User:Jamesontai/Sandbox27

    Jameson L. Tai      (sandbox27 - Brevard County BACKUP)

Brevard County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida,  along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. As of 2007 U.S. Census Bureau estimates, the population is 534,359. Influenced by the presence of the John F. Kennedy  Space Center, Brevard County is also known as  the Space Coast.

The official county seat  has been located in Titusville  since 1894, although most of the county's administration is performed  from Viera. Brevard County has more than one county courthouse and sheriff's office because of its elongated  north-south  county lines. Hence, government services are not centralized in one location, as they are in many American counties.

History
Humans have occupied the county for 12,000 years  and the Ais inhabited Brevard when the  Spanish explorers discovered the area. Juan Ponce de León is said to have  arrived in Florida  at the shores of the future county in 1513.

The last naval battle of the American  Revolutionary War was  fought off the shores of Cape Canaveral  in 1783, between the USS Alliance  and the HMS Sybill.

"Mosquito County" was formed while the state was still a territory, and on some maps was absorbed  into an unofficial "Leigh Read" county between 1839 and 1845. This eventually became three new counties one of which was "Saint Lucia  County" on March 14, 1844 - it was renamed Brevard County in 1855 after Theodore  Washington Brevard,  who served as State  Comptroller from 1854 to 1860. In 1905 St. Lucie County was created from the southern third of the county.

In the 1800s, the Hernandez-Capron Trail  passed through the county.

The oldest business still operating in 2009 is S. F. Travis Hardware which opened in Cocoa in 1885. The oldest black-owned  business is Tucker's Cut-Rate Plumbing still operating in Melbourne.

In the early 1900s the Union Cypress Railroad  was built from present day Lipscomb Rd and University Blvd west of Deer Park.

On Christmas Day 1951, Harry T. and Harriette V. Moore  (founders of the

local NAACP and Civil Rights activists) were slain by a bomb, well before the  "Civil Rights Era. "Florida's Attorney General has offered a reward and  established a hotline to solve the slaying.

The Brevard justice center is named after them as a memorial.

In 1989, county administration was moved to a government complex at Viera, as part of a mid-county  development project that included a Baseball Spring Training complex at Space Coast Stadium, and a master-planned  community, known as Viera.

In 2008, Tropical Storm Fay dropped a record 21 in of rain northwest of Melbourne. The storm caused widespread flooding in the south county area.

In 2008, the county elected its first black county commissioner, Robin  Fisher, who won based on the votes of whites, since there is no "black  district."

Law and government
Brevard county commissioners are elected by the public to establish ordinances and policies for the  county. The Commission appoints a County Manager, who executes the will of the Commission. The county employed about 2,900 workers in 2009.

A centrally located County Government Center in Viera  houses the various county government branches, including Housing and  Human Services, Juvenile Justice, Public Safety, Public Works and Solid  Waste Management. County and school board meetings are televised, and the public is present for all city and town council meetings.

The various cities, towns and villages of Brevard have varying reliance on  services provided by the Brevard County government.

The Brevard County government has annual expenditures approximately $1.16 billion,  exclusive of the municipalities. Real estate taxes for resident homeowners are less than 2% of the real value of the

property. The total taxable real estate base was expected to be $37.9 billion in 2008. County taxes rose 26.5% in total per capita revenue from 2002-2007, and 49.8% in property tax per capita in the same time frame.



The ex officio Space Coast League of Cities suggests legislation to its  representatives.

The Brevard Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) is composed of senior locally elected municipal and county  officials. This local multi-jurisdictional agency decides where federal and state road money will be used.

Various elected officials call unofficial "town meetings" to allow the public to express  their concerns about issues that the officials should address.

The Brevard County Housing Authority acquires and leases housing projects;  investigates housing conditions; determines where slums and unsafe  housing exist and investigates conditions dangerous to the public. It is managed by citizens appointed by the county commission.

Brevard County has two unique election districts. One governs Port Canaveral; the other, the operation of the Sebastian Inlet Recreation Park.

The Canaveral Port Authority is an independent governmental agency created  by the Florida Legislature. Five elected commissioners representing the five port regions are the governing body of Port Canaveral and have  jurisdiction over all fiscal and regulatory policies and operations of  the Port. The Authority sets policy and can levy taxes. They stopped levying an ad valorum tax on district residents, becoming only the  second taxing authority in Florida to do so.

The county has hired a federal lobbyist to represent its interests.

Brevard expected to have 100,000-300,000 more people by 2020, an increase of 60%. This offers a challenge to local government to keep infrastructure ahead of  growth, while preserving the environment.

Based on the mid-point of the growth estimates, if Brevard has 200,000 new residents by 2020,  taxpayers will have to meet a list of new requirements, including: 400  more police officers and 362 more firefighters; 25 million more gallons  per day of drinking water; 1,334 more teachers; 600 more jail beds. In 2009, the county expected to grow to 763,546 by 2030, a 42% increase.

Elected officials
County Commissioners: District 1 - Robin Fisher District 2 - Chuck Nelson District 3 - Trudie Infantini District 4 - Mary Bolin District 5 -Andy Anderson County Manager (appointed) - Stockton Whitten (Interim) The following are considered state officials but are elected and paid by the county: Sheriff -  J.R.  "Jack" Parker Clerk of the Courts -  Scott Ellis Property Appraiser -  Jim Ford Tax Collector - Lisa  Cullen Supervisor of Elections - Fred Galley State Attorney - Norm Wolfinger Public Defender - James F. Russo

In April 2007, the Florida  Department of Law Enforcement  seized documents from the office of the county appraiser in connection  with an investigation into illegally re-appraising properties at lower values.

Brevard County lies within Florida's 24th  congressional district  which seat is held by Suzanne Kosmas  and within Florida's 15th  congressional district  which seat is held by Bill Posey.

Courts
The county has centralized most county and circuit courts in Viera which  try a variety of cases including felonies, misdemeanors, traffic, and  domestic. An elected States Attorney prosecutes cases for the public. Defendants can be represented through the auspices of the office of the elected Public Defender. The 18th Circuit Court includes Seminole  as well as Brevard and covers not only the court itself but the  prosecutor and the Public Defender.

