Brevard County, Florida#Elected officials

{{Main|History of Brevard County, Florida}}

The first Paleoindians arrived in the area near Brevard county between 12,000 and 10,000 years ago.{{cite web

|url= https://www.brevardfl.gov/docs/default-source/historical-commission-docs/not-508-historical-landmarks/2016-brevard-county-landmark-guide.pdf?sfvrsn=8b794af4_4

|title= Historic Brevard Landmark guide

|publisher= Brevard County Historical Commission

|access-date= December 18, 2022

|archive-date= December 18, 2022

|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20221218200212/https://www.brevardfl.gov/docs/default-source/historical-commission-docs/not-508-historical-landmarks/2016-brevard-county-landmark-guide.pdf?sfvrsn=8b794af4_4

|url-status= live

}}

Before the arrival of non-indigenous settlers in the 16th century, the area was inhabited by Native Americans. The county is the site of the Windover Archeological Site, which contained evidence of habitation over 7,000 years ago. Brevard County was established in 1855 and is named after Theodore Washington Brevard, an early Florida settler and state comptroller. The county's boundaries were changed and reduced numerous times, resulting in the current boundary since 1907.

The Paleoindians were semi-nomadic people who lived in smaller groups. After a few thousand years, a new group of settlers appeared known as "the archaic people."{{cite web

|url= http://www.brevardfl.gov/HistoricalCommission/HistorySummary

|title= Brevard County History - A Brief Introduction

|publisher= Brevard County Historical Commission

|access-date= September 15, 2010

|archive-date= January 21, 2023

|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230121232052/http://www.brevardfl.gov/HistoricalCommission/HistorySummary

|url-status= live

}} These people were primarily fishermen, as opposed to the hunting and gathering way of life which characterized the Paleoindians. The Windover Archeological Site, discovered in 1982, was found during excavation to have the largest collection of human remains and artifacts of the early Archaic Period (6,000–5,000 BC), or more than 8,000 years ago. It has been designated as a National Historic Landmark. The Windover pond, which would have been a woody marsh at the time, was used by the Archaic Floridians as a burial ground, with the bodies being wrapped in fabric and submerged in the peaty soil. The pond was used for interments for around a thousand years (circa 8,000–7,000 BC).{{cite book |last1=Milanich |first1=Jerald T. |title=Archaeology of Precolumbian Florida |date=1994 |publisher=University Press of Florida |location=Gainesville, FL |isbn=9780813012728 |pages=72–73}}

The Ais and the Jaega were the dominant tribes in the area when it is thought that Ponce De Leon landed on the shores near Melbourne Beach in 1513.{{Cite news | first=Norman | last=Moody | title=Naming barrier island would honor state find | url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/117116188/juan-ponce-de-leon-landed-near-melbourne/ | newspaper=Florida Today | via=Newspapers.com | location=Melbourne, Florida | pages=1A | date=April 21, 2011 | access-date=January 24, 2023 | archive-date=April 11, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230411214901/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/117116188/juan-ponce-de-leon-landed-near/ | url-status=live }} There were about 10,000 of these natives in the area.{{Cite news | first=Diane | last=Barile | title=Guest columnist: A people lost in time | url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/117186717/a-people-lost-in-time/ | newspaper=Florida Today | location=Melbourne, Florida | page=15A | date=April 30, 2011 | via=Newspapers.com | access-date=January 25, 2023 | archive-date=January 25, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230125003734/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/117186717/a-people-lost-in-time/ | url-status=live }} Pedro Menéndez de Avilés gave an early account of the Ais people in 1570 when he was shipwrecked off of Cape Canaveral. He faced hostile natives but through the use of a bluff was able to escape from them and get back to St. Augustine.{{cite book|title=Survey of Indian River Archaeology |series=Yale University Publications in Anthropology 45 |first=Irving |last=Rouse |year=1981 |isbn=978-0-404-15668-8}} In 1605, Alvero Mexia was dispatched from St. Augustine to the Indian River area on a diplomatic mission to the Ais Indian Nation. He helped establish a "Period of Friendship" with the Ais Caciques(Chiefs) and made a color map of the area.{{Cite book |title=Cape Canaveral |series=Images of America |page=15 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gP8sHFpNXugC&q=Images+of+America:+Cape+Canaveral |last=Osborne |first=Ray |publisher=Arcadia Publishing |year=2008 |isbn=978-0-7385-5327-6 |access-date=November 9, 2020 |archive-date=April 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230411214912/https://books.google.com/books?id=gP8sHFpNXugC&q=Images+of+America:+Cape+Canaveral |url-status=live }}

During the 19th century, the state of Florida frequently changed the names and borders of counties. St. Lucie County was split off from Mosquito County in 1844.{{cite web

|url= http://fcit.usf.edu/florida/maps/galleries/county/stlucia/index.php

|title= Brevard County Maps

|publisher= University of South Florida

|access-date= September 15, 2010

|archive-date= December 24, 2022

|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20221224023948/http://fcit.usf.edu/florida/maps/galleries/county/stlucia/index.php

|url-status= live

}} St. Lucie County was renamed Brevard County in 1855 after Theodore Washington Brevard, who served as Florida Comptroller from 1854 to 1860. This "Brevard County" contained very little of present-day Brevard County. Most of present-day Brevard north of Melbourne was part of either Volusia or Orange counties. Brevard County in 1856 extended as far west as Polk County and as far south as coastal Dade County. Complicating the discussion of Brevard County in the 19th century is that the boundaries have shifted such that the southernmost parts of present-day Brevard, were originally the northernmost parts.Shofner, Jerrell H., History of Brevard County Volume 1 The original county seat was located at Susannah, an early name for present day Fort Pierce. Later the southern part of Brevard split off to form a new county, St. Lucie County in 1905. Gradually, the borders of Brevard County were shifted northward while the county got "pinched" eastward. The portions of Brevard County in present-day Broward and Palm Beach counties were given to Dade County, western areas of the county were given to Polk and Osceola County, and parts of Volusia and Orange Counties were given to Brevard including the eventual county seat of Titusville. Later, the southern portion of the county was cut off to form St. Lucie County, which in turn spawned Martin and Indian River County.

The first concerted development the area occurred with the extension of Henry Flagler's Florida East Coast Railroad into the area. The railroad reached Titusville in 1886 and Melbourne in 1894. With the railroad came increased settlement and the first tourists. The first major land boom began in the 1920s after the end of World War I. People flooded into the state of Florida, both tourists from northern winters and new full-time residents, and land prices soared. The Great Depression temporarily stopped growth in Florida. Before the start of World War II, the largest industries in Brevard were commercial fishing, citrus, and tourism.

Beginning in the 1930s, Harry T. Moore was a civil rights leader, teacher, and founder of the Brevard County NAACP. After the war he became president of the state NAACP. After the Supreme Court had ruled in 1944 that white primaries were unconstitutional, he conducted voter registration drives and succeeded in registering 31% of black voters in Florida, a higher percentage than in any other southern state. The white establishment resisted, firing both him and his wife Harriette in 1946 from their teaching positions. On Christmas night, 1951, a bomb exploded under their home, fatally injuring both of them. Four separate investigations were conducted, including the first by the FBI in 1951–1952, and the last in 2005 by the state. No one was ever prosecuted.{{cite web|title=Freedom Never Dies: The Legacy of Harry T. Moore|url=https://www.pbs.org/harrymoore/terror/who.html|publisher=PBS|access-date=March 27, 2014|page=Florida Terror: Who Killed Harry T. Moore|archive-date=March 28, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230328185718/https://www.pbs.org/harrymoore/terror/who.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web | url=http://myfloridalegal.com/newsrel.nsf/newsreleases/C4F9E89A26C88DEB852571CC00694A6E | title=Crist Announces Results of Harry T. Moore Murder Investigation | date=August 16, 2006 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070106234735/http://myfloridalegal.com/newsrel.nsf/newsreleases/C4F9E89A26C88DEB852571CC00694A6E | archive-date=January 6, 2007 | access-date= May 6, 2008 | url-status=dead}}

In 1940, the United States federal government built Naval Air Station Banana River. Patrick Air Force Base was renamed to Patrick Space Force Base on December 9, 2020, as part of the establishment of the U.S. Space Force. This military installation was the first of major federal investment in projects to aid the development of Brevard County.{{Cite news | first=Ben | last=Brotemarkle | title=WWII Roots | url= https://www.newspapers.com/article/florida-today-wwii-roots/137440074/ | newspaper=Florida Today | location=Melbourne, Florida| pages= 1A, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/florida-today-ft-20160517-5a/137440165/ 5A] | date=May 17, 2016 | via=Newspapers.com}} In the late 1950s, the government opened the Long Range Proving Ground. This later became the Kennedy Space Center. The establishment of the Kennedy Space Center, originally known as Launch Operations Center, significantly impacted the area's identity and prominence, it attracted more educated workers and scientists associated with the program. In 1962, NASA acquired more than 200 square miles (518 square km) of land on Merritt Island to facilitate the recently announced lunar program of operations. The preceding year, U.S. Pres. John F. Kennedy had pledged to get the first American astronaut on the Moon by 1970. The Launch Operations Center, name was changed to honor President Kennedy following his assassination in 1963. Work immediately began on a new launch complex—Launch Complex 39. In addition, the Vehicle Assembly Building, for the construction of spacecrafts, was built by 1966. The first launch from the new facility was the Saturn V rocket launch of the Apollo 4 mission on November 9, 1967. Twelve more Saturn V launches followed, including the historic Apollo 11 mission in 1969 that landed astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin on the Moon. The final Saturn V launch, in 1973, carried the Skylab space station to orbit. The launch complex was then adapted for the space shuttle program, and each shuttle, from 1981 until the final mission in 2011, launched from this complex.[Britannica] Beginning in the 1960s, new bridges were constructed across the waterways designed as high-rise steel, designed to be high enough to allow passage of boats underneath.{{Cite news | first=Barbara | last=Bayley | title=New Englander is now 'so Brevard' | url=http://www.floridatoday.com/story/life/wellness/ageless/2014/10/28/ageless-brevard/18058743/ | newspaper=Florida Today | location=Melbourne, Florida | pages=13A | date=November 8, 2014 | access-date=February 1, 2016 | archive-date=October 12, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181012054154/https://www.floridatoday.com/story/life/wellness/ageless/2014/10/28/ageless-brevard/18058743/ | url-status=live }}

Brevard County is known as the Space Coast due to the influence of the John F. Kennedy Space Center and the aerospace industry on its economy. As such, it was designated with the telephone area code 321, as in "3, 2, 1 liftoff". The county has several incorporated cities and towns, primarily along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean and is mostly suburban west of Interstate 95. Brevard County comprises the Cities of Palm Bay– Melbourne– Titusville, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area.

As the county is long [72 miles from north to south] and is home to 16 municipalities, people in the southern portion of the county complained about being so distant from the county seat. The county seat of Titusville was {{convert|50|mi|km}} from Palm Bay. Palm Bay is the largest city in Brevard County and the second largest in Central Florida, by population [Est. 146,000 in 2025].The county decided to build a new county administration complex at VieraHarry T. Moore Justice Center, near the geographical center of the county. This complex was started in 1989 and completed in 1994. Residents in the north threatened secession. Their proposal to form a new county, to be called Playalinda, had some momentum in the early 90s. The county made a few concessions to the people in the northern part of the county, and agreed not to officially move the county seat. Since construction of the new center, Viera has been for all intents and purposes the de facto seat of Brevard County.{{cite web |url= https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1993/12/15/an-idea-whose-time-has-come-yet-again/ |title= An Idea Whose Time Has Come Yet Again |date= December 15, 1993 |publisher= The Orlando Sentinel |access-date= September 15, 2010 |archive-date= September 30, 2012 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120930102733/http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1993-12-15/news/9312150103_1_titusville-brevard-palm-bay

|url-status= live }}

In 2024, The Board of County Commissioners voted to move forward with plan(s) for the Harry T. Moore Justice Center, which could lead to a major reorganization of the courthouse and cost $6.1 million. The project is technically an expansion, it will take place using space already within the courthouse as the law library will become largely consolidated online to make space for necessary courtrooms. Courthouses in Melbourne and Titusville will remain fully utilized and will operate more efficiently as services expand in Viera. The expansion will make it easier for all juvenile cases, which are legally required to be separated from adult proceedings, to take place completely in Melbourne.

File:Monument US 1 Brevard Volusia county line.jpg

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of {{convert|1557|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|1016|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|541|sqmi}} (34.8%) is water.{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=April 23, 2011 |date=February 12, 2011 |title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990 |archive-date=August 24, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190824085937/https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html |url-status=live }} Most of the water is the Atlantic Ocean, the St. Johns River and the Indian River Lagoon. The county is larger in area than the nation of Samoa and nearly the same size, and population, as Cape Verde.{{cite web |url=http://www.mongabay.com/igapo/world_statistics_by_area.htm |title=List of Countries by Land Mass – Ranked by Area |access-date=November 15, 2013 |archive-date=May 13, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080513192057/http://www.mongabay.com/igapo/world_statistics_by_area.htm |url-status=live }}

Located halfway between Jacksonville and Miami, Brevard County extends {{convert|72|mi|km}} from north to south, and averages {{convert|26.5|mi}} wide. Emphasizing the position halfway down Florida are two state roads that have been numbered at the midpoint of Florida's numbering system, State Road 50 and State Road 500. Marshes in the western part of this county, together with those in neighboring Indian River country, are the source of the St. Johns River, which becomes navigable within the county.{{cite web|url=https://www.sjrwmd.com/static/waterways/Story-of-the-SJR.pdf |title=Fact Sheet: A Story of the St. Johns River: The Big Picture |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211013171812/https://www.sjrwmd.com/static/waterways/Story-of-the-SJR.pdf |archive-date=October 13, 2021 |publisher=St. Johns River Water Management District |date=May 3, 2007 |url-status=dead}}

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, the St. Johns River, and the Banana River. Dredging for the Intracoastal created 41 spoil islands in the Brevard portion of the Indian River.{{Cite web |url=http://spoilislandproject.org/ |title=History |access-date=December 10, 2016 |date=2012 |work=Spoil Island Project. Indian River Lagoon |archive-date=December 20, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220085920/http://spoilislandproject.org/ |url-status=live }}

Brevard County is the sole county in the Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). Palm Bay, Melbourne, and Titusville are designated as principal cities in the MSA.{{Cite web |date=July 21, 2023 |title=Revised Delineations of Metropolitan Statistical Areas, Micropolitan Statistical Areas, and Guidance on the Uses of the Delineations of These Areas |url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/OMB-Bulletin-23-01.pdf |access-date=July 27, 2023 |website=Executive Office of the President |page=66}} The MSA was created as the Melbourne-Titusville-Cocoa, Florida Standard MSA in 1972, renamed the Melbourne-Titusville-Palm Bay, Florida MSA in 1983, and given its current title in 2003.{{Cite web |date=March 2020 |title=Metro Area History 1950–2020 |url=https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/metro-micro/geographies/reference-files/2020/historical-delineation-files/metro_area_history_1950_2020.xls |website=U.S. Census Bureau |at=Row 3786}}

The county is unofficially divided into three sections: North County, comprising Titusville, Mims and Port St. John; Central Brevard, which includes Cocoa, Rockledge, Merritt Island, and Cocoa Beach; and South County, which includes Melbourne, Palm Bay, Grant-Valkaria, and the South Beaches. There are also several beaches along the coast of the county. The North Reach includes {{convert|9.4|mi}} of coastline from Cape Canaveral, through Cocoa Beach, to Patrick Space Force Base. The Patrick Space Force Base beach is {{convert|4.1|mi}} long. South of Patrick SFB, the Mid Reach includes the {{convert|7.6|mi}} of coastline in Satellite Beach. The South Reach includes {{convert|3.8|mi}} of beach in the communities of Indialantic and Melbourne Beach. At the southern end of the county, the South Beaches are the final {{convert|14.5|mi}} of beach south of Melbourne Beach to Sebastian.{{Cite news |first=Virginia |last=Barker |title=Beach and Dune Erosion |url=http://www.brevardcounty.us/natres/BeachErosionStaffReport.pdf.pdf |publisher=Brevard County Board of Commissioners |location=Melbourne, Florida |page=5 |date=October 31, 2007 |access-date=April 9, 2010 |archive-date=July 16, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716164856/http://www.brevardcounty.us/natres/BeachErosionStaffReport.pdf.pdf |url-status=dead }}

The United States Board on Geographic Names considered two proposals in 2012 to officially name the barrier island extending from Port Canaveral to Sebastian Inlet. The {{convert|45|mi|km|adj=mid|-long}} island includes the cities of Cape Canaveral, Cocoa Beach, Indialantic, Melbourne Beach, Patrick Space Force Base, Indian Harbour Beach, and Satellite Beach. The American Indian Association of Florida submitted in October 2011 a proposal to name the island after the Ais people. In January 2012 the United Third Bridge and the Florida Puerto Rican/Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in Melbourne submitted a proposal to name the island Ponce de León Island, after Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León.{{cite news |last1=Neale |first1=Rick |title=What's in a name? |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/florida-today-whats-in-a-name/148522417/ |work=Florida Today |date=14 January 2012 |pages=1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/florida-today-p3/148522535/ 3A]}} In December 2012, the island was ultimately not named.{{cite news |last1=Neale |first1=Rick |title=Barrier island remains unnamed |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/florida-today-barrier-island-remains-unn/148523061/ |work=Florida Today |date=5 December 2012 |pages=1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/florida-today-island-2a/148523193/ 2A]}}

Brevard County has 16 municipalities. The largest by population is Palm Bay and the smallest is Melbourne Village.{{Cite news |first=Rick |last=Heale |title=Brevard's 17th municipality? |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20100121/NEWS01/1210329/-1/mmxbillboardtest/South-Brevard-s-Barefoot-Bay-seeks-city-status |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=3A |date=January 21, 2010 |access-date=January 27, 2010 |archive-date=May 2, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150502070123/http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20100121/NEWS01/1210329/-1/mmxbillboardtest/South-Brevard-s-Barefoot-Bay-seeks-city-status |url-status=dead }}

{{div col|colwidth=14em}}

• Cape Canaveral
• Cocoa
• Cocoa Beach
• Indian Harbour Beach
• Melbourne
• Palm Bay
• Rockledge
• Satellite Beach
• Titusville
• West Melbourne

{{div col end}}

{{div col|colwidth=14em}}

• Grant-Valkaria
• Indialantic
• Malabar
• Melbourne Beach
• Melbourne Village
• Palm Shores

{{div col end}}

{{div col|colwidth=14em}}

• Cocoa West
• June Park
• Merritt Island
• Micco
• Mims
• North Merritt Island
• Patrick SFB
• Port St. John
• Scottsmoor
• Sharpes
• South Patrick Shores
• Tropical Park
• Viera East
• Viera West
• West Canaveral Groves

