Merritt Island, Florida
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Merritt Island is:
- An island (strictly, part of a peninsula) in Brevard County, Florida, on Florida's Atlantic coast
- a town located on the island
- Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, also located on the island
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The island
Merritt Island is not strictly an island at all, but part of a long peninsula connected to the mainland at the north, but separated from it to the south by the Indian River intracoastal waterway. This peninsula is in turn divided by the Banana River. Merritt Island includes the most northerly, undivided part of the peninsula, and the westerly section that lies between the two rivers.
Of this area:
- the most northerly part is the National Wildlife Refuge
- the next section south is taken up by the Kennedy Space Center and the associated Cape Canaveral Air Force Station; its coast forms Cape Canaveral, though the town of Cape Canaveral is not on the island but on the larger barrier island to the south
- the southernmost section, which forms a forked peninsula between the Indian River and the Banana River, is largely private land, and includes the site of the town.
To the north, Merritt Island includes a narrow barrier island that forms the coastline of the National Wildlife Refuge and links to the southern part of the Canaveral National Seashore; this is separated from the main peninsula by as stretch of water called Mosquito Lagoon. To its south and east, the island is linked by bridges and causeways to the more substantial barrier island that runs southwards from the towns of Cape Canaveral and Cocoa Beach. To its west, the island connects to the mainland by a series of causeways, to Titusville, Cocoa and Rockledge.
Airports
The town
As of the 2000 census, the CDP had a total population of 36,090.
Geography
FLMap-doton-MerrittIsland.PNG
Location of Merritt Island, Florida
Merritt Island is located at 28°21'28" North, 80°41'5" West (28.357901, -80.684734)Template:GR.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 121.9 km² (47.0 mi²). 45.7 km² (17.6 mi²) of it is land and 76.1 km² (29.4 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 62.49% water.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there are 36,090 people, 14,955 households, and 10,049 families residing in the CDP. The population density is 789.5/km² (2,044.6/mi²). There are 15,813 housing units at an average density of 345.9/km² (895.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the CDP is 90.22% White, 5.31% African American, 0.41% Native American, 1.65% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.68% from other races, and 1.66% from two or more races. 3.83% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 14,955 households out of which 27.1% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.9% are married couples living together, 10.7% have a female householder with no husband present, and 32.8% are non-families. 26.8% of all households are made up of individuals and 11.4% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.36 and the average family size is 2.86.
In the CDP the population is spread out with 21.8% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 26.1% from 25 to 44, 26.2% from 45 to 64, and 19.8% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 43 years. For every 100 females there are 95.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 92.3 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP is $43,532, and the median income for a family is $52,388. Males have a median income of $41,393 versus $25,787 for females. The per capita income for the CDP is $23,961. 9.4% of the population and 7.2% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 13.8% of those under the age of 18 and 7.0% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.