The County elects a sheriff, immediately responsible to the  courts but also to the state for the enforcement of state laws.

Police chiefs, appointed by their cities or towns, perform the same function  locally. There is no overlap in jurisdictions.

Some volunteers work alongside paid professionals. Included are Citizens Offering Police Support (C.O.P.S.). C.O.P.S. volunteers work under the direction of the County Sheriff and play a part in the county's policing operations.

The county jail is a 1976 facility which rapidly became

overcrowded. When voters consistently turned down expanding the jail, the sheriff solved the problem by the construction of a large but less expensive  "hardened tent" to house non-violent offenders.

The county jail retains prisoners who have been sentenced to a year

or less. Longer sentences must be served in state prisons, such as the facility in Sharpes for  young men.

The Coast Guard, homeported at Port Canaveral, plays a significant role in preventing  illegal immigration, and is the major interdictor of drugs in the area.

Brevard has a Drug Court to reduce the prison population resulting from drug  issues. Drug Court programs adjudicate cases in which offenders are chronic substance abusers  through an extensive supervision and

treatment regimen. Drug Courts require offenders to acknowledge their problems with substances and provide him/her with tools and mechanisms to deal  with their addictions, in an effort to reduce or eliminate future  criminal conduct. The Drug Court program utilizes a team approach to serve the offenders and the team consists of a judge, prosecutor,  defense attorney, treatment specialists, supervision officers, law enforcement agencies, corrections officials, and others. In exchange for successfully completing this intensive program, the Court may dismiss  the charge, reduce the sentence, or offer a combination of other  incentives. The police have estimated that 85% of drug dealers and prostitutes are themselves under the influence of drugs or are users  trying to get money to purchase drugs.

Melbourne led the nation in MDMA  seizures in 2005.

Brevard Legal Aid  provides general, civil and domestic violence legal services to low  income persons. Providers consist of five staff attorneys, three paralegals and 300 volunteer attorneys who offer pro bono assistance to referred eligible  clients. Victims of domestic violence receive immediate need legal assistance with injunctions for protection through a partnership project  with the Women's Center and the domestic violence shelters.

There is a local chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). In May 2005, the ACLU accused local police and Sheriff's offices of attempting to intimidate  protests by conducting surveillance and filming them. As a result, authorities stopped the practice except for good cause.

The State's Attorney's Office sponsors the Victim/Witness Services. This provides advocates to victims of violent crime and their families. The advocate helps the family understand the legal system as they navigate through it. They also seek out financial assistance

or counseling they might need. In 2005 they helped 8,448 victims in Brevard County.

Juvenile justice
The Rainwater Center for Girls, a day program for girls ages 12-18 who are  referred by the Department of Juvenile Justice, offers education,  vocational training, counseling, life skills, cultural arts activities,  recreation, and community service focused on the developmental needs of  girls.

The Department of Juvenile Justice refers selected youths to the Space Coast Marine Institute (SCMI). The SCMI is a six to eight month moderate security residential facility for juvenile boys  ages 14-18  who have committed around 4-12 crimes. The young men arrive at the institute with little or no self-esteem  and have experienced minimal positive interaction with adults and  peers. The mission of SCMI is to address their by providing a scheduled curriculum of academic, vocational and mental health awareness  activities. In addition to a personalized academic education, the daily schedule includes programs that build self-confidence and a greater understanding  of the world around us.

Juvenile delinquents are sometimes remanded to the Brevard Sheriff's Ranch in Rockledge, a small ranch with  buffalo and other animals requiring

care.

Reentry Brevard contracts with a contractor, often non-profit, to provide halfway services to  youth conditionally released from

prison.

Public safety
(tag removed) mergefrom|Brevard Emergency Operations Center|Talk:Brevard_Emergency_Operations_CenterMerger proposal|date=May 2008}}

The Brevard Emergency Operations Center  (EOC) provides Homeland Security for the Space Coast.

The EOC coordinates information regarding the occurrence or threat of any  disaster or emergency threatening the safety of the County residents. The EOC uses telephone, television, and the Emergency Services of the County Sheriff, the City Police and Fire Departments to provide  coordinated management of all services for cataclysmic events such as  Hurricanes, Floods and Terrorism.

The EOC has successfully conducted mass evacuation and relief of hundreds of thousands of  residents from hurricanes since 1999 including two in 2004.

Port Canaveral is under the direction of the Port Authority. Emphasis is placed on monitoring the content of containerized cargo on incoming  ships, as well as underwater inspection of arriving ships that could be  carrying explosive devices.

A Coast Guard Cutter, homeported at USCG Station Port Canaveral, Florida, stops potentially threatening  commercial shipping prior to reaching the coast. There are over 40,000 boats registered in the area. A few of these are of continuing concern to CG authorities.

Evacuation routes are insufficient to handle the resulting heavy traffic westbound  when an emergency is declared. A major westbound route (US 192) was expanded in 2008 to four lanes to accommodate the south Brevard  population.

In 2004, hurricanes destroyed one in every hundred homes in the South  County area. Within two blocks of the beach nearly every building sustained some damage. Barefoot Bay, a mobile housing development, was essentially destroyed. Winds tore off the roof of a shelter for special needs people in an elementary school. Emergency Workers were forced to evacuate these people at the peak of the storm.

In September 2005, 1,400 survivors of Hurricane  Katrina took refuge in  the county.

Experience with hurricanes Charley, Frances and Jeanne in 2004 prompted the formation of the Brevard Long Term Recovery Coalition, consisting of United Way of America officials and other emergency-needs experts. They recorded the experiences Brevard had developed to restore services after the storms  struck. In fall 2005, they passed information they had learned along to Gulf Coast planners attempting to recover from Katrina.

The media has estimated that 26,000 people who would need evacuation have not  volunteered this information to Emergency Officials. In the past people have tended to postpone evacuation notification until after the  causeways and bridges have been closed and no evacuation is possible.

