NASA Visitor Center photo: Cyndi Lenz — NASA Visitor Center
photo: Cyndi Lenz

Welcome to Brevard County!

The Space Coast

Brevard County is a county located in Florida, along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean.
The Region is also known as the Space Coast. As such it was designated with the area code 321 as in 3-2-1 liftoff.

Canaveral National Seashore photo: cyndilenz — Canaveral National Seashore
photo: cyndilenz

"Mosquito

History of Brevard County

The first Paleo-Indian people arrived in the area between 12,000 and 10,000 years ago. They were semi-nomadic people who lived in smaller groups. The coast of Florida was about 100 miles wider. The Indian River was simply a lower point on dry land.

After a few thousand years, perhaps by around 3000 B.C. peninsular Florida resembled the land of today. These people were primarily fishermen. It is believed that these were the ancestors of the Native Americans who would come in contact with the Europeans when they arrived.

Ponce De Leon arrived at the shores near Melbourne Beach in 1513. Heavy mosquito infestation and the threat of Indian attacks kept the area from having any permanent white settlements. The Spanish quickly left the area, but left a deadly reminder of their visit: European diseases. Within 200 years, almost the entire pre-Columbian population of Florida had died out. Creek Indians from the north quickly swept down from Georgia and the Carolinas to fill the void. These Indians became known as the Seminole.

New! Dog Friendly Brevard County

New! Photo Gallery of Merritt Island, Kennedy Space Center, and Cocoa Beach