Melbourne, Florida, United States

🇺🇸 Melbourne is a city in Brevard County, Florida, United States. Melbourne is a principal city of the Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area. In 1969, the city was expanded by merging with nearby Eau Gallie.

Economy: Industry Orlando Melbourne International Airport is located near the centre of the city. Melbourne contains defense and technology companies with a high concentration of high-tech workers. The following corporations have operations in Melbourne: • DRS Technologies. • Alstom Signaling Operations Transportation Systems • L3Harris Technologies • Northrop Grumman • Rockwell Collins • Embraer • LiveTV • eviCore Healthcare • Avidyne Corporation.

Economy: Workforce In 2007, the average size of Melbourne's labor force was 39,391. Of that group, 37,708 were employed and 1,683 were unemployed, for an unemployment rate of 4.3%.

Housing In 2008, 259 building permits were issued for 263 units. There were 209 permits issued for 320 units in 2007, which was down from 329 permits for 512 units in 2006.

The median home price in 2007 was $215,000.

In May 2005, the Melbourne–Titusville–Palm Bay area was among the top 20 in home price appreciation from 2003 to 2004.

Competitiveness In 2009, Forbes ranked the area 18th out of 100 Metropolitan Statistical Areas and first out of 8 metros in Florida for affordable housing, and short commute times, among others.

Retail and commerce Melbourne has two downtown business districts, a result of the merger of Eau Gallie into Melbourne: • Eau Gallie Arts District -- located along the Indian River Lagoon with two public parks, two fine art galleries, a microbrewery and several other restaurants contained within one block. Known as EGAD, it is on the Florida Humanities FLORIDA STORIES historic audio-based walking tours app (download to your phone from the app store) and contains over 30 murals and three sculptures. • Historic Downtown Melbourne – among other retail outlets, this has 26 eating and drinking establishments within a four block extent.

Brevard Mall, the area's first mall, was built in 1962. It was followed by Melbourne Square in 1982.

Healthcare The city has three hospitals, day care for senior citizens, hospice, walk-in, and urgent care facilities. There is Holmes Medical Center, and Melbourne Regional Medical Center. Kindred Hospital is a chronic care facility for ventilated patients and does not accept emergency patients. A new Viera hospital was opened in May 2011.

Tourist Industry The city has two golf courses. There were 96,477 rounds played in 2009–10. Revenues were $2,207,502. In 2011, the city raised rates for residents to the same as for non-residents, $27 per round or $522 annual fee.

A monthly "Friday Fest" has been attended by 3,000 people and supported by 55 vendors.