Brevard County posts lifeguards at fourteen protected areas at various beach  front parks. The county is 70 mi long and most areas cannot be protected. The scope of responsibility for the lifeguards include accident and drowning prevention, public  education, citizen assist, search and recovery of lost children, basic  life support, and swimmer rescue.

Two Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotillas offer boating safety  courses.

North Brevard stands second in the state and the nation with 22,000 lightning  strikes annually.

Highway fatalities have decreased nationally, but increased in Florida and locally. Officials are focused on setting and enforcing speed limits and widening the local  turnpike, now underway. The flatness of the area prevent runoff during rainstorms and causes cars to hydroplane. The highway department takes deliberate measures to re-engineer roads to avoid hydroplaning.

There are 64 firestations in the county, 28 of which are run by various cities.

There are 1,200 law enforcement officers working in the county, of which 361  are sheriff's deputies. Of all crime that came to the attention of the sheriff's office in 2007, 80% was drug-related.

Project Lifesaver can tag at-risk adults and children with locator devices. This allows guardians to track wandering people with Alzheimers, dementia,  autism, etc.

Public health
The state has three public health locations in the county which give immunization  shots, provide health information, and track and report on serious  diseases or conditions, like HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, encephalitis, and West  Nile.

The area was once named "Mosquito County." Mosquitos carry serious diseases, including encephalitis. Brevard County Mosquito Control reduces the mosquito population by many means including adulticiding, larviciding, source  reduction, aquatic weed control, waste tire abatement, disease  monitoring (of chickens and mosquito-susceptible animals,) environmental  monitoring, and biological control of mosquitoes.

Brevard is among the top 100 counties in the US for asbestos-related deaths. Government officials have addressed this issue.

While no one has ever died from it in Brevard County, animal rabies is prevalent, often carried in  this area by raccoons. Public announcements and public awareness appear to have prevented fatalities.

In 2005, a woman died from flesh-eating bacteria (Necrotizing  fasciitis) that she  contracted from the St. Johns River. Two or three cases are typically reported in the county each year.

An ocean condition known as "red tide" occasionally affects people  beachside. This occurred in November-December 2007 and November-January 2002.

Public recreation
More than 200 parks, 3 campgrounds, and 6 public golf courses in the county  are managed by local government agencies. Offering residents and visitors a wide range of leisure opportunities, the parks include  athletic complexes, community centers, aquatic centers, nature centers,  trails, conservation areas, beach parks, historic sites, and boating and  fishing access to lakes, the Indian River Lagoon and the St. Johns  River.

In 2000, Brevard County voters approved bond referendums that provided funding for  construction or improvement of over 50 county parks in North Brevard,  Merritt Island, and South Brevard. Citizen Committees and Advisory Boards identified community recreational needs. These projects were submitted by the Recreation Advisory Boards to the Board of County  Commissioners to be included in the referendum. While some projects are as simple as improved playground equipment, other projects are of a  regional nature requiring extensive community planning, permitting and  land acquisition. In November 2006, the Board of County Commissioners provided taxpayers the opportunity to vote on issuing additional bonds. The voters approved the additional bonds and with no tax rate increase resulting, because the millage previously approved generates the revenue  to repay both sets of bonds.

In 11 sanctuaries that protect natural ecosystems, the county's  Environmentally Endangered Lands (EEL) Program offers passive recreation  opportunities such as hiking, wildlife viewing, biking and paddling. The Management & Education Center at The Enchanted Forest Sanctuary in Titusville, is the EEL Program's first regional educational facility. The EEL Program was established in 1990 to protect the natural habitats of Brevard County by acquiring environmentally sensitive lands for  conservation, passive recreation, and environmental education. This was made possible by citizens who voted to tax themselves up to $55 million  dollars for the acquisition and maintenance of Brevard's natural areas. Residents reaffirmed the EEL Program in 2004 under a second referendum to protect the natural habitats within Brevard County by the acquisition  of environmentally sensitive lands through a willing seller program for  the purpose of conservation, passive recreation, and environmental  education. To maximize the funding, the EEL Program forms partnerships with federal, state and local agencies that are committed  to the protection of natural resources and our long-term quality of  life. EEL sanctuaries are managed to preserve native habitats and the plants and animals that live there.

In conservation areas managed by the St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD),  recreational opportunities include hiking, bike and equestrian trails,  camping, boating and fishing. Although the District's main goal of buying land is to protect water resources, these lands protect plant and  wildlife habitat and provide areas for public recreation and  environmental education.

The Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge and the Canaveral  National Seashore are 2 national wildlife  refuges in the county that offer recreational pursuits such as hiking,  wildlife viewing, paddling, and environmental education.

Libraries
The county centrally controls all 20 libraries in the county. There are 900,000 volumes. One library card is valid at all locations, and materials are loaned between locations through a daily courier

service and outside our libraries via Inter-Library  Loan. Periodical subscriptions stand at about 2,250. The libraries own over 18,000 videos and 21,000 sound recordings. Personal computers for public use are hooked up on broadband in all libraries.

Social services
Brevard County tries to provide a number of unique services to help the aged, juveniles, the  physically and mentally handicapped, and minorities.

Geographic features
According to the U.S. Census Bureau,  the county has a total area of 1,557 square miles  (4,032 km²), of which, 1,018 square miles  (2,637 km²) of it is land and 539 square miles  (1,395 km²) of it (34.60%) is water, primarily the Atlantic  Ocean, the St. John's River  and the Indian River Lagoon. The county is larger in area than Samoa and nearly the same size, and population, as Cape Verde. It is one third again as large as Rhode Island.

Located half-way between Jacksonville, Florida and Miami, Brevard County is an extra-long county, extending over 70 mi from north to south, but only a  handful of miles inland from the seacoast at any point. In marshes in the western part of this county is the source of the St. Johns River.

The Atlantic  Intracoastal Waterway  along the eastern edge of Brevard County is the major waterway route in Brevard County. It includes the Indian River. Additional waterways include Lake Washington, Lake Poinsett, Lake Winder, Sawgrass Lake, St. Johns River, and the Banana River.

