History of Titusville

Colonel Henry TheodoreTitusville was founded in 1867 when Confederate Colonel Henry Theodore Titus stepped ashore on the banks of the Indian River, although the first U. S Post Office in the area was established in 1859 in what was then known as Sand Point. Colonel Titus came to Sand Point with the idea of building a town on land owned by his wife Mary, and overlooking the Indian River where they had first stepped ashore, they built the first hotel and named it "The Titus House". The Colonel and Mary donated land for the first courthouse, four churches, laid out many of the town’s streets, and established a link to the outside world by connecting the St. Johns and Indian Rivers with mule-drawn wagons.

Naming of the Town

Today’s "Titusville" might have been known as "Riceville" except for the craftiness of Colonel Titus who won a challenge match of dominoes against Capt. Clark Rice to determine which player got to rename the town. Thus the outcome of a domino game resulted in Sand Point becoming Titusville, Florida in 1873.

Early Commerce

In the 1880s, Titusville became the birthplace for commercial shipments of the famous Indian River Citrus from Dummitt Grove. With the 1880s and 1890s also came the establishment of the first bank, two newspapers, founding of a fishing Industry, railroad connection between Titusville and Enterprise on the north shore of Lake Monroe near Sanford, the extension of the railroad from Jacksonville south along the East Coast with Titusville’s first railroad station being constructed in 1892. Other highlights of the period included a few devastating fires and freezes.

Incorporation / Early Governance & Infrastructure

Of special note is the incorporation of Titusville in 1887 and the organization of a Board of Trade which was the forerunner of the present-day Chamber of Commerce. Shortly after the turn of the century focus was on construction of schools, roads and a bridge across the Indian River to make it possible for easy access to Playalinda and Desoto Beaches. A water system was installed, a fire department was founded, a second bank was established, the first permanent street paving was accomplished, and stormwater drainage systems were installed.

Early Automobiles Parked on Washington AvenueEconomic Depression / Airport

Titusville was deeply affected by the burst of the Florida Boom in the mid-1920s and the economic depression of the 1930s. Since no airports existed on the east coast between Jacksonville and Miami a highlight of 1927 was the opening of present-day Arthur Dunn Airpark for use as an emergency landing field for the airmail service of the times.

World War II

During World War II many enemy ships were sunk off nearby beaches, a boat construction company built hundreds of landing craft at a plant located at the yacht basin. A Navy fighter field was also established just south of Titusville which today is known as Space Coast Regional Airport.

1950s & 1960s / Space Boom

The 1950s and early 1960s were a period of steady growth with additional population increases being counted when the towns of Whispering Hills and Indian River City were consolidated with Titusville. The 60s also commenced man’s conquest of space and with Kennedy Space Center came the accompanying boom which produced:

  • Churches
  • The first motels
  • The first multi-rise apartment building
  • New golf courses
  • A public hospital
  • Shopping centers
  • Sub-divisions

Major Companies

Along with the names of the Astronauts, the area became familiar with such major companies as:

  • Bendix
  • Boeing
  • Grumman
  • McDonnell-Douglas
  • North America
  • Trans World Airlines (TWA)
  • A host of others

End of Space Programs

The end of the Apollo program in the 1970s offered new challenges to the community as did the Space Shuttle Program of the 80s and 90s, although in dramatically different ways.

Present

Now, Titusville stands on the threshold of new challenges. These are welcomed challenges offered by increased tourism, new industries, and all the unknowns of the 21st century. No doubt these challenges will be met with the same enthusiasm as did Titusville’s previous occupants.