{{div col end}}

{{div col|colwidth=14em}}

• Angel City
• Aurantia
• Barefoot Bay
• Bellwood
• Canaveral Groves
• Courtenay
• Eau Gallie
• Floridana Beach
• Georgiana
• Indianola
• Lotus
• Melbourne Shores
• Pineda
• Shiloh
• South Cocoa Beach
• Suntree
• Tropic
• Viera

{{div col end}}

The United States Office of Management and Budget has designated Brevard County as the Palm Bay–Melbourne–Titusville, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area.{{cite web |url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/sites/default/files/omb/bulletins/2013/b13-01.pdf |title=OMB Bulletin No. 13-01: Revised Delineations of Metropolitan Statistical Areas, Micropolitan Statistical Areas, and Combined Statistical Areas, and Guidance on Uses of the Delineations of These Areas |date=February 28, 2013 |via=National Archives |work=Office of Management and Budget |access-date=March 20, 2013 |archive-date=January 21, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170121004708/https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/sites/default/files/omb/bulletins/2013/b13-01.pdf |url-status=live }} The United States Census Bureau ranked the Palm Bay–Melbourne–Titusville, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area as the 90th most populous metropolitan statistical area and the 96th most populous primary statistical area of the United States as of July 1, 2012.{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/popest/data/metro/totals/2012/tables/CBSA-EST2012-01.csv |title=Table 1. Annual Estimates of the Population of Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012 |format=CSV | work=2012 Population Estimates |publisher=United States Census Bureau, Population Division |date=March 2013 |access-date=March 29, 2024 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130401093220/http://www.census.gov/popest/data/metro/totals/2012/tables/CBSA-EST2012-01.csv |archive-date=April 1, 2013}}{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/popest/data/metro/totals/2012/tables/CBSA-EST2012-02.csv |title=Table 2. Annual Estimates of the Population of Combined Statistical Areas: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012 |format=CSV | work=2012 Population Estimates |publisher=United States Census Bureau, Population Division |date=March 2013 |access-date=March 20, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130517083619/http://www.census.gov/popest/data/metro/totals/2012/tables/CBSA-EST2012-02.csv |archive-date=May 17, 2013}}

The county has a Köppen climate classification of Cfa, with a year-round distribution of rainfall. This means a humid subtropical climate with hot, humid summers and mild winters.{{cite web |url=http://www.srh.noaa.gov/mlb/?n=wetdryseason |title=The Onset of the Wet and Dry Seasons in East Central Florida- A Subtropical Wet-Dry Climate? |first=Randy |last=Lascody |date=March 2002 |work=National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office Melbourne, FL |publisher=NOAA |access-date=January 12, 2010 |archive-date=June 6, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606115754/http://www.srh.noaa.gov/mlb/?n=wetdryseason |url-status=live }} There are distinct wet and dry seasons. The dry lasts from December through May, the wet from June through November. During the dry season, periods of drought often occur, and can lead to a persistent and high wild land fire threat.{{cite web |url=http://www.brevardcounty.us/FireRescue/Education/BrushFire |publisher=Brevard County Fire Rescue |title=Brevard County Fire Rescue Brush Fire Information |access-date=November 15, 2013 |archive-date=March 26, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130326072731/http://www.brevardcounty.us/FireRescue/Education/BrushFire |url-status=dead }} In numerous instances these fires have caused property damage. Several fires in 2008 forced the evacuation of Bayside High School, in the town of Palm Bay. In that particular event, 162 homes were damaged.{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/05/13/florida.wildfires/ |publisher=CNN |title=Blazes coming under control in Florida, officials say |date=May 14, 2008 |access-date=May 22, 2013 |archive-date=June 17, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150617225429/http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/05/13/florida.wildfires/ |url-status=live }}

January is the coldest month, with an average low of {{convert|50.7|°F|°C}} and an average high {{convert|71|°F|°C|abbr=on}}. The warmest months are July and August with average highs of {{convert|90|°F|°C|abbr=on}} and average lows of {{convert|72.2|°F|°C|abbr=on}}. The driest month is April with {{convert|1.6|in|cm}} of rainfall; the wettest is September, with {{convert|6.6|in|cm}}. Offshore ocean temperatures have averaged: January – {{convert|64|F}}, February – {{convert|62|F}}, March – {{convert|67|F}} and April – {{convert|72|F}}.{{Cite news |title=South Brevard County |work=Space Coast Edition |publisher=Travelhost |location=Dallas, TX |page=26 |date=January–April 2010 }} In federal maps printed before 2012, nearly half of Brevard was classified as prone to flooding. Most of this was in the relatively undeveloped low-lying areas, west of Interstate 95, on the banks of the St. Johns River. About 18,900 homes out of 164,000 single-family homes were in that area.{{Cite news |first=Jim |last=Waymer |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/117333660/flood-zones-ebb-and-flow/ |title=Flood zones ebb and flow |newspaper=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1A, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/117333780/flood-zones-ebb-and-flow-3a/ 3A] |date=February 11, 2012 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=January 27, 2023 |archive-date=January 27, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230127021757/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/117333660/flood-zones-ebb-and-flow/ |url-status=live }}

Florida is located both in the subtropical and the tropical climate zone, and thus regularly affected by hurricanes. Although Brevard County is located along Florida's eastern peninsula, because of associated weather patterns, it is less frequently hit by direct hurricane landfalls than are 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 along Florida's East Central Coast. A second reason is that hurricanes making landfall along the Florida peninsula Gulf Coast often weaken to a tropical storm by the time they move northeast and reach Brevard County. (2004's Charley was an exception). In 2004, Brevard County, Florida experienced two category 3 hurricanes, Hurricane Frances and Hurricane Jeanne, which caused significant damage. The 2004 hurricanes caused significant damage in Brevard County, with Hurricane Frances causing about $277.6 million in damage, and Hurricane Jeanne causing further damage to areas already affected. https://www.google.com/search?q=2+category+three+hurricanes+hit+Brevard+County+Florida+in+2004+according+to+Noah&gs_ivs=1 Our hurricanes happened in four, with two by far the most destructive. Hurricane Charley barely bruised us. Frances seemed Biblical in nature. It spun over the Space Coast for almost two days, mauled manufacture homes, ravaged roofs — including on an iconic church — and swiped ungodly volumes of sand from beaches. Ivan didn't do much here. Then Jeanne, the fourth hurricane in six weeks, finished off the roofs and wood frames Frances had frazzle. Florida’s east coast was still cleaning up from Frances when it was hit again on September 26, this time by Hurricane Jeanne as a category 3 storm. Its 55-mile-wide eye crossed the Florida coast at virtually the same spot where Frances did. Widespread flooding rainfall of more than seven inches accompanied Hurricane Jeanne as it slowly moved west and north over the state. {{cite web | url=https://www.noaa.gov/stories/4-hurricanes-in-6-weeks-it-happened-to-one-state-in-2004#:~:text=Florida%27s%20east%20coast%20was%20still,threat%20with%20any%20tropical%20cyclone | title=4 hurricanes in 6 weeks? It happened to one state in 2004. | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | date=August 26, 2019 }} A Palm Bay man drowned when his pickup truck ran into a deep flooded roadside ditch. {{cite web | url=https://www.floridatoday.com/story/weather/hurricanes/2024/08/29/20-years-later-brevard-absorbs-lessons-hurricanes-frances-jeanne/74936870007/ | title=Even 20 years later, one of Brevard's worst hurricane seasons still haunts }}

Although residents may refer to past storms as "hurricanes", Except for 2004, by the time they strike the county, most have subsided to tropical storms or depressions. But 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.{{cite news |url=http://www.ocean-beach.com/weather_hurricanes.htm#Areas%20At%20Risk |title=Hurricanes |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000919134156/http://ocean-beach.com/weather_hurricanes.htm |archive-date=September 19, 2000 |access-date=November 15, 2013}}Cape Canaveral Hospital has been evacuated several times in the past — built only five feet above sea level — takes just a few hours but costs $3 million to $5 million each time, hospital officials said, much of those potential costs due to loss of business revenue. Health First has only had to evacuate a handful of times before hurricanes. But as the world enters potentially stormier times, Health First officials say the new $410 million hospital they're building on much higher ground four miles down the road on Merritt Island will require them to evacuate much less often. {{cite web | url=https://www.floridatoday.com/story/weather/2024/05/29/cape-canaveral-hospital-readies-for-hurricanes-relocating-half-century-old-hospital/73804699007/ | title=Cape Canaveral Hospital readies for hurricanes as work continues on higher-ground replacement }}

The possibility of storm surge is diminished when the storm comes across the state instead of directly from the Atlantic.{{Cite news |first=Matt |last=Reed |title=Prepare for storm evacuations, tar balls |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/117405126/prepare-for-storm-evacuations-tar-balls/ |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1B, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/117405329/ft-may-27-2010-2b-reed/ 2B] |date=May 27, 2010 |access-date=January 27, 2023 |via=Newspapers.com |archive-date=January 28, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230128024550/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/117405126/prepare-for-storm-evacuations-tar-balls/ |url-status=live }}

Five hurricanes have directly affected Brevard since 1950:The most severe event was David, which occurred in 1979.

It was recorded as a category 5 with 1-min sustained wind speeds up to 173 mph and 3-second wind gusts up to 221 mph{{cite web | url=https://firststreet.org/city/west-melbourne-fl/1276500_fsid/wind | title=West Melbourne, FL Hurricane Map and Climate Risk Report }} David (September 3, 1979); 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 in Indian River County directly and caused widespread wind damage throughout Brevard;{{cite web |url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/1995erin.html |title=TPC NHC Erin 1995 Preliminary Report |website=noaa.gov |access-date=January 14, 2018 |archive-date=July 1, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060701234436/http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/1995erin.html |url-status=live }} and Jeanne (September 26, 2004) – struck Vero Beach directly, following very nearly the same path as Frances. The latter two storms caused widespread damage in South Brevard, and resulted in $2.8 billion in claim payments.{{Cite news |title=Weather, politics shook things up |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20091231/NEWS01/912310317/1086/Stories+of+the+decade++Weather++politics+shook+things+up |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |page=1A |date=December 31, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222034513/http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20091231/NEWS01/912310317/1086/Stories%2Bof%2Bthe%2Bdecade%2B%2BWeather%2B%2Bpolitics%2Bshook%2Bthings%2Bup |archive-date=February 22, 2014 }} Slightly more than half of one percent (0.6%) of houses were lost.{{cite web |url=http://www.bebr.ufl.edu/FloridaFocus/FloridaFocus1_3_2005.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060825002832/http://www.bebr.ufl.edu/FloridaFocus/FloridaFocus1_3_2005.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 25, 2006 |title=bebr.ufl.edu |website=ufl.edu |access-date=January 14, 2018}} The following storms did not affect Brevard County with hurricane-force winds: Floyd (September 15, 1999),{{cite web |url=http://www.srh.noaa.gov/mlb/floydsum.html |title=Hurricane Floyd Preliminary Summary 09/14/99 thru 09/15/99 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000819120528/http://www.srh.noaa.gov/mlb/floydsum.html |archive-date=August 19, 2000 |access-date=November 15, 2013}} and Irene (October 16, 1999).{{cite web |url=http://www.srh.noaa.gov/mlb/irenesum.html |title=Hurricane Irene Preliminary Summary 10-16-99 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000819120456/http://www.srh.noaa.gov/mlb/irenesum.html |archive-date=August 19, 2000 |access-date=November 15, 2013}} Tropical Storm Fay dropped a record rainfall of {{convert|27.65|in|cm}} in 2008.{{cite news | first=Keyonna | last=Summers | url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/117405757/fay-broke-records-of-most-rainfall-in-br/ | title=Fay broke records of most rainfall in Brevard | newspaper=Florida Today | date=October 2, 2008 | page=1A | via=Newspapers.com | access-date=January 27, 2023 | archive-date=April 11, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230411214918/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/117405757/fay-broke-records-of-most-rainfall-in/ | url-status=live }}

The winter of 2009–2010 was the coldest on record since 1937, when such records were first kept.{{Cite news |first=J.D. |last=Gallop |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/117434179/finally-spring-rolls-in-today/ |title=Finally! Spring rolls in today |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1B, 3B |date=March 20, 2010 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=January 28, 2023 |archive-date=March 28, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230328162346/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/117434179/finally-spring-rolls-in-today/ |url-status=live }} Planting season, which normally starts around February 14, came six weeks later instead.{{Cite news |first=Patrick |last=Peterson |title=Nurseries look for business warm-up |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20100324/BUSINESS/3240322/1006/NEWS01/Brevard+nurseries+look+for+business+warm-up |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=6C |date=March 24, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151009120506/http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20100324/BUSINESS/3240322/1006/NEWS01/Brevard+nurseries+look+for+business+warm-up |archive-date=October 9, 2015 }} Some flowers and herbs are planted as early as January.{{Cite news |first=Sally |last=Scalera |title=Chilly weather ideal for gardeners |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/117434702/chilly-weather-ideal-for-gardeners/ |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |page=4D |date=January 8, 2011 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=January 28, 2023 |archive-date=March 28, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230328162425/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/117434702/chilly-weather-ideal-for-gardeners/ |url-status=live }} December 2010 was the coldest December on record.{{Cite news |first=Andrew |last=Knapp |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/117434856/warm-weather-fun-is-over-for-brevard/ |title=Warm weather fun is over for Brevard |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |page=2B |date=January 12, 2011 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=January 28, 2023 |archive-date=March 28, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230328162405/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/117434856/warm-weather-fun-is-over-for-brevard/ |url-status=live }}

{{Main|Environmental issues in Brevard County}}

File:Eel scrub.jpg

Brevard County 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. There are {{convert|250|mi2}} of federally protected wildlife refuges.{{Cite journal |first=Myatt |last=Murphy |date=August 2011 |title=A Shore Thing |journal=Sky (Delta) |page=90 }} 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,{{cite web |url=http://www.eelbrevard.com/ |title=EEL Program Home |website=www.eelbrevard.com |access-date=January 14, 2018 |archive-date=November 17, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111117234926/http://www.eelbrevard.com/ |url-status=live }} and lands dedicated by the State as conservation areas. The underlying limestone in the county is relatively young at 150,000 years old. This means that the ground will not develop the sinkholes that are prevalent in the spine of Florida, where limestone is from 15 to 25 million years old.{{Cite news |first=Tyler |last=Vazquez |title=The Hole Truth |url=https://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/2017/09/27/experts-say-sinkholes-unlikely-brevard-county/704151001/ |newspaper=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1A,2A |date=September 29, 2017 |access-date=September 29, 2017 |archive-date=August 14, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200814050538/https://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/2017/09/27/experts-say-sinkholes-unlikely-brevard-county/704151001/ |url-status=live }}

• Volusia County – north
• Indian River County – south
• Osceola County – southwest
• Orange County – west

There are 4,000 species of animals locally.{{Cite journal |first=Myatt |last=Murphy |date=August 2011 |title=A Shore Thing |journal=Sky (Delta) |page=92 }} Common mammals include North American river otters, bobcats, white-tailed deer, raccoons, marsh rabbits,{{cite web |url=http://www.nbbd.com/photos/Animals1/index.html |title=Animals of North Brevard – Part 1 – Titusville, Florida |publisher=Nbbd.com |access-date=December 18, 2012 |archive-date=August 29, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130829122449/http://www.nbbd.com/photos/Animals1/index.html |url-status=live }} scrub lizards, rat snakes, and opossum.{{Cite news |first=Keith |last=Winsten |title=Florida's wildlife gets its own 'terms of venery' |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/117546075/floridas-wildlife-gets-its-own-terms-o/ |newspaper=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |page=7B |date=January 17, 2012 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=January 30, 2023 |archive-date=April 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230411214904/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/117546075/floridas-wildlife-gets-its-own/ |url-status=live }} Feral pigs, introduced by Europeans, present an occasional traffic hazard. There are an estimated 3,500 endangered gopher tortoises in the county.{{Cite news |first=Chris |last=Fish |title=Group aims to rescue reptiles buried alive by construction projects |url=http://www.myhometownnews.net/index.php?id=115405 |newspaper=Hometown News (the Beaches) |location=Fort Pierce, Florida |page=A8 |date=April 4, 2014 |url-status=dead |access-date=April 5, 2014 |archive-date=April 7, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407074322/http://www.myhometownnews.net/index.php?id=115405 }}

There were 1,677 manatees in Brevard County in 2015, out of a total of 6,063 in the state. This was an increase from 2014 when there was a total of 612 in Brevard County.{{Cite news |title=Brevard County leads way in record Florida manatee count |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-manatee-count-florida-20150316-story.html |publisher=Orlando Sentinel |date=March 17, 2015 |access-date=July 5, 2021 |archive-date=July 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709185043/https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-manatee-count-florida-20150316-story.html |url-status=live }} Manatees experience numerous threats within Brevard, where 312 died in the first half of 2021.{{cite news |last1=Chesnes |first1=Max |title=2021 is already the deadliest year on record for Florida manatees. Why are they dying? |url=https://www.tcpalm.com/story/news/local/indian-river-lagoon/2021/07/09/more-manatees-died-2021-deadliest-year-florida-history-seagrass-marine-mammal-pollution-algal-ocean/7625039002/ |access-date=July 12, 2021 |work=Treasure Coast |archive-date=July 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210712014427/https://www.tcpalm.com/story/news/local/indian-river-lagoon/2021/07/09/more-manatees-died-2021-deadliest-year-florida-history-seagrass-marine-mammal-pollution-algal-ocean/7625039002/ |url-status=live }} Bottlenose dolphin are commonly seen in the Intracoastal Waterway.{{cite web |url=http://www.nefsc.noaa.gov/publications/tm/tm219/462_BODO_IRLES.pdf |title=Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) Indian River Lagoon Estuarine System Stock |website=noaa.gov |access-date=January 14, 2018 |archive-date=May 17, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170517060958/https://www.nefsc.noaa.gov/publications/tm/tm219/462_BODO_IRLES.pdf |url-status=live }} Fish and reptiles include alligators, red snapper, sea turtles, North Atlantic right whales, a rare protected species, give birth near the coast of Brevard, among other places, from November 15 to April 15.{{Cite news |first=Jim |last=Waymer |title=Right whale, calf swim along Brevard shore |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122351483/right-whale-calf-swim-along-brevard-sho/ |newspaper=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |page=10A |date=March 11, 2014 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=April 5, 2023 |archive-date=April 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230411214916/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122351483/right-whale-calf-swim-along-brevard/ |url-status=live }}

