Melbourne is a city in
Brevard County, Florida
Brevard County ( ) is a county located in the east central portion of the U.S. state of Florida. As of the 2020 census, the population was 606,612, making it the 10th-most populated county in Florida. The official county seat is located in ...
,
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., federal district, five ma ...
. It is located southeast of
Orlando. As of th
2020 Decennial Census there was a population of 84,678.
The municipality is the second-largest in the county by both size and population.
Melbourne is a principal city of the
Palm Bay – Melbourne – Titusville, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area. In 1969, the city was expanded by merging with nearby
Eau Gallie
Eau Gallie () is a section of the city of Melbourne, Florida, located on the city's northern side. It was an independent city in Brevard County from 1860 until 1969.
That year residents of Eau Gallie and Melbourne voted to merge their governmen ...
.
History
Early human occupation
Evidence for the presence of
Paleo-Indians in the Melbourne area during the late
Pleistocene
The Pleistocene ( , often referred to as the '' Ice age'') is the geological epoch that lasted from about 2,580,000 to 11,700 years ago, spanning the Earth's most recent period of repeated glaciations. Before a change was finally confirmed ...
epoch was uncovered during the 1920s. C. P. Singleton, a
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1636 as Harvard College and named for its first benefactor, the Puritan clergyman John Harvard, it is the oldest institution of high ...
zoologist
Zoology ()The pronunciation of zoology as is usually regarded as nonstandard, though it is not uncommon. is the branch of biology that studies the animal kingdom, including the structure, embryology, evolution, classification, habits, and ...
, discovered the bones of a
mammoth (''
Mammuthus columbi'') on his property along
Crane Creek, from Melbourne, and brought in
Amherst College paleontologist
Paleontology (), also spelled palaeontology or palæontology, is the scientific study of life that existed prior to, and sometimes including, the start of the Holocene epoch (roughly 11,700 years before present). It includes the study of foss ...
Frederick B. Loomis to excavate the skeleton. Loomis found a second elephant, with a "large rough flint instrument" among fragments of the elephant's ribs. Loomis found in the same
stratum
In geology and related fields, a stratum ( : strata) is a layer of rock or sediment characterized by certain lithologic properties or attributes that distinguish it from adjacent layers from which it is separated by visible surfaces known as e ...
mammoth,
mastodon, horse,
ground sloth,
tapir,
peccary,
camel, and
saber-tooth cat
Machairodontinae is an extinct subfamily of carnivoran mammals of the family Felidae (true cats). They were found in Asia, Africa, North America, South America, and Europe from the Miocene to the Pleistocene, living from about 16 million until ...
bones, all extinct in Florida since the end of the Pleistocene 10,000–8,000 BCE. At a nearby site a human rib and charcoal were found in association with ''
Mylodon'', ''
Megalonyx'', and ''
Chlamytherium'' (ground sloth) teeth. A finely worked spear point found with these items may have been displaced from a later stratum. In 1925 attention shifted to the Melbourne golf course.
A crushed human skull with finger, arm, and leg bones was found in association with a horse tooth. A piece of
ivory
Ivory is a hard, white material from the tusks (traditionally from elephants) and teeth of animals, that consists mainly of dentine, one of the physical structures of teeth and tusks. The chemical structure of the teeth and tusks of mammals ...
that appeared to have been modified by humans was found at the bottom of the stratum containing bones. Other finds included a spear point near a mastodon bone and a turtle-back scraper and blade found with bear, camel, mastodon, horse, and tapir bones. Similar human remains, Pleistocene animals and Paleo-Indian artifacts were found in
Vero Beach, south of Melbourne, and similar Paleo-Indian artifacts were found at the
Helen Blazes archaeological site, southwest of Melbourne.
Settlement
The first settlers arrived after 1877. They included Richard W. Goode, his father John Goode,
Cornthwaite John Hector, Captain Peter Wright, Balaam Allen, Wright Brothers, and Thomas Mason. Three of these men, Wright, Allen, and Brothers were black freedmen.
The city, formerly called "Crane Creek", was named Melbourne in honor of its first postmaster,
Cornthwaite John Hector, an Englishman who had spent much of his life in
Melbourne
Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/ Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a me ...
,
Victoria, Australia (which was in turn named after the British Prime Minister
William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne).
He is buried in the
Melbourne Cemetery, along with many early residents in the area. The first school in Melbourne was built in 1883 and is on permanent exhibit on the campus of
Florida Institute of Technology. By 1885, the town had 70 people.
[Kellersberger, Julia Lake. ''Rooted in Florida Soil'', Florida Institute of Technology Press, 1971, p. 12.] The Greater Allen Chapel
African Methodist Episcopal Church
The African Methodist Episcopal Church, usually called the AME Church or AME, is a predominantly African American Methodist denomination. It adheres to Wesleyan-Arminian theology and has a connexional polity. The African Methodist Episcopal ...
was founded in 1885 and is still active.
In the late 1890s, the Brownlie-Maxwell Funeral Home opened and it is still in business. The oldest black-owned business in the county is Tucker's Cut-Rate plumbing. It opened in 1934.
In the early 1900s, houses were often built in the
frame vernacular style.
In 1919, a fire destroyed most of the original downtown along Front Street. At the time, it was rebuilt west of US Hwy 1.
During the
Jim Crow
The Jim Crow laws were state and local laws enforcing racial segregation in the Southern United States. Other areas of the United States were affected by formal and informal policies of segregation as well, but many states outside the Sout ...
years, black people were required to enter movie theaters via a different entrance from whites and sit in the balcony. Gas stations had signs for rest rooms labeled "Men", "Women", and "Colored." This persisted until integration in the late 1960s.
In late 1942 the
Naval Air Station Melbourne was established as a site to train newly commissioned
Navy
A navy, naval force, or maritime force is the branch of a nation's armed forces principally designated for naval and amphibious warfare; namely, lake-borne, riverine, littoral, or ocean-borne combat operations and related functions. It include ...
and
Marine pilots for
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...
. The program ran until 1946, and the land that was used for that program makes up most of what is currently the
Melbourne Orlando International Airport.
In 1969, the cities of
Eau Gallie
Eau Gallie () is a section of the city of Melbourne, Florida, located on the city's northern side. It was an independent city in Brevard County from 1860 until 1969.
