Merritt Island, Florida

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"Merritt Island" redirects here. For the Yolo County, California island, see Merritt Island AVA.
Merritt Island, Florida
CDP
Location in Brevard County and the state of Florida
Location in Brevard County and the state of Florida
Country United States
State Florida
County Brevard
Area
 • Total47.2 sq mi (122.2 km2)
 • Land17.5 sq mi (45.4 km2)
 • Water29.7 sq mi (76.8 km2)
Elevation
3 ft (1 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total34,743
 • Density740/sq mi (280/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP codes
32952-32954
Area code321
FIPS code12-44275Template:GR
GNIS feature ID0294625Template:GR

Merritt Island is a census-designated place in Brevard County, Florida, United States. It is located on the east coast of the state on the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010 census, the population was 34,743.[1] It is part of the Palm Bay – Melbourne – Titusville, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area. The name "Merritt Island" also refers to the extent of the former island, which is now a peninsula.

Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge and NASA's John F. Kennedy Space Center are located on the northern part of Merritt Island. The southern area is heavily residential, with centralized light commercial and light industrial areas.

The island does not belong to any official city. The central part of Merritt Island, previously known as Merritt City,[2] is home to the majority of the population and includes the local high school, library, and shopping district.

History

Etymology

Merritt Island owes its name to the king of Spain. The entire island was part of a land grant given by the king to a nobleman named Merritt.[3]

Post-Columbian

In 1605, a Spanish explorer by the name of Alvaro Mexia visited while on a diplomatic mission to the local tribes living in the Indian River area. He called the local tribe the Ulumay. Merritt Island is the prominent island on a color map he drew of the area, a copy of which is in the archives at the Library of Congress and the archives in Seville, Spain.[4]

Merritt Island's recent history dates back to the mid-19th century and centers on the growth of citrus, stressing the cultivation of pineapples and oranges. The Indian River oranges and grapefruit come from this sandy area.

The island's population grew in the 1950s and 1960s as the Space Race began and nearby NASA expanded. Construction of a barge canal to the Intracoastal Waterway from the Atlantic Ocean (for power plant oil shipments) cut off the northern half of the island for many years. To this day, the northern portion of the island remains slightly less developed, with a few areas remaining as cattle pasture or citrus land. The small towns on the island vanished with the coming of the Space Age, and now only live on in the names of streets and historic churches.

In 1988, citizens defeated a proposed incorporation into a city, 77% opposed to 23% in favor.[5]

Geography

South end of Merritt Island from about 4,000 feet (1,200 m) looking southeast

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 47.2 square miles (122.2 km2), of which 17.5 square miles (45.4 km2) is land and 29.7 square miles (76.8 km2), or 62.88%, is water.[6]

Merritt Island is an island. The construction of the Crawlerway in the north (for NASA space vehicles to move to the launch pad over Banana Creek) connected Merritt Island to a mainland peninsula. To the west and south it is separated by the Indian River Lagoon and the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. The east side of Merritt Island splits and is divided by Sykes Creek and Newfound Harbor. They, in turn, are separated by the Banana River Lagoon from Cocoa Beach, Florida.

To the north, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, along with a narrow barrier island that make up Canaveral National Seashore, offer an unpopulated protected buffer area for space shuttle launches at Kennedy Space Center. Migratory birds join the more resident wildlife, including alligators, manatees, dolphins, sea turtles, bald eagles, ospreys, bobcats, and the elusive Florida panther. A number of bald eagle nests are monitored atop power line poles along SR 3 within Kennedy Space Center.

To the west, the island is connected by causeways to mainland Brevard County near Titusville and Cocoa on its northern end, and in Melbourne on its southern end.

Places on Merritt Island

Merritt Island has several named communities, all unincorporated:

Demographics

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 36,090 people, 14,955 households, and 10,049 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 2,044.6 people per square mile (789.5/km²). There were 15,813 housing units at an average density of 895.9 per square mile (345.9/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 90.22% White, 5.31% African American, 0.41% Native American, 1.65% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.68% from other races, and 1.66% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.83% of the population.

Of the 14,955 households, 27.1% had children under the age of 18, 52.9% were married couples living together, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband, and 32.8% were non-families. 26.8% of households were solely individuals and 11.4% had a lone resident of 65 or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.86.

In the CDP the population was spread out with 21.8% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 26.1% from 25 to 44, 26.2% from 45 to 64, and 19.8% of 65 or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 95.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.3 males.

Government

With the lack of a municipal government, Merritt Island is left to the administrative care of the local county government, and the water and sewer (where available) are handled by the neighboring city of Cocoa. As a result, there are no city taxes. The county maintains sheriff, fire, and EMS coverage.

Economy

Personal income

According to the 2000 Census:

  • Median household income = $43,532
  • Median family income = $52,388
  • Median income for males = $41,393
  • Median income for females = $25,787
  • Per capita income = $23,961
  • Below the poverty line:
    • Families = 7.2%
    • Population = 9.4%
    • Those under age 18 = 13.8%
    • Those over age 64 = 7.0%

Industry

There are light industrial fabrication centers around the Merritt Island Airport, and NASA-related industrial activities to support the space Shuttle, which was retired in summer of 2011, and other rocket launches on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

Air Liquide operates a plant there.[7]

Sea Ray operates a factory on Merritt Island.[8]

Redevelopment

Merritt Island has a redevelopment agency funded by the county.[9]

Education

Merritt Island has several schools including:

Infrastructure

Roads

The residential areas of Merritt Island, East and West Merritt Island, are only accessible by causeway or drawbridge at all points. The island is linked by causeways, SR 520 and SR 528, to the barrier island to its east and the mainland to the west.

SR 3, a 4-lane highway, connects the Kennedy Space Center for workers from the more densely populated central and southern sections of the island.

Airports

Merritt Island Airport is a public general aviation airport located on South Merritt Island and run by the Titusville-Cocoa (TICO) Airport Authority.

Landmarks

Notable residents

See also

References

  1. ^ "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (DP-1): Merritt Island CDP, Florida". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Retrieved January 31, 2012.
  2. ^ Parrish, Field, Harrell (2001). Images of America, Merritt Island and Cocoa Beach. Arcadia Publishing. p. 123. ISBN 978-0-7385-0668-5. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. ^ Alpha Theta Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma (1970?). The History of Brevard County, Florida. Merritt Island Public Library: Alpha Theta Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma. pp. various pagings. ISBN none assigned. FL 975.927 His. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: invalid character (help); Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  4. ^ Osborne, Ray (2008). Cape Canaveral. Images of America. Arcadia Publishing. p. 15. ISBN 978-0-7385-5327-6.
  5. ^ Neale, Rick (April 29, 2012). "Merritt Island?". Florida Today. Melbourne, Florida. pp. 1A, 3A.
  6. ^ "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Merritt Island CDP, Florida". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Retrieved January 31, 2012.
  7. ^ [1]
  8. ^ "Sea Ray Locations". Retrieved 18 May 2011.
  9. ^ http://flatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070629/NEWS01/706290338/1006 retrieved June 29, 2007
  10. ^ Florida Today [2] January 7, 2012, "Brevard brothers land second season for their Western TV saga"
  11. ^ Robert E. Hemenway (1980). Zora Neale Hurston: a literary biography. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |month= and |coauthors= (help)
  12. ^ Scott, Megan K. (6 March 2011). "Hurston's real home". Florida Today. Melbourne, Florida. pp. 1D.
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