The venomous brown recluse spider is not native to the area but has found the environment congenial.{{cite web |url=http://www.mcmsonline.org/pdf/may/SummerPerils.pdf |title=Beware the perils of summer |first=Susan |last=Jenks |date=May 16, 2006 |work=Florida Today |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727073753/http://www.mcmsonline.org/pdf/may/SummerPerils.pdf |archive-date=July 27, 2011}} The Florida Butterfly Monitoring Network has counted species of butterflies monthly for a year since 2007. In 2010, it counted 45 species.{{Cite news |first=Keith |last=Winston |title=Citizen scientists collect vital information |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122351970/citizen-scientists-collect-vital-informa/ |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |page=4D |date=December 25, 2010 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=April 6, 2023 |archive-date=April 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230411214905/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122351970/citizen-scientists-collect-vital/ |url-status=live }} Included are zebra swallowtail butterflies.{{Cite news |first=Keith |last=Winsten |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/117435996/outing-offers-peek-at-how-humans-nature/ |title=Outing offers peek at how humans, nature can coexist |newspaper=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |page=7B |date=March 13, 2012 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=January 28, 2023 |archive-date=April 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230411214916/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/117435996/outing-offers-peek-at-how-humans/ |url-status=live }} Lovebug season occurs twice annually in May and August–September. Motorists encounter swarms of these while driving during a four-week period.{{cite journal | url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/3493110 | jstor=3493110 | title=Biology of the "Love-Bug", Plecia Nearctica (Diptera: Bibionidae) | last1=Hetrick | first1=L. A. | journal=The Florida Entomologist | date=1970 | volume=53 | issue=1 | pages=23–26 | doi=10.2307/3493110 | url-access=subscription }}{{Cite news |first=Jim |last=Waymer |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/117436191/love-bugs-like-it-your-car-hot/ |title=Lovebugs like it (your car) hot |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1A, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/117436325/ft-03-may-2009-9a/ 9A] |date=May 3, 2009 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=January 28, 2023 |archive-date=January 28, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230128180121/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/117436191/love-bugs-like-it-your-car-hot/ |url-status=live }} Deer flies are particularly noticeable from April through June.{{Cite news |first=Jim |last=Waymer |title=Conditions feed yellow fly furor |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/117457929/conditions-feed-yellow-fly-furor/ |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1A, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/117458069/ft-2010-06-03-2a/ 2A] |date=June 3, 2010 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=January 28, 2023 |archive-date=January 28, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230128223936/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/117457929/conditions-feed-yellow-fly-furor/ |url-status=live }}

Local bird counts indicate that there are at least 163 species of birds in the county.{{Cite news |first=Jim |last=Waymer |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/117458248/but-nerds-eager-to-scour-area-for-figure/ |title='Bird nerds' eager to scour area for figures |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1A, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/117458363/ft-2011-01-01-3a/ 3A] |date=January 1, 2011 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=January 28, 2023 |archive-date=April 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230411214932/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/117458248/but-nerds-eager-to-scour-area-for/ |url-status=live }} Turkey vultures, a migrating species, are protected by federal law. They migrate north in the summer and return in September.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118466814/its-september-and-winged-scavengers-ha/ |title=It's September, and winged scavengers have returned |newspaper=Florida Today |date=September 23, 2009 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=November 15, 2013 |archive-date=April 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230411214917/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118466814/its-september-and-winged-scavengers/ |url-status=live }} The county's most common winter bird is the lesser scaup, a diving duck. In 2008, half a million were counted. In 2010, 15,000 were estimated.{{Cite news |first=Keith |last=Winsten |title=Brevard Naturally column:Cold weather brings real snowbirds around |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118511296/cold-weather-brings-real-snowbirds-aroun/ |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |page=4D |date=February 20, 2010 |access-date=November 15, 2013 |via=Newspapers.com |archive-date=April 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230411214902/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118511296/cold-weather-brings-real-snowbirds/ |url-status=dead }} Other birds include the red-shouldered hawk,{{Cite news |first=Britt |last=Kinnerly |title=Feisty hawks keeping their human neighbors indoors |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20110330/NEWS01/103300344/Feisty-hawks-keeping-their-human-neighbors-indoors-Melbourne |newspaper=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |page=1A |date=March 30, 2011 |access-date=March 31, 2011 |archive-date=April 4, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110404034159/http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20110330/NEWS01/103300344/Feisty-hawks-keeping-their-human-neighbors-indoors-Melbourne |url-status=dead }} the loggerhead shrike,{{Cite news |first=Keith |last=Winsten |title=Keeping tabs on shrikes around Brevard County |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122449778/keeping-tabs-on-shrikes-around-brevard-c/ |newspaper=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=9B |date=September 20, 2011 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=April 7, 2023 |archive-date=April 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230411214910/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122449778/keeping-tabs-on-shrikes-around-brevard/ |url-status=live }} the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker,{{Cite news |first=Jim |last=Waymer |title=Stealth species thrill watchers |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122450124/stealth-species-thrill-watchers/ |newspaper=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1A, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122450267/ft-20120125-p2a/ 2A] |date=January 25, 2012 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=April 7, 2023 |archive-date=April 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230407175341/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122450124/stealth-species-thrill-watchers/ |url-status=live }} Cooper's hawks, pileated woodpeckers, Savannah sparrows, rails (which also includes coots), Florida scrub jays (an endangered species), wood storks, grackles, great horned owls,{{Cite news |first=Jim |last=Waymer |title=Rare owl a hoot for Nats fans |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122700179/rare-owl-a-hoot-for-nats-fans/ |newspaper=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1A, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122700238/owl-ft-20120312p8/ 8A] |date=March 12, 2012 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=April 11, 2023 |archive-date=April 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230411214901/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122700179/rare-owl-a-hoot-for-nats-fans/ |url-status=live }} northern mockingbirds, brown thrashers, catbirds,{{Cite news |title=Brevard Naturally: Is that bird mocking you? |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122700416/is-bird-mocking-you/ |newspaper=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |date=April 10, 2012 |page=7B |access-date=April 11, 2023 |archive-date=April 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230411214904/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122700416/is-bird-mocking-you/ |url-status=live }} green-winged teals, greater yellowlegs, western sandpipers, least sandpipers, dowitchers, and American white pelicans.{{Cite news |first=Keith |last=Winsten |title=Habitats need flux to survive |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2014301210016 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140131001906/http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2014301210016 |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 31, 2014 |newspaper=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |page=7B |date=January 21, 2014 |access-date=January 30, 2014}} Peak migration in the fall is from the last week in September through the first week in October. Fall migration tends to be stronger than spring because birds typically take different flyways.{{Cite news |first=Keith |last=Winsten |title=Fortune brings birding diversity |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |page=7B |date=November 1, 2011 }}

Native trees include cabbage palm (the state tree of Florida), fringetree, coral bean, sweet acacia, geiger tree,{{Cite web|url=http://www.netpamj.com/10bloomingtrees.htm|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714165646/http://www.netpamj.com/10bloomingtrees.htm|url-status=dead|title=Blooming trees in the landscape|archivedate=July 14, 2011|website=www.netpamj.com}} firebush, beautyberry, coral honeysuckle, and blanket flower.{{cite web |url=http://www.netpamj.com/09addnatives.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714170414/http://www.netpamj.com/09addnatives.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 14, 2011 |title=Central Florida Flowers |publisher=Netpamj.com |date=August 15, 2009 |access-date=December 18, 2012}} Other native plants include sea grape, red mulberry, purslane, dandelion, Spanish bayonet, blackberry, Jerusalem artichoke, dogwood, and gallberry.{{cite web |url=http://www.nbbd.com/godo/ef/edibles/index.html |title=Edible Plants of Central Florida – Titusville, Florida |publisher=Nbbd.com |access-date=December 18, 2012 |archive-date=June 3, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120603165357/http://www.nbbd.com/godo/ef/edibles/index.html |url-status=live }} In coastal areas, especially Central and South County, there exists tropical microclimates. Coconut Palms and Royal Palms and other tropical plants grow to fruiting maturity although they may be injured or killed in one of the infrequent cold waves during the winter. On the east coast of the state, mangroves have normally dominated the coast from Cocoa Beach southward. Northward these may compete with salt marshes moving in from the north, depending on the annual weather conditions.{{Cite news |first=Keith |last=Winsten |title='Snow' bird species in South |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20140107/NEWS01/301070029/Keith-Winsten-Snow-bird-species-show-up-far-south |newspaper=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=7B |date=January 7, 2014 |access-date=January 7, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140109080920/http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20140107/NEWS01/301070029/Keith-Winsten-Snow-bird-species-show-up-far-south |archive-date=January 9, 2014 |url-status=dead}} Live oak trees, various grasses, and juniper plants were sufficiently common to generate pollen noticeable by some people in February 2011.{{Cite news |first=Jim |last=Waymer |title=Pollen season forecast to be a potent one |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122701064/pollen-season-forecast-to-be-a-potent-on/ |newspaper=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1A, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122701113/pollen-ft-20110226-2a/ 2A] |date=February 26, 2011 |access-date=April 11, 2023 |archive-date=April 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230411214905/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122701064/pollen-season-forecast-to-be-a-potent/ |url-status=live }}

{{US Census population

|1860=246

|1870=1216

|1880=1478

|1890=3401

|1900=5158

|1910=4717

|1920=8505

|1930=13283

|1940=16142

|1950=23653

|1960=111435

|1970=230006

|1980=272959

|1990=398978

|2000=476320

|2010=543376

|2020=606612

|estyear=2023

|estimate=643979

|estref={{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.html|title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=March 31, 2024}}

|align-fn=center

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html |title=U.S. Decennial Census |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=June 12, 2014 |archive-date=August 29, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210829184404/https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html |url-status=live }}
1790–1960{{cite web |url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/ |title=Historical Census Browser |publisher=University of Virginia Library |access-date=June 12, 2014 |archive-date=August 11, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120811110448/http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/ |url-status=live }} 1900–1990{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/fl190090.txt |title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=June 12, 2014 |archive-date=February 20, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140220083012/http://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/fl190090.txt |url-status=live }}
1990–2000{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=June 12, 2014 |archive-date=December 18, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141218203824/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |url-status=live }} 2010–2015 2020–2022{{cite web |title=County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2022 |url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html |website=County Population Totals: 2020-2022 |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |access-date=March 30, 2023 |date=March 30, 2023 |archive-date=June 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220618225917/https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html |url-status=live }}

}}

[[File:2023_Racial_Demogaphics_in_Brevard_County_by_Census_tracts.svg|thumb|A map of the racial demographics in Brevard County by Census tract.{{Collapsible list

| title = Legend|{{col-begin}}{{col-2}}

Non-Hispanic White

{{legend| #fbdedd|30–40%}}

{{legend|#f1b4b2|40–50%}}

{{legend|#ed8783|50–60%}}

{{legend|#e55651|60–70%}}

{{legend|#d02923|70–80%}}

{{legend|#b00600|80–90%}}

{{legend|#850400|>90%}}

Black or African American

{{legend|#f0e6be|30–40%}}

{{legend|#c0a32f|50–60%}}

{{legend|#a88600|60–70%}}

Hispanic

{{legend|#daf5f5|30–40%}}

{{legend|#81d0d0|50–60%}}

No Population

{{legend|#a9a9a9}}

Equal

{{legend|#dcb7ef}}

{{col-end}}

}}]]

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 606,612 people, 236,005 households, and 148,934 families residing in the county. The population density was {{convert|597.7|PD/sqmi}}. As of 2021, 18.2% of residents were under the age of 18 and 24.2% were age 65 and over. There were 294,224 housing units and 76.2% of them were owner-occupied. There were 242,657 households in which the average household size was 2.46.{{cite web |title=U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Brevard County, Florida |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/brevardcountyflorida/PST045222 |website=www.census.gov |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |access-date=January 3, 2023 |language=en |archive-date=March 28, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230328162606/https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/brevardcountyflorida/PST045222 |url-status=live }}

In 2015, interracial marriage constituted 29% of all marriages, the fourth highest in the nation, which averaged 17%.{{Cite news |first=Lisa |last=Broadt |title=Local interracial marriage rates among highest in U.S. |url=http://www.tcpalm.com/story/news/local/shaping-our-future/2017/10/05/local-interracial-marriage-rates-among-highest-u-s-could-impact-culture-politics/520774001/ |newspaper=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |page=1A |date=October 8, 2017 |access-date=October 8, 2017 |archive-date=November 8, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191108161412/https://www.tcpalm.com/story/news/local/shaping-our-future/2017/10/05/local-interracial-marriage-rates-among-highest-u-s-could-impact-culture-politics/520774001/ |url-status=live }} The population was distributed by age with 19.8% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 21.5% from 25 to 44, 30.4% from 45 to 64, and 20.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45.5 years. For every 100 females there were 96.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.9 males.

In 2010, there were 229,692 households, out of which 23.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.28% were married couples living together, 11.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.40% were non-families. 28.44% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.53% (4.00% male and 8.53% female) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.84.{{cite web |url=http://data.ocala.com/census/florida/brevard-county/009/ |title=Brevard County Demographic Characteristics |publisher=ocala.com |access-date=October 24, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151026151324/http://data.ocala.com/census/florida/brevard-county/009/ |archive-date=October 26, 2015 |url-status=dead}}{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/ |title=Brevard County: Age Groups and Sex: 2010 – 2010 Census Summary File 1 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=October 24, 2015 |archive-date=December 27, 1996 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19961227012639/http://www.census.gov/ |url-status=live }} There were 74,000 veterans who lived in Brevard in 2010, accounting for 21% of the adults in the county.{{Cite news |first=R. Norman |last=Moody |title=Service a way of life for one Navy family |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/117974988/service-a-way-of-life-for-one-navy-famil/ |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1A, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/117975127/ft-2010-11-11-3a/ 3A] |date=November 11, 2010 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=February 5, 2023 |archive-date=April 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230411215052/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/117974988/service-a-way-of-life-for-one-navy/ |url-status=live }} Of those, a local agency counted in 2010 that 225 of the veterans were homeless.{{Cite news |first=R. Norman |last=Moody |title=Steppingstone for vets |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20100215/NEWS01/2150309/1086/Melbourne+housing+facility+puts+homeless+on+path+to+independence |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1A |date=February 15, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924035039/http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20100215/NEWS01/2150309/1086/Melbourne+housing+facility+puts+homeless+on+path+to+independence |archive-date=September 24, 2015 }}

In 2012, the Urban Institute ranked the Brevard metro fourth in the country for racial equality. Criteria were integration of neighborhoods, income, and the quality of schools minorities attend. The area was ranked first for Hispanic equality with whites.{{Cite news |first=Suzanne |last=Cervenka |title=Space Coast racial equality rates fourth |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/117976174/space-coast-racial-equality-rates-fourth/ |newspaper=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1A, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/117976319/ft-2012-02-03-3a-equality/ 3A] |date=February 3, 2012 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=February 5, 2023 |archive-date=February 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205013935/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/117976174/space-coast-racial-equality-rates-fourth/ |url-status=live }}

In 2010, the median income for a household in the county was $49,523, and the median income for a family was $60,842. Males had a median income of $48,191 versus $33,276 for females. The per capita income for the county was $27,606. About 7.2% of families and 10.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.4% of those under age 18 and 6.9% of those aged 65 or over.{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/ |title=Brevard County, Florida: SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=November 18, 2015 |archive-date=December 27, 1996 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19961227012639/http://www.census.gov/ |url-status=live }}

In 2010, 8.6% of the county's population was foreign born, with 59.4% being naturalized American citizens. Of foreign-born residents, 49.1% were born in Latin America, 22.9% were born in Europe, 18.3% born in Asia, 6.4% in North America, 2.4% born in Africa, and 0.9% were born in Oceania.{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/ |title=Brevard County: SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=October 23, 2015 |archive-date=December 27, 1996 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19961227012639/http://www.census.gov/ |url-status=live }}

In 2010, 90% of residents had a high school degree, compared with 85% statewide.{{Cite news |first=MacKenzie |last=Ryan |title=Census data notes makeup of towns |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/117976856/census-data-notes-makeup-of-towns/ |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1A, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/117976963/ft-2010-12-15-3a-census/ 3A] |date=December 15, 2010 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=February 5, 2023 |archive-date=February 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205015710/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/117976856/census-data-notes-makeup-of-towns/ |url-status=live }} In 2009, 25.7% of residents had an undergraduate degree, below the national average of 27.7%, but the same as the rest of Florida. 14.7% of residents over 25 had undergraduate degrees in engineering. This is almost twice the national average.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/117977180/brevardians-hit-the-engineering-books/ |title=Brevardians hit the engineering books |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1A, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/117977379/ft-2010-09-29-3a-degrees/ 3A] |date=September 29, 2010 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=February 5, 2023 |archive-date=February 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205015705/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/117977180/brevardians-hit-the-engineering-books/ |url-status=live }}

In 2010, 90.20% of residents spoke only English at home, while 5.29% spoke Spanish, 0.62% German, 0.61% French, and 0.47% French Creole (mostly Haitian Creole) at home.{{cite web |url=http://www.mla.org/map_data_results%26SRVY_YEAR%3D2010%26geo%3Dcounty%26state_id%3D12%26county_id%3D95%26mode%3Dgeographic%26lang_id%3D%26zip%3D%26place_id%3D%26cty_id%3D%26region_id%3D%26division_id%3D%26ll%3D%26a%3D%26ea%3D%26order%3Dr%26pc%3D1 |title=Modern Language Association Data Center Results of Brevard County, Florida |publisher=Modern Language Association |access-date=October 24, 2015 |archive-date=July 5, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210705194259/https://apps.mla.org/map_data_results%26SRVY_YEAR%3D2010%26geo%3Dcounty%26state_id%3D12%26county_id%3D95%26mode%3Dgeographic%26lang_id%3D%26zip%3D%26place_id%3D%26cty_id%3D%26region_id%3D%26division_id%3D%26ll%3D%26a%3D%26ea%3D%26order%3Dr%26pc%3D1 |url-status=live }} In total, 9.80% of the population spoke languages other than English in their household.

{{Main|Government of Brevard County}}

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.{{Cite news |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?category=news01 |title=Community support makes difference at Jupiter Elementary |access-date=November 15, 2013 |archive-date=March 31, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130331021649/http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?category=news01 |url-status=live }}

There are 16 autonomous municipal governments within the county. The various cities, towns and villages of Brevard have varying reliance on services provided by the Brevard County government. About 100,000 households are located outside organized municipalities, and their occupants are directly served by the county government.{{Cite news |first=Dave |last=Berman |title=Waste Mgmt. rolls out new trash program |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20130929/NEWS01/309290043/Waste-Management-rolls-out-new-trash-program |newspaper=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1B |date=September 29, 2013 |access-date=September 29, 2013 |archive-date=May 2, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150502053019/http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20130929/NEWS01/309290043/Waste-Management-rolls-out-new-trash-program |url-status=live }}

A centrally located County Government Center in Viera was established to provide more accessible services to residents in the southern part of the county. It houses the various county government branches, including Housing and Human Services, Juvenile Justice, Public Safety, Public Works and Solid Waste Management.