That year residents of Eau Gallie and Melbourne voted to merge their governmen ...
and Melbourne voted to merge, forming modern-day Melbourne.
Postwar
In the 1950s, Babcock Street was extended north to intersect with US 1. The Melbourne Shopping Center was constructed on Babcock, the area's first
strip mall
A strip mall, strip center or strip plaza is a type of shopping center common in North America where the stores are arranged in a row, with a sidewalk in front. Strip malls are typically developed as a unit and have large parking lots in front. ...
. Consumers were sufficiently attracted to this new mall, that the traditional downtown, off New Haven, suffered. Urban blight was successfully mitigated in the 1980s.
A board was created by the legislature to spend a 10% tax on electric bills. This was used by the Melbourne Civic Improvement Board to build the Melbourne Auditorium, the first library and fire station, and various parks. The board was dissolved when Melbourne was merged with Eau Gallie in 1969.
That merger doubled the size of Melbourne.
Streetlights were gradually added until, by the early 1960s, streets east of Babcock Street had lights. Lights were added to streets west of Babcock after the early 1960s.
In 1969, the city elected
Julius Montgomery
Julius Marvin Montgomery was an American technical professional and politician. He was the first black student enrolled at Brevard Engineering College, now Florida Institute of Technology and the first black technical professional working for the ...
, its first black councilman. Montgomery was also the first African American student of Brevard Engineering College, later Florida Institute of Technology which named their Pioneer Award after him.
On August 2, 1995, the city received a record of rainfall from
Hurricane Erin The name Erin has been used for six tropical cyclones in the Atlantic Ocean:
* Hurricane Erin (1989), a Category 2 Cape Verde hurricane that stayed away from land.
* Hurricane Erin (1995), a Category 2 hurricane that made two landfalls in ...
.
During the week of August 22, 2008, a record of rain fell caused by
Tropical Storm Fay The name Fay or Faye has been used for 22 tropical cyclones worldwide: 5 in the Atlantic Ocean; 1 in the Australian region; 1 in the South Pacific Ocean; and 15 in the Western Pacific Ocean.
In the Atlantic:
* Hurricane Faye (1975), a Category& ...
.
[
A 2009 ]Halloween
Halloween or Hallowe'en (less commonly known as Allhalloween, All Hallows' Eve, or All Saints' Eve) is a celebration geography of Halloween, observed in many countries on 31 October, the eve of the Western Christian feast of All Saints' Day. ...
street party sponsored by a downtown restaurant attracted an estimated 8,000–10,000 people. This overwhelmed the downtown area. Street parties were curtailed until public safety issues were addressed.
On February 18, 2017, president Donald J. Trump held his first post-inauguration rally at the Orlando-Melbourne International Airport drawing a crowd of approximately 9,000 people according to the Melbourne police department.
Geography
Melbourne is located approximately southeast of Orlando on the Space Coast, along Interstate 95. It is approximately midway between Jacksonville and Miami
Miami ( ), officially the City of Miami, known as "the 305", "The Magic City", and "Gateway to the Americas", is a coastal metropolis and the county seat of Miami-Dade County in South Florida, United States. With a population of 442,241 at th ...
. According to the United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy
An economy is an area of th ...
, the city has a total area of , of which is land and (14.42%) is water.
The east–west street named Brevard Drive was historically the "center" of town; with addresses called "north" and "south" of this street. The north–south Babcock Street provided the same centerline for "east" and "west" directions.
Melbourne Beachside has a small presence on the South Beaches barrier island. It is often confused with Melbourne Beach
Melbourne Beach is a town in Brevard County, Florida. The population was 3,101 at the 2010 United States Census. It is part of the Palm Bay–Melbourne– Titusville Metropolitan Statistical Area.
History
The Ais Indians resided in the area i ...
, a separate political entity.
Climate
Melbourne, Florida has a humid subtropical climate ( ''Cfa''), bordering closely to a tropical savanna climate. Melbourne has a distinctly seasonal precipitation pattern, with a hot and wet season (late May through October) and a warm and dry season (November through April). The climate is strongly influenced by the nearby Atlantic Ocean and Gulf Stream, as well as incursions of cold fronts from the north in winter months.
Melbourne averages of rainfall annually, much of it coming in convective thunderstorms in the late May to early October time period. The record rainfall occurred on August 20, 2008, when Tropical Storm Fay dropped . Melbourne can sometimes have moderate to severe drought conditions from late fall through spring, with brush fires occurring and water restrictions put in place. Melbourne averages 2 days per year with frost, although several years might pass without a frost in the city of Melbourne or at the ocean beaches. On Christmas Eve 2003, the city as others in east central coast of Florida received snow from the ocean effect, when cold air passes over the considerably hotter ocean and causes the rise of air with higher temperature to bring moisture into the higher portions of the atmosphere
An atmosphere () is a layer of gas or layers of gases that envelop a planet, and is held in place by the gravity of the planetary body. A planet retains an atmosphere when the gravity is great and the temperature of the atmosphere is low. ...
.
Flora
Tropical flora typical of more southerly locations is grown in the Melbourne area (coconut palms, royal palms, Christmas palms, and bananas), but can be damaged or killed when subjected to infrequent light freezes or cooler temperatures, although several years might pass without a freeze in the Melbourne area. The Melbourne area has many lush gardens and public landscapes, and is noted for the botanical northern limit of cultivated coconut palms on the Florida East Coast.
Environment
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection has ordered the city to reduce pollution of the Indian River Lagoon, which it borders; about 80% of the city's landmass drains in the direction of the lagoon. The city must reduce run-off by of nitrogen and of phosphorus. The city responded by banning the use of fertilizer before flood and storm warnings.
Demographics
As of 2010, there were 38,955 households, out of which 12.6% were vacant. As of 2000, 24.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.0% were married couples living together, 11.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.7% were non-families. 32.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.82.
In 2000, the city the population was spread out, with 20.7% under the age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 28.4% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 19.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.1 males.
The per capita income for the city was $19,175. In 2000, the median income for a household in the city was $34,571, and the median income for a family was $42,760. Males had a median income of $32,242 versus $22,419 for females. In Melbourne, about 8.6% of families and 11.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.4% of those under age 18 and 8.5% of those age 65 or over.
