Merritt Island, Florida
ONCE A KEY PLAYER IN FLORIDA’S BOOMING than lounge on the beach, search for seashells and gaze
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citrus industry, Merritt Island joined the space race in the at space shuttles soaring skyward. Residents and visitors
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1950s and 1960s, its prosperity and popularity soaring enjoy golf, tennis, horseback riding, hiking, biking,
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along with the rest of the Space Coast, a vibrant and surfing, water-skiing, windsurfing, snorkeling, boating,
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growing stretch of the beautiful central Florida shoreline. sailing and shopping. Parks provide playgrounds, picnic
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In the mid-1800s, the area was known for producing tables and barbecue grills, and nearby historic Cocoa
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world-famous Indian River oranges and grapefruit, Village offers tree-lined streets and a wide variety of
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and pineapples also thrived in the sandy soil. The shops, cafes and art galleries.
small towns that once dotted the In addition to the Kennedy Space
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island–Georgiana, Courtenay,
“... Merritt Island is
Center, nearby attractions include the
Tropic, Fairyland, Orsino, Angel Astronaut Hall of Fame; the American
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City, Wilson and Indianola among
located just six miles
Police Hall of Fame in Titusville; and
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them–have vanished, leaving Merritt the Veterans Memorial Center, which
Island to be administered by Brevard southwest of Cape includes a military museum.
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County. Water and sewer service And if you simply seek a peek at i
come to the island’s residents from
Canaveral ...”
the unspoiled beauty of the Florida d
the nearby town of Cocoa. coast, you can visit Merritt Island
Originally named Artesia, Merritt Island is located National Wildlife Refuge, located adjacent to the Space
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just six miles southwest of Cape Canaveral, the heart of Center. The 22-square-mile wetlands area, managed by .
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America’s space program. Because of its central location the federal government, attracts more than 300 species
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in Brevard County, between Titusville and Melbourne, of birds and also is home to ghost crabs, loggerhead and
the area has developed into an economic hub, tucked green sea turtles, raccoons, bobcats, alligators, manatees,
between the Atlantic beaches to the east and the dolphins, bald eagles, ospreys and even the elusive
mainland cities of Rockledge and Cocoa to the west. Florida panther. You can see many of them along the
There’s more to do on Florida’s Space Coast, however, seven-mile-long Blackpoint Wildlife Drive.
At A Glance
Merritt Island, Fla.
Population: 36,090
Average Temp: 82 F
Average Age: 43
Nearest Hospital:
Cape Canaveral Hospital
Nearest Major Airport:
Space Coast Regional Airport
Merritt Island Info:
Cocoa Beach Area Chamber
of Commerce
(321) 459-2200
www.CocoaBeachChamber.com
The Merritt Island causeway circa 1946.
www.RetiringToFlorida.com I
www.RetiringToGeorgia.com I
www.HotRetirementTowns.com
37_Merritt island.indd 37 8/29/07 3:24:00 PM
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