The Brevard County government had annual expenditures just over $1 billion in the fiscal year 2009–2010, exclusive of the municipalities.{{cite web |url=http://www.brevardcounty.us/budgetoffice/budget/2009_2010/pdf/summary%20by%20category.pdf |title=Budget FY 2009–2010 $1,093,543,028 |date=March 1, 2010 |work=TY 2010 Adopted Budget |publisher=Brevardcounty.us |access-date=March 22, 2010 |archive-date=September 28, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928041541/http://www.brevardcounty.us/budgetoffice/budget/2009_2010/pdf/summary%20by%20category.pdf |url-status=dead }} In 2009, real estate taxes for homesteaded property averaged 0.83% of the value of the property.{{cite web |url=http://www.taxfoundation.org/files/proptaxcounty__bypercentofhomevalue-2005-2008-20090924.pdf |title=Property Taxes on Owner-Occupied Housing, by County* Ranked by Taxes as Percentage of Home Value 2008 |date=March 16, 2010 |publisher=taxfoundation.org |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120322014042/http://www.taxfoundation.org/files/proptaxcounty__bypercentofhomevalue-2005-2008-20090924.pdf |archive-date=March 22, 2012}} Real estate taxes are levied by each authority. They are collected by the County Tax Collector.{{Cite news |title=Budget questions and answers |newspaper=Florida Today; Inside Brevard County Government |location=Melbourne, Florida |page=23 |date=February 1, 2011}} The total taxable real estate base was $33.7 billion in 2009.{{cite web |url=http://www.brevardcounty.us/budgetoffice/budget/2009_2010/pdf/general%20information.pdf |title=Brevard County School Budget 2009:General information |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100918133608/http://brevardcounty.us/budgetoffice/budget/2009_2010/pdf/general%20information.pdf |archive-date=September 18, 2010 |access-date=November 15, 2013}} County taxes rose 26.5% in total per capita revenue from 2002 to 2007, and 49.8% in property tax per capita in the same time frame.{{Cite book |author=Joslin, J. |title=Revenue, population both grow |publisher=Florida Today |date=April 22, 2007}} Delinquent taxes were $36 million in 2008.{{Cite news |first=John |last=McCarthy |title=Tardy taxes rech record level |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=A1 |date=May 14, 2009 }}

In 2012 bonds issued by the county were given a rating of AA by the Fitch Group and improved ratings by Moody's.{{Cite news |first=Wayne |last=Price |title=County earns high marks for credit |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20121110/BUSINESS/311100016/Brevard-County-earns-high-marks-credit |newspaper=Florida Today | location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1B |date=November 10, 2012 }}

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

County Commissioners:

• District 1 – Rita Pritchett{{cite web |url=https://www.brevardfl.gov/CountyCommission/ |title=County Commissioners Home |website=www.brevardfl.gov |access-date=January 4, 2024 |archive-date=December 24, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231224152829/http://www.brevardfl.gov/CountyCommission|url-status=live }}
• District 2 – Tom Goodson
• District 3 – John Tobia
• District 4 – Rob Feltner
• District 5 – Kristine Zonka

Commissioners were paid $60,272.98 annually as of January 2023.

The following are elected school board officials:

• District 1 - Megan Wright
• District 2 - Gene Trent
• District 3 - Jennifer Jenkins
• District 4 - Matt Susin
• District 5 - Katye Campbell

The following are county constitutional officers:

• Sheriff – Wayne Ivey
• Clerk of the courts – Rachel M. Sadoff. The clerk's office had 323 workers, including subcontractors, as of 2011.{{Cite news |first=Rick |last=Neale |title=Commissioners leery of clerk's outsourcing |newspaper=Florida Today | location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1A |date=March 9, 2011 }}
• Property appraiser – Dana Blickley
• Tax collector – Lisa Cullen{{cite web |url=http://www.brevardtaxcollector.com/ |title=Brevard Tax Collector's Office |access-date=November 15, 2013 |archive-date=September 15, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130915055540/http://www.brevardtaxcollector.com/ |url-status=live }}
• Supervisor of elections – Tim Bobanic{{cite web |url=http://www.votebrevard.com/ |title=Brevard County Elections Page |access-date=December 4, 2022 |archive-date=June 11, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200611142417/https://www.votebrevard.com/ |url-status=live }}
• State attorney – Phil Archer
• Public defender – Blaise Trettis

Since redistricting following the 2010 U.S. Census, Brevard County has been part of Florida's 8th congressional district. It is represented by Republican Bill Posey.

The county lies within two state senatorial districts:

• the 8th (covering the northern part of the county, held by Republican Tom A. Wright)
• the 19th (covering the southern part of the county, held by Republican Debbie Mayfield)

The county lies within five state representative districts:

• the 30th (covering the northernmost part of the county, held by Republican Chase Tramont)
• the 31st (covering the north-central part of the county, held by Republican Tyler Sirois)
• the 32nd (covering the central part of the county, held by Republican Thad Altman)
• the 33rd (covering most of the southern part of the county, held by Republican Randy Fine)
• the 34th (covering the southeastern part of the county, held by Republican Robbie Brackett)

:See List of members of the Florida House of Representatives from Brevard County, Florida

Prior to the creation of districts in 1967, state representatives were elected by county. This geographic representation resulted in a longstanding domination of the state legislature by rural interests, as it did not recognize changing patterns of settlement and business in the state.

{{Main|County court (Florida)|Florida circuit courts}}

File:Brev justicecenter.jpg

The county has centralized most county and circuit courts in Viera which try a variety of cases including felonies, misdemeanors, traffic, and domestic. The courthouse in Titusville provides the venue for circuit and county cases arising in the north part of the county while the courthouse in Melbourne is the venue for county cases arising in the southern portion of the county. An elected State Attorney prosecutes criminal cases for the State of Florida. Indigent defendants can be represented by the office of the elected Public Defender. The 18th Circuit Court includes Seminole County as well as Brevard and includes not only the court itself but the State Attorney and the Public Defender.[http://sa18.state.fl.us/ State Attorney's Office 18th Circuit Court] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120407174913/http://sa18.state.fl.us/nwbio.htm |date=April 7, 2012 }} accessed January 19, 2008 In 2008, the public defender had a staff of 45 lawyers in Brevard who handled about 24,000 cases annually.{{Cite news |first=Keyonna |last=Summers |title=Russo running for office yet again |newspaper=Florida Today | location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1B |date=January 5, 2008 }}

The States Attorney's Office sponsors the Victim/Witness Services. This provides advocates to alleged 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.{{cite web |url=http://sa18.state.fl.us/vicsvcs/vicwit.htm |title=Victim/Witness Services| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111026194733/http://sa18.state.fl.us/vicsvcs/vicwit.htm |archive-date=October 26, 2011 }}

File:Brevard County Sheriff's boat next to Carnival Victory cruise ship in Port Canaveral, Florida.jpg at Port Canaveral]]

The County elects a sheriff, directly 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.{{citation needed|date=September 2022}}

Most municipalities are located on at least one waterway. This has resulted in the county and seven cities having a boat or access to one to aid boaters, or to enforce the law in the water in their jurisdiction.{{Cite news |first=John A. |last=Torres |title=Keeping waterways safe |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20100530/NEWS01/5300328/Boat-patrols-help-keep-waterways-safe |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1A,9A |date=May 2010 |access-date=May 30, 2010 |archive-date=May 2, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150502035902/http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20100530/NEWS01/5300328/Boat-patrols-help-keep-waterways-safe |url-status=live }}

Since the founding of the Brevard County Sheriff's Office, 7 officers have been killed in the line of duty.{{Cite web |title=Brevard County Sheriff's Office, FL |url=https://www.odmp.org/agency/401-brevard-county-sheriffs-office-florida |access-date=2025-02-17 |website=The Officer Down Memorial Page (ODMP)}}

The county jail is a 1976 facility which rapidly became overcrowded. Voters rejected expanding the jail on four occasions.{{Cite news |title=Transforming the jail |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20110428/OPINION/110427018/Our-views-Transforming-jail-April-28- |newspaper=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=10A |date=April 28, 2011 |access-date=May 10, 2011 |archive-date=November 29, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129024109/http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20110428/OPINION/110427018/Our-views-Transforming-jail-April-28- |url-status=live }} The sheriff solved the problem by the construction of a large but less expensive "hardened tent" to house non-violent offenders. Crowding reached its peak in 2007 at 1,988 inmates, 300 over capacity. The budget for the facility was $42 million in 2010. There were 1,585 residents. Costs for feeding and housing was $72 per inmate daily. There were 475 staff members.{{Cite news |first=Jeff |last=Schweers |title=Inmate crowding under control |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20110220/NEWS01/102200336/Brevard-County-jail-gets-inmate-crowding-under-control |newspaper=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1A |date=February 20, 2011 |access-date=March 1, 2011 |archive-date=November 29, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129031119/http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20110220/NEWS01/102200336/Brevard-County-jail-gets-inmate-crowding-under-control |url-status=live }}

The county jail retains inmates awaiting trial or those 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.

A unit of the Coast Guard, homeported at Port Canaveral, plays a role in preventing illegal immigration and is an interdictor of drugs in the area.

Public safety for unincorporated areas of the county is the responsibility of the Brevard County Sheriff's Office. All but three of the 17 incorporated municipalities, Malabar, Cape Canaveral and Palm Shores, maintain their own law enforcement services. Those three contract that service to the Sheriff's Office.{{cite web |url=http://www.amlegal.com/nxt/gateway.dll/Florida/palmshores_fl/townofpalmshoresfloridacodeofordinances?f=templates$fn=default.htm$3.0$vid=amlegal:palmshores_fl |title=American Legal Publishing – Online Library |publisher=Amlegal.com |access-date=December 18, 2012 |archive-date=March 20, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130320131404/http://www.amlegal.com/nxt/gateway.dll/Florida/palmshores_fl/townofpalmshoresfloridacodeofordinances?f=templates$fn=default.htm$3.0$vid=amlegal:palmshores_fl |url-status=dead }}

File:Cocoa Police 1.jpg poses with a child next to a patrol car emblazoned with "Autism Awareness" livery, during a community event in Cocoa Village]]

In 2009, there were 1,200 law enforcement officers working in the county, of which 361 are sheriff's deputies.{{Cite news |first=Rick |last=Neale |title=Police chase grants, but there's a catch |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=3A |date=April 3, 2009 }} The number of Sheriff's deputies had risen to 843 in 2015.{{Cite news |first=Mel |last=Torres |title=Help Wanted:Sheriff's Deputy |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/local/2015/08/03/torres-sheriff-like-nation-working-fill-vacancies/31076071/ |newspaper=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=3A |date=August 4, 2015 |access-date=August 4, 2015 |archive-date=July 5, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210705194306/https://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/local/2015/08/03/torres-sheriff-like-nation-working-fill-vacancies/31076071/ |url-status=live }} Of all crime that came to the attention of the sheriff's office in 2007, 80% was drug-related.{{Cite news |first=Klyne |last=Nowlin |title=Sheriff Faces Tough Challenges |publisher=Intercom (Military Officers Association of America) |location=Patrick AFB, Florida |page=11 |date=April 2008 }} From January to June 2009, the county reported a total of 10,037 crimes. Of these, a majority, 3,002, were under the jurisdiction of the sheriff's department.{{Cite news |first=Andrew |last=Knapp |title=Crime rate decreases 5.5% |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20101016/NEWS01/10160312/1006/Crime+rate+decreases+5.5+percent |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1B |date=October 16, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140712134439/http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20101016/NEWS01/10160312/1006/Crime+rate+decreases+5.5+percent |archive-date=July 12, 2014 }} In 2009, the crime rate was 3,471.3 property-related crimes per 100,000 residents, slightly above the national average.

Public safety for Port Canaveral is under the direction of the Port Authority. Traditionally, emphasis was 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. In 2008, the Canaveral Port Authority Board of Commissioners approved the creation of an independent police department.{{cite web |url=http://www.portcanaveral.com/general/news/releases/04232009.php |title=Port Canaveral |publisher=Port Canaveral |access-date=December 18, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130118081757/http://portcanaveral.com/general/news/releases/04232009.php |archive-date=January 18, 2013}}{{cite web |url=http://www.portcanaveral.com/general/police.php |title=Port Canaveral |publisher=Port Canaveral |access-date=December 18, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121227045740/http://portcanaveral.com/general/police.php |archive-date=December 27, 2012}}

In 2017, the Florida Highway Patrol had about 32 troopers working different shifts on the I-95 interstate, and the unincorporated parts of the county. Normally there were five or six officers per shift.{{Cite news |first=Tess |last=Sheets |title=Highways cram as Floridians seek refuge from Irma |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/2017/09/07/highways-cram-floridians-seek-refuge-irma/641422001/ |newspaper=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1A, 6A |date=September 8, 2017 |access-date=September 16, 2017 |archive-date=July 5, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210705194313/https://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/2017/09/07/highways-cram-floridians-seek-refuge-irma/641422001/ |url-status=live }}

The county runs a fire-rescue service. In the year 2015–2016, they responded to 11,383 trauma calls.{{Cite news |first=Chris |last=Bonanno |title=Cost, pride reasons for ambulance refusal |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/local/2016/09/21/why-do-some-injuries-refuse-medical-help/89945492/ |newspaper=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=3A |date=October 3, 2016 |access-date=October 12, 2016 |archive-date=July 5, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210705194317/https://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/local/2016/09/21/why-do-some-injuries-refuse-medical-help/89945492/ |url-status=live }}

In 2017, the fatality rate for pedestrians was the second worst for metropolitan areas in the nation.{{Cite news |first=Rick |last=Neale |title=Pedestrians and cyclists at risk on Cocoa Beach road |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/2017/12/19/state-road-1-cocoa-beach-dangerous-bicyclists-pedestrians/964433001/ |newspaper=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1A, 11A |date=December 20, 2017 |access-date=January 9, 2018 |archive-date=November 21, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181121114420/https://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/2017/12/19/state-road-1-cocoa-beach-dangerous-bicyclists-pedestrians/964433001/ |url-status=live }} In 2017, the most dangerous road for bicycles and pedestrians was on State Road A1A from Cocoa Beach to Cape Canaveral.{{Cite news |first=Rick |last=Neale |title=Will Cocoa Beach vote to raise building height limit? |url=https://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/2018/02/22/cocoa-beachbuilding-height-limit/328897002/ |newspaper=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=9A |date=February 26, 2018 |access-date=March 11, 2018 |archive-date=July 5, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210705194317/https://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/2018/02/22/cocoa-beachbuilding-height-limit/328897002/ |url-status=live }}

Three cities provide potable water and sewage for their cities and surrounding areas: Cocoa, Melbourne, and Titusville. The majority of Melbourne water customers are supplied with treated surface water from Lake Washington.{{Cite news | first=Jim | last=Waymer | title=St. Johns lake health stagnates | url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20121113/NEWS01/311130020 | newspaper=Florida Today | location=Melbourne, Florida | pages=1A, 3A | date=November 13, 2012 | access-date=July 5, 2021 | archive-date=September 24, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924044356/http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20121113/NEWS01/311130020 | url-status=dead }} Where available, residents were obligated to hook into the system. In 2012, there were 90,000 septic tanks.{{Cite news |first=Jim |last=Waymer |title=Activists hope Saturday event will put focus on waterway's plight |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20130925/NEWS01/309250027/Activists-hope-Hands-Across-Lagoon-puts-focus-waterway-s-plight |newspaper=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1A, 3A |date=September 25, 2013 |access-date=September 26, 2013 |archive-date=September 28, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130928003810/http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20130925/NEWS01/309250027/Activists-hope-Hands-Across-Lagoon-puts-focus-waterway-s-plight |url-status=dead }}

Storm and wastewater management fees vary. In 2014, the county charged $36 annually per household. Cities and towns charged from $36 to $77.52 per household annually.{{Cite news |first=Jim |last=Waymer |title=County to consider stormwater fee hike |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20140324/NEWS01/303240021/County-consider-stormwater-fee-hike |newspaper=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1A |date=March 24, 2014 |access-date=March 28, 2014 |archive-date=May 2, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150502031008/http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20140324/NEWS01/303240021/County-consider-stormwater-fee-hike |url-status=dead }}

{{Main category|Parks in Brevard County, Florida}}

File:na col.jpg

There are more than 100 parks and three campgrounds in the county that are managed by local government agencies.{{cite web |url=http://www.brevardfl.gov/ParksRecreation/Home/ |title=Brevard County Parks and Recereation |website=www.brevardfl.gov |access-date=July 23, 2021 |archive-date=July 23, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210723235151/http://www.brevardfl.gov/ParksRecreation/Home/ |url-status=dead }} Many of these are managed by the Brevard County Parks and Recreation, an agency within the Brevard County Government. There are 25 public golf courses and three private ones. Due to dwindling numbers of golfers, five courses closed from 2004 to 2017. In 2017, three public courses were being considered for closure.{{Cite news |first=Dave |last=Berman |title=Brevard to decide future of county golf courses |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/local/2017/10/24/brevard-decide-future-its-three-county-owned-golf-courses-two-months/793478001/ |newspaper=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=2A |date=October 25, 2017 |access-date=October 27, 2017 |archive-date=September 27, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200927045401/https://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/local/2017/10/24/brevard-decide-future-its-three-county-owned-golf-courses-two-months/793478001/ |url-status=live }}

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. In 2013, there was a total of {{convert|24000|acres}}, with {{convert|62|mi}} of trails and {{convert|120|mi}} of fire lanes. The quantity of fire lanes was considered insufficient.{{Cite news |first=Jim |last=Waymer |title=No Money to care for the land we saved |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20130324/NEWS01/303240036/Brevard-has-no-money-care-land-we-saved |newspaper=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1A |date=March 24, 2013 |access-date=March 25, 2013 |archive-date=May 2, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150502025651/http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20130324/NEWS01/303240036/Brevard-has-no-money-care-land-we-saved |url-status=live }}

The Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge{{cite web |url=http://www.fws.gov/merrittisland/ |title=Home – Merritt Island – U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service |website=www.fws.gov |access-date=January 14, 2018 |archive-date=April 24, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150424235447/http://www.fws.gov/merrittisland/ |url-status=live }} and the Canaveral National Seashore{{cite web |url=http://www.nps.gov/cana |title=Canaveral National Seashore (U.S. National Park Service) |website=www.nps.gov |access-date=January 14, 2018 |archive-date=October 10, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101010165406/http://www.nps.gov/cana/ |url-status=live }} are two national wildlife refuges in the county that offer recreational pursuits such as hiking, wildlife viewing, paddling, and environmental education.