Languages
As of 2000, 90.39% of residents spoke English as their first language
A first language, native tongue, native language, mother tongue or L1 is the first language or dialect that a person has been exposed to from birth or within the critical period. In some countries, the term ''native language'' or ''mother tong ...
, while 4.69% spoke Spanish, 0.84% spoke French, 0.73% spoke German, and 0.55% spoke Arabic
Arabic (, ' ; , ' or ) is a Semitic language spoken primarily across the Arab world.Semitic languages: an international handbook / edited by Stefan Weninger; in collaboration with Geoffrey Khan, Michael P. Streck, Janet C. E.Watson; Walte ...
as their mother tongue
A first language, native tongue, native language, mother tongue or L1 is the first language or dialect that a person has been exposed to from birth or within the critical period. In some countries, the term ''native language'' or ''mother tong ...
. In total, 9.60% of the total population spoke languages other than English.
Government
The Melbourne City Council consists of the mayor and six district council members. Melbourne uses a Council-Manager form of government.
City officials
* Paul Alfrey, Mayor – Elected November 2020, term expires November 2024
* Tim Thomas, District 1 Council Member – Elected in November 2016. Re-elected in November 2020, term expires November 2024
* Mark LaRusso, Vice Mayor & District 2 Council Member – Elected in November 2018. Re-elected in November 2022, term expires November 2026
* Yvonne Minus, District 3 Council Member – Elected in November 2016. Re-elected in November 2020, term expires November 2024
* Rachael Bassett, District 4 Council Member – Elected in November 2022, term expires November 2026
* Mimi Hanley, District 5 Council Member – Elected in November 2020, term expires November 2024
* Julie Sanders, District 6 Council Member – Elected in November 2018. Re-elected in November 2022, term expires November 2026
The following are appointed by the council:
* City Attorney
* City Manager
Melbourne city officials created the Babcock Street Redevelopment District in 1998 to stimulate new development along Babcock Street from U.S. 1
U.S. Route 1 or U.S. Highway 1 (US 1) is a major north–south United States Numbered Highway System, United States Numbered Highway that serves the East Coast of the United States. It runs from Key West, Florida, north to Fort Kent, ...
south to U.S. 192. A 218-unit apartment complex built in 2005 is most recent step in an effort to revitalize this area.
In 2010, the Eau Gallie Arts District received its designation as a Florida Main Street. Established in 1860 along the Indian River, the arts district (called EGAD!) has proven to be highly successful in its redevelopment of the community of art galleries, shops, restaurants, Melbourne's first microbrewery (Intracoastal Brewing Company), and contains the city civic center and public library with a public pier, Historic Rossetter House and Gardens, Pineapple Park, a few businesses over 40 years old, and a community park and band shell, which is the center of many community activities. It is now a non-accredited main street program.
A $180.8 million Operating and Capital Budget was passed for the 2014–2015 fiscal year.
In 2007, the city had a taxable real estate base of $4.96 billion.
A 2011 study rated the general pension fund for city employees highly at 190%. Less favorably rated were the pension plans for fire and police employees.
In 2009, the city had 870 full-time employees and 176 part-time employees.
Economy
Industry
Melbourne Orlando International Airport is located near the center of the city. Melbourne contains defense and technology companies with a high concentration of high-tech
High technology (high tech), also known as advanced technology (advanced tech) or exotechnology, is technology that is at the cutting edge: the highest form of technology available. It can be defined as either the most complex or the newest tec ...
workers. The following corporations have operations in Melbourne:
* DRS Technologies employed 910 workers in 2009. Another reference says 1,800 workers in 2009, 1,300 in 2010.
* Alstom
Alstom SA is a French multinational rolling stock manufacturer operating worldwide in rail transport markets, active in the fields of passenger transportation, signalling, and locomotives, with products including the AGV, TGV, Eurostar, Av ...
Signaling Operations Transportation Systems
* L3Harris Technologies (corporate headquarters)
* Northrop Grumman
Northrop Grumman Corporation is an American multinational aerospace and defense technology company. With 90,000 employees and an annual revenue in excess of $30 billion, it is one of the world's largest weapons manufacturers and military tec ...
employed 1,640 workers in 2009.
* Rockwell Collins employed 1,430 in 2009.
* Embraer completed a hangar and administrative office at the Melbourne Airport in February 2011.
* LiveTV has its headquarters in Melbourne.[Where we are]
" LiveTV. Retrieved on January 19, 2010.
eviCore Healthcare
has one of its main office in Melbourne.
* Avidyne Corporation an avionics company has their HQ in Melbourne and is a developer of Integrated Avionics Systems, multi-function displays, and traffic advisory systems for light general aviation
General aviation (GA) is defined by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) as all civil aviation aircraft operations with the exception of commercial air transport or aerial work, which is defined as specialized aviation service ...
(GA) aircraft.
Workforce
In 2007, the average size of Melbourne's labor force was 39,391. Of that group, 37,708 were employed and 1,683 were unemployed, for an unemployment rate of 4.3%.[Melbourne Community Data Sheet](_blank)
Economic Development Council of Florida's Space Coast. Retrieved on July 23, 2009.
Housing
In 2008, 259 building permits were issued for 263 units. There were 209 permits issued for 320 units in 2007, which was down from 329 permits for 512 units in 2006.
The median home price in 2007 was $215,000.
In May 2005, the Melbourne– Titusville– Palm Bay area was among the top 20 in home price appreciation from 2003 to 2004.
Competitiveness
In 2009, ''Forbes'' ranked the area 18th out of 100 Metropolitan Statistical Area
In the United States, a metropolitan statistical area (MSA) is a geographical region with a relatively high population density at its core and close economic ties throughout the area. Such regions are neither legally Incorporated town, incorporate ...
s and first out of 8 metros in Florida for affordable housing, and short commute times, among others.
Retail and commerce
Melbourne has two downtown business districts, a result of the merger of Eau Gallie into Melbourne:
* Eau Gallie Arts District—located along the Indian River Lagoon with two public parks, two fine art galleries, a microbrewery and several other restaurants contained within one block. Known as EGAD, it is on the Florida Humanities FLORIDA STORIES historic audio-based walking tours app (download to your phone from the app store) and contains over 30 murals and three sculptures.
