History of the City of Sebastian, Florida

The history of the city of Sebastian, Florida began about ten thousand years ago, when the Indian River Lagoon formed along the east central coast of Florida, immediately adjacent to the Atlantic Ocean.  The Ais people were a native tribe that occupied the area for thousands of years and they survived by gathering the region’s palmetto, cocoplum and seagrape berries.  The Ais also fished the Indian River for food.

Later, in 1715, Spanish ships loaded with treasure accumulated in the Caribbean encountered a storm off the shores of the Treasure Coast.  Known as the Treasure Ships, all were lost and it is estimated that only a fraction of the valuables has been found.  By 1760, however, the Ais tribe had largely disappeared due to enslavement, diseases brought by the European explorers and rum.  Florida was acquired by the U.S. from Spain in 1821, but the Seminole Wars would delay effective settlement.

The modern history of the town of Sebastian goes back to its beginnings as a fishing village in the 1870s.  The city was officially founded as a municipality in 1882, and was originally named St. Sebastian, after the name of a nearby river.  The “St.” was removed years later from the name of the town, even though the name of the river remains intact.  Sebastian was incorporated as a city in 1923.  In close proximity is Pelican Island  and the Pelican Island Wildlife Refuge, the U.S.‘s first such area which was declared in 1903.