Brevard County is the sole county in the Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville Metropolitan Statistical Area.

The county has a canals  for transportation and drainage:
 * Canaveral Barge Canal, Courtenay -  transportation
 * Faulk Canal, Cocoa
 * Grand Canal, Tropic
 * Haulover Canal, Mims -  transportation
 * Melbourne Tillman Canal, Melbourne West - drainage
 * Old Canal, Wilson
 * C-54 Canal - on the south Brevard County Line - drainage

Climate
Climate surprisingly varies in this very long (72 mile) county, particularly in  winter. In north county, northern flora can thrive, like deciduous trees. In the south county, sub-tropical plants can grow, such as royal palm trees.

Brevard has subtropical climate, with a distinct wet and dry seasons. The dry lasts from December through May. The wet from June through November.

January is the coldest month with an average low of 50.7 °F; average high 71 °F. The warmest months are July and August with average highs of 90 °F;  average lows 72.2. The driest month is April with 1.6" rainfall; the wettest September, 6.6".

Florida is a large subtropical state that experiences hurricanes. Although Brevard county is located along Florida's eastern peninsula, it is less frequently impacted by direct  hurricane landfalls than portions of the Panhandle or South Florida. There are two predominant reasons for this. First, westward moving tropical systems often reach an atmospheric ridge weakness in the  Bermuda High by the time they approach Florida at a latitude as  northerly as Brevard County. Combined with frontal systems that exit the United States' East Coast, many of these tropical systems are steered  northwest and eventually curve northward offshore Florida's East Central  Coast. A second reason is that hurricanes landfalling along the Florida peninsular Gulf Coast often weaken to a tropical storm by the time they  move northeast to affect Brevard County (with some exceptions, such as  2004's Charley).

Although Brevardians may refer to past storms as "hurricanes", by the time they strike here, some of them may have  subsided to tropical storms or depressions. Because of the threat of storm surge, the beach community on the barrier island is often required  to evacuate well in advance of the storm.

Tornados spinning off from even small storms can result in severe damage in small areas.

Five hurricanes have directly affected Brevard since 1950: David (September 3, 1979), Hurricane  Erin (August 2, 1995) - made landfall near Sebastian Inlet and caused mostly  minor wind damage and more extensive flooding countywide, Charley (August 13, 2004) - Caused damage  in Titusville and North Brevard. Frances (September 3, 2004) - Struck neighboring Vero Beach,  Indian River County directly and caused widespread  wind damage throughout Brevard, Jeanne (September 26, 2004) - Struck Vero,  directly, following very nearly the same path as Frances. The latter two storms caused widespread damage in South Brevard. Slightly more than half of one percent (0.6%) of houses were lost.

The following storms did not affect Brevard County with hurricane force winds: Floyd (September 15, 1999), and Irene  (October 16, 1999).

Tropical Storm Fay dropped a record rainfall of 27.65 in in 2008.

Environment
Brevard works together with the federal and state government to control  pollution and preserve wetlands and coastal areas through lands  dedicated to conservation and wildlife protection. These lands include Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge,  the Canaveral  National Seashore, the  St. Johns  National Wildlife Refuge,  the Archie Carr  National Wildlife Refuge,  several conservation areas managed by the St. Johns River Water Management District, Brevard County's Environmentally  Endangered Lands Program Sanctuaries, and lands dedicated by the  State as conservation areas.

Transportation
Brevard County has transportation available in the usual modes for a coastal  county -  highways, shipping, and airlines.

Public transportation is provided by Space Coast Area Transit.

Power
Florida Power and Light maintains a  oil-fired  generating plant at Sharpes, Florida. It generates 800 megawatts, supplying most of the requirements for the county. In 2008 the company announced plans to replace the plant with a more efficient natural gas-powered plant in 2013 with a 1,250 megawatt capacity  which can supply 250,000 homes or businesses.

Adjacent counties

 * Volusia County, Florida - north
 * Indian River County, Florida - south
 * Osceola County, Florida - southwest
 * Orange County, Florida - west
 * Seminole County, Florida - northwest

Fauna
Love bug season occurs twice annually in May and August-September. Motorists, usually, encounter swarms of these while driving during a four week period.

Personal income
As of the census of 2000:
 * Median income for a family -  $47,571
 * Median income for males - $36,542
 * Median income for females -  $24,632
 * Per capita income - $21,484
 * Median income for a household -  $40,099
 * In 2005, the median income for a household had risen to $43,281

The county ranked 17th for per capita income, out of Florida's 67 counties.

The following were below the poverty line in 2000:
 * Families - 6.80%
 * Total population -  9.50%
 * Under age 18 - 13.00%
 * Age 65 or older - 6.50%

Housing
The county's median home price reached a high in August 2005 at $248,700. New home permits fell in 2007 to 1,894, the lowest since 1982. Sales of existing homes fell 19% in 2007 from the prior year to 373 monthly. The median drop in home prices was 50% from 2005 to 2008, from  $248, 700 to $125,200. However, when choices for smaller homes was eliminated, prices on individual homes  fell 25%; down 33% for individual condos.

In 2008, a number of mortgage insurers blackmarked  Brevard, along with a quarter of the total nations zip codes. This was intended to thwart potential buyers who wish to pay less than 20% down  on a home.

In 2009 an economist said that the Brevard housing market will not recover  until at least 2011. A later analysis in 2009 seemed to agree, saying that the market would fall 41.4% to bottom out  by the end of 2010.

In 2008 Brevard expected to have 100,000-300,000 more people by 2020, an increase  of 60%.

In 2008, there were 1,550 permits for residential projects valued at $355.45 million. That is the lowest number of filings since 1975.

Annual foreclosures rose from a low of 1,144 in 2005 to 9,228 in 2008.

Communities
Rockledge is hoping to revitalize Barton Boulevard.

Three communities have either decided or are considering placing

electric lines most vulnerable to high winds, underground despite the high cost.

Cape Canaveral and Satellite Beach have declared a moratorium on converting  commercially zoned areas to residential.