* Historic Downtown Melbourne – among other retail outlets, this has 26 eating and drinking establishments within a four block extent.
Healthcare
The city has three hospitals, day care for senior citizens, hospice, walk-in, and urgent care facilities. There is Holmes Medical Center, and Melbourne Regional Medical Center. Kindred Hospital is a chronic care facility for ventilated patients and does not accept emergency patients. A new Viera hospital was opened in May 2011.
Tourism
The city has two golf course
A golf course is the grounds on which the sport of golf is played. It consists of a series of holes, each consisting of a tee box, a fairway, the rough and other hazards, and a green with a cylindrical hole in the ground, known as a "cup". The ...
s. There were 96,477 rounds played in 2009–10. Revenues were $2,207,502. Rounds and revenue have been dropping since 2006. in 2011, the city raised rates for residents to the same as for non-residents, $27 per round or $522 annual fee.
The Eau Gallie Arts District is regularly highlighted as a top destination in the national rankings that are published. Rea
more
Retail
Brevard Mall
Florida Business Centre, formerly Florida Marketplace and Brevard Mall, is an enclosed office complex and former shopping mall in Melbourne, Florida, United States. A small, two-anchor mall, it was the first mall in Brevard County, Florida, and w ...
, the area's first mall, was built in 1962. It was followed by Melbourne Square in 1982.
Arts and culture
Annual cultural events
In February or March:
* The Annual IndiaFest is held in February or March.
In April:
* The Melbourne Arts Festival, held in April in Wickham Park, draws from 50,000 to 60,000 visitors
In August:
* The Annual India Day is held in August.
In September:
* The Melbourne Area Pilots Association hosts a General Aviation Day at Melbourne International Airport in September
In October:
* The Melbourne Oktoberfest
The Oktoberfest (; bar, Wiesn, Oktobafest) is the world's largest Volksfest, featuring a beer festival and a travelling carnival. It is held annually in Munich, Bavaria, Germany. It is a 16- to 18-day folk festival running from mid- or la ...
has been held each October since 1977; most recently, this was held at the Wickham Park Pavilion
In December:
* Christian churches have been producing a "Bible on Parade" since 1990, each participating church portrays a book of the Bible. A spokesperson said in 2011 that it may be the only one of its kind in America.
Museums and points of interest
Historic sites
There are four places on the National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artist ...
:
* Florida Power and Light Company Ice Plant
The Florida Power and Light Company Ice Plant (also known as the City Products Corporation Ice Plant or locally as the Ice Plant) is a historic site in Melbourne, Florida, United States. It is located at 1604 South Harbor City Boulevard. On N ...
(1927) located at 1604 South Harbor City Boulevard
* William H. Gleason House
The William H. Gleason House is a historic home in Melbourne, Florida, United States. The house was built around 1884 by William Henry Gleason (c. 1829–1902) and his wife Sarah Griffin Gleason and is at 1736 Pineapple Avenue in the Eau Gallie ...
at 1736 Pineapple Avenue
* James Wadsworth Rossetter House
The James Wadsworth Rossetter House is a historic home in the U.S. located at 1320 Highland Avenue, Melbourne, Florida. The original address of the home was 1328 Houston Street. On July 27, 2005, it was added to the U.S. National Register of Histo ...
(c. 1860s) at 1320 Highland Avenue
* Green Gables at Historic Riverview Village 1501 South Harbor City Blvd
The following places also are historic:
* Henegar Center
The Henegar Center is a historic U.S. building located at 625 East New Haven Avenue, Melbourne, Florida. Built in 1919, it is one of Brevard County’s oldest public buildings. On March 12, 1963, the building received its name in honor of Ruth H ...
(1919) located at 625 East New Haven Avenue
* Holy Trinity Episcopal Church (1886) at 50 West Strawbridge Avenue
* Melbourne Bone Bed at Crane Creek
* Nannie Lee House
The Nannie Lee House, often referred to as Strawberry Mansion, is a historic U.S. home located at 1218 East New Haven Avenue, Melbourne, Florida. John B. Lee and his wife Nannie McBride Lee from Albion, New York
New York most commonly refers ...
– Strawberry Mansion (1905) at 1218 East New Haven Avenue
* Roesch House
The Roesch House is a historic U.S. home located at 1320 Highland Avenue, Melbourne, Florida. The house is owned by The Rossetter House Foundation, Inc., managed by the Florida Historical Society, and part of the Historic Rossetter House Museum. ...
(c. 1901) at 1320 Highland Avenue
* Winchester Symphony House (1890s) at 1500 Highland Avenue
;Walking historic tours
Eau Gallie Arts District has an established historical walking tour that includes over 20 historical buildings or locations in the arts district available through a FLORIDA STORIES app to your phone.
Museums
* Historic Rossetter House Museum
The Historic Rossetter House Museum is located at 1320 Highland Avenue, Melbourne, Florida in the historic section of Eau Gallie. The museum consists of the James Wadsworth Rossetter House and Gardens (1908), the William P. Roesch House (1901), ...
at 1320 Highland Avenue
* Liberty Bell Memorial Museum
The Liberty Bell Memorial Museum is located at 1601 Oak Street, Melbourne, Florida in Wells Park and is located adjacent to Melbourne Military Memorial Park. The museum is free to enter, and is divided into two main components: The Rotunda of Amer ...
at 1601 Hickory Street
* (Green Gables at Historic Riverview Village) at 1501 South Harbor City Blvd.
Performing arts
*Melbourne Civic Theater
Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/ Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a metro ...
Groups
* Brevard Symphony Orchestra
* City of Melbourne Pipes and Drums
* Strawbridge Art League and Gallery Strawbridge may refer to:
*Strawbridge (surname)
*Strawbridge, Wisconsin, an unincorporated community in Wisconsin, United States
*Strawbridge's
Strawbridge's, formerly Strawbridge & Clothier, was a department store in the northeastern United St ...
Buildings
* Henegar Center
The Henegar Center is a historic U.S. building located at 625 East New Haven Avenue, Melbourne, Florida. Built in 1919, it is one of Brevard County’s oldest public buildings. On March 12, 1963, the building received its name in honor of Ruth H ...
for the Arts
* Maxwell C. King Center for the Performing Arts
The King Center or the Maxwell C. King Center for the Performing Arts is a performing arts venue located at 3865 North Wickham Road, Melbourne, Florida. The main theater of the facility contains 2,016 seats. There is also a 250-seat venue named ...
