All of us had lived in Cocoa, FL for almost several years before I wondered why it was called Cocoa? I had never seen a cocoa tree or bush anywhere in the area.
I didn’t smell chocolate unless you were walking the streets of Cocoa Village, where they had a myriad of shops.
I decided to do some research into why they called Cocoa, FL, Cocoa. I found that there were several stories that the aged timers tell about how the village got its name. There is a single story that says the mail used to be delivered by river boat. It was arenad in an empty tin box that was labeled Baker’s Cocoa. The box was nailed to a piling in the river that was next to downtown. This story says the neighborhood was named after the tin box that held the mail. It was shortened to Cocoa to make it easier for the river boat. There is also the legend that the neighborhood was named after an early hotel that was located on the Indian River lagoon. The name of this hotel was the Cocoa House. I couldn’t find any information on why it was called the Cocoa House. I wondered if the climate was strange back then than it is now. I’m sure they didn’t have air conditioner, plus I was glad I did. All the research I was doing, had myself and others wishing someone would lower the control device so I could relax. Since I was the only a single cabin at the moment, I had to get up plus lower the control device myself.