North Merritt Island is a

census-designated place A census-designated place (CDP) is a Place (United States Census Bureau), concentration of population defined by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes only. CDPs have been used in each decennial census since 1980 as the counte ...

(CDP) in

Brevard County Brevard County ( ) is a county in the U.S. state of Florida. It is on the Atlantic coast of eastern Central Florida. As of the 2020 census, the population was 606,612, making it the 10th-most populated county in Florida. The official county se ...

Florida Florida ( ; ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders the Gulf of Mexico to the west, Alabama to the northwest, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia to the north, the Atlantic ...

, United States. It occupies a portion of the physical Merritt Island, north of the CDP of

Merritt Island Merritt Island is a peninsula, commonly referred to as an island, in Brevard County, Florida, United States, located on the eastern Florida coast, along the Atlantic Ocean. It is also the name of an unincorporated town in the central and sout ...

and south of

Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge is a United States, U.S. National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) on the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic coast of Florida's largest barrier island. NASA's Kennedy Space Center and visitor complex are also situated on the ...

Florida State Road 3 State Road 3 (SR 3), known locally as both North Courtenay Parkway and North Kennedy Parkway is a north–south road located entirely on Merritt Island, serving as the southern access for the Kennedy Space Center near Cape Canaveral, Flori ...

is the main highway through the community, leading north to

Florida State Road 405 State Road 405 (SR 405) is a state highway making a sweeping arc in Titusville, Florida, and, via the nearby NASA Parkway, providing a major access route for the Kennedy Space Center on nearby Merritt Island. The northern terminus of SR 405 i ...

and south to

Florida State Road 528 State Road 528 (SR 528), alternatively named the Martin Andersen Beachline Expressway (with parts previously named the Bee Line Expressway), is a partially-toll road, tolled controlled-access highway, freeway in the U.S. state of Flo ...

. Situated on an Atlantic coast peninsula, North Merritt Island is a portion of the larger Merritt Island area in Brevard County, Florida. The area is well known for its close vicinity to the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and the Kennedy Space Center, which contribute to its rich aerospace culture and heritage. North Merritt Island was first listed as a CDP prior to the 2020 census. The population was 8,566 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Palm Bay—

Melbourne Melbourne ( , ; Boonwurrung language, Boonwurrung/ or ) is the List of Australian capital cities, capital and List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city of the States and territories of Australia, Australian state of Victori ...

—

Titusville, Florida Titusville is a city in and the county seat of Brevard County, Florida, United States. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population of the city was 48,789, up from 43,761 at the 2010 census. Titusville is located along the ...

Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography

The

Banana River The Banana River is a lagoon that lies between the outer barrier islands and Merritt Island in Brevard County, Florida in the United States. It is part of the Indian River Lagoon system, and connects at its south end to the Indian River; it ...

to the east and the Indian River to the west encircle North Merritt Island. The region's topography is defined by a diversity of wildlife habitats, lush vegetation, and waterfront residences. Despite being more centrally placed on Merritt Island, the

is a noteworthy natural destination close by, providing chances for hiking, fishing, bird watching, and observing a variety of habitats and wildlife. North Merritt Island experiences warm, dry winters and humid summers due to its subtropical climate. This environment influences the patterns of the local animals, particularly migrating birds, and encourages the creation of lush flora. A variety of subtropical and coastal vegetation types can be found in the area, including

mangrove swamps A mangrove is a shrub or tree that grows mainly in coastal saline or brackish water. Mangroves grow in an equatorial climate, typically along coastlines and tidal rivers. They have particular adaptations to take in extra oxygen and remove sal ...

, palm and oak trees, and other marsh and woodland habitats. Because of its abundant biodiversity, the area is well-liked by nature lovers and bird watchers who appreciate its diverse array of species, especially birds.

Economy

Given its close proximity to the

Kennedy Space Center The John F. Kennedy Space Center (KSC, originally known as the NASA Launch Operations Center), located on Merritt Island, Florida, is one of the NASA, National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) ten NASA facilities#List of field c ...

and

United States Space Force The United States Space Force (USSF) is the space force branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is one of the six United States Armed Forces, armed forces of the United States and one of the eight uniformed services of the Unite ...

Station the aerospace industry has a significant impact on the local economy. A community of engineers, scientists, and other experts in space exploration and technology has been nurtured by this relationship. Other economic pursuits include fishing, boating, and tourism, which draws tourists drawn by the area's scenic beauty and space-related attractions. Numerous recreational activities are enjoyed by both locals and visitors. Boating, fishing, and water sports are all quite popular because there are rivers nearby and beaches are easily accessible. North Merritt Island real estate consists of both upland and waterfront properties. In comparison to Florida's more densely populated coastal locations, the area is renowned for having larger lots and more spacious homes. Those seeking more sedate residential settings with easy access to modern conveniences and the outdoors may find this appealing. Despite being more sedate than some of Florida's busier beach communities, North Merritt Island offers a distinctive fusion of space-age technology, natural beauty, and peaceful living, making it a noteworthy destination for visitors or residents.

Demographics

References

{{authority control Census-designated places in Brevard County, Florida Census-designated places in Florida