* Melbourne Auditorium located on Hibiscus Boulevard
Sports
Melbourne was an official host city for the 1996 Olympic Torch Relay.
There are co-ed adult and youth sports programs in flag football and ultimate frisbee
Ultimate, originally known as ultimate Frisbee, is a non-contact team sport played with a frisbee flung by hand. Ultimate was developed in 1968 by AJ Gator in Maplewood, New Jersey. Although ultimate resembles many traditional sports in its ath ...
.
The city of Melbourne hosts an annual indoor pickleball
Pickleball is an indoor or outdoor racket/paddle sport where two players (singles), or four players (doubles), hit a perforated hollow polymer ball over a net using solid-faced paddles. Opponents on either side of the net hit the ball back and ...
tournament called the Melbourne Meltdown Pickleball Championship. The third annual tournament was played on March 4–6, 2021 at the Melbourne Auditorium.
Parks, recreation, and attractions
The city of Melbourne contains over of city park land, including 17 community parks, 13 neighborhood parks, and five smaller city parks.
* Brevard Zoo
Brevard Zoo is a 75-acre nonprofit facility located in Melbourne, Florida, United States, that is home to more than 900 animals representing more than 195 species from Florida, South America, Africa, Asia, and Australia. The zoo features animal f ...
* Wickham Park
* Lake Washington
One of the many forms of recreation is local fishing in places such as Lake Washington.
Public Libraries
Melbourne houses three branches of Brevard County Public Libraries including the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Public Library, Eau Gallie Public Library, and the Melbourne Public Library.
The first home of the Melbourne Public Library was established in 1924 with funds raised by the Library Association of Melbourne. The current Melbourne Public Library is a 25,000 square ft building located in Wells Park. It was first opened to the public in July 1989.
The Eau Gallie Public Library was also first opened in the 1920s, starting as a library for the Eau Gallie Woman's Club. In 1939, the club officially sponsored the small library, beginning with only 22 books. The current building opened in 1962, gradually expanding over the years. In October, 1990 the Eau Gallie Public Library had a collection of 67,023 volumes and over 25,000 registered borrowers, a testament to the faith of the founders of the Eau Gallie Woman's Club. The library is located in Riverfront Park overlooking the Indian River.
Education
Of all residents 25 years or older, 88.5% are high school graduates, and 25.7% have a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public schools are run by the Brevard County School Board Brevard is the name of some places in the United States of America:
*Brevard, North Carolina
**Brevard College
Brevard College is a private college in Brevard, North Carolina. The college grants the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degre ...
.
Prior to 1964, segregated schools were maintained for white students and black students under the doctrine of Separate but equal education. Black students were educated at Melbourne Vocational School from 1921 until it burned in 1953. For the next five years they met in the former hospital of the Naval Air Station, until Stone High School was opened in 1958. In 1964 the schools were integrated and Stone was repurposed as Stone Middle School.
Colleges and universities
* Eastern Florida State College
* Florida Institute of Technology
* Florida State University Satellite Campus
* Keiser University – Melbourne
* University of Central Florida Regional Campus
* Webster University
Webster University is a private university with its main campus in Webster Groves, Missouri. It has multiple branch locations across the United States and countries across Europe, Asia, and Africa. It offers undergraduate and graduate program ...
– Patrick Space Force Base
Patrick Space Force Base is a United States Space Force installation located between Satellite Beach and Cocoa Beach, in Brevard County, Florida, United States. It is named in honor of Major General Mason Patrick, USAAC. It is home to Space Lau ...
Campus
Elementary schools
* Roy Allen Elementary
* Ascension Catholic School
* Brevard Academy for Individual Excellence
* Dr. W. J. Creel Elementary
* Croton Elementary
* Harbor City Elementary
* Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy Lower School (Pre-K–6)
* Longleaf Elementary
* Meadowlane Primary
* Meadowlane Intermediate
* New Covenant Christian School
* Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School
* Quest Elementary
* Sabal Elementary
* Sherwood Elementary
* Suntree Elementary
* University Park Elementary
* West Melbourne Elementary
Middle schools
* Ascension Catholic School
* Brevard Academy for Individual Excellence
* DeLaura Middle School
* Central Middle School
* Covenant Christian School
* Florida Preparatory Academy
* Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy Upper School
* Johnson Middle School
* Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School
* Stone Middle School
High schools
;Public
* Eau Gallie High School
* Melbourne High School
* Palm Bay High School
* West Shore Junior – Senior High School
;Private
* Brevard Academy for Individual Excellence
* Brevard Christian School
* Florida Preparatory Academy
Florida Prep (FPA) is a private boarding and day school founded in 1961 by Jonathan Dwight, located in Melbourne, Florida. Students in grades 6 -12 are provided a college-preparatory education that emphasizes leadership, character, accountabili ...
* Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy Upper School
* Melbourne Central Catholic High School
* New Covenant Christian School
Adult education
* Palm Bay High Adult/Community Education
* South Area Adult Center
Media
Print
''Brevard Business News'' is a weekly newspaper in Melbourne, Florida
Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, a ...
, United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., federal district, five ma ...
covering business news and trends for the Space Coast. Fred Krupski started ''Brevard Business News'' in 1981, and Adrienne B. Roth purchased it in 1986.
'' Florida Today'' is the major daily newspaper serving Brevard County, Florida
Brevard County ( ) is a county located in the east central portion of the U.S. state of Florida. As of the 2020 census, the population was 606,612, making it the 10th-most populated county in Florida. The official county seat is located in ...
. The Gannett corporation started the paper in 1966. It covers the Space Coast and Central Florida. The other major paper is the ''Hometown News'' ln Melbourne.
Radio
WFIT 89.5 FM—this radio station is an NPR station based on the grounds of Florida Institute of Technology
Television
Melbourne is part of the Orlando television market. Cable is provided by Spectrum
A spectrum (plural ''spectra'' or ''spectrums'') is a condition that is not limited to a specific set of values but can vary, without gaps, across a continuum. The word was first used scientifically in optics to describe the rainbow of color ...
.
