Rockledge
Rockledge is a city of 28,000 people (2019) in Central Florida on US Route 1. Local businesses focus on technology and aerospace, especially those related to nearby Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral.
Understand
[edit]History
[edit]
Settlers gave the town its name due to regional coquina rock found along the coast. Gardner Hardee and Cephas Magruder were early settlers; Magruder arrived in the 1870s and built one of the town's historic houses. The city was incorporated in 1887 as "Rock Ledge" to become Brevard County's first municipality.
Agriculture (citrus) and tourism were factors in the local economy's development, as the Intracoastal Waterway was (and remains) a major draw. President Grover Cleveland visited the city in 1888. The permanent population of the town was a mere 200, but this increased by a factor of ten each winter due to tourism. Steamboats and train routes brought tourists thanks to the efforts of Henry Flagler. The construction of the Dixie Freeway in 1915 brought tourists to the region by automobile, and it was paved during the next decade and routed as US-1.
A series of development projects would see the city's evolution into its current form. A hospital was built on a former golf course just before the U.S. entered World War II, and during the Baby Boom after the war, construction of housing developments began, continuing throughout the rest of the 20th century. The construction of the nearby Kennedy Space Center contributed to the town's population and economy, and a locally significant nursery, the Rockledge Gardens, was opened in 1962. Apart from these gardens, much of the former agricultural land was replaced by housing, and today, Rockledge is a suburban community of Melbourne to the south and the Canaveral region to the northeast.
Climate
[edit]There are two major seasons which characterize the area. One is hot and rainy, lasting from June until late September. The other is the dry season, October through May, brings more moderate temperatures and less frequent rainfall.
Get in
[edit]By plane
[edit]- 1 Merritt Island Airport (COI IATA), 450 Manor Dr, Merritt Island (Entrance into airport grounds at Manor & Gladiola Dr, next to 471 Manor Dr), ☏ +1 321 2678780. Open 24 hours. Merritt Island Airport (COI), is the closest general aviation airport to Rockledge, Cocoa Beach, Viera West, Palm Shores, Port St John and Port Canaveral. COI provides general aviation and recreational flights, features aircraft charter services, bi-plane rides, banner towing, flight training, aircraft avionics services and aircraft maintenance & sales. Major airlines utilize this airport (such as JetBlue that flies direct non-stop from Westchester County Airport (HPN) and Merritt Island Airport (COI).
Next nearest airports for commercial flights are:
- Melbourne Orlando International Airport (MLB IATA) in Melbourne is the nearest large airport at 27 mi (43 km) south via I-95 or US Hwy 1 (30 min drive).
- Larger airports are Orlando International Airport (MCO IATA) 47 mi (76 km) west on via I-95 & FL-528; and Daytona Beach International (DAB IATA) (73 mi (117 km) north) which are 4min to 1 1/2 hr drive.
By car
[edit]Within easy driving distance from Cocoa Beach, and Cape Canaveral is 10 miles east, Kennedy Space Center, 16 miles north; and Universal/Disney is 1 hour to the west. The exit off of I-95 to Rockledge is Fiske Blvd. Route 528 (which is 6 miles north of 520) goes east to the Beaches. From Orlando Airport (MCO) travel east via 528.
By bus
[edit]- 2 Greyhound, (bus stop) Mobile Gas Station @ 3210 S Fiske Blvd (Off of Exit #195 of I-95.), ☏ +1 321 252-2011, toll-free: +1 800 231-2222. Travels primarily on Interstate 95 (Miami, Ft Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Jupiter, Port St Lucie, Ft Pierce, Vero Beach, Sebastian, Rockledge, Titusville, Edgewater, New Smyrna Beach, Daytona Beach, Palm Coast, Jacksonville). Passengers transfer in Jacksonville, West Palm Beach, Miami or Orlando to reach other cities. Check Schedules.
Get around
[edit]By bus
[edit]- Space Coast Area Transit is the name of the local Brevard County bus service. It is a cheap way to get around and is handicap accessible. To find routes in the Rockledge area, go to their route maps[dead link] page and click the circles next to "Cocoa/Rockledge" and "Rockledge/Viera" to show bus stations and any bus that is on the route. The website also provides timetables. Buses travel to most sites and places of interest. $1.50 per ride, or 75 cents for active or inactive U.S. military, seniors 60+, students (as of July 2021).
See
[edit]
- 1 Helen & Allan Cruickshank Sanctuary, 360 Barnes Blvd, ☏ +1 321 255-4466, mike.knight@brevardfl.gov. Dawn-dusk.
- 2 H.S. Williams House, 1219 Rockledge Dr. Built in 1880 by Hiram S. Williams, who was a local entrepreneur, in citrus and in telecommunications. He became a state senator and used the home as a school. It came under control of the county in 1989, who restored the home. The home is three stories high and is built in the Queen Anne architectural style.
Do
[edit]- 1 Turtle Creek Golf Club, 1279 Admiralty Blvd (turn south from Barnes Blvd onto Admiralty Blvd), ☏ +1 321 632-2520, jhorton@golfturtlecreek.com.
Buy
[edit]- 3 Rockledge Gardens, 2153 US-1, ☏ +1 321-636-7662. M-Sa 9AM-5PM, Su 11AM-4PM. Garden centre, greenhouse, farmers' market. Opened in 1962.
Eat
[edit]- 1 Ashley's, 1609 S US-1, ☏ +1 321 636-6430.
- 2 Lello's Ristorante/Pizzeria, 2025 Murrell Rd, ☏ +1 321 305-5933.
- 3 River Rocks Dining & Drinks Dockside, 6485 S US-1, ☏ +1 321 757-7200. Su–Th 11AM–9PM, F– a 11AM–10PM.
Drink
[edit]Sleep
[edit]More lodging is available in Melbourne to the south.
- 1 The Palmer Inn & Tennis Center (Swiss Inn & Tennis Center), 3220 South Fiske Blvd, ☏ +1-321 631-9445.