Melbourne, FL

At various times in its history, Melbourne, located on the east coast of Florida, has served as a military training ground-first during the American Civil War and then during World War II. The city encompasses about 41 square miles and has a population of 77,673 (2007 estimate). With the Kennedy Space center nearby, the Melbourne region is often referred to as the Space Coast, and the city is also located next to a growing high-tech area.

NEIGHBORHOODS AND DISTRICTS

The city of Melbourne consists of six incorporated communities:

• Palm Bay is home of Brevard Community College-Palm Bay Campus and offers residents a variety of housing options, including single-family homes, condos, and apartments. Additionally, there are nearly 30 parks encouraging appreciation for the outdoors.
• West Melbourne offers residents a number of activities and events, including local parks.
• Indialantic is governed by a town council.
• Melbourne Beach is a small beach town whose residents keep busy with community events; among them are the Pineapple-Man Triathlon, the Iceman's Ball, the Fall Festival, and the Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting.
• Indian Harbor Beach is an incorporated community.
• Satellite Beach is an incorporated community.

The city also has two unincorporated communities, Viera and Suntree.

ECONOMY AND INDUSTRIES

Many of Melbourne's residents are employed by technology companies based in the area, which include General Electric, Northrop Grumman, Harris Corporation, and Liberty Aerospace.

The Melbourne International Airport is a hub for business travelers to and from the Space Coast and the nearby Kennedy Space Center. It also houses an aviation museum and a restaurant.

FAMILY FUN

• Pineapple Park River Front Park offers a fishing pier, a playground, and picnic areas.
• Promenade Park features a wildlife observation area and several picnic areas.
• Bean Park offers picnic areas.
• Holmes Park has picnic areas.
• Claude Edge Front Street Park is located at the civic center and includes picnic areas, a fishing pier, and boat ramps, as well as shuffleboard courts and a pavilion for events and activities.
• Campbell Park is located in downtown Melbourne and offers rest areas.
• McGrath Field features baseball fields.
• Wells Park boasts acres of walking paths, rest stations, and picnic areas that showcase the scenic beauty of the park's two lakes.
• Crane Field Park houses the community center and a public swimming pool as well as a football field, picnic areas, a playground, and basketball, tennis, and volleyball courts.
• Fee Avenue Park boasts the Fee Avenue Tennis Complex. It also includes a community swimming pool, courts and fields for various sports, picnic areas, and a playground.
• Jimmy Moore Park offers a tennis complex, a baseball field, a playground, and picnic areas.

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

• The Brevard Zoo is a popular small zoo that stands out by offering guests unique opportunities to navigate the zoo and interact with animals. Guided kayak tours lead visitors through 22 acres of wetlands, opportunities for guests to feed animals occur daily, and outreach programs involve local schools in zoo initiatives.
• Forever Florida is a nearly 5,000-acre wildlife preserve in which visitors are encouraged to embark on guided eco-safaris on double-decker buses, horseback, or a zipline. Other amenities include camping facilities and a restaurant.
• The Andretti Thrill Park is a family destination featuring a go-kart track, batting cages, laser tag, miniature golf, and paddle boats, among other children's attractions.
• The Brevard Art Museum displays rotating exhibitions with a special concentration on the work of women artists. It is also home to a museum school that hosts workshops for both children and adults.

EVENTS

• The Melbourne Art Festival, held every April in downtown Melbourne, is a nationally recognized art showcase. Artists from across the country display their work, and an art auction and award ceremony is held. The festival also hosts a student competition, a 5K run, children's entertainment, and music performances.

EDUCATION

• Everest University, formerly called Florida Metropolitan University, offers students both undergraduate and graduate degree programs in a variety of fields, from accounting to paralegal training. The university also offers MBA programs.
• Keiser University offers both online and on-campus courses to meet the varied learning needs of it students. Students can obtain an associate's or a bachelor's degree in a variety of fields. The school also offers master's programs in business administration, criminal justice, and education.
• The Florida Institute of Technology is a state college focused on high-tech education in the fields of engineering, science, and aeronautics. It has been deemed by the Fiske Guide to Colleges to be among the nation's top 13 technological institutions.

LOCAL MEDIA

AM Radio Stations

• WMEL 920 AM (News/Talk Radio)
• WINT 1560 AM (Nostalgia)

FM Radio Stations

• WFIT 89.5 FM (Jazz)
• WCEE 93.1 FM (Top 40)
• WCIF 106.3 FM (Religious)

Newspapers

• Crimson
• Florida Today
• Topix