Infrastructure
Transportation
Major roads
The city is responsible for about of road. It would like to resurface 5% () of that each year. It was able to afford to pave half of that in 2013.
Roads in the older part of the city, in what is today the southeast, are oriented toward the north–south road, Babcock Street, with compass directions measured east and west from that road. In the same area, a very minor east–west road, Brevard Drive, separates compass directions north and south.
* U.S. 1
U.S. Route 1 or U.S. Highway 1 (US 1) is a major north–south United States Numbered Highway System, United States Numbered Highway that serves the East Coast of the United States. It runs from Key West, Florida, north to Fort Kent, ...
– Known officially as Harbor City Boulevard, this road runs parallel to the Indian River on the far eastern side of the city. The highway is six-lanes throughout the city. Within the city limits, this road intersects two causeways: the Eau Gallie
Eau Gallie () is a section of the city of Melbourne, Florida, located on the city's northern side. It was an independent city in Brevard County from 1860 until 1969.
That year residents of Eau Gallie and Melbourne voted to merge their governmen ...
and Melbourne Causeways. Major intersections include University Boulevard, New Haven Avenue, U.S. 192, SR 508, CR 507, CR 5054, SR 518, CR 511, Lake Washington Road, and Post Road.
* U.S. 192 – Locally named New Haven Avenue, and Strawbridge Avenue in downtown, this road passes through commercial, entertainment, and retail areas of Melbourne. It serves as a route to Kissimmee
Kissimmee ( ) is the largest city and county seat of Osceola County, Florida, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 79,226. It is a Principal City of the Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, Florida, Metropolitan Statistical Area, wh ...
and the tourist corridor of Orlando to the west, and the town of Indialantic
Indialantic (officially incorporated as Indialantic-By-The-Sea, though the official name is seldom used in casual parlance) is a town in Brevard County, Florida. The town's population was 2,720 at the 2010 United States Census. It is part of the ...
to the east via the Melbourne Causeway. Major intersections include Evans Road/Hollywood Boulevard, Dairy Road, SR 507/CR 507, New Haven Avenue, and U.S. 1.
* Interstate 95 – This highway is six-lanes throughout its run in Melbourne. There are three exits within city limits: Exit 180 (U.S. 192), Exit 182 (Ellis Road), and Exit 183 (SR 518).
* SR A1A – This road runs along the barrier island portion of Melbourne and provides access to Indian Harbour Beach and Indialantic
Indialantic (officially incorporated as Indialantic-By-The-Sea, though the official name is seldom used in casual parlance) is a town in Brevard County, Florida. The town's population was 2,720 at the 2010 United States Census. It is part of the ...
. There is only one major intersection: SR 518.
* SR 507 – The state road portion of Babcock Street, this road runs from the city limits of Palm Bay to U.S. 192, serving the Florida Institute of Technology along the way. Major intersections include Florida Avenue, University Boulevard, and U.S. 192.
* CR 507 – The county road portion of Babcock Street, this road runs from U.S. 192 to U.S. 1, serving one of the main economic centers of Melbourne. Major intersections include U.S. 192, SR 508, and U.S. 1.
* SR 508 – This road runs from U.S. 1 to the Melbourne Orlando International Airport. Major intersections include Air Terminal Parkway, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, CR 507, and U.S. 1.
* CR 509 – Known locally as Wickham Road, this is one of the busiest roads in Melbourne: Up to 38,680 cars use Wickham Road weekdays, and the average is 33,850. Major intersections include Ellis Road/NASA Bouelvard, SR 5054/CR 5054, SR 518, CR 511, Lake Washington Boulevard, and Post Road.
* CR 511 – Known almost universally as John Rodes Boulevard while north–south and Aurora Road while east–west, this road enters from West Melbourne and ends at U.S. 1, running through some impoverished areas of the town. Major intersections include Ellis Road, SR 518, CR 509, and U.S. 1.
* SR 518 – Known locally as Eau Gallie Boulevard, this road's run is entirely in Melbourne, running from Interstate 95 to SR A1A over the Eau Gallie Causeway. It runs through the Eau Gallie Arts District. Major intersections include Interstate 95, SR 5054, CR 509, U.S. 1, SR 513, and SR A1A.
* SR 5054 – The state road designation being entirely unsigned, the road is mostly known as Sarno Road. It has a short run from SR 518 to CR 509, where Sarno Road continues as CR 5054.
* CR 5054 – The more urban portion of Sarno Road. Major intersections include CR 509, Croton Boulevard, Apollo Boulevard, and U.S. 1.
Rail
The Union Cypress Company Railroad
The Union Cypress Company operated a three-story double-band sawmill in Melbourne, Florida, built in 1912. The small company town of Hopkins (now South Melbourne), named after its owner George W. Hopkins, was built at the site. The company bui ...
ran east to west through south Melbourne in the early 1900s. The mill town of Hopkins was near the present-day streets of Mill Street and Main Street.
The Florida East Coast Railway (FEC) runs through Melbourne, staying west of U.S. 1 through its entire run. Into the early 1960s, passengers could take one of two Chicago
(''City in a Garden''); I Will
, image_map =
, map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago
, coordinates =
, coordinates_footnotes =
, subdivision_type = List of sovereign states, Count ...
-bound trains (on alternating days), the '' City of Miami'' or the '' South Wind'' (both via Birmingham
Birmingham ( ) is a city and metropolitan borough in the metropolitan county of West Midlands in England. It is the second-largest city in the United Kingdom with a population of 1.145 million in the city proper, 2.92 million in the We ...
) and the New York-bound '' East Coast Champion,'' ''Havana Special,'' and ''Miamian'' from Melbourne's Florida East Coast station. Into the latter 1950s, passengers could take the '' Dixie Flagler'' to Chicago via Atlanta
Atlanta ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is the seat of Fulton County, the most populous county in Georgia, but its territory falls in both Fulton and DeKalb counties. With a population of 498,71 ...
from the station. The FEC operated local passenger service between Jacksonville and the Miami area until July 31, 1968.
The Brightline passenger rail company is considering service to extend north from West Palm Beach to the Space Coast, but so far, has passed over Melbourne for Cocoa
Cocoa may refer to:
Chocolate
* Chocolate
* ''Theobroma cacao'', the cocoa tree
* Cocoa bean, seed of ''Theobroma cacao''
* Chocolate liquor, or cocoa liquor, pure, liquid chocolate extracted from the cocoa bean, including both cocoa butter and ...
