Merritt
Island, Florida Wiki Page
The
information below can be found by clicking here.
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 2000 census, the
population was 36,090. It is part of the Palm Bay–Melbourne–Titusville
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 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,
is home to the majority of the population and includes the
local high school, library, and shopping district.
History
Merritt Island's recent history dates back into the mid-1800s
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 became grew in the 1950s and '60s 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 and to this day it remains slightly
less developed with few areas remaining 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.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has
a total area of 47.0 square miles (121.9 km²), of which,
17.6 square miles (45.7 km²) of it is land and 29.4 square
miles (76.1 km²) of it (62.49%) is water.
Merritt Island was originally an island and is still referred
to as one. The construction of the Crawlerway in the north
(for the NASA space vehicles to move to the launch pad over
the Banana Creek) connects 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 the
space shuttle launching site of Kennedy Space Center. The
area is a wildlife magnet drawing huge sums of migratory birds
that join the more resident wildlife including, alligators,
manatees, dolphins, sea turtles, bald eagles, ospreys, bobcats,
and the elusive Florida panther.
To the west, the island connects to mainland Brevard County
near Titusville and Cocoa on its northern end, and in Melbourne,
Florida on its southern end.
Etymology
Merritt Island also owes its name to the generosity of the
king of Spain. The entire island was part of a land grant
given by the king to a nobleman named Merritt.
Places on Merritt Island
Merritt Island has several concentrations of population known
as a place.
* Allenhurst
* Angel City
* Audubon
* Banyan
* Courtenay
* Fairyland
* Georgiana
* Indianola
* Lotus
* Merritt City
* Orsino
* Shiloh
* Tropic
* Wilson
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 neighboring
Cocoa, Florida. As a result, there are no city taxes. The
county maintains sheriff, fire, and EMS coverage.
Industry
There are also light industrial fabrication centers around
the Merritt Island Airport, and NASA-related industrial activities
to support space shuttle and other rocket launches on North
Merritt Island.
Redevelopment
Merritt Island has a redevelopment agency funded by the county.
Infrastructure and Roads
The island is linked by causeways, Florida 520.svg SR 520
and Florida 520.svg SR 528, to the barrier island to its east
and the mainland to the west.
Florida 3.svg SR 3, a 4-lane highway, connects the 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.
Demographics
As of the census[1] 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/sq
mi (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 ,
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 , 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.
Landmarks
* J. R. Field Homestead
* Georgiana Church and Cemetery, 19th Century
* Hacienda del Sol, large historic agricultural estate on
South Merritt Island (home still exists, property is now housing
development)
* Old Haulover Canal
* Dr. George E. Hill House
* NASA Kennedy Space Center
* Mather's Bridge Restaurant (now closed), previously Hacienda
del Sol's workers mess hall, was joined by former field workers
quarters (since destroyed) across South Tropical Trail at
Mather's Bridge
* Merritt Island Airport
* Merritt Island Barge Canal
* Merritt Island Dragon (crumbled into water because of negligence
by owner and county)
* Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge
* Merritt Island Rotary Park Nature Trail and Center
* Pine Island Conservation Area
* Old St. Luke's Episcopal Church and Cemetery
* Ulumay Wildlife Sanctuary |