History of the city of Palm Bay, Florida

It is a city in Brevard County in the State of Florida, USA. Having a rich history, it is said that they have the most unique character that a city in Florida has. The Ais are the very first residents in the area. They are semi-nomadic tribe of the Timucuan Indians and they settled along the Indian River Lagoon and along the banks of Turkey Creeks.

Known to be very skillful when it comes to fishing and hunting, the Ais have survived living in the area of Palm Bay, Florida for a thousand of years. Yet upon the arrival of the Spaniards in the area, their population quickly died out due to the European diseases like chicken pox and measles from where they were never exposed of. Others were made as slaves by the conquerors thus making them ill and eventually died.

In the year 1845, Florida was annexed by the United States and has become the 27^th State in the Union. Then, the first white settlers came in the area of the Brevard County around the same year. The United States census have recorded an estimated number of population in the Brevard County in the year 1850 and gradually increases in the following years because Indians left and a wide area of citrus groves were made. Tillman is where a few of the early settlers have found homage after the civilization in the area became popular. There, they have established the Tillman’s Post Office in the year 1887 for means of communication and trading with other States.

A railroad have been developed in the year 1894 and had further given a breakthrough of developments in the Town of Tillman. Visitors that came aboard for the rail have found refuge from a sleepy river village that offered them with a Post Office, hotel and a few stores from where they could get their daily supplies. From there on, many Germans and Slavic settlers were found in the area of Tillman. They were the one who built St. Joseph’s Catholic Church on Miller Street and is now located at the heart of Palm Bay today. The original Miller Street church is still standing and is considered to be one of the oldest infrastructures in Palm Bay that mirrors a part of the history of Palm Bay Florida.

The name Tillman did not mirror the beauty that their area has been imaged with so the residents considered changing their town’s name to Palm Bay due to the variety of palm trees that are lined along the bay at the mouth of the Turkey Creek. After some time, a government has been established making a big population of community be led by one leader.

The history of Palm Bay is one of the most colorful histories that has been witnessed and written in Florida. It gave an eye-opener to a wonderful place populated by people who have unity and making God as their center. They have preserved most of their natural resources amidst the great developments that took place in the town.