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<br />Gulf and Western Industries, Inc. has extensive citrus and cattle -interests in the County, employing
<br />approximately 750 persons at the peak of the citrus season. Their agricultural properties, including a citrus
<br />packing plant, are located west of FelIsmere in the western part of the County. The main Florida office of Gulf &
<br />Western is located in Vero Beach.
<br />Other industries include lumber and millwork plants, cabinet and millwork plants, machine shops, welding
<br />shops, sheet metal fabricators, mattress ticking, mattresses and springs, thermostats, aircraft instruments, steel
<br />and wood truss construction, architectural and ornamental iron works, stone and marble products, asphalt plant,
<br />pilot training school, welding school, television antennas, wholesale seafood, metal windows and awnings,
<br />printing, air handling systems, ready mixed concrete, concrete blocks, precast concrete products, electronic
<br />components, plating and machine shop equipment, screw machine parts, aircraft parts and supplies, factory built
<br />homes, dairy products, newspaper, radio stations and temperature controls.
<br />Seven banks, five savings and loan associations and two stock and bond brokerage offices provide necessary
<br />financial services in the County.
<br />The Florida East Coast Railway and numerous freight truck lines provide for the transportation of goods
<br />and products. Vero Beach is served by the Florida Greyhound Bus Line. Two airports permit the use of private
<br />planes and air -taxi service. At present, there is no major airline with passenger service to Vero Beach. The nearest
<br />airport with such service is the Kennedy airport at Melbourne, about 35 miles north of Vero Beach. Major
<br />highways serving the County are Interstate 95, U. S. 1, AIA, and State Road 60. The Florida Turnpike passes
<br />through the southwest corner of the County. Numerous paved secondary roads provide access to all parts of the
<br />County.
<br />The Florida Department of Offender Rehabilitation operates the Indian River Correctional Institution, a
<br />rehabilitation center for youthful and first time offenders, located in the south central part of the County. The
<br />institution has a staff of 110 persons.
<br />The County has five parks in operation, two of which provide camping facilities. In addition there are two
<br />State Parks located in the County with camping facilities, Donald McDonald and Sebastian Inlet. There are five
<br />public golf courses and three private courses, 23 miles of public beaches on the Atlantic, 46 miles of riverfront on
<br />both sides of the Indian River, many miles of freshwater canals, the Sebastian River and Blue Cypress Lake, all of
<br />which provide recreational opportunities for tourists as well as local citizens.
<br />The Indian River Hospital District operates a 162 bed hospital in Vero Beach and has under construction a
<br />new hospital scheduled for completion in 1978 with a capacity of 216 beds. The Sebattian River Medical Center,
<br />a private not for profit hospital with 103 beds is located in the northern part of the County on U. S. 1.
<br />The public schools in Indian River County are operated under the control of the Board of Public
<br />Instruction of Indian River County. The Board consists of five members, elected for four year overlapping terms.
<br />The Board selects its Chairman and Vice -Chairman. The Board appoints the County Superintendent of Schools,
<br />who also serves as secretary and chief administrator for the school system. Elementary schools are operated in
<br />Fellsmere, Sebastian, two in the Wabasso area and six in Vero Beach. A middle school (grades 6 & 7) is located in
<br />the Gifford area. A junior high school (grades 8 & 9) and a senior high school (grades 10 through 12) are located
<br />in Vero Beach. Two new schools are under construction, one replacing the junior high school in Vero Beach and a
<br />new middle junior high school (grades 6 through 9) at Sebastian. The new buildings are nearing completion and
<br />should be furnished and ready for occupancy January 2, 1978. Vero Beach Senior High School is accredited by
<br />the Southern Association of Secondary Schools and Colleges, the elementary and junior high schools are
<br />accredited by the State of Florida. The faculties of the public school system are well qualified under the Florida
<br />Teacher Certification program. The total number of instructional and non -instructional personnel for 1977/78 is
<br />901. In addition to the public schools there are several parochial and private schools with a total enrollment of
<br />approximately 850 students.
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<br />JAN 18197x. Bca 33 pn
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