City Profile: Melbourne

By VISIT FLORIDA staff
Published: February 26, 2008
Last Updated On: November 28, 2011

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Melbourne

A business center on the Space Coast.

On the morning of Dec. 22, 1888, a group of 23 qualified electors gathered to create the "Village of Melbourne" by a spoken vote. Up to that time, the small community located on a natural harbor of the Indian River Lagoon had been known as "Crane Creek." The name stressed the importance of the harbor, formed where a freshwater creek flowed into the saltwater lagoon.

Whether you plan to have an extended visit or a brief stay, Melbourne is a flourishing area worth investigating.

The importance of the waterway as an avenue of commerce and communication was demonstrated by the mail routes of Peter Wright, a black freedman who sailed regularly from Titusville to Malabar to deliver mail to riverside settlements.

Melbourne remains an important business center on the Space Coast. The area began developing after business gravitated toward the railroad constructed in 1893 and has evolved into a technological hub attracting major employment providers like Harris Corporation, Collins General Aviation Division, Holmes Regional Medical Center, Northrop Grumman Corporation - Surveillance and Battle Management Systems, Dictaphone, Rossi and Associates.

Whether you plan to have an extended visit or a brief stay, Melbourne is a flourishing area worth investigating. Melbourne Village, Indialantic and Satellite Beach are nearby towns that add to the area's character.