.
Bus
* Space Coast Area Transit operates a public bus service in Melbourne and vicinity. The city subsidizes two routes internal to the city so Melbourne residents ride for free.
* Greyhound Bus Lines has a bus station in Melbourne
Airport
Melbourne Orlando International Airport is located about northwest of the city's original business district. The airport has daily flights on six passenger airlines and a cargo one, including Delta, Delta Connection, American Eagle and Elite Airways.
Utilities
Power is provided by Florida Power and Light. Gas is provided by Florida City Gas.
Cable TV service is provided by Spectrum
A spectrum (plural ''spectra'' or ''spectrums'') is a condition that is not limited to a specific set of values but can vary, without gaps, across a continuum. The word was first used scientifically in optics to describe the rainbow of color ...
.
Traditional landline telephone service is mainly provided by AT&T
AT&T Inc. is an American multinational telecommunications holding company headquartered at Whitacre Tower in Downtown Dallas, Texas. It is the world's largest telecommunications company by revenue and the third largest provider of mobile tel ...
, while some cable customers use Spectrum
A spectrum (plural ''spectra'' or ''spectrums'') is a condition that is not limited to a specific set of values but can vary, without gaps, across a continuum. The word was first used scientifically in optics to describe the rainbow of color ...
digital telephone (VOIP) service.
Internet service providers in Melbourne range from various 56 kbit/s providers, AT&T (formerly BellSouth) FastAccess DSL, and Spectrum
A spectrum (plural ''spectra'' or ''spectrums'') is a condition that is not limited to a specific set of values but can vary, without gaps, across a continuum. The word was first used scientifically in optics to describe the rainbow of color ...
cable internet. Fiber-optic networks are installed in the city mainly for business purposes and have not been integrated for home use.
The Water Department not only provides water for the city, but for surrounding towns and cities for a premium, including Melbourne Beach, Indialantic, Indian Harbour Beach, Satellite Beach, Palm Shores, Melbourne Village, West Melbourne, and a portion of unincorporated Brevard County south of the Pineda Causeway. In 2020, it served about 170,000 people. Wholesale water service is provided to West Melbourne. The total distribution area is about Two water treatment plants take water from Lake Washington and deep wells, providing of drinking water per day. This water is treated with chloramine and ozone
Ozone (), or trioxygen, is an inorganic molecule with the chemical formula . It is a pale blue gas with a distinctively pungent smell. It is an allotrope of oxygen that is much less stable than the diatomic allotrope , breaking down in the lo ...
. Almost annually, the city is obliged to substitute the stronger free chlorine for the summer months when algae blooms are prevalent. In 2003, water rates were $2.27/ sewer $4.47/.
Solid waste removal and recycling is provided by Solid Waste Management, part of the city of Melbourne's Environmental Community Outreach (ECO) Division.
Namesakes
Melbourne Square, in the city of Melbourne, located on US 192 west of downtown, is one of the largest shopping centers in Brevard County. In the 1960s, the motto of Melbourne was, "Crossroads to the Universe".
Notable people
* Oliver Askew, professional racing driver for Andretti Autosport
* Thomas Barbour
Thomas Barbour (August 19, 1884 – January 8, 1946) was an American herpetologist. From 1927 until 1946, he was director of the Harvard Museum of Comparative Zoology (MCZ) founded in 1859 by Louis Agassiz at Harvard University in Cambridge, Ma ...
, author and naturalist, lived in Eau Gallie
Eau Gallie () is a section of the city of Melbourne, Florida, located on the city's northern side. It was an independent city in Brevard County from 1860 until 1969.
That year residents of Eau Gallie and Melbourne voted to merge their governmen ...
as a boy
* Peter Blount
Peter Blount (born 1962 or 1963) is a former member of the World Cup Bobsled Team and former member of the US National Track and Field Team and coached the USA Youth National Track and Field Team. He was named to the Florida Track and Field Hall ...
, former member of the World Cup Bobsled Team and of the US National Track and Field Team
* Bruce Bochy, manager of the World Champion San Francisco Giants Major League Baseball team
* Robbie Carrico
Robbie or Robby is a surname. It is usually encountered as a nickname or a shortened form of Robert, Rob or Robin. The name experienced a significant rise in popularity in Northern Ireland in 2003.
People Given name Robbie
*Robbie Amell (born 19 ...
, Season 7 contestant on ''American Idol
''American Idol'' is an American singing competition television series created by Simon Fuller, produced by Fremantle North America and 19 Entertainment, and distributed by Fremantle North America. It aired on Fox from June 11, 2002, to A ...
''
* Bobby Dall, bass player for the band Poison
Poison is a chemical substance that has a detrimental effect to life. The term is used in a wide range of scientific fields and industries, where it is often specifically defined. It may also be applied colloquially or figuratively, with a broa ...
, resides in Melbourne
* Cecil Fielder, professional baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each, taking turns batting and fielding. The game occurs over the course of several plays, with each play generally beginning when a player on the fielding ...
player
* Prince Fielder, professional baseball player, son of Cecil Fielder, went to Eau Gallie High School
* William Henry Gleason, founded and lived in Eau Gallie
* Kristin Grubka, professional women's soccer player, FSU women's soccer national champion in 2014
* Darrell Hammond
Darrell Clayton Hammond (born October 8, 1955) is an American actor, stand-up comedian and impressionist. He was a regular cast member on ''Saturday Night Live'' from 1995 to 2009, and has been its announcer since 2014.
Upon his departure, Hammo ...
, comedian and actor, born and resided in Melbourne from 1955 to 1975
* Kim Hammond
Kim Crane Hammond (October 12, 1944 – July 16, 2017) was a judge in Flagler County, Florida and was a quarterback for Florida State University. For Seminole fans, he is best remembered for quarterbacking the team's first victory over rival F ...
, former judge and former quarterback for Florida State University and American Football League
The American Football League (AFL) was a major professional American football league that operated for ten seasons from 1960 until 1970, when it merged with the older National Football League (NFL), and became the American Football Conference. ...