Brevard County provides a number of services to help older people, juveniles, people with physical or mental disabilities, and minorities. 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 a board appointed by the county commission.[http://brfamha.org/about.htm Brevard County Housing Authority] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090413060507/http://www.brfamha.org/about.htm |date=April 13, 2009 }} Several organization provide social services for juveniles, such as the Children's Home Society, Children's Advocacy Center of Brevard, and The Child Care Association of Brevard County. ARC-Brevard, Inc. provides a spectrum of services for the lifespan of 1200 individuals (and their families) with developmental disabilities in nine locations throughout Brevard.[http://www.arcofbrevard.org/services.html index]

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 a board appointed by the county commission.[http://brfamha.org/about.htm Brevard County Housing Authority] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090413060507/http://www.brfamha.org/about.htm |date=2009-04-13 }}

The Children's Home Society (CHS) provides Florida families with a unique spectrum of social services, including foster care, adoption, child abuse prevention, emergency shelters, group homes, case management, and treatment for developmentally disabled children.{{Cite web|url=http://www.greenbrevard.com/home/pages/BalanceChildrensHomeSociety.cfm|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070817232310/http://www.greenbrevard.com/home/pages/BalanceChildrensHomeSociety.cfm|url-status=dead|title=Green Brevard|archivedate=August 17, 2007}} It is a 501(c)(3) organization.

Among other local services, CHS also runs the Hacienda Girls Ranch which provides a safe haven for forty-five abused, neglected and/or abandoned girls from the ages of 10–18.{{Cite web|url=http://www.myhometownnews.net/index.php?id=20785|title=Hometown News}}

Children's Advocacy Center of Brevard is a program of the Space Coast Health Foundation that serves abused and neglected children.{{Cite web|url=https://cacbrevard.org/|title=Home|website=cacbrevard.org}} Professionals serve children with allegations of abuse, all sexual abuse and the most severe physical abuse and neglect, and their non-offending family members. Onsite crisis and short-term counseling is provided free of charge and without a waiting list. Onsite medical exams, forensic interviews and other assessment services provided by partner, the Child Protection Team.

The Child Care Association of Brevard County, is a private non-profit agency that coordinates child care, early childhood education and early intervention programs and services for families in Brevard County.[http://childcarebrevard.com/ Brevard Child Care Association] In April, the Association sponsors a Children's Festival.

The Women's Center provides counseling services, educational programs, criminal justice support/advocacy; crisis counseling; information and referral; personal advocacy; support groups; therapy; translation services; victims compensation claims.{{Cite web|url=http://www.womenscenterinbrevard.org/|title=Default Web Page|website=www.womenscenterinbrevard.org}} There is a Junior League of South Brevard.[http://www.jlsb.net/ Junior League of South Brevard, Inc - Women Building better communities - Home] Serene Harbor provides a domestic violence hotline which is staffed 24/7 by trained advocates.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sereneharbor.org/|title=Serene Harbor Main Page|website=Mysite}} The Salvation Army provides a Domestic Violence Shelter to abused partners and their families.{{Cite web|url=https://salvationarmyflorida.org/ncbrevard/|title=Cocoa/ N. Brevard County|date=March 23, 2023}} The Brevard County Commission on the Status of Women advises the County Commission on issues affecting women. Its members are appointed by the County Commission.{{cite web|url=http://countygovt.brevard.fl.us/csw |title=Housing & Human Services Home - Commission on the Status of Women |accessdate=2007-08-11 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20061006212307/http://countygovt.brevard.fl.us/csw/ |archivedate=2006-10-06 }}

In June, the Juneteenth Festival is held, commemorating the freeing of the slaves at the end of the Civil War. This attracts about 500 attendees.{{Cite web|url=http://www.artsbrevard.org/events/002690|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927032310/http://www.artsbrevard.org/events/002690|url-status=dead|title=Brevard Cultural Alliance – Brevard County, Space Coast of Florida|archivedate=September 27, 2007}}

The monthly Brevard Ebony News is a newspaper publishing articles of interest to the Afro-American community.[http://myflorida.com/owa_spurs/owa/spurs_www.vendors.display?display_str=QV205500FX827V29113 SPURSview – Vendor Information] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928030545/http://myflorida.com/owa_spurs/owa/spurs_www.vendors.display?display_str=QV205500FX827V29113 |date=September 28, 2007 }} There are several local chapters of NAACP committed to improving the lot of minorities.{{Cite web|url=http://www.naacp.org/about/history/moores_story/|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927013114/http://www.naacp.org/about/history/moores_story/|url-status=dead|title=NAACP – The Legacy of Harry T. and Harriette Moore|archivedate=September 27, 2007}} The Brevard Multi-Cultural Unity Council has annually sponsored a Race Unity Day celebrating diversity since 1989.[http://www.brevardmuc.org/ Brevard Multi-Cultural Unity Council] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928133653/http://www.brevardmuc.org/ |date=September 28, 2007 }} In 1995, the Harry T. and Harriette V. Moore Multi-Cultural Center was created to improve race relations and human relations in Brevard County and the state of Florida. The center sponsors public forums that focus on the value of racial and cultural diversity. Every February they also sponsor a Moore Heritage Festival of the Arts and Humanities. Their slogan is "Building Unity through Diversity."{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbbd.com/festivals/MooreFestival/index.html|title=The Moore Heritage Festival of the Arts and Humanities - Mims & Titusville Florida - March|website=www.nbbd.com}} Local centers for worship include the Islamic Society,{{Cite web |url=http://islamicvalley.com/prod/entityView.php/t/09L/i/7FF |title=IslamicValley - Islamic Society of Brevard County |access-date=2007-08-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929155438/http://islamicvalley.com/prod/entityView.php/t/09L/i/7FF |archive-date=2007-09-29 |url-status=dead }} and B'ai Hai. In February the 300 member Indian Association of Brevard sponsors Indiafest, a festival featuring food, culture and dancing from India, as well as Basakhi, a harvest festival.{{Cite web|url=https://indiafestbrevard.org/|title=Indiafest 2024 - Home|website=indiafestbrevard.org}} It attracts 6,500 people. They also sponsor an "India Day" around August 15, celebrating India's Independence. In 2006, 4000 people attended. Local Thai-Americans stage a Songkran Thai New Year Festival in April featuring food and culture of Thailand.[http://www.thespacecoast.net/Restaurants.html The Space Coast of Florida] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930103552/http://www.thespacecoast.net/Restaurants.html |date=September 30, 2007 }} 2,000 individuals of American Indian extraction live in the area—including Cherokees, the original inhabitants of the area when the Europeans arrived . This number represents a slightly higher percentage than Florida as a whole. Each December, The Native Heritage Foundation sponsors a "Gathering and Pow-Wow" to publicize and preserve the Native American culture. This attracts upwards of 1,500 attendees.{{Cite web |url=http://www.nativeheritagegathering.org/ |title=Native Heritage Gathering Inc |access-date=2007-08-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070808225040/http://www.nativeheritagegathering.org/ |archive-date=2007-08-08 |url-status=dead }} In September, the Annual Family Salsa Festival draws about 1000 people where Puerto Rican heritage is celebrated.{{cite web|url=http://www.senorboriqua.net/Puerto_Rican_Parade_2005/Schedule.html |title=2005 Schedule |accessdate=2007-08-11 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927152243/http://www.senorboriqua.net/Puerto_Rican_Parade_2005/Schedule.html |archivedate=2007-09-27 }}

According to the Secretary of State's office, Republicans form a plurality of registered voters in Brevard County.

The county has voted in favor of Republican candidates in all presidential elections since 1980.

{{PresHead|place=Brevard County, Florida|whig=no|source1={{cite web |url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/ |title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections |first=David |last=Leip |website=uselectionatlas.org |access-date=January 14, 2018 |archive-date=July 9, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180709214827/https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/ |url-status=live }}}}

{{PresRow|2024|Republican|216,533|141,233|5,249|Florida}}

{{PresRow|2020|Republican|207,883|148,549|5,221|Florida}}

{{PresRow|2016|Republican|181,848|119,679|16,614|Florida}}

{{PresRow|2012|Republican|159,300|122,993|4,135|Florida}}

{{PresRow|2008|Republican|157,589|127,620|3,718|Florida}}

{{PresRow|2004|Republican|153,068|110,309|2,085|Florida}}

{{PresRow|2000|Republican|115,253|97,341|5,894|Florida}}

{{PresRow|1996|Republican|88,022|80,445|26,666|Florida}}

{{PresRow|1992|Republican|84,585|61,091|50,184|Florida}}

{{PresRow|1988|Republican|104,854|43,004|1,301|Florida}}

{{PresRow|1984|Republican|102,477|36,985|49|Florida}}

{{PresRow|1980|Republican|69,460|39,007|7,169|Florida}}

{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|44,470|46,421|1,473|Florida}}

{{PresRow|1972|Republican|62,773|16,854|106|Florida}}

{{PresRow|1968|Republican|37,124|18,281|21,909|Florida}}

{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|24,551|24,833|0|Florida}}

{{PresRow|1960|Republican|17,585|11,069|0|Florida}}

{{PresRow|1956|Republican|10,004|3,928|0|Florida}}

{{PresRow|1952|Republican|6,756|4,157|0|Florida}}

{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|2,315|2,348|901|Florida}}

{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|1,769|2,651|0|Florida}}

{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|1,984|2,995|0|Florida}}

{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|1,147|2,300|0|Florida}}

{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|956|1,852|0|Florida}}

{{PresRow|1928|Republican|1,830|1,063|53|Florida}}

{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|515|872|118|Florida}}

{{PresRow|1920|Democratic|659|894|124|Florida}}

{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|174|599|145|Florida}}

{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|61|357|172|Florida}}

{{PresRow|1908|Democratic|225|294|60|Florida}}

{{PresRow|1904|Democratic|125|553|33|Florida}}

{{PresRow|1900|Democratic|121|513|64|Florida}}

{{PresRow|1896|Democratic|337|505|60|Florida}}

{{PresFoot|1892|Democratic|0|449|57|Florida}}

{{Update section|date=March 2019}}

The county Domestic Product was $30.1 billion in 2022.{{cite web|url=https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/REALGDPALL12009|title=Real Gross Domestic Product: All Industries in Brevard County, FL|author=Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis|date=December 18, 2023|access-date=November 24, 2024}} In 2010 and 2011, the Brookings Institution reported that Brevard ranked in the bottom fifth of the nation's top metro areas, based on unemployment, gross metropolitan product, housing prices and foreclosed properties.{{Cite news |first=Patrick |last=Peterson |title=Slow Fla. recovery forecast |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20100317/BUSINESS/3170326/Slow-Fla.-recovery-forecast |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=6C |date=March 17, 2010 |access-date=March 18, 2010 |archive-date=June 6, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606164005/http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20100317/BUSINESS/3170326/Slow-Fla.-recovery-forecast |url-status=live }} Foreclosures reached a monthly high of 963 in March 2009.{{Cite news |first=John |last=McCarthy |title=Sketchy paperwork echoes in Brevard |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20101017/NEWS01/10170327/1006/news01/Sketchy+foreclosure+paperwork+echoes+effects+in+Brevard |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1A |date=October 17, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150502032542/http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20101017/NEWS01/10170327/1006/news01/Sketchy+foreclosure+paperwork+echoes+effects+in+Brevard |archive-date=May 2, 2015 }} The county reached an annual high foreclosure in 2009 of 9,772.{{Cite news |title=Brevard economy still sputters as election nears |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/assets/pdf/A9196717113.PDF |newspaper=Florida Today | location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1D |date=November 4, 2012 }} In December 2010, Forbes magazine rated the area the worst place in America to find a job.{{Cite news |first=Matt |last=Reed |title=Why you're not as 'underwater' as you think |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20111002/COLUMNISTS0207/310020011/Matt-Reed-Why-you-re-not-underwater-you-think |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=16A |date=October 2, 2011 |access-date=October 3, 2011 |archive-date=November 4, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111104053852/http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20111002/COLUMNISTS0207/310020011/Matt-Reed-Why-you-re-not-underwater-you-think |url-status=live }}

Government purchasing contributed 12–15% of the county's gross domestic product from 2000 to 2010.{{cite web |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20100926/COLUMNISTS0207/9260332/1086/MATT+REED++5+ways+Brevard+economy+defies+Dems++GOP |title=Matt Reed: 5 ways Brevard economy defies Dems, GOP |access-date=November 15, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129071321/http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20100926/COLUMNISTS0207/9260332/1086/MATT+REED++5+ways+Brevard+economy+defies+Dems++GOP |archive-date=November 29, 2014}}

Though the area has a relatively small number of high technology companies, 736, a business journal ranked it eighth in the country as a high tech center in 2009. The area had 23,096 high-tech jobs with a ratio of 124 per 1,000 total jobs.{{cite news |first=Patrick |last=Peterson |title=Florida Tech, KSC are technology assets |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=11A |date=May 15, 2009 }}

In December 2010, Forbes magazine ranked the area as the worst in the country for finding a job, for the second time in 2010.{{Cite news |first=Britt |last=Kennerly |title=Palm Bay census a letdown |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20110102/NEWS01/101020324/Palm-Bay-census-a-letdown |newspaper=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1B |date=January 2, 2011 |access-date=May 27, 2011 |archive-date=January 6, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110106200218/http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20110102/NEWS01/101020324/Palm-Bay-census-a-letdown |url-status=live }}

During 2020, overlapping the COVID-19 pandemic, the metropolitan area was the second best-performing out of 200 in the country.{{Cite news | first=David | last=Berman | title=Brevard has second-strongest economic growth | url=https://www.floridatoday.com/story/money/business/2021/02/23/new-study-finds-brevard-county-has-second-strongest-economic-us/4538258001/ | newspaper=Florida Today | location=Melbourne, Florida | pages=8A | date=February 24, 2021 | access-date=February 24, 2021 | archive-date=July 5, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210705194318/https://www.floridatoday.com/restricted/?return=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.floridatoday.com%2Fstory%2Fmoney%2Fbusiness%2F2021%2F02%2F23%2Fnew-study-finds-brevard-county-has-second-strongest-economic-us%2F4538258001%2F | url-status=live }}

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. The county has the 17th highest per capita income in the state (out of 67).
• Median income for a household – $40,099
• In 2005, the median income for a household had risen to $43,281{{cite web |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/ACSSAFFFacts?_event=Search&geo_id=&_geoContext=&_street=&_county=Brevard+county&_cityTown=Brevard+county&_state=04000US12&_zip=&_lang=en&_sse=on&pctxt=fph&pgsl=010 |title=American FactFinder – Community Facts |website=factfinder.census.gov |access-date=January 14, 2018 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200211180235/http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/ACSSAFFFacts?_event=Search&geo_id=&_geoContext=&_street=&_county=Brevard+county&_cityTown=Brevard+county&_state=04000US12&_zip=&_lang=en&_sse=on&pctxt=fph&pgsl=010 |archive-date=February 11, 2020 |url-status=dead}}

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%

In 2012, 79,621 people in the county were receiving food stamps.{{Cite news |first=Andrew |last=Ford |title=Food stamp usage rises by 10,000 in Brevard |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20120502/NEWS01/305020044/Food-stamp-usage-rises-by-10-000-Brevard |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1B |date=May 2, 2012 |access-date=May 3, 2012 |archive-date=May 2, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150502034105/http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20120502/NEWS01/305020044/Food-stamp-usage-rises-by-10-000-Brevard |url-status=live }}

In 2010, there were 5,600 civilian government workers in the county. They earned an average of $74,000 each in 2009.{{Cite news |title=Pay freeze affect 5,600 in Brevard |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1A |date=November 30, 2010 }}

In 2009, 84,401 households in the county (38%) received social security payments averaging $16,136 for a total of $1.7 billion annually. 53,717 (24%) received pension payments averaging $24,327 for a total of $1.3 billion annually.{{Cite news |first=John |last=McCarthy |title=Retirees bring in the bucks |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=201012190315 |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1A |date=December 19, 2010 |access-date=December 23, 2010 |archive-date=May 5, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150505230045/http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=201012190315 |url-status=live }}

The taxable value of property went from $20 billion in 2002 to $40 billion in 2007. In 2009 the bubble burst and a rapid descent to $24 billion was experienced. in 2017, the value rose to $35 billion. The last figure includes new construction.{{cite web |url=https://www.floridatoday.com/story/opinion/2018/01/12/if-were-housing-bubble-heres-what-brevard-governments-shouldnt-do/1028062001 |title=If we're in housing 'bubble,' here's what Brevard governments shouldn't do |website=floridatoday.com |access-date=January 14, 2018 |archive-date=November 1, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181101211143/https://www.floridatoday.com/story/opinion/2018/01/12/if-were-housing-bubble-heres-what-brevard-governments-shouldnt-do/1028062001/ |url-status=live }}

In 2011, the county was rated 6th worst in the country for foreclosures. There were 1,039 for the third quarter of 2010. Nearly half the homes in the county were worth less than their mortgages. The average home had dropped 53.4% since the peak of the boom.{{cite web |url=http://realestate.aol.com/blog/gallery/10-cities-getting-slammed-by-foreclosures |title=10 Cities Getting Slammed By Foreclosures – AOL Real Estate |publisher=Realestate.aol.com |access-date=December 18, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130622181551/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/gallery/10-cities-getting-slammed-by-foreclosures/ |archive-date=June 22, 2013}} In 2012, the county was the highest in foreclosure rate in the nation. In 2013, the metro area was rated "best" in the country for buying, with a 34 months supply of houses, with a discount rate of 28%, according to RealtyTrac. It has since reduced its backlog.{{Cite news |first=Patrick |last=Peterson |title=No longer tops in foreclosure |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20130131/BUSINESS/301310011/Brevard-no-longer-tops-foreclosures |newspaper=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=4B |date=January 31, 2013 |access-date=February 18, 2013 |archive-date=May 5, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150505230049/http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20130131/BUSINESS/301310011/Brevard-no-longer-tops-foreclosures |url-status=live }}

After various insurance companies pulled out of Florida after their losses from the 2004 hurricane season, property insurance became a major concern for many homeowners. As of 2011, 32,000 Brevard policyholders insure with the state-owned Citizens Property Insurance Corporation.{{Cite news |first=Matt |last=Reed |title=Citizens Property is in good shape |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2011104240328 |newspaper=Florida Today | location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1B |date=April 24, 2011 }}

In 2010 Kiplinger.com rated the county one of five "best" places in America to retire. Factors evaluated included cost of living, weather, the number of doctors, taxes, crime rates and recreational opportunities.{{cite web |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20100824/NEWS01/8240318/Kiplingers-puts-Brevard-back-on-best-place-list |title=News |first=John |last=McCarthy |date=August 24, 2010 |work=Florida Today |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151013180508/http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20100824/NEWS01/8240318/Kiplingers-puts-Brevard-back-on-best-place-list |archive-date=October 13, 2015}}

The largest home in Brevard is a 50-room {{convert|19000|ft2}} mansion in Suntree built in 1991 and once owned by Cecil Fielder.{{Cite news |first=John |last=McCarthy |title=Mansion hits the block |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20100519/NEWS01/5190342/Suntree-mansion-hits-the-block |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1A |date=May 19, 2010 |access-date=May 20, 2010 |archive-date=May 22, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100522184709/http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20100519/NEWS01/5190342/Suntree-mansion-hits-the-block |url-status=live }}

The Viera Company, developing East and West Viera as they’re identified by the US Census Bureau, gained state permission and county acquiescence to create a self-governing board named the Viera Stewardship District 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.{{citation needed|date=February 2019}}

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 2012 local government employed 21,000 workers. Over the years the percentage has varied from 7.2% to 7.9% of the population.{{Cite news |first=Matt |last=Reed |title=Brevard economy poised for takeoff |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20130113/OPINION/301120010/Matt-Reed-Brevard-economy-poised-takeoff |newspaper=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=14A |date=January 13, 2013 |access-date=January 14, 2013 |archive-date=May 2, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150502075915/http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20130113/OPINION/301120010/Matt-Reed-Brevard-economy-poised-takeoff |url-status=live }}

The number of people working in construction dropped from 2,630 in 2005 to 1,420 in 2010.{{Cite news |first=Patrick |last=Peterson |title=Housing collapse cracks concrete |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20111204/BUSINESS/312040009/Housing-collapse-cracks-concrete |newspaper=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1D |date=December 4, 2011 |access-date=December 7, 2011 |archive-date=January 7, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120107055417/http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20111204/BUSINESS/312040009/Housing-collapse-cracks-concrete |url-status=live }}

Port Canaveral is one of the world's busiest cruise port. There are seven cruise lines, with six major cruise terminals. There is {{convert|750000|ft2}} of covered freight storage capacity. It handled {{convert|4000000|ST}} of cargo in 2004. The port has contributed $500 million annually to the county's economy.

