Merritt Island Community

Merritt Island Florida 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 flocks of migratory birds that join the more resident wildlife including, alligators, manatees, dolphins, sea turtles, bald eagles, ospreys, bobcats, and the elusive Florida panther.

Merritt Island's recent history dates back into the mid-1800s and centers around the growth of citrus with the cultivation of pineapples and oranges. The famous Indian River oranges and grapefruits come from this sandy area. The Island became a huge draw in the 1950s and '60s as the Space Race took off and NASA expanded. The construction of a barge canal to the Intracoastal Waterway from the Atlantic Ocean cut off the northern half of the Island for many years and to this day remains slightly rural. Now though a 4-lane highway connects to the Space Center from the south and Central Island. The small towns of Merritt Island vanished with the coming of the Space Age, towns like Georgiana, Courtenay, Tropic, Fairyland, Orsino, Angel City, Wilson, Lotus, Shiloh, and Indianola now only live on in the names of streets and historic churches. The Island now belongs to no official city, however the central part of Merritt Island is home to the majority of the population and includes the local high school, library, and shopping district.

Central Merritt Island offers those interested in relocating into the area a variety of job opportunities with a major shopping center, business and light industrial area. To the south, South Tropical Trail winds a path through lush vegetation and gorgeous homes along the Indian and Banana Rivers. Homes located in this primarily residential area south of 520 Causeway where the Island’s width narrows have between 200 and 1000 yards of waterfront property. Boating is a big part of the Merritt Island lifestyle with many of these waterfront homes not only in the south part of the Island but Central and North Merritt Island with its bevy of canals and intracoastal waterways having docks for boats and additional watercraft.

Merritt Island has some of the most exciting views in Florida providing the most beautiful sunrises and sunsets. See why the “Islanders” still call this home, why most grow up here, raise their families here and live with the uniqueness that is Merritt Island Florida.

If you would like more information on relocation packages, purchasing or selling your Merritt Island home, Merritt Island Waterfront home, Merritt Island condo, or Merritt Island investment property, please Contact Us!

Click on the link below to be directed to that Schools Website in Merritt Island Florida.

Audubon Elementary School                                      Edgewood Jr. High School
Gardendale Elementary School                                 Jefferson Jr. High School
Mila Elementary School
Tropical Elementary School                                        Merritt Island High School
Stevenson Elementary School

See Brevard County Public Schools for statistics and boundaries.