The company developing West Viera gained state permission and county acquiescence to create a  self-governing  board that could raise taxes and sell bonds to pay for roads, water  lines, pumping stations and other infrastructure needed to support the  construction of 16,500 houses, apartments and condominiums. The company proved that development could fund itself.

Industry
The Brevard economy has been driven by Trade, Transportation and Utilities

(18%), Professional and Business Services (17%), Total government (15%),  Education and Health (14%), Manufacturing (12%), Leisure and hospitality  (10%), Construction (6%), Financial (4%).

In 2005, Inc. Magazine voted the Space Coast as the best place to do business in Florida and  sixth in the country.

In 2004, Brevard County ranked 13th out of 318 largest counties in the US for increase in the number of jobs. The county moved from 70 to 31 out of the top 200 metropolitan areas "Best  Performing." This improvement was driven mainly by job growth.

Port Canaveral is the world's busiest cruise port. It is served by seven cruise lines. They have six major cruise terminals. There is 750,000 SF of covered freight storage capacity. It handled 4 million tons of cargo in 2004. The port has boosted Brevard's economy by $500 million annually.

American City Business Journals rated Brevard 7th for quality of life out of 67.

Two hospitals were among the top five private employers in the county.

A concern has been the probable re-assignment  of thousands of space coast workers when the shuttle is discontinued in  2010. In 2009, 3,500 jobs were expected to be lost.

Two locally headquartered builders, Mercedes and Holiday were among the top  30 in the nation. Mercedes had $1 billion in sales in 2004.

The Cocoa Redevelopment Center has worked on programs to improve housing in  the city's older areas.

Inc. magazine selected two local small companies as among the fastest growing in the country over the past 3  years -  Applied Global Technology (nearly 100% annually) and Stops (nearly 200%  annually).

Military
Military installations in Brevard County include Patrick Air Force Base, near Satellite Beach, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS), adjacent to the Kennedy  Space Center, and the U.S. Air Force Malabar Test Facility on Minton  Road in

suburban Palm Bay.

The Navy maintains a Trident turning basin at Port Canaveral for Ballistic  Missile Submarines. The Naval Ordnance Test Unit (NOTU) tests weapons on these subs which arrive at the rate of one a month. The 2005 Base closures included realigning NOTU out of state. However, the community was successful in getting this decision revoked. Much credit goes to the Space Coast Defense Alliance, a branch of the Economic Development  Council.

CCAFS houses the Air Force Space & Missile Museum that is in the

launch control bunker of Launch Pad 26 where many unmanned rockets were  launched early in the U.S. space program including the Explorer, one of  the first space craft placed in earth orbit.

The Cape Canaveral Navy League council supports the Sea Services

by adopting ships and units of the Navy and Coast Guard. It also provides a means for civilians to socialize with the officers and crew of allied  Navies when they visit port.

Northrup Grumman develops the  military JSTARS electronics surveillance system  used in all major US conflicts since 1990.

The USS Brevard (AK-164) was a World War II Alamosa-class naval cargo ship that was decommissioned shortly after the war.

Agriculture
23% of Brevard County is agricultural-usable  for citrus, raising cattle or horses. Cattle ranches include the Deseret and Duda Ranches; citrus growers include Victory Groves and  Harvey's Indian River Groves.

The county ranked 21 out of 24 Florida counties in the shipment of gift fruit.

The volunteer |4H clubs focus on youth development, sometimes using animals as a focus. There are 40 4-H related clubs in the county including livestock- and pet-related and  after school clubs.

Tourism
In 2008, tourists spent $2.89 billion in the county. This is distributed in several catogies: lodging $839 million, eating and drinking $509  million, Kennedy Space Center $597 million, Retail sales $450 million,  entertainment $120 million, and Port Canaveral $109 million. Brevard tourists come mainly from ten states: Florida itself is first, followed by Ohio, Illinois, Michigan, New York, Virginia, Wisconsin,  Georgia, Minnesota, and Pennsylvania. The five primary sources of foreign visitors are: Canada, England, Germany, China and Italy.

Brevard competes with other Florida areas for tourists. A number of organizations help promote the area.

The Space Coast Office of Tourism consists of county staff and the Brevard County Tourist  Development Council (TDC). They attempt to attract tourists. The TDC serves as an advisory council to the county on the expenditures of  revenues received from a tourist tax. This revenue is spent on beach improvements, visitor information centers and website, promotion and advertising, the Brevard Zoo,  additional beach improvements and the Space Coast Stadium.

In 2008 monthly tourist tax revenue slumped from a high of $1,174,742 in  March to a seasonal low in September of $432,145.

In 2004, Brevard experienced its best October and November tourism until  then, despite widespread hurricane damage and loss of five beachside  hotels. Four of these hotels were restored by 2006.

In 2008, the county had 11,000 hotel rooms available. In July 2007, there was a 66.1% occupancy rate. In 2008, the county had a nearly identical 81%+ occupancy rate in March and April. This fell to a seasonal low of 42.3% in September.

Cocoa Main Street, a member of the Florida and National Main Street Programs, works toward restoring business sites in  the historic area known as "Cocoa Village." Cocoa Main Street has received six Florida Main Street Awards given by the Secretary of  State. The restored area is a tourist attraction and an economic magnet. Melbourne Main Street is another historic business area and tourist attraction restored  through the Main Street Programs.

Brevard has five judged art festivals annually attracting tens of thousands of people to art  displays. Most festivals are held in the spring or fall when many tourists can attend. Many other annual festivals are held in parks and public sites throughout the year. The Brevard Cultural Alliance (BCA) maintains an event calendar and a map of sites of  historic, cultural, and ecological interest.

For Brevard County businesses, fishing tournaments, such as the Wal-Mart FLW Redfish Series tournament in  August, bring more than $2.5 million a year in direct spending and more  in indirect spending. Tournaments provide a revenue source for the county and local businesses.

The annual Grant Seafood Festival attracts as many as 50,000 people for the two day February event. It is the Southeast's largest and longest running seafood festival.

The Globe Sebastian Inlet Pro surfing contest, on the county line, draws 16,000 visitors the second  weekend in January.

