Posts belonging to Category Florida

Originally known as Crane Creek, Melbourne was a small community nestled in a natural harbor of the Indian River Lagoon at a time when barge traffic was vitally important to the prosperity of the area. It eventually became known as Melbourne, a name that was adopted because the new post office required one.

It’s named for Melbourne, Australia, where Cornthwaite John Hector, the new postmaster, had spent much of his life. It is said that Hector preferred a different name, but Mrs. R. W. Goode is credited with the suggestion. After drawing straws, the name “Melbourne” was a clear winner.

To the north, a sister settlement known at Eau Gallie began to grow. Ultimately, the two communities merged, officially becoming one town in 1969. Even today, Melbourne features two distinct downtown areas.

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Space Coast Condos

Condominium dwellers along Florida’s Space Coast can look out their windows or sit on their balconies and drink in magnificent views of the Atlantic Ocean, scenic rivers or peaceful inlets. On occasion, they can also enjoy a close-up look at a space shuttle roaring skyward.

The condo market in Brevard County, which claims much of the 75 miles of beautiful beaches surrounding Cape Canaveral and the Kennedy Space Center, is soaring as well.

One example of the juxtaposition of the serenity of the ocean and the exhilaration of a space launch is the condominium community of 3800, located in the island town of Cocoa Beach, just south of the Space Center. The community is situated just off State Highway A1A, facing the Atlantic, where residents might see a cruise ship docking one day and a shuttle racing toward the space station the next.

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