Two hospitals were among the top five private employers in the county, together employing 8,850 in 2009.

In 2008, 14,865 workers were employed at the NASA/Kennedy Space Center. The Center directly spent $1.82 billion in the county.

Annually, $78 million is spent at the Space Center Visitor's Complex, and $5.9 million from space business visitors.{{Cite news |first=Keilani |last=Best |title=more than space |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1E |date=February 7, 2010 }}

In 2014, there were 495 aerospace companies in the county. There were 36,223 workers. Sales and revenue from this industry were $3.4 billion.{{Cite news |first=Wayne T. |last=Price |title=Into the Blue |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2014301260010 |newspaper=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=27A |date=January 25, 2014 |access-date=January 30, 2014}}

L3Harris Technologies, headquartered in the county, has the most employees in the private sector, 7,000 in 2019.{{Cite news |first=Bailey |last=Gallion |title=L3Harris's headquarters staying in Melbourne good news for Brevard County |url=https://www.floridatoday.com/story/money/business/2019/07/02/l-3-harris-melbourne-headquarters-importance/1630958001/ |newspaper=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |date=July 2, 2019 |access-date=May 9, 2020 |archive-date=September 23, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200923234441/https://www.floridatoday.com/story/money/business/2019/07/02/l-3-harris-melbourne-headquarters-importance/1630958001/ |url-status=live }}

There are 15 Community Redevelopment agencies in the county. They are funded from real estate taxes in the affected area. Cocoa has three, and Eau Gallie, one.{{Cite news |first=Dave |last=Berman |title=Redevelopment agencies stir up controversy |newspaper=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1A,3A |date=April 12, 2017}}

Though the area has a relatively small number of high technology companies, 736, a business journal ranked it eighth in the country as a high tech center in 2009. The area had 23,096 high-tech jobs with a ratio of 124 per 1,000 total jobs.{{Cite news |first=Patrick |last=Peterson |title=Florida Tech, KSC are technology assets |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=11A |date=May 15, 2009 }}

The county had 1,050 restaurants in 2007 and nearly that many (1,040) in 2010. There were 22,600 leisure and hospitality workers in the county in 2006. This figure includes hotel workers. That figure had dropped 8.5% to 20,700 in 2010.{{Cite news |first=Keilani |last=Best |title=Eateries feel heat |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1E |date=October 17, 2010 }}

In the early 2010s, the Shiloh area was proposed by Space Florida as a potential location for the development of a commercial-only spaceport. Located immediately north of the U.S. Government's Kennedy Space Center, the open access to the flyover range on the open Atlantic Ocean to the east, and easy access to the tracking facilities of the Eastern Test Range make the location an attractive launch site. Among other potential users of the commercial spaceport facility, SpaceX was reported to be considering Shiloh as one of several potential locations for building a commercial launch facility.{{cite news |last=Dean |first=James |title=Proposed Shiloh launch complex at KSC debated in Volusia |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20130404/SPACE/130404009/Proposed-Shiloh-launch-complex-KSC-debated-Volusia |newspaper=Florida Today |date=April 3, 2013 |access-date=April 6, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413145534/http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20130404/SPACE/130404009/Proposed-Shiloh-launch-complex-KSC-debated-Volusia |archive-date=April 13, 2014 |url-status=dead}}

Space Coast Credit Union is the largest locally based financial institution in Brevard County and the third largest credit union in the state of Florida.{{cite web |url=http://www.ncua.gov/DataServices/CreditUnionList.aspx?Application=CUEXpanded&State=FL |title=NCUA Data Summary |website=ncua.gov |access-date=January 14, 2018 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120310072530/http://www.ncua.gov/DataServices/CreditUnionList.aspx?Application=CUEXpanded&State=FL |archive-date=March 10, 2012}}{{Cite book |author=Sonnenberg, Maria |title=Union Label |publisher=Florida Today |date=April 8, 2007}}

Military installations in Brevard County include Patrick Space Force Base, near Satellite Beach, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (CCSFS), adjacent to the Kennedy Space Center, and the U.S. Air Force Malabar Test Facility on Minton Road in suburban Palm Bay. In 2009, they employed a total of 2,000 civilian federal workers. In 2012 there were 2,900 military jobs in the county.

The United States Coast Guard (USCG) Maintains one station in Port Canaveral, the station is located on the east bank of the West Turning Basin. The station is home to USCG cutter 617.{{Cite web |url=https://www.google.com/maps/place/US+Coast+Guard/@28.5851114,-81.246022,167612m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m8!1m2!2m1!1scoast+guard+stations!3m4!1s0x0:0x4101773ea39d1af0!8m2!3d28.4154773!4d-80.6213531 |title=Google Maps |website=Google Maps |language=en |access-date=March 10, 2019 |archive-date=July 5, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210705194323/https://www.google.com/maps/place/US+Coast+Guard/@28.5851114,-81.246022,167612m/data=%213m1%211e3%214m8%211m2%212m1%211scoast+guard+stations%213m4%211s0x0:0x4101773ea39d1af0%218m2%213d28.4154773%214d-80.6213531 |url-status=live }}

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. 160 ships visited their two piers in 2017.{{Cite news |first=John |last=Bryon |title=Meet Brevard County's Navy |newspaper=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=12A |date=January 15, 2017 }} The 2005 base closures included realigning NOTU out of state. The community was successful in having this decision revoked.{{citation needed|date=August 2015}} The unit employs 100 military personnel and 900 civilian contractors.{{Cite news |first=R. Norman |last=Moody |title=Long-planned NOTU expansion to bring new jobs |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/local/2015/08/21/long-planned-notu-expansion-bring-new-jobs/32139171/ |newspaper=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=3A |date=August 22, 2015 |access-date=July 25, 2022 |archive-date=July 5, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210705194323/https://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/local/2015/08/21/long-planned-notu-expansion-bring-new-jobs/32139171/ |url-status=live }}

Cape Canaveral Space Force Station houses the Air Force Space & Missile Museum and Launch Complex 26, where many uncrewed rockets were launched early in the U.S. space program, including Explorer 1, the first US spacecraft placed in earth orbit.[http://www.afspacemuseum.org/displays/LC26blockhouse/ Launch Complex 26 Blockhouse] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160425064750/http://www.afspacemuseum.org/displays/LC26blockhouse/ |date=April 25, 2016 }} {{PD-notice}}

The {{USS|Brevard|AK-164}} was a World War II Alamosa-class naval cargo ship that was decommissioned shortly after the war.{{cite web

| last = Mann

| first = Raymond A.

| url = https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/b/brevard-i.html

| title = Brevard

| publisher = Naval History and Heritage Command

| date = December 7, 2005

| access-date = November 13, 2016

| archive-date = January 23, 2023

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230123002411/https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/b/brevard-i.html

| url-status = live

}}{{PD-notice}}

23% of Brevard County is agricultural-usable for citrus, raising cattle or horses. Cattle ranches include the Deseret, Duda Ranch, Kempfer, and two other major ranches.{{Cite news |first=Dave |last=Berman |title=A Cattleman's Cattleman |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/local/2016/03/10/rancher-kempfer-joins-florida-agricultural-hall-fame/80794244/ |newspaper=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=25A |date=March 13, 2016 |access-date=March 13, 2016 |archive-date=December 10, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181210122846/https://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/local/2016/03/10/rancher-kempfer-joins-florida-agricultural-hall-fame/80794244/ |url-status=live }} 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. {{citation needed|date=August 2021}}

In 2009, aquaculture was a $900,000 business in the county.{{Cite news |first=Jenet |last=Krol |title=USDA declares Brevard County primary disaster area |url=http://www.myhometownnews.net/index.php?id=66890 |publisher=Hometown News:The Beaches |location=Fort Pierce, Florida |pages=A4 |date=February 19, 2010 |access-date=February 25, 2010 |archive-date=July 23, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723215524/http://www.myhometownnews.net/index.php?id=66890 |url-status=dead }} The county produces more than 25% of all blue crabs along Florida's East Coast.{{Cite news |first=Rick |last=Neal |title=County pays to preserve waterfront |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20100224/NEWS01/2240330/1006/County+pays+to+preserve+Merritt+Island+waterfront |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1B |date=February 24, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150502031032/http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20100224/NEWS01/2240330/1006/County+pays+to+preserve+Merritt+Island+waterfront |archive-date=May 2, 2015 }}

There are 40 4-H-related clubs in the county, including livestock- and pet-related and after-school clubs.{{cite web |url=http://www.nbbd.com/npr/4H/index.html |title=4-H Clubs – Titusville & Mims, Florida |website=www.nbbd.com |access-date=January 14, 2018 |archive-date=October 23, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161023094429/http://www.nbbd.com/npr/4H/index.html |url-status=live }} As in all Cooperative extension service, a land grant college, the University of Florida, conducted over 60 courses in 2010 in aid of 4-H programs and other agricultural pursuits.{{Cite news |title=Brevard County Extension Classes 2010 |url=http://brevard.ifas.ufl.edu/ |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |year=2010 |access-date=October 15, 2020 |archive-date=January 23, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180123020956/http://brevard.ifas.ufl.edu/ |url-status=live }}

In February 2010, the USDA declared that Brevard, along with 59 other Florida counties, was a "primary natural disaster area". This happened when the temperature falls below {{convert|28|F|C}} degrees for 4 hours, where crops are being grown.

In 2016, tourism represents about 9% of the county's gross domestic product. The industry employs about 13% of the workforce.{{Cite news |first=Dave |last=Berman |title=Tourists love our beaches, Kennedy Space Center |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/local/2017/12/18/tourists-space-coast-love-our-beaches-ksc-they-spend-1-500-per-family-while-here/960383001/ |newspaper=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1A |date=December 19, 2017 |access-date=January 9, 2018 |archive-date=November 9, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181109072858/https://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/local/2017/12/18/tourists-space-coast-love-our-beaches-ksc-they-spend-1-500-per-family-while-here/960383001/ |url-status=live }} The county raised its room tax to 5% in 2005. In 2012, this raised $8.4 million.{{Cite news |first=Dave |last=Berman |title=If Nats bolt, tax may need a re-vote |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/A9/20130922/NEWS01/309220029/Tourist-tax-might-need-new-vote-Nats-leave |newspaper=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1A,9A |date=September 22, 2013 |access-date=September 22, 2013 |archive-date=May 2, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150502035742/http://www.floridatoday.com/article/A9/20130922/NEWS01/309220029/Tourist-tax-might-need-new-vote-Nats-leave |url-status=live }}

In 2008, tourists spent $2.89 billion in the county. This is distributed in several categories: 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.{{Cite news |title=Tourist dollar dreams |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1E |date=April 19, 2009 }} 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, the United Kingdom, Germany, China, and Italy.{{Cite news |title=More tourists may not mean more buying |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=3E |date=April 19, 2009 }}

1.6 million people visited the Space Center Visitor Complex in 2008. Tourism, measured by the tourist tax, reached a peak in March 2007.{{Cite news |title=Vacation trends |newspaper=Florida Today | location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1E |date=March 13, 2011 }}

In 2009, there were 2.4 million overnight visitors in the county. There were 1.2 million day visitors.{{Cite news |first=R. Norman |last=Moody |title=Redevelopment plan brews in Cocoa Beach |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20110114/NEWS01/101140325/Redevelopment-plan-brews-in-Cocoa-Beach |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1A |date=January 14, 2011 |access-date=January 19, 2011 |archive-date=January 17, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110117091949/http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20110114/NEWS01/101140325/Redevelopment-plan-brews-in-Cocoa-Beach |url-status=live }} In 2013, a city manager estimated that 20% of income from tourism comes during spring break.{{Cite news |first=Robert |last=Hughes |title=Keeping spring break subdued |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20130317/BUSINESS/303170006/Keeping-spring-break-subdued |newspaper=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1D |date=March 17, 2013 |access-date=March 19, 2013 |archive-date=May 2, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150502060035/http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20130317/BUSINESS/303170006/Keeping-spring-break-subdued |url-status=live }}

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,[https://web.archive.org/web/19991013123202/http://space-coast.com/] Florida's Space Coast promotion and advertising, the Brevard Zoo, additional beach improvements and the Space Coast Stadium.

$97.7 million has been spent on beach replenishment in the county between 2000 and 2010. This was funded 58% by the federal government, 27% by the state and 15% by the county.{{Cite news |first=Jim |last=Waymer |title=The plan for sand |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/print/article/20100307/news01/3070320/Long-denied-renourishment-because-of-worm-beach-finally-may-get-bulked-up |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1A |date=March 7, 2010 }}

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.{{Cite news |title=Tourism tax wanes |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=8C |date=March 30, 2009 }} In 2008, the county had 11,000 hotel rooms available. In July 2007, there was a 66.1% occupancy rate.{{Cite book |author=Bakancia, Donna |title=Brevard hotels strive to attract guests as summer nears and new facilities open |publisher=Florida Today |date=April 27, 2008}} 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.{{Cite news |title=Room occupancy could pick up |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=8C |date=March 30, 2009 }} In January 2010, the average hotel room rate was $88.25.{{Cite news |first=Adam |last=Lowenstein |title=Car sales drive local economy |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1E |date=March 14, 2010 }}

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.[http://www.cocoamainstreet.com/] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080422075139/http://www.cocoamainstreet.com/|date=April 22, 2008}} Cocoa Main Street Melbourne Main Street is another historic business area and tourist attraction restored through the Main Street Programs.[http://www.downtownmelbourne.com/] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080224022451/http://www.downtownmelbourne.com/|date=February 24, 2008}} Melbourne Main Street

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[http://www.artsbrevard.org/events/] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070322233314/http://www.artsbrevard.org/events/|date=March 22, 2007}} BCA Cultural Events Calendar and a map of sites of historic, cultural, and ecological interest.{{cite web |url=http://www.artsbrevard.org/resources/map.html |title=Brevard Cultural Alliance - Brevard County, Space Coast of Florida |access-date=January 28, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070629222124/http://www.artsbrevard.org/resources/map.html |archive-date=June 29, 2007}} BCA Arts Map

The annual Florida Key Lime Pie Festival is held beach side every Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend. In 2018 The Florida Key Lime Pie Company successfully made the World's largest key lime pie.{{Cite web |url=https://attractionsmagazine.com/worlds-largest-key-lime-pie-displayed-at-7th-annual-florida-key-lime-pie-festival/ |title=World's Largest Key Lime Pie displayed at 7th Annual Florida Key Lime Pie Festival |date=January 17, 2018 |website=Attractions Magazine |language=en-US |access-date=December 29, 2019 |archive-date=December 29, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191229190605/https://attractionsmagazine.com/worlds-largest-key-lime-pie-displayed-at-7th-annual-florida-key-lime-pie-festival/ |url-status=live }}

An annual February Greek Festival had over 8,000 visitors in 2011.{{Cite news |first=Britt |last=Kennerly |title=Greek Festival brings good spirit |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20110227/NEWS01/102270321/Greek-festival-Melbourne-brings-good-spirits |newspaper=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=7B |date=February 27, 2011 |access-date=March 7, 2011 |archive-date=May 2, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150502065805/http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20110227/NEWS01/102270321/Greek-festival-Melbourne-brings-good-spirits |url-status=live }}

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.[http://www.grantseafoodfestival.com/] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201020024433/https://www.grantseafoodfestival.com/|date=October 20, 2020}} Grant Seafood Festival

An ice skating rink in Rockledge serves the county's residents and visitors with hockey and figure skating events.{{Cite book |author=Dowling, Lyn |title=IcePlex gets new owners |publisher=Florida Today |date=January 14, 2008}}

In 2009, recreational boat owners generated almost $51 million annually towards the county economy, ranking the industry fifth in the state.{{Cite news |first=Patrick |last=Peterson |title=Boating's economic impact steady |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/floridatoday/access/1956691801.html?FMT=ABS&date=Feb+07%2C+2010 |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1E |date=February 7, 2010 |access-date=July 5, 2017 |archive-date=November 7, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107202658/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/floridatoday/access/1956691801.html?FMT=ABS&date=Feb+07%2C+2010 |url-status=dead }}

In 2010 a local group compared the county against four other "peer" cities: Austin, Texas; Colorado Springs, Colorado; Huntsville, Alabama; and Raleigh, North Carolina. It evaluated nine areas: business dynamism/vitality, competitiveness, education, economic growth, economic prosperity, livability, productivity/labor supply, technology and innovation/work force. While the county does well against national figures, and scored high in livability, it usually ranked last against these "peers" in the other eight areas.{{Cite news |first=Wayne T |last=Price |title=Ranking Brevard |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20100321/BUSINESS/3210313/Ranking-Brevard |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1E |date=March 21, 2010 |access-date=March 23, 2010 |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924035155/http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20100321/BUSINESS/3210313/Ranking-Brevard |url-status=live }}

In 2009, the county had 13 patents per 1,000 workers, more than double the national average of 6.4 patents per 1,000.