An ice skating rink in Rockledge serves the county's residents and  visitors with hockey and figure skating events.

Competitiveness
The Milken institute ranked Brevard number one, out of 200 largest metropolitan areas, in  overall job growth for 2005.

Forbes magazine ranked Melbourne 2nd out of 150 metropolitan areas in the US, for the percentage of the  population that are engineers,

6.6%, just ahead of Silicon Valley.

Brevard Count's unemployment rate fell to a record low 2.8% in December 2005.

In 2006, Forbes magazine named Harris Corporation, headquartered in

Brevard, to its "Platinum 400" List.

The Technological Research and Development Authority, based in the Space Coast, delivers technologies  to schools and small businesses throughout the State of Florida. They obtain this information through strategic alliances with NASA, the  federal government, the aerospace industry and state partners. They also sponsor a business incubator at the Melbourne  Airport.

The National Association of Realtors  reported that existing homes prices in Brevard rose 33% annually the  third quarter of 2005,

the sixth highest metropolitan area in the nation (out of 147). There was a slight decrease in existing home prices the last quarter of 2005.

In October, 2005, Brevard realized that the average owner of a house

could not afford that house at current prices! The same month, the sale price of existing homes dropped by 8%.

In January 2005, CNN/Money ranked the homes in "Palm Bay" perhaps referring to all of the Space Coast as "49% overvalued" and  within 10% of the most overvalued homes in the United States.

In 2005, the Sunrise Bank  of Cocoa Beach became the first bank in the state to have a mobile  branch.

The City of Palm Bay made the finals for "All American City" for three years 2003-2005.

Labor
Kennedy Space Center (KSC) is the largest employer in the county with 15,000  contractors and civil servants. While there is concern about the new generation of space vehicles requiring 1/3 fewer  workers, about that number are eligible for retirement by 2011.

Unions represented at KSC include American Federation of Government Workers,  International Association of Machinists and International Brotherhood of  Electrical Workers.

Brevard County Teachers are represented by the Brevard Federation of Teachers (AFT).

In 2005, the Next Generation Consulting for Leadership Brevard, a leadership development  organization for local business and civic groups, and Brevard Tomorrow  commissioned a survey of people 21-44. Basically, these people often found the area "boring", mainly because it is family-friendly at the  expense of being singles-friendly. While this may have labor repercussions later, currently business is having no problems hiring.

The county had an unemployment rate of 3.5% in August 2005, near a record low.

In early 2005, Forbes ranked the area 27th in job growth out of 150  metropolitan areas in the country. The county ranked 18th in the nation for mid-sized  areas in 2006.

Manpower Employment Outlook Survey said the hiring outlook in Brevard for the  last quarter of 2005 was the 19th-best in the nation among the 470  communities participating in the survey.

2004 Hurricane recovery has helped the area achieve high employment.

Banking
The Space Coast Credit Union is the largest locally-based  financial institution in Brevard and the largest credit union in the  state with assets of $1.44 billion.

Communication and utilities
The area code for most of the county became "321" in 1999: as in the "3...2...1... Lift Off!" countdown sequence. A small portion of the county along the southern border, including the communities of Micco and Barefoot Bay,  share a 772 area code with a neighboring county to the  south.

Two power plants in Brevard generate electricity from petroleum delivered by barge. The output from one plant (Florida Power and Light) is used locally, the other by Orlando.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were in the county:
 * People - 476,230 people
 * Households - 198,195
 * Families - 132,394
 * population density - 181/km² (468/sq mi)
 * Housing units - 222,072
 * Average housing density -  84/km² (218/sq mi)

The total population is larger than America's least-populated state, Wyoming.

The racial makeup of the county was:
 * White - 84.81%
 * Black or African American - 10.40%
 * Hispanic or Latino - 4.61%
 * two or more races -  1.77%
 * Asian - 1.50%
 * other races - 1.09%
 * Native American - 0.37%
 * Pacific Islander - 0.06%

There were 198,195 households out of which 26.50% had children under the age of 18  living with them, 53.00% were married couples living together, 10.20%  had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.20% were non-families. 26.90% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.84.

The population was distributed as follows: 22.00% under the age of 18,  6.80% from 18 to 24, 27.10% from 25 to 44, 24.30% from 45 to 64, and  19.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 95.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.30 males. In 2007, 30% of the population was over 55.

9.50% of the population and 6.80% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 13.00% of those under the age of 18 and 6.50% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

In 2005, the Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, Florida Metropolitan  Statistical Area,  which consists solely of Brevard County, was estimated to stand 91st in  population out of 263 in the country.

In 2006, the county stood 10th in population in the state, out of 67. The increase in population from 2000 was 11.8%, less than the Florida average of 12.7%.

According to the 2000 census, the county had about 80,000 veterans. 21% of the population older than 18 is a veteran.

Religion
A pastor spearheaded the construction of three high rise buildings with  500 units housing the needy elderly.

Church festivals are sponsored by various religious groups including Jewish  and Greek Orthodox. Thousands attend.

Various religious groups have demonstrated near the local abortion

clinic forcing it to move twice since its founding in 1977.

Health
The Brevard Alzheimer's Foundation is unique for being a local organization  only. It has three adult daycare service locations and often provides transportation and funding.

The Space Coast Early Intervention Center is a nationally recognized not-for-profit pre-school and  therapeutic center that offers care and aids with the development of  small children with special needs. Children are treated and educated with the specific goal of mainstreaming children diagnosed with the following into public school: Down syndrome,  William's syndrome, Cerebral palsy,  Deletion syndrome,  PDDs including Rett syndrome,  Autism,  and Apert syndrome,  as well as children with visual, speech and hearing delays.

Health Outreach Prevention & Education (HOPE) is a network of community  partners working together to provide care for people without insurance,  and for children with special needs. This network includes hospitals.

Brevard introduced (2005-6)  a Federally approved experimental Medicaid program which puts  volunteering 60+ years olds in an HMO-like organization in order to save  money.

The non-profit Circles of Care provides mental health programs to Brevard.

