Historically, the place that gives this entire area its “name” is Melbourne, the oldest and most well-known community on what Floridians call the “Space Coast.” Melbourne is smack in the middle of a long north-south corridor, coastal Brevard County, sandwiched between the St. Johns River basin to the west and the Atlantic Ocean. It stretches from Palm Bay and other smaller communities in the south through Melbourne, West Melbourne, and Melbourne Village in downtown Brevard to Viera, Cocoa, and Titusville in the north.
And it includes half a dozen beach communities on a long, fabulous barrier island that stretches from Sebastian Inlet to Cape Canaveral. This “Greater Melbourne” is one of the fastest growing residential areas in Florida, and currently boasts the fifth fastest appreciating residential property value in the entire United States. [USA Today, Sept 2, 2005]!
However, Melbourne itself is reminiscent of an older, less-built Florida.
The main streets are wide and the city is well maintained. It has artistic, gastronomic and educational facilities that compare with the best offer of the largest cities in Florida. It is only one hour from Orlando and three hours from Miami.
The location makes any part of the state very accessible. Even remote Key West is only a 5-6 hour drive away. In terms of outdoor and recreational opportunities, it’s one of the best places in Florida in my opinion. The beaches are not crowded, there is a lot of access and it is not a wall-to-wall development.
When you approach the ocean over the high bridge that crosses the Indian River (the Intracoastal Waterway or ICW), your view is wide. It is not blocked by condos and hotels, thanks to strict zoning laws enacted long before the current rapid growth and development. For one thing, there are 3- and 4-story height limits, unlike what is found in much of South Florida.
On the other hand, there are many “forever” beach accesses that are easy to find and use. Before development there was conservation, and Melbourne and its coastal communities have some of the best public beaches in all of Florida.
Melbourne also has a great old town, the city center with specialty shops, antique shops, theaters, restaurants, and more. There are places to eat with views of the Indian River Lagoon (IntraCoastal) and the ocean. Another section of Old Town, Eau Gallie, features art galleries and the county art museum.
In a recent study, with a major space employer in Melbourne, employees had this to say.
Melbourne is a safe place to live
The weather is good and sunny.
It is easy to travel to and from work and there are good job opportunities.
There is a wide variety of recreational facilities.
It’s easy to get involved in the community.
It is a great place for creative people.
Three out of four would recommend a friend or family member to move to Melbourne.
Melbourne has the amenities that a larger city would have, but it has a small town feel.
I call it easy to use.
All that and the Real Estate is a good business. At the time of writing this article (summer 2005) single family homes, minutes from the beaches can be had from 200,000.
Melbourne and its land communities of West Melbourne and Melbourne Village, plus its coastal communities of Indialantic, Melbourne Beach and Floridana (to the south), or Indian Harbor Beach and Satellite Beach (to the north) is simply a great place to live. The same goes for the greater Melbourne area from Sebastian Inlet to Cape Canaveral. What a great place to move or retire.