In 2009, Forbes ranked the county 18th out of 100 MSAs and first out of 8 metros in Florida for affordable housing and short commute times, among others.{{Cite news |first=Wayne T. |last=Price |title=Forbes:Brevard's got bang for buck |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20091208/BUSINESS/912080318/Forbes-magazine-says-Brevard-one-of-America-s-best-places |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1A |date=November 8, 2009 |access-date=December 8, 2009 |archive-date=July 1, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140701053547/http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20091208/BUSINESS/912080318/Forbes-magazine-says-Brevard-one-of-America-s-best-places |url-status=live }}

In August 2009, Florida Trend rated two Brevard companies, Harris Corporation[http://www.floridatrend.com/article.asp?aID=51437] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091213164749/http://www.floridatrend.com/article.asp?aID=51437|date=December 13, 2009}} "Best Large Companies – 2009". Florida Trend. and Health First Health Plans,[http://www.floridatrend.com/article.asp?aID=51438] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091213152238/http://www.floridatrend.com/article.asp?aID=51438|date=December 13, 2009}} "Best Midsized Companies – 2009". Florida Trend. in their rankings of the best places to work in Florida.

In May 2009, the Palm Bay-Melbourne area was ranked as the No. 8 tech center in the United States by Bizjournals. It overcame its low number of total high-tech companies and jobs by having a high number of jobs per high tech company (#4) and high tech jobs compared to total private-sector jobs (#2).[http://www.bizjournals.com/edit_special/79.html] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090519042916/http://www.bizjournals.com/edit_special/79.html|date=May 19, 2009}} G. Scott Thomas (May 11, 2009). "San Jose leads as America's top tech center". bizjournals.

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.

It reached a maximum employment of 254,514 in 2006.{{Cite news |first=John |last=McCarthy |title=Health will lead in jobs outlook |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20110109/BUSINESS/101090317/Finding-jobs-Health-will-lead-in-openings |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1A,9A |date=January 9, 2011 |access-date=January 14, 2011 |archive-date=January 13, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110113130037/http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20110109/BUSINESS/101090317/Finding-jobs-Health-will-lead-in-openings |url-status=live }}

In 2006, Forbes magazine named Harris Corporation, headquartered in

Brevard, to its "Platinum 400" List.

The Technological Research and Development Authority, based on 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 largest hotel in Brevard has 284 rooms and {{convert|30000|ft2}} of meeting space.{{Cite news |first=Wayne T. |last=Price |title=As Orlando slumps, so does Brevard |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=3E |date=February 28, 2010 }}

There were 168,500 private sector jobs in the county in 2009. The Bureau of Labor Statistics counted the following workers in Brevard along with average annual pay ($):

• Retail 25,900 ($23,361)
• Manufacturing 21,700 ($65,521)
• Local government 20,100 ($42,517)
• Hospitality 19,600 ($15,857).

The largest local employer is Brevard Public Schools, with 9,500 employees, 5,000 of which are teachers.{{Cite news |first=John |last=McCarthy |title=Laboring over jobs |url=http://m.floridatoday.com/BETTER/news.jsp?key=289844 |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1E |date=January 17, 2010 |access-date=January 18, 2010 |archive-date=July 5, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210705194333/https://www.floridatoday.com/ |url-status=live }} Brevard County Teachers are represented by the Brevard Federation of Teachers (AFT).

The county had an unemployment rate of 12.7% in January 2010, a 20-year record high.{{Cite news |first=Wayne T. |last=Price |title=Jobless at 20-year high |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20100311/BUSINESS/3110309/Jobless-at-20-year-high |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=6C |date=March 11, 2010 |access-date=March 11, 2010 |archive-date=May 2, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150502055735/http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20100311/BUSINESS/3110309/Jobless-at-20-year-high |url-status=live }} In March 2010, there were 33,500 people out of work.{{Cite news |title=Editorial: Reforming Wall St. |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20100402/OPINION/100401016/Our+views++Reforming+Wall+St.+%28April+2%29 |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=12A |date=April 2, 2010 |access-date=April 3, 2010 |archive-date=May 9, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150509052742/http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20100402/OPINION/100401016/Our%20views%20%20Reforming%20Wall%20St.%20%28April%202%29 |url-status=live }} The county experienced a record low unemployment in 2005 of 2.8%.{{Cite news |first=Annette |last=Clifford |title=A little help goes a long way for kids during holidays |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20101205/COLUMNISTS0103/12050311/Annette-Clifford-A-little-help-goes-a-long-way-for-kids-during-holidays |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1D |date=December 5, 2010 |access-date=December 8, 2010 |archive-date=May 2, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150502044148/http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20101205/COLUMNISTS0103/12050311/Annette-Clifford-A-little-help-goes-a-long-way-for-kids-during-holidays |url-status=live }} There were 32,608 people unemployed in the county in January 2011.{{Cite news |title=Applications aplenty |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20110320/BUSINESS/110318041/Applications-aplenty-Companies-inundated-job-seekers |newspaper=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1E |date=March 20, 2011 |access-date=March 21, 2011 |archive-date=March 25, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110325001543/http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20110320/BUSINESS/110318041/Applications-aplenty-Companies-inundated-job-seekers |url-status=live }}

In 2009, there were 6,400 federal workers, total, employed in the county. They earned an average of $74,600.{{Cite news |first=Jim |last=Waymer |title=Shutdown spares essential services |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20110407/NEWS01/104070326/Government-shutdown-would-spare-essential-services |newspaper=Florida Today | location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1A |date=April 7, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140904042622/http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20110407/NEWS01/104070326/Government-shutdown-would-spare-essential-services |archive-date=September 4, 2014 |url-status=dead}}

In 2009, average annual salaries in the county for engineers was $90,563; registered nurses $53,315; education $49,441; police officers $43,035; cooks $21,569; and cashiers $19,489. The average annual pay for all workers was then $42,411.{{Cite news |first=Patrick |last=Peterson |title=High-paying jobs scant outside KSC |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20101128/NEWS01/11280317/High-paying-jobs-scant-outside-KSC |publisher=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=6A |date=November 28, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129075840/http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20101128/NEWS01/11280317/High-paying-jobs-scant-outside-KSC |archive-date=November 29, 2014 |url-status=dead}}

In 2011, there were more engineers (48) per thousand workers than any other region in the United States.{{Cite journal |first=Myatt |last=Murphy |date=August 2011 |title=Ready to Launch |journal=Sky (Delta) |page=82 }}

Kennedy Space Center (KSC) is the largest employer in the county with 15,000 contractors and civil servants.{{Cite book |author=Halvorson, Todd |title=KSC chief says more tech work needed |publisher=Florida Today |date=May 12, 2007}} While there is concern about the new generation of space vehicles requiring 1/3 fewer workers, about that number were eligible for retirement by 2011. Unions represented at KSC include the American Federation of Government Employees, the International Association of Machinists and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.

Brevard was ranked 25th in the state, out of 67 counties, for health outcomes in 2014. 22% of residents smoke, 28% are obese, 25% are physically inactive, 20% drink in excess. The county ranked 13 in clinical care, 25th in societal factors (including air pollution and drinking water quality).{{Cite news |first=Chuck |last=McClung |title=Brevard healthy, but has a way to go |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/local/2014/03/27/brevard-healthy-but-has-a-way-to-go/6938077/ |newspaper=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=3A, 6A |date=March 27, 2014 |access-date=March 27, 2014 |archive-date=April 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230411214914/https://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/local/2014/03/26/brevard-healthy-but-has-a-way-to-go/6938077/ |url-status=live }} In 2013, there were about 88,000 persons without medical insurance in the county.{{Cite news |title=Answers to Floridians' concerns coming soon |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20130929/NEWS01/309290053/Answers-Floridians-health-care-concerns-coming-soon |work=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1A |date=September 29, 2013 |access-date=September 29, 2013 |archive-date=May 2, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150502063105/http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20130929/NEWS01/309290053/Answers-Floridians-health-care-concerns-coming-soon |url-status=live }}

Health care services tend to cost more in Brevard than Orlando or the statistical average in Florida. In 2009, 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, 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.{{Cite news |title=Health care services |work=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=10C |date=May 1, 2009 }}

According to 2007 health risk data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Brevard County (Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area) is tied for fourth highest among all Micro- and Metropolitan Statistical Areas in percentage of heavy drinkers.[https://archive.today/20120707003510/http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/BRFSS-SMART/MMSARiskChart.asp?MMSA=215&yr=2007&qkey=4413&cat=AC&grp=0 SMART: BRFSS City and County Health Risk Data] Heavy drinkers are defined as adult men who imbibe more than two alcoholic drinks per day and adult women who imbibe more than one alcoholic drink per day.

In 2013, the County Health Department Director issued a caution about the potential danger of flesh-eating bacteria that inhabit inland estuaries.{{cite web |url=http://news.brevardtimes.com/2013/10/health-officials-warn-of-flesh-eating.html |title=Health Officials Warn Of Flesh-Eating Bacteria in Florida Estuaries |work=Brevard Times |date=October 3, 2013 |access-date=January 31, 2014 |archive-date=February 3, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203171026/http://news.brevardtimes.com/2013/10/health-officials-warn-of-flesh-eating.html |url-status=usurped }}

As of 2011, there were ten hospitals in the county, with 1,734 beds total.{{Cite news |first=John |last=McCarthy |title=Hospital draws many job seekers |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20110204/BUSINESS/102040314/Hospital-draws-many-job-seekers |newspaper=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=6C |date=February 4, 2011 |access-date=February 5, 2011 |archive-date=February 5, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150205201224/http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20110204/BUSINESS/102040314/Hospital-draws-many-job-seekers |url-status=live }} Health First is the largest healthcare provider in the county, consisting of four not-for-profit hospitals—Cape Canaveral Hospital in Cocoa Beach, Holmes Regional Medical Center in Melbourne, Viera Hospital in Viera, Florida and Palm Bay Community Hospital in Palm Bay.

Besides hospitalization, services include outpatient centers; the county's only trauma center (at Holmes Regional Medical Center); home care; specialized programs for cancer, diabetes, heart, stroke, and rehabilitative services; central Brevard's largest medical group; and Medicare Advantage, commercial POS, and commercial HMO health plans. Parrish Medical Center, a 210-bed hospital, was named America's No. 1 Healing Hospital for the third straight year by the Baptist Healing Trust.{{cite web |url=http://www.parrishmed.com/ |title=Parrish Medical Center |website=Parrish Medical Group |access-date=January 14, 2018 |archive-date=October 9, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171009065546/https://www.parrishmed.com/ |url-status=live }}

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, sign language interpreter coordination services,{{cite web |url=http://ese.brevard.k12.fl.us/ICB/SCCIndLiving.html |title=Space Coast Center for Independent Living (SCCIL) |website=brevard.k12.fl.us |access-date=January 14, 2018 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061008212001/http://ese.brevard.k12.fl.us/ICB/SCCIndLiving.html |archive-date=October 8, 2006}} and a program for high school students for career development.{{Cite web |url=https://www.sccil.net/learn-to-earn-summer-youth-program |title=Space Coast Center for Independent Living |website=Space Coast Center for Independent Living |language=en |access-date=June 16, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180617042910/https://www.sccil.net/learn-to-earn-summer-youth-program |archive-date=June 17, 2018 |url-status=dead}}

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.{{cite web |url=http://www.sceic.com/_site2005/home_template.php |title=SCEIC |website=sceic.com |access-date=August 10, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070715162600/http://www.sceic.com/_site2005/home_template.php |archive-date=July 15, 2007 |url-status=dead}} Children are treated and educated with the specific goal of mainstreaming children diagnosed with the following into public school: Down syndrome, Williams 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.{{citation needed|date=September 2016}}

Harmony Farms runs a therapeutic riding program located on land donated by Duda Ranch located in Cocoa, Florida.{{cite news |last1=Sheets |first1=Tess |title=Hurricane Irma spares Harmony Farms; flooding torments weeks after |url=https://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/2017/09/26/hurricane-irma-spares-harmony-farms-flooding-torments-weeks-after/703728001/ |access-date=August 10, 2021 |work=Florida Today |archive-date=August 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210810024447/https://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/2017/09/26/hurricane-irma-spares-harmony-farms-flooding-torments-weeks-after/703728001/ |url-status=live }}

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.{{cite web |url=http://www.brevardalzheimers.org/ |title=Brevard Alzheimer's Foundation – Melbourne, Florida |website=www.brevardalzheimers.org |access-date=January 14, 2018 |archive-date=January 15, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180115071636/http://www.brevardalzheimers.org/ |url-status=live }} The non-profit Circles of Care provides mental health programs to Brevard.{{Cite web|url=http://www.circlesofcare.org/current/locate.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070203042155/http://www.circlesofcare.org/current/locate.html|url-status=dead|title=Circles of Care: Physical Locations|archivedate=February 3, 2007}} Dialing 2-1-1 in the county gives response to people in crisis and/or needing information about community resources.{{Cite web|url=http://www.211brevard.org/home/pages/helpline.cfm|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070424175850/http://www.211brevard.org/home/pages/helpline.cfm|url-status=dead|title=2-1-1 Helpline|archivedate=April 24, 2007}}

== Former place names ==

{{Main|Former place names in Brevard County, Florida}}

There are place names currently used, or used at one time by the USGS. Some are early developments, while 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.

{{Main|Education in Brevard County, Florida}}

Higher education is provided by Eastern Florida State College (EFSC) and Florida Institute of Technology. There are satellite campuses for the University of Central Florida, Barry University, Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University, Keiser University, and Webster University.

Elementary and secondary education is provided by the Brevard Public Schools and private schools.

In 2011, six public schools were ranked by the state in the top ten schools in the state, out of 2,800 There was one list each for primary and secondary schools.{{Cite news |first=Mackenzie |last=Ryan |title=Six Brevard schools score big with state |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20120131/NEWS13/301310015/Six-Brevard-schools-score-big-state-s-new-ranking-system |newspaper=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1A |date=January 31, 2012 |access-date=January 31, 2012 |archive-date=February 2, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120202202637/http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20120131/NEWS13/301310015/Six-Brevard-schools-score-big-state-s-new-ranking-system |url-status=live }}

{{Main|Brevard County Library System}}

The Brevard County Library System has 17 branches.{{cite web |url=http://www.brevardcounty.us/PublicLibraries/Home |title=Brevard County Public Libraries |website=www.brevardcounty.us |access-date=January 14, 2018 |archive-date=September 23, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160923044558/http://www.brevardcounty.us/PublicLibraries/Home |url-status=live }} Although the Merritt Island Public Library is counted as part of the Brevard County Public Library System, it is part of a separate library district. In 2005, HB1079 was passed to codify all the special acts under which the Merritt Island Public Library District exists.{{cite web |url=http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Bills/billsdetail.aspx?BillId=16753 |title=Florida House of Representatives – HB 1079 – Merritt Island Public Library District, Brevard County |website=www.myfloridahouse.gov |access-date=January 14, 2018 |archive-date=August 10, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170810051131/http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Bills/billsdetail.aspx?BillId=16753 |url-status=live }}

;Minor league baseball

Brevard County was the home of the Brevard County Manatees, the Class-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers until 2016.

In 2009, the Space Coast Surge, a member of the Florida Winter Baseball League, had the Cocoa Stadium as their home stadium.[http://www.spacecoastsurge.com/ Space Coast Surge] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150203200135/http://www.spacecoastsurge.com/ |date=February 3, 2015 }}

;Major league baseball

The Washington Nationals held their spring training at Space Coast Stadium in Viera until 2016. They play about 14 games against other professional teams locally in March as part of the "Grapefruit" League.Grapefruit League, Florida Today, February 28, 2007

;Minor league basketball

The Brevard Blue Ducks, members of the United States Basketball League (USBL), played at the Clemente Center at Florida Tech.{{cite news |last1=Hill |first1=Jemele |title=Living out a fantasy with Blue Ducks |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-2005-06-25-hill25-story.html |access-date=July 5, 2021 |work=Orlando Sentinel |date=June 25, 2005 |archive-date=July 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210722000932/https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-2005-06-25-hill25-story.html |url-status=live }}

;Minor league football

The Brevard Rams and Space Coast Predators were scheduled to play as members of the Florida Football Alliance in 2010.{{cite web |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/content/blogs/fitness/2009/09/semi-pro-football-space-coast-predators.shtml |title=Semi-pro football Space Coast Predators |date=September 14, 2009 |work=Florida Today |access-date=November 15, 2013 |archive-date=October 21, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021114543/http://www.floridatoday.com/content/blogs/fitness/2009/09/semi-pro-football-space-coast-predators.shtml |url-status=live }}

;Amateur sports

Aside from school-sponsored sports, there are youth leagues for basketball, football, soccer, lacrosse, gymnastics, baseball and swimming.

{{main article| Transportation in Brevard County, Florida}}

While Brevard County has transportation available in the usual modes for a coastal county—highways, shipping, and airlines—it has the addition of space transportation, making it unique in the world.{{Cite journal |first=Myatt |last=Murphy |date=August 2011 |title=Ready to Launch |journal=Sky (Delta) |page=83 }}

Public transportation is provided by Space Coast Area Transit.{{cite web |url=http://www.ridescat.com/ |title=Space Coast Area Transit Brevard's Transportation Experts |publisher=Ridescat.com |access-date=December 18, 2012 |archive-date=January 14, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130114132646/http://www.ridescat.com/ |url-status=live }}

The county contains about 300 gasoline retail outlets.{{Cite news |first=Wayne T. |last=Price |title=A convenient competition |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/2017/04/14/convenient-competition-wawa-and-cumberland-farms-expand-industry-accelerates/100381818/ |newspaper=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1A,4A |date=April 15, 2017 |access-date=April 15, 2017 |archive-date=December 10, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181210125149/https://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/2017/04/14/convenient-competition-wawa-and-cumberland-farms-expand-industry-accelerates/100381818/ |url-status=live }}

• Arthur Dunn Airpark
• Melbourne Orlando International Airport
• Merritt Island Airport
• Space Coast Regional Airport
• Valkaria Airport

Florida Power & Light (FPL) maintains an oil-fired generating plant at Sharpes; it generates {{convert|800|MW}}, 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.{{cite news |url=http://partners.marketcenter.com/cboe/news/story.action?id=KRO122e1174&symbol=&count=10 |title=FPL Company News |access-date=November 15, 2013 |archive-date=July 5, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210705194639/https://partners.marketcenter.com/esignalprod/quote.action?count=10&symbol=&id=KRO122e1174&s=%24INDU |url-status=live }} Near FPL's plant is the Indian River Power Plant; formerly owned by the Orlando Utilities Commission, it is now owned and operated by RRI Energy. In 2016, FPL had 304,400 customers in Brevard.{{Cite news |first=Dave |last=Berman |title=FPL aims to restore all service in Brevard by today |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/story/weather/hurricanes/2016/10/06/power-outages-reported-in-brevard-hurricane-matthew/91700086/ |newspaper=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=3A |date=October 9, 2016 |access-date=October 11, 2016 |archive-date=July 5, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210705194639/https://www.floridatoday.com/story/weather/hurricanes/2016/10/06/power-outages-reported-in-brevard-hurricane-matthew/91700086/ |url-status=live }}

Florida City Gas furnishes natural gas to various areas of the county.{{cite news |url=http://www.floridacitygas.com/Universal/AboutUs.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070625221118/http://floridacitygas.com/Universal/AboutUs.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 25, 2007 |title=About Florida City Gas |access-date=November 15, 2013}}

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 Indian River County and St. Lucie County, Florida to the south.

