Indian River County (Spanish: Condado de Río Indio) is a county located in the southeastern and east-central portions of the U.S. state of Florida. As of the 2020 census, the population was 159,788.^[2] Its seat is Vero Beach.^[3] It is Florida's 7th richest county and in 2000 was the 87th richest county in the U.S. by per capita income.^[4]

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Indian River County
County
Indian River County Courthouse in Vero Beach
Seal
Location within the U.S. state of Florida
Florida's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 27°42′N 80°35′W
Country	United States
State	Florida
Founded	May 30, 1925
Named for	Indian River Lagoon
Seat	Vero Beach
Largest city	Sebastian
Area
• Total	617 sq mi (1,600 km2)
• Land	503 sq mi (1,300 km2)
• Water	114 sq mi (300 km2)  18.5%
Population  (2020)
• Total	159,788[1]
• Density	318/sq mi (123/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	8th
Website	www.ircgov.com

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Indian River County comprises the Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area. The SMA was first defined as the Vero Beach, Florida SMA in 2003. It was renamed Sebastian-Vero Beach, Florida SMA in 2005, and Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor, Florida SMA in 2023.^[5][6] The SMA is included in the Miami-Port St. Lucie-Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Combined Statistical Area.

Prior to 1821 the area of Indian River County was part of the Spanish colony of East Florida. In 1822 this area became part of St. Johns County, and in 1824 it became part of Mosquito County (original name of Orange County).

The Second Seminole War was fought in 1835 and from 1838 to 1839. Fort Vinton was built for this purpose near the intersection of present-day Florida State Road 60 and 122nd Avenue.^[7]

In 1844 the county's portion of Mosquito County became part of newly created St. Lucia County. In 1855 St. Lucia County was renamed Brevard County. In 1905 St. Lucie County was formed from the southern portion of Brevard County; in 1925 Indian River County was formed from the northern portion of St. Lucie County.^[8] It was named for the Indian River, which runs through the eastern portion of the county.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 617 square miles (1,600 km²), of which 503 square miles (1,300 km²) is land and 114 square miles (300 km²) (18.5%) is water.^[9]

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 159,788 people, 60,959 households, and 37,647 families residing in the county.

As of the census^[20] of 2000, there were 112,947 people, 49,137 households, and 32,725 families residing in the county. The population density was 224 inhabitants per square mile (86/km²). There were 57,902 housing units at an average density of 115 per square mile (44/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 87.43% White, 8.19% Black or African American, 0.25% Native American, 0.74% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 2.15% from other races, and 1.21% from two or more races. 6.53% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 49,137 households, out of which 21.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.50% were married couples living together, 8.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.40% were non-families. 28.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.72.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 19.20% under the age of 18, 6.00% from 18 to 24, 22.30% from 25 to 44, 23.30% from 45 to 64, and 29.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47 years. For every 100 females there were 93.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.80 males.^[21]

The median income for a household in the county was $39,635, and the median income for a family was $46,385. Males had a median income of $30,870 versus $23,379 for females. The per capita income for the county was $27,227. About 6.30% of families and 9.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.60% of those under age 18 and 5.70% of those age 65 or over.

Healthcare, education, government, and retail sales are important employment segments in Indian River County. As of 2019^[update], the largest employers in the county were:

^[27]

• Indian River County Main Library, in Vero Beach
• North Indian River County Library, in Sebastian
• The Brackett Library, at the Indian River State College Mueller Campus, in Vero Beach

Indian River County School District operates public schools. Public high schools include:

• Freshman Learning Center (VBHS)
• Indian River Charter High School
• Sebastian River High School
• Vero Beach High School

Indian River County lies at the northern end of a belt stretching to Collier County in the southwest that was the first part of Florida to politically distance itself from the "Solid South": the last Democrat to win a majority in the county was Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1944.^[28] Only four Democrats have managed 40 percent or more of the county's vote since then.

In 1992, indeed, Ross Perot came second, fifteen votes ahead of President-elect Bill Clinton, this being one of only four Florida counties where he did so.^[29]

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Indian River County, Florida
• North Hutchinson Island
• Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge
• Vero beach power squadron