The Birth of Indian River County

After years of philosophical and political differences, it was the St. Lucie County blue laws that brought everything to a head. Besides forbidding the sale of any goods on Sundays, the laws also forbid the showing of movies. In spite of the laws, the theater continued to operate on Sundays. To enforce the law, sheriff’s officers from Fort Pierce angered citizens by coming in, turning off the films and ordering patrons to leave the theater. The situation became the final weight which would crack the political stronghold St. Lucie County exerted over Vero Beach. Angry businessmen persuaded State Representative Andrew W. Young (who also happened to be Vero’s mayor and one of the movie theater owners), to sponsor a bill which would remove Vero from St. Lucie County by creating a new county. After rigorous debate, on a hot afternoon in May, 1925, Indian River County was born, and Vero became the county seat.

1925 would later be remembered for three things: the formation of Indian River County, Vero’s name being changed officially to Vero Beach, and the beginning of the end of the Florida land boom.