of Palm Bay, FL|url=https://www.palmbayflorida.org/government/city-departments-f-to-z/public-works/projects/go-bond-for-road-improvement-projects-in-palm-bay|access-date=2020-11-19|website=www.palmbayflorida.org}}</ref>

==Notable people==
<!---each entry needs to have article (blue link) to be [[WP:N]]. Each entry must have cite to tie person in with Palm Bay per [[WP:NLIST]] and [[WP:LISTPEOPLE]]. Avoid resume. Just one word for occupation is sufficient. Article is about PB, not person--->
* [[William G. Bainbridge]], 5th [[Sergeant Major of the Army]]
* [[Deanne Bell]], reality television show host known for [[Public Broadcasting Service|PBS]]'s ''[[Design Squad]]'' and [[Discovery Channel]]'s ''[[Smash Lab]]'' <ref name="floridaguest">{{Cite web|url=http://www.floridaguest.com/opp/11-Florida-information/loc/palm-bay|title=Floridaguest.com|website=www.floridaguest.com|access-date=2018-01-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180125015946/http://www.floridaguest.com/opp/11-Florida-information/loc/palm-bay|archive-date=2018-01-25|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[Xavier Carter]], professional track athlete<ref name="floridaguest" />
* [[Joe Cohen]], [[San Francisco 49ers]] defensive tackle<ref name="floridaguest" />
* [[Bobby Dall]], bassist musician of [[Poison (American band)|Poison]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1991/12/15/rock-star-finds-peace-in-brevard/|title = Rock Star Finds Peace in Brevard}}</ref>
* [[Ray Dandridge]], Hall of Fame Baseball player, retired and died in Palm Bay in 1994<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://baseballhall.org/hof/dandridge-ray|title=Ray Dandridge|work=Baseball Hall of Fame|access-date=2017-12-18|language=en}}</ref>
* [[Ezio Flagello]], Italian-American opera singer<ref name="floridaguest" />
<!---nearly every city in Brevard has tried to claim noted sports figures. Cite erroneously explains that Flutie's house is in Palm Bay. The Brevard Appraiser's records cite Melbourne Beach. https://www.bcpao.us/asp/Show_parcel.asp?acct=2953635&gen=T&tax=T&bld=T&oth=T&sal=T&lnd=T&leg=T&GoWhere=real_search.asp&SearchBy=Owner
* [[Doug Flutie]], [[NFL]] [[quarterback]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://virtualglobetrotting.com/map/doug-fluties-house/view/?service=1|title=Doug Flutie's House in Palm Bay, FL (Google Maps)|date=19 November 2007|access-date=11 August 2017}}</ref>---->
* [[David Gewirtz]], CNN columnist, cyberterrorism advisor, presidential scholar<ref name="Air America">{{cite serial|title=Ring of Fire|url=http://airamerica.com/ondemand/play/download/74811|credits=Robert F. Kennedy Jr.|network=Air America Radio|airdate=April 26, 2008}}{{dead link|date=March 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
* [[Chris Heston]], [[San Francisco Giants]] pitcher <ref name="floridaguest" />
* [[Cameron Long]] (born 1988), basketball player in the [[Israeli Basketball Premier League|Israeli Premier League]]
* [[Reggie Nelson]], professional football player <ref name="floridaguest" />
* [[Joe Pan]], author, publisher

==References==
{{Portal|Florida}}
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links==
{{Wikivoyage|Palm Bay}}
{{Commons category}}
* {{official website}}

{{Brevard County, Florida}}
{{Geography of Florida}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Palm Bay, Florida| ]]
[[Category:1960 establishments in Florida]]
[[Category:Cities in Brevard County, Florida]]
[[Category:Cities in Florida]]
[[Category:Populated places on the Intracoastal Waterway in Florida]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1960]]