211 Brevard responds to people in crisis and/or needing information about community  resources.

Space Coast Center for Independent Living offers over-all services for individuals with all  types of disabilities: Peer support, advocacy, skills training,  accessibility surveys, support groups, transportation, specialized  equipment and sign language interpreter coordination services. Additional program for high school students for career development.

Health First is the largest healthcare provider in the county consisting of  three not-for-profit  hospitals—Cape  Canaveral Hospital in Cocoa Beach, Holmes Regional Medical Center in  Melbourne, and Palm Bay Community Hospital in Palm Bay. Besides hospitalization, services include outpatient centers; the county's only  trauma center; home care; specialized programs for cancer, diabetes,  heart, stroke, and rehabilitative services; central Brevard's largest  medical group; three fitness centers; and Medicare Advantage, commercial  POS, and commercial HMO health plans. Health First tries to integrate quality healthcare services with state-of-the-art technology.

Harmony Farms runs "Horses and the  Handicapped", a therapeutic riding program  located on the Duda Ranch in Viera.

Parrish Medical Center is a 210-bed, not-for-profit  public medical center serving Florida's Space Coast for 50 years. The Center is Brevard's only Spirit of Women network hospital. It has been recognized as Modern Healthcare magazine's Spirit of Excellence for  Service award winner, Starizon & Healthcare Design magazine's  Discovery Award winner for exceptional patient experience, and has  earned more disease-specific  Gold Seals of Approval for quality and excellence from the Joint  Commission than any other hospital in Central Florida. Parrish Medical Center has been named America's No. 1 Healing Hospital for the third straight year by the Baptist  Healing Trust.

Health care services tend to cost more in Brevard than Orlando or the statistical  average in Florida. A nursing home private room averaged $79,023 annually, semi-private  $74,643, private one-bedroom assisted living $39,000. A home health aide, medicare-certified  was $88,660 was substantially higher than the Florida average of  $51,480. Adult day care (44 hours) was cheaper at $12,870 annually as was a home health aide "licensed-only" $38,896.

Incorporated

 * City of Cape Canaveral
 * City of Cocoa
 * City of Cocoa Beach
 * Town of Grant-Valkaria
 * Town of Indialantic
 * City of Indian Harbour Beach
 * Town of Malabar
 * City of Melbourne
 * Town of Melbourne Beach
 * Town of Melbourne Village
 * City of Palm Bay (formerly Tillman)
 * Town of Palm Shores
 * City of Rockledge
 * City of Satellite Beach
 * City of Titusville
 * City of West Melbourne

Unincorporated

 * Allenhurst
 * Angel City
 * Aurantia
 * Aurora
 * Ballard Pines
 * Barefoot Bay
 * Bellwood
 * Bonaventure
 * Canaveral Groves
 * City Point
 * Cocoa West


 * Courtenay
 * Delespine
 * Dummit Cove
 * Dummit Grove
 * East Mims
 * Eau Gallie
 * Floridana Beach
 * Footman
 * Frontenac
 * Georgiana
 * Indian River City
 * Jay Jay
 * June Park
 * Kennedy Space Center
 * Kings Park
 * La Grange
 * Lotus
 * Melbourne Village
 * Merritt Island
 * Micco
 * Mims
 * Pineda
 * Port St. John
 * Rockwell
 * Scottsmoor
 * Sharpes
 * Sherwood
 * Shiloh
 * South Cocoa Beach
 * South Patrick Shores
 * Southmere
 * Sunnyland Beach
 * Suntree
 * Tropic
 * Turnbull
 * Viera
 * West Eau Gallie
 * Whispering Hills
 * Wiley
 * Williams Point
 * Wilson

Former place names
There are place names currently used, or used at one time by the USGS. Some are early developments, others are former stations along the main line  of the Florida East  Coast Railway. Several of these disappeared when Kennedy Space Center took over their area.

Education
The Space Coast contains a higher percentage of college graduates than any of the other 66 Florida  counties.

Undergraduate and graduate
College education in Brevard County is provided by the Brevard  Community College and Florida  Institute of Technology  in Melbourne.

The Brevard Community College (BCC) is a two-year college, which has multiple campuses. 13,600 students attend BCC with sites in Melbourne, Palm Bay, Titusville and Cocoa. A modern planetarium and observatory is located on the Cocoa campus.

The Palm Bay branch of BCC offers technical and vocational training for Associate Degrees  and Certificates for entering the workforce, improving professional  skills, and developing new competence.

Other courses include a two year nursing degree and certification by the "Police Academy" which  is a basic requirement for employment in law enforcement in Brevard  County.

Florida Tech (Florida Institute of Technology) is a university which offers Bachelors, Masters, and Doctorate degrees,  specializing in the sciences. 4,400 students are enrolled on site, of which half are at the graduate level. About 26% are from abroad. It is located in Melbourne.

The University of Central Florida has a branch on the Community College Cocoa Campus. Additionally it operates the Florida Solar Energy Center.

Other colleges include Barry University,  Columbia College,  a cooperating program  with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University,  Florida  Metropolitan University-Melbourne, Keiser  University -  Melbourne and Webster University.

Elementary and secondary
For 2005, the students had higher SAT scores than any other Florida School  District.

The superintendent of schools was selected as best in state by his peers in 2005.

For 2005, the District has a higher percentage (9%) of National Board Certified Teachers than any of the  other largest ten districts in the state.

In 2005, Brevard is first in Florida in the number of "A"-rated schools in the 10 largest  districts.

AARP ranked the school district No. 8 on the 2005 list of Best Employers for  Workers Over 50. It was the only public-school system and the highest-ranked Florida employer on the national list.

In 2005, Brevard led the state in science in fifth and 11th grade assessments.

In 2006, Brevard students took almost a third of all prizes at the state science fair, including the most first-place awards. This occurred in 2007, as well.

A team consisting of Brevard high school students stood second in the world in the robotics world  championship in 2007.

In 2007, the Division 3 Technical Team from Eau Gallie High School placed  1st Place in World Odyssey of the Mind tournament.

