Melbourne is part of the Palm Bay–Melbourne–Titusville Metropolitan area of Brevard County on Florida’s Space Coast. Its area code, 3-2-1, was designated to capture this spirit, "3-2-1, liftoff!" Though one of Florida’s longest counties, extending over 70 miles from north to south, it is completely coastal, with its furthest point west ending in the marshes of the St. Johns River. Melbourne offers its residents mild weather, an affordable cost of living, low crime rates, city amenities and numerous recreational opportunities. The city is characterized by the historic buildings, ancient trees draped in Spanish moss and waterfront homes making up its landscape. In Melbourne, residents are never far from a municipal beach—Cocoa Beach, Canaveral National Seashore, Satellite Beach and Sebastian Inlet are less than a half hour away; Daytona Beach is less than an hour’s drive, perfect for a weekend "stay-cation". Major urban centers of Kissimme/St.Cloud and Orlando, full of entertainment, dining and theme parks to choose from, are also located convenient to Melbourne, at just under an hour’s drive away. The first European to ever set foot in Florida was Ponce de Leon, who landed on the shores of nearby island Melbourne Beach in 1513, officially designating the Melbourne area as Florida’s oldest beach community. Following the Civil War, pioneer families, many of whom were former slaves, came to the area, establishing the 1867 settlement Crane Creek, later re-named Melbourne to honor its first postmaster. A new era of development began for Melbourne in 1940, with the opening of the Naval Air Station Banana River, what is now the site of Patrick Air Force Base. The following decade saw the unveiling of the Long Range Proving Ground, what would eventually become Kennedy Space Center. Melbourne’s population, like all of Brevard County’s, grew during the "Space Race". One result of this surge in expansion and development was the separate communities of Melbourne and Eau Gallie becoming united in 1969, forming the larger metro city of Melbourne as we know it today. A unique feature of this merger has resulted in a doubling of services, businesses, economies and attractions in Melbourne. One example is that Melbourne has two distinct historic downtown districts, Downtown Eau Gallie Arts District and Historic Downtown Melbourne. Spanish moss and rugged swamps meet the sunny beaches and sand of south Florida, making the Space Coast the ideal destination for those who want to experience the diversity of all of Florida’s natural beauty. Melbourne has activities such as golfing, fresh and saltwater fishing, boating and sailing available within city limits, offered at over 35 municipally maintained city and community parks. Additionally, Sebastian Inlet State Park, the Brevard Zoo, St. Johns River, Indian River Lagoon, the St. Sebastian River, the Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge, Canaveral National Seashore and Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge offer residents and visitors a chance to experience untouched Floridian natural beauty. Canoeing and kayaking, swimming, scuba diving, snorkeling, shelling, and sunbathing, as well as fishing for snook, redfish, bluefish, and Spanish mackerel from the jetties are popular recreational activities in the numerous rivers and shorelines of Melbourne and its area. Culturally, the most definitive destination of the area is without a doubt NASA’s John F. Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, but Space Coast symphonic and orchestral recitals are scheduled year-round, and galleries, museums and cultural events pack Brevard’s events calendars, so there’s always something to do that meets any taste in the Palm Bay–Melbourne–Titusville region. The Melbourne Independent Filmmakers' Festival, Melbourne Arts Festival, Melbourne Oktoberfest and Melbourne Main Street Fall Festival are just a few of the local favorites that celebrate the spirit of Melbourne’s civic identity. Offering a wide variety of experiences and catering to residents from all walks of life and is ideal for families, professionals and retirees alike, the peaceful pace of island life is within reach in the "Kingdom of the Sun"—find yours on the shore of Melbourne.