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About The Southern Beach Communities of Brevard County

The many beach communities of Brevard County include Indian Harbour Beach, Indialantic and Melbourne Beach. They can be found along the thin strip of land that makes up the peninsula of Brevard County shoreline and barrier islands.

INDIAN HARBOUR BEACH

Indian Harbour Beach began fifty years ago. A vibrant, beautiful, peaceful beach community developed as a residential area  in support of the growing space industry and activities at nearby Kennedy Space Center, from which man first traveled to the moon.

Indian Harbour Beach, or IHB, is fairly small as cities go, only two miles square, with over 8,000 citizens. Of diverse backgrounds and all ages, residents enjoy an ideal location on the east coast of central Florida, nestled between the beautiful blue Atlantic Ocean and the calm waters of the Indian River Lagoon.

Visitors can relax or picnic at IHB’s beachfront parks or stroll through the 27-acre Gleason Park surrounding a lake with its many exercise paths, lighted in the early evening by quaint Victorian lights. Sounds of joy and laughter can be heard coming from the year-round heated pool located in the park next to the community center, where classes and activities are held for people of all ages. Children play tennis on city courts, or baseball and soccer at our million-dollar sports field complex.

IHB’s residents enjoy peace of mind in the knowledge that emergency response is a few precious minutes away. All community-oriented police officers are first responders for medical emergencies and have saved many lives with the AED’s carried in each patrol cars. There is a 30-member 100% volunteer fire department which boasts the very latest in fire apparatus including a new aerial ladder truck, two other pumpers, state-of –the-art bunker gear and such amenities as a thermal imager.

IHB is a safe, secure city, with low taxes, quality roads and city facilities, customer-service oriented city workers, and just the most wonderful quality of life to be found!

INDIALANTIC

It all started in 1915 when Ernest Kouwen-Hoven moved to Melbourne and purchased a strip of beachside land lying between the Indian River and the Atlantic Ocean. He envisioned this property as becoming an exclusive beachside resort and indeed it did. This one-square mile became known as "Indialantic-by-the-Sea" The first map of this area was recorded in 1916.

Back then the only means of access to Indialantic was by boat or ferry.

The bridge was finally completed in 1921 and used for many years. Lighted by kerosene lanterns, the bridge was often set afire when they were blown or knocked over. It was not uncommon for drivers to travel with hammers to pound loose nails back into the wooden planks. In 1941, a new concrete and steel swing bridge was begun. Construction, delayed with the onset of World War 11, was completed in 1947. This bridge was used until the existing high-rise was completed in 1985.

A stable community of homeowners was established in Indialantic during the Florida real estate boom that reached its peak in 1925. The 1.05-square mile area was incorporated in 1952 with a population of 1,500. It is today a quiet, primarily residential town with a population of 2,844. Strict zoning codes and enforcement of these codes keep Indialantic a unique and prestigious community. Even though a large portion of the population is retired, there is still a diversity of residents consisting of young couples with children, professionals, business people, artists and students.

Indialantic stores and businesses cater to all the basic needs plus more exotic demands. Restaurants vary from fast food and family establishments to ethnic and gourmet dining. Residents and tourists can enjoy the public beach area from Miami to Watson. Swimming, fishing, boating and surfing are favorite pastimes. Threatened and endangered sea turtles nest along the shore from May through October.

The recently refurbished boardwalk offers a place to stroll along the ocean and the parks throughout the Town provide getaways from the day's routine. Designated a bird sanctuary in 1975 by a Town Council proclamation, the Town has taken measures to protect its abundance of animal species and plant life. Indialantic remains a natural, unspoiled paradise.

MELBOURNE BEACH

In 1883, Major Cyrus E. Graves, a retired veteran of the Union Army, sailed into Melbourne Harbor. Major Graves was most impressed with the area and decided to buy government land which was available on the barrier island across the Indian River from Melbourne. During the next four years, he bought approximately six hundred acres which comprises present day Melbourne Beach.

There was an eager attempt to grow pineapples and other tropical fruits, but the freeze of 1895, known for years as the "Big Freeze", wiped out the local growers. No real commercial attempt was ever made again in the Melbourne Beach area.

The year 1883 was a busy year for Melbourne Beach. The pier, bathhouse and railroad were built. The railroad consisted of a single push car which was used to transport groceries, supplies and people from the dock at the pier along Ocean Avenue to the ocean. Prior to 1920, transportation to and from Melbourne was by a small ferry boat which was a sailboat, later replaced by a motor launch. The ferry service remained the only means of transportation until the Melbourne Causeway was built in 1921.

The Town was incorporated in 1923, with a population of a few hundred residents. After experiencing several boom and bust periods, the population of the Town began to stabilize after the Second World War with growth occurring more evenly.

Some Interesting Historical Facts about Melbourne Beach

The Women's Club - Now known as the Community Center, it was built in 1920 by a group of ladies known as the Rambler's Club. They raised $5,200.00 to fund the building by giving dinners, theatricals, and other activities. It still has the original pine paneling, oak flooring and enclosed bookshelves plus two fireplaces.

The Ryckman House  -  Built in 1889 by Jacob Fox of pine and cypress with two rooms upstairs, a large room downstairs and a large porch. It was purchased by G. E. Ryckman who is listed as an Incorporator in the Melbourne and Atlantic Railroad Company. 

Mrs. McCormick's Boarding House - This unique structure was built in 1915 and was the private residence of Mrs. McCormick and her sister who took in boarders. There are many parts of the interior that are of the original wood such as the pine floors and bead board on the kitchen walls.  They took in boarders to earn their living. It is now a Wellness Center. 

Click on the links below to live webcams on the beaches in Brevard:

http://www.angelfire.com/fl/boardheads2/surfcams.html 

Make sure to check out our other neighborhoods: Viera, Suntree, Cape Canaveral,  Cocoa Beach, Merritt Island, Melbourne, Palm Bay, Satellite Beach, Titusville and Brevard County.