, played football, basketball and baseball for Melbourne High School
* C.J. Hobgood
Clifton James "C.J." Hobgood (born July 6, 1979) is an Association of Surfing Professionals(ASP) World Championship surfer. He has a twin brother, Damien. They both compete in top-tier professional surfing events around the world.
C.J. Hobgood e ...
, 2001 ASP world champion surfer, born in Melbourne
* Damien Hobgood, professional surfer born in Melbourne
* Devon Hughes, professional wrestler, better known as Brother Devon from Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
* Vicky Hurst, professional golfer, graduated from Holy Trinity
* Zora Neale Hurston
Zora Neale Hurston (January 7, 1891 – January 28, 1960) was an American author, anthropologist, and filmmaker. She portrayed racial struggles in the early-1900s American South and published research on hoodoo. The most popular of her four ...
, author, lived in Eau Gallie
Eau Gallie () is a section of the city of Melbourne, Florida, located on the city's northern side. It was an independent city in Brevard County from 1860 until 1969.
That year residents of Eau Gallie and Melbourne voted to merge their governmen ...
in the 1920s and 1950s
* Billy Lane, owner of Choppers, Inc. and builder of custom motorcycles
* Jeff Lett
Cartel is an American pop punk band from Conyers, Georgia, United States, that formed in 2003.[Cartel](_blank)
. (2008). " ...
, bass player of Cartel
A cartel is a group of independent market participants who collude with each other in order to improve their profits and dominate the market. Cartels are usually associations in the same sphere of business, and thus an alliance of rivals. Mo ...
, born in Melbourne
* Marcus Maye, professional NFL player for the New York Jets, attended Holy Trinity
* Jim Morrison
James Douglas Morrison (December 8, 1943 – July 3, 1971) was an American singer, poet and songwriter who was the lead vocalist of the rock band the Doors. Due to his wild personality, poetic lyrics, distinctive voice, unpredictable and e ...
, lead singer for The Doors
The Doors were an American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1965, with vocalist Jim Morrison, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, guitarist Robby Krieger, and drummer John Densmore. They were among the most controversial and influential rock acts ...
, born in Melbourne
* Henry Mucci, US Army colonel who led the Great Raid in World War II to free the Bataan survivors, retired to Melbourne
* Bill Nelson, long-time U.S. senator from Florida, raised in Melbourne and graduated from Melbourne High School in 1960
* Reggie Nelson, safety for NFL's Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders were a professional American football team that played in Oakland from its founding in 1960 to 1981 and again from 1995 to 2019 before relocating to the Las Vegas metropolitan area where they now play as the Las Vegas Ra ...
* Jamie Noble, professional wrestler
* Hans von Ohain, one of the first people to develop the jet engine, retired and died in Melbourne
* Stanford Parris, former U.S. congressman from Virginia
Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the East Coast of the United States, Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography an ...
, was a primary resident of Melbourne after leaving Congress
* Will Perdue, NBA forward and center (Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago. The Bulls compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Eastern Conference Central Division. The team was founded on Januar ...
), sportscaster, born in Melbourne
* Toni Pressley, professional women's soccer player, graduated from West Shore High School in 2008
* Tom Rapp
Thomas Dale Rapp (March 8, 1947 – February 11, 2018) was an American singer and songwriter who led Pearls Before Swine, an influential psychedelic folk rock group of the late 1960s and early 1970s. Described as having "a slight lisp, gentle v ...
, singer-songwriter, leader of 1960s/1970s band Pearls Before Swine
A pearl is a hard, glistening object produced within the soft tissue (specifically the mantle) of a living shelled mollusk or another animal, such as fossil conulariids. Just like the shell of a mollusk, a pearl is composed of calcium carb ...
* Taylor Rowan
Taylor Rowan (born January 12, 1987) is an American football placekicker who is currently a free agent. He has also played in the AF2 with the Arkansas Twisters, and played with the United Football League's New York Sentinels.
College career ...
, American football placekicker
* Melana Scantlin, actress
* Stefanie Scott
Stephanie Noelle Scott (born December 6, 1996) is an American actress and singer. Scott began acting with the comedy film '' Beethoven's Big Break'' (2008), and thereafter released her debut extended play ''New Girl in Town'' (2009). This was fol ...
, teenage actress born in Melbourne, stars on the Disney
The Walt Disney Company, commonly known as Disney (), is an American multinational mass media and entertainment conglomerate headquartered at the Walt Disney Studios complex in Burbank, California. Disney was originally founded on October ...
show '' A.N.T. Farm''
* Lee Stange, professional baseball pitcher
* Jason Steele, state representative from 1980 to 1982
* Robbin Thompson
Robert Wickens "Robbin" Thompson (June 16, 1949 – October 10, 2015) was an American singer-songwriter based in Richmond, Virginia. Since 1976 he recorded several albums which included guest appearances by Melissa Manchester, Steve Cropper, ...
, singer-songwriter
* Amber Torrealba
Amber Torrealba (born July 1, 1990) is a 3X World Champion Skimboarder and Filmmaker.
Amber was born and raised on the east coast in Melbourne, Florida and currently resides in Laguna Beach, California. She has been skimboarding since 17 years ...
, professional skimboarder
* George Trofimoff, former U.S. Army colonel and convicted spy for the Soviet Union
The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, ...
, lived in Melbourne from 1994 to 2000
* Kate Upton, model, 2012 ''Sports Illustrated'' swimsuit issue cover girl
* Tim Wakefield, baseball pitcher for the (Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Founded in as one of the American League's eig ...
), born in Melbourne
* Matt Walters, defensive end for the New York Jets
* Leonard Weaver, National Football League fullback
* Larry Wolfe, Major League Baseball infielder
* Mickey Zofko, National Football League running back
A running back (RB) is a member of the offensive backfield in gridiron football. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback to rush the ball, to line up as a receiver to catch the ball,
and block. The ...
* The Learning Station, kids' band founded in 1987
References
Further reading
*Purdy, Barbara A. (2008). ''Florida's People During the Last Ice Age''. University Press of Florida.
External links
*
*
{{authority control
1867 establishments in Florida
Helen Blazes
Cities in Brevard County, Florida
Cities in Florida
Populated coastal places in Florida on the Atlantic Ocean
Populated places established in 1867
Populated places on the St. Johns River