In 2006, the District had 5 of the top 10 Elementary Schools in the state,  according to the Florida Dept. of Ed.

Brevard is in the top ten in the state in each of the 22 areas of assessment on the standard  statewide exams given students each year.

In 2005 & 2006, Newsweek ranked Cocoa Beach High School among the top 100 US high  schools (out of 21,000) in part due to its International Baccalaureate  program.

10th graders led the state in the writing exam in 2006.

The state has ranked 15 of the elementary schools as tops in the state  including a Title I South Lake, a former "D"-ranked school!

Brevard leads the state in the number of high school students dual enrolled in  secondary and college courses.

Continuing education
Continuing education is provided by the Brevard Community College, and the  University of Central Florida.

Life long learning is offered by the Community College at four branches throughout the county as well as  evening courses at high schools.

The County School Board sponsors BPS-TV. Those interested can study for the General Education Development exam, learn a foreign language, or learn about the arts. From midnight to 6 a.m., the station's Classic Arts Showcase offers ballet, jazz and classical music programming.

Sports teams
Brevard County is the home of the Brevard County Manatees, the Class-A Affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers.
 * Minor league baseball

The Washington Nationals hold their spring training at Space Coast Stadium in Viera.They  play about 14 games against other professional teams locally in March  as part of the "Grapefruit" League.
 * Major league baseball

The Brevard Blue Ducks, members of the USBL, played their home schedule at  the Clemente Center at Florida Tech. They have changed their home city more times than any other USBL team. They have been in Brevard since 2002. In 2007 the Clemente Center opted not to extend the team a lease of its facilities, prompting a cancellation of the season.
 * Professional Basketball

Brevard County is home to the Brevard Warriors,  a minor league football team whose first season was 2008-2009 year.
 * Minor League Football

Newspapers
Florida Today is the major daily newspaper serving Melbourne, Brevard County and the Space Coast region of Florida. It is owned by the media conglomerate Gannett. The monthly newspaper, El Playero, serves the Spanish-speaking population of the Space Coast. The weekly Home Town News is a free newspaper, supported by advertising, that has versions in  other Florida counties. It presents local news.

The Brevard Technical Journal is the industry monthly  newspaper for business management, engineering, purchasing,  manufacturing, and staff. It features news & features about the business and the science of technology in Brevard County - Florida's Space  & Technology Coast.

Radio
See Template:Melbourne  Radio.

Television
Independent stations include:


 * Channel 9 BPS-TV


 * Channel 43 WOTF-TV Univision Spanish Language
 * Channel 68 WBCC Brevard Community College Education

Films
The following films were filmed (in parts) in Brevard County.
 * Matinee - 1993  film starring John Goodman. Filmed in Cocoa Village and Cocoa Playhouse.
 * Apollo 13, Contact,  Armageddon, Moonraker  and I Dream of Jeanie all utilized Cape Canaveral's NASA  headquarters.
 * The Number 23 shot scenes on the shore of Cocoa Beach.
 * Marvin's Room a 1996 drama starring Meryl Streep, Diane Keaton,  and Leonardo DiCaprio was filmed in Rockledge.
 * Nightmare a 1981 horror film was shot in Merritt Island, Cocoa, Cocoa Beach and Titusville
 * MadTV used Titusville  as a phony address in their sketches in the mid 1990's.
 * '' A Night in Heaven starring  Christopher Atkins was filmed in Titusville

Arts and culture
The King Center, seating 2000, features locally produced and former  Broadway shows, ballet, and symphony. Several different performances are scheduled each week.

The Brevard Symphony Orchestra and the Space Coast Ballet offer shows performed by professionals. Both have encountered obstacles to production: fundraising, recruiting skilled  professionals and rehearsing them. For the Ballet, integrating a large number of qualified amateurs into their company for performances.

The Brevard Zoo  is a 56 acre facility.

The Space Coast Ballet incorporates professional principal dancers and instructors  together with many roles for local senior talent as well as roles for  students. They annually stage the "The Nutcracker."
 * Ballet

The Brevard Symphony Orchestra has  been bringing the classics, performed by professionals, to the Space  Coast for over fifty years.
 * Classical music

The Brevard Symphony Youth Orchestra provides an opportunity for musically qualified students to be coached  by professionals from the Brevard Symphony Orchestra and perform with  other qualified novices.

The City of Melbourne Pipes and Drums is a teaching band.
 * Traditional Music


 * Museums

The Space Coast has a number of museums from the rocket exhibitions at the  Kennedy Space Center Visitor's Complex, and the Air Force Space & Missile Museum, to local museums and others of  unique character such as the American Police Hall of Fame & Museum, and the East Coast Surfing Hall  of Fame Museum.

The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex offers an educational look at the accomplishments of America's space program. A visitor can have a close look at the launch pads, first built for  NASA's Apollo missions and presently used by the Space Shuttle fleet. The Observation Gantry near Launch Complex 39 offers a view of the Space Shuttle launch pads, the Vehicle  Assembly Building, and  the crawler-way  over which the rockets are taken to the pad. The Saturn V Complex displays the largest vehicle ever flown.

The Astronaut Hall of Fame is the only facility in the nation dedicated to telling the stories  of American astronauts and features the world's largest collection of  astronauts' personal effects.

The U.S. Spacewalk Walk of Fame commemorates Kennedy Space Center's history with a museum, monuments and  programs.

The Brevard Museum of History & Natural Science  features the remains of the "Windover Man", the oldest human remains  found on the North American continent and a re-creation of the  Windover Dig, a 'wet' archaeological site. A visitor may see how Native Americans lived and Florida pioneers survived.

Honor America runs the Liberty Bell  Memorial Museum. This houses a replica of the Liberty Bell, historical documents, and  patriotic memorabilia. Items are permanent reminders of our nation's history, as well as a memorial to military veterans.

The Harry T. and Harriette V. Moore Memorial Park and Cultural Center features a museum with artifacts and  time line of the civil rights movement and the story of the Harry T. and  Harriette V. Moore, civil rights leaders who were tragically killed  when their home was bombed.