Melbourne & the Beaches

The cultural and commercial heart of the Space Coast. Melbourne (pop. 84,678) is the county's second-largest city, home to Florida Institute of Technology, a revitalized downtown along the Indian River, and the Melbourne Orlando International Airport. East of the Indian River Lagoon, a chain of barrier-island beach communities lines the Atlantic: Satellite Beach (pop. 11,226), Indian Harbour Beach (pop. 9,019), Indialantic (pop. 3,010), and Melbourne Beach (pop. 3,231). These communities offer direct ocean access, walkable downtowns, and a relaxed coastal lifestyle connected by SR A1A.