Merritt Island is a census-designated place in Brevard County, Florida, located on the eastern Floridian coast, along the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 34,743.[3] It is part of the Palm Bay Melbourne Titusville, Florida 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 southern 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,[4] is home to the majority of the population and includes the local high school, library, and shopping district.
Rockledge/rkld-ld/ is the oldest city in Brevard County, Florida. The city’s population was 24,926 at the 2010 United States Census,[2] and is part of the Palm BayMelbourneTitusvilleMetropolitan Statistical Area. Rockledge was officially founded on August 7, 1887, making it the oldest incorporated municipality in Brevard County.[5] The name Rockledge, attributed to Gardner S. Hardee, an early settler, comes from the many ledges of coquina rock that line the Indian River.[citation needed][6] Other sources refer to a man named Cephas Bailey Magruder, who built his home after settling in the area in 1876 near the Indian River. Magruder called his home “the rockledge home” and the name was eventually attributed to the whole town.[7][8] It was originally referred to as Rock Ledge; the two-word name persisted through the 19th century.[9] Early industry in the area was based on the citrus trade and accommodation for tourists traveling to South Florida via the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway of the Indian River.[citation needed]
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