The county government maintains various landfills for solid waste. Brevard County Central Disposal Facility is located in Cocoa, has a size {{convert|190|acre|adj=on}} and receives annually around 275,000 tonnes of waste.[http://www.atlas.d-waste.com/ Waste Atlas] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141007045220/http://www.atlas.d-waste.com/ |date=October 7, 2014 }} Faculty: Brevard County Central Disposal Facility In 2013, the county planned a new $100 million landfill, north of U.S. Route 192, near the border with Osceola County, {{convert|8.5|miles}} west of I-95. The county has awarded a $3.9 million contract for a wetlands mitigation for this new landfill.{{Cite news |title=Wetlands mitigation credit pact awarded |newspaper=Florida Today | location=Melbourne, Florida | pages=2A |date=January 13, 2013 }}

In 2013, the county, for the first time, let a seven-year contract out for bids for solid waste. The resulting contract is expected to cost $1 billion over the lifetime of the contract, the county's largest single contract. This was the first time in 20 years, a bid was requested. In the past, Waste Management, Inc has performed the work, not only for the county but for 9 of 16 Brevard municipalities. Waste Pro has five of the remaining municipal contracts. Rockledge and Titusville maintain their own trash service.{{Cite news |first=Dave |last=Berman |title=County trash deal up for bids |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20130108/NEWS01/301080018/Brevard-County-s-trash-deal-up-bids |newspaper=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1A |date=January 8, 2013 |access-date=January 11, 2013 |archive-date=January 10, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130110024809/http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20130108/NEWS01/301080018/Brevard-County-s-trash-deal-up-bids |url-status=live }} In 2013, the county directly contracts for solid waste pickup for 100,000 residences.{{Cite news |first=Dave |last=Berman |title=Brevard might trash manual pickup system |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20130219/NEWS01/302120046/Brevard-might-trash-manual-pickup-system |newspaper=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=2A |date=January 13, 2013 |access-date=February 25, 2013 |archive-date=February 22, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130222041310/http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20130219/NEWS01/302120046/Brevard-might-trash-manual-pickup-system |url-status=live }}

In 2013, the county consumed about {{convert|100000000|USGAL}} daily. Landscape irrigation accounted for about half of this usage.{{Cite news |first=Jim |last=Waymer |title=Watering OK twice a week; restraint is urged |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20130309/NEWS01/303090017/Watering-OK-twice-week-restraint-urged |newspaper=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1B |date=March 9, 2013 |access-date=March 11, 2013 |archive-date=March 11, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130311015857/http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20130309/NEWS01/303090017/Watering-OK-twice-week-restraint-urged |url-status=live }}

In 2017, there were five municipal entities selling water (figures in parentheses are millions of gallons/day): Cocoa (22), Melbourne (19), Palm Bay (6), Titusville (2), and West Melbourne (1). The fifth, Brevard County (1), is low because county areas outside the preceding cities, purchase their water from those cities.{{Cite news |first=Jim |last=Waymer |title=Wasted Water |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/local/2017/04/28/high-water-use-often-remains-mystery/101021904/ |newspaper=Florida Today |location=Melbourne, Florida |pages=1A |date=April 30, 2017 |access-date=May 2, 2017 |archive-date=September 6, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170906183311/http://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/local/2017/04/28/high-water-use-often-remains-mystery/101021904/ |url-status=live }}

The county controls six Wastewater Treatment Facilities: Mims ({{convert|900000|USgal}}/day), Port St. John ({{convert|500000|USgal}}/day), South Central (Viera) ({{convert|12000000|USgal}}/day), South Beaches, and Barefoot Bay area.{{cite web |url=https://www.brevardfl.gov//UtilityServices/WasteWater |title=Brevard County Florida Utility Services Wastewater |website=www.brevardfl.gov |access-date=September 28, 2018 |archive-date=September 29, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180929000306/https://www.brevardfl.gov//UtilityServices/WasteWater |url-status=live }} Some cities have wastewater treatment plants, as well.{{Cite web |title=City of Melbourne Wastewater Treatment Plant (in Brevard County, FL) |url=https://florida.hometownlocator.com/maps/feature-map,ftc,2,fid,2450616,n,city%20of%20melbourne%20wastewater%20treatment%20plant.cfm |access-date=October 12, 2020 |website=florida.hometownlocator.com |language=en |archive-date=September 29, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180929000311/https://florida.hometownlocator.com/maps/feature-map,ftc,2,fid,2450616,n,city%20of%20melbourne%20wastewater%20treatment%20plant.cfm |url-status=live }}

Brevard County is within the Orlando-Daytona Beach-Melbourne-Cocoa-Clermont television market. The county is within range of many television and radio stations located in Orlando.{{cite web

|url=http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=645713201b4928eb0299b9c4bec7734b&mc=true&node=sp47.4.76.d&rgn=div6

|title=Electronic Code of Federal Regulations, Title 47: Telecommunication

|publisher=United States Government Printing Office

|access-date=December 30, 2022

|archive-date=June 19, 2021

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210619125638/https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=37fe5d167ce84af2e99ff571addc3c26&mc=true&node=sp47.4.76.d&rgn=div6

|url-status=live

}}

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 Company.{{citation |access-date= December 30, 2022 |url= http://www.gannett.com/brands/ |author= Gannett Co., Inc. |location= McLean, Virginia |title= Our Brands: Florida |archive-date= December 30, 2022 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20221230024530/https://www.gannett.com/brands/ |url-status= live }} A monthly newspaper, El Playero, serves the Spanish-speaking population of the Space Coast.{{cite web |last1=National Endowment for the Humanities |title=El Playero. |url=https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn00063012/ |publisher=Library of Congress |access-date=December 30, 2022 |archive-date=December 30, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221230214904/https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn00063012/ |url-status=live }} The Brevard Business News, Hometown News, Space Coast Daily, Talk of Titusville, and Viera Voice also cover local news within Brevard County.{{citation needed|date=December 2022}}

{{Melbourne, Florida radio}}

Most of Brevard County receives cable television from Charter Spectrum. Comcast serves the Micco and Palm Bay areas in southern Brevard County.

Local stations licensed to or located in Brevard County include:

• Channel 43 WOTF-TV (UniMás)
• Channel 52 WHLV-TV (TBN)
• Channel 68 WEFS (educational independent)

The following films were filmed (in parts) in Brevard County:{{Cite web|url=https://www.floridatoday.com/|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20120714160007/http://m.floridatoday.com/news.jsp?key=230981|url-status=dead|title=Brevard County and central Florida News | floridatoday.com|archivedate=July 14, 2012|website=Florida Today}}

• Matinee (1993), filmed in Cocoa Village and Cocoa Playhouse
• Apollo 13 (1995), Contact (1997), Armageddon (1998) and Moonraker (1979) all utilized Cape Canaveral or Kennedy Space Center facilities.
• Marvin's Room (1996), filmed in Rockledge
• Nightmare (1981) horror film shot in Merritt Island, Cocoa, Cocoa Beach and Titusville
• A Night in Heaven (1983), filmed in Titusville
• Things Behind the Sun (2001), by independent filmmakers Allison Anders, raised in Cocoa Beach and Cape Canaveral, and Kurt Voss
• Space Cowboys (2000)
• Stowaway to the Moon (1975), filmed in Titusville and several Kennedy Space Center locations.
• Portions of Jaws 3-D (1983) were filmed on the Minutemen Causeway.
• The Number 23 (2007) shot scenes on the shore of Cocoa Beach.
• I'll Believe You (2007)
• The Manure Film Project: A Crappy Documentary with Absolutely No Budget (2018){{cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2556640/locations |title=The Manure Film Project: A Crappy Documentary with Absolutely No Budget |website=IMDb |access-date=November 15, 2013 |archive-date=April 9, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150409182401/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2556640/locations |url-status=live }}
• Transformers: Dark of the Moon, directed by Michael Bay. Filmed in 2010 at Kennedy Space Center's Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB), orbiter processing facilities, and launch pad among other areas

Television series included:

• The Cape, 13 episodes (1996 through 1997)
• From the Earth to the Moon, a miniseries (1998)
• I Dream of Jeannie, a 1960s comedy series, was set in Cocoa Beach and Cape Canaveral but filmed in California.

The Maxwell C. King Center for the Performing Arts, 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. There is the professional Space Coast Symphony Orchestra.{{cite web |url=http://www.spacecoastsymphony.org/ |title=Home – Space Coast Symphony Orchestra |website=www.spacecoastsymphony.org |access-date=January 14, 2018 |archive-date=January 15, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180115124715/http://spacecoastsymphony.org/ |url-status=live }} Community orchestras and bands include, but are not limited to, the Melbourne Community Orchestra,{{cite web |url=http://mcorchestra.org/ |title=Welcome to the Melbourne Community Orchestra |website=Melbourne Community Orchestra |access-date=January 14, 2018 |archive-date=January 15, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180115124656/http://mcorchestra.org/ |url-status=live }} the Space Coast Pops and the Community Band of Brevard.{{cite web |url=http://communitybandofbrevard.com/ |title=The Community Band of Brevard |website=communitybandofbrevard.com |access-date=January 14, 2018 |archive-date=January 14, 2018 |archive-url=http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20180114051907/http://communitybandofbrevard.com/ |url-status=live }} Choral groups include the Brevard Community Chorus,{{cite web |url=http://brevardcommunitychorus.org/ |title=Home |website=brevardcommunitychorus.org |access-date=January 14, 2018 |archive-date=November 23, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171123112738/http://www.brevardcommunitychorus.org/ |url-status=live }} the Brevard Chorale,{{Cite web |title=Brevard Chorale |url=https://www.brevardchorale.org/ |access-date=July 7, 2023 |website=Brevard Chorale |language=en}} the Indialantic Chamber Singers,{{cite web |url=http://indialanticchambersingers.org/ |title=Home |website=indialanticchambersingers.org |access-date=January 14, 2018 |archive-date=January 15, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180115071620/http://indialanticchambersingers.org/ |url-status=live }} and the Brevard Youth Chorus.{{cite web |url=http://brevardyouthchorus.org/ |title=Brevard Youth Chorus – for kids who love to sing! |website=brevardyouthchorus.org |access-date=January 14, 2018 |archive-date=January 15, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180115001731/http://brevardyouthchorus.org/ |url-status=live }}

The Brevard Zoo is a {{convert|75|acre}} facility{{cite web |url=https://brevardzoo.org/aboutthezoo/index.html |title=Brevard Zoo Information |access-date=November 15, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013025439/http://www.brevardzoo.org/aboutthezoo/index.html |archive-date=October 13, 2007}} that contains more than 650 animals representing more than 165 species from Florida, South America, Africa, Asia and Australia. The Zoo offers animal experiences including giraffe

and lorikeet feedings, African kayak tours, paddle boats in the wetlands and a train ride.{{citation needed|date=September 2022}}

;Ballet

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 Nutcracker.

;Museums and attractions

The Space Coast has a number of museums from the rocket exhibitions at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex and the Air Force Space and Missile Museum, to local museums and others of unique character, such as the American Police Hall of Fame & Museum.{{citation needed|date=July 2012}}

The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex offers an educational look at the accomplishments of America's space program. The Observation Gantry near Launch Complex 39 offers a view of the Space Shuttle launch pads (first built for the Apollo missions), the Vehicle Assembly Building, and the crawlerway over which rockets are taken to the pad. The Apollo/Saturn V Center displays an example of the largest rocket ever launched.{{Cite news|url=https://attractionsmagazine.com/kennedy-space-center-visitor-complex-celebrates-50th-anniversary/|title=Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex celebrates 50th anniversary|date=August 18, 2017|work=Attractions Magazine|access-date=July 28, 2018|language=en-US|archive-date=January 23, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230123002411/https://attractionsmagazine.com/kennedy-space-center-visitor-complex-celebrates-50th-anniversary/|url-status=live}}

The US Space Walk of Fame in Titusville commemorates both the astronauts and the NASA and contractor personnel who made American crewed space exploration possible with museum and monuments.{{Cite web | title = US Space Walk of Fame | url = http://www.spacewalkoffame.com/ | accessdate = April 13, 2010 | archive-date = February 23, 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160223025135/http://www.spacewalkoffame.com/ | url-status = live }}

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.{{cite web |title=Brevard Museum of History and Natural Science |url=http://www.nbbd.com/godo/BrevardMuseum/ |access-date=October 10, 2012 |archive-date=July 2, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120702053545/http://www.nbbd.com/godo/BrevardMuseum/ |url-status=live }}

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 timeline of the civil rights movement and the story of Harry T. and Harriette V. Moore, civil rights leaders who were killed after their home was bombed on December 25, 1951.{{cite web| title=Harry T. & Harriette V. Moore Cultural Complex, Inc.| url=https://www.harryharriettemoore.org/the-moores| access-date=January 22, 2021| archive-date=January 22, 2021| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122114112/https://www.harryharriettemoore.org/the-moores| url-status=live}}

The Wizard of Oz Museum features a large collection of over 3,000 Wizard of Oz artifacts and memorabilia,{{Cite web |last=WILSON |first=CAITLIN |title=Wizard of Oz collector opens museum with private collection. |url=https://www.baynews9.com/fl/tampa/news/2021/12/30/florida-on-a-tankful--wizard-of-oz-collector-opens-museum-with-private-collection- |website=Bay News 9}} including the first known published copy of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, signed by L. Frank Baum, an early copy of the script for the 1939 MGM movie, and a fox-raccoon jacket owned by Judy Garland, monogrammed with her initials, "JG." The facility also includes a gift shop, and a large room with 31 projectors featuring both the Van Gogh Experience, and a Wizard of Oz immersive experience.

• Brevard, North Carolina
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Brevard County, Florida

{{notelist}}

{{Reflist|3}}

• {{Cite book |first=Glenda Carlin |last=Busick |title=Brevard good ole boys: A taxpayer searches for truth in the "good ole boy" network of county government |publisher=Free Press Publishing |year=1992 |location=Tampa, Florida |asin=B0006OUK3C }} A critic summarizes and comments on Brevard politics in the late 20th century.
• {{Cite book |first=John |last=Eriksen |title=Brevard County, Florida: A Short History to 1955 |publisher=JohnEriksen.net/ |year=1994 |location=Melbourne, Florida |asin=B076H69FDW }} This is a documented history of Brevard County, from prehistoric to the space age. Documented with 320 end notes drawn from 1000 sources.
• Middleton, Sallie. "Space Rush: Local Impact of Federal Aerospace Programs on Brevard and Surrounding Counties," Florida Historical Quarterly, Fall 2008, Vol. 87, Issue 2, pp. 258–289. {{JSTOR|20700217}}.

{{Commons category}}

{{Wikivoyage|Brevard County}}

• {{osmrelation|389024}}

; Government links and constitutional offices

• [http://www.brevardcounty.us/ Brevard County Government / Board of County Commissioners]
• [http://brevardelections.org/ Brevard County Supervisor of Elections]
• [https://www.bcpao.us/ Brevard County Property Appraiser]
• [http://www.brevardsheriff.com/ Brevard County Sheriff's Office]; {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130817162751/http://www.brevardsheriff.com/ |date=August 17, 2013 }}
• [http://www.brevardparks.com/ Brevard County Parks and Recreation]
• [http://www.brevardcounty.us/usd/sc-reuse.cfm South Central Regional Water Reclamation Facility]; {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151024175929/http://www.brevardcounty.us/usd/sc-reuse.cfm |date=October 24, 2015 }}

; Special districts

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20190930221300/https://www.sjrwmd.com/ St. Johns River Water Management District]
• [http://www.bbrd.org/ Barefoot Bay Recreation District]

; Judicial branch

• [http://www.brevardclerk.us/ Brevard County Clerk of Courts]
• [http://www.brevardcounty.us/publicdefender/ Brevard County Public Defender]; {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111211100839/http://www.brevardcounty.us/publicdefender/ |date=December 11, 2011 }}
• [http://sa18.state.fl.us/ Office of the State Attorney, 18th Judicial Circuit]; {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120407174913/http://sa18.state.fl.us/nwbio.htm |date=April 7, 2012 }} serving Brevard and Seminole Counties
• [http://www.flcourts18.org/ Circuit and County Court for the 18th Judicial Circuit of Florida]

; Local references

• [http://epublications.flatoday.net/factbook/ Florida Today "Fact Book" on Brevard County]; {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171114202402/http://epublications.flatoday.net/factbook/ |date=November 14, 2017 }}
• [http://fcit.usf.edu/florida/maps/county/brevard/brevard.htm USF Maps of Historical Brevard County]
• [http://fcit.usf.edu/florida/maps/maps.htm Old Florida Map Collection]
• [http://nbbd.com/ North Brevard – Titusville, Florida – Community Directory]
• [http://visulate.com/ Searchable Database of Brevard County Property Records] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201001014045/https://visulate.com/ |date=October 1, 2020 }}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20110728190148/http://spacecoast.wikispot.org/ Space Coast Wiki] – a community wiki for Brevard County
• [http://www.eflorida.com/profiles/CountyReport.asp?CountyID=5&Display=all General business statistics]; {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111105114046/http://eflorida.com/profiles/CountyReport.asp?CountyID=5&Display=all |date=November 5, 2011 }}
• [https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/omeka2/collections/show/47 Brevard County Collection on the RICHES Mosaic Interface]; {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402161659/https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/omeka2/collections/show/47 |date=April 2, 2015 }}

{{Geographic location

| Centre = Brevard County, Florida

| North = Volusia County

| Northeast =

| East = Atlantic Ocean

| Southeast =

| South = Indian River County

| Southwest = Osceola County

| West = Orange County

| Northwest = Seminole County

}}

{{Brevard County, Florida}}

{{Geography of Florida}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1844 establishments in Florida Territory

Category:Charter counties in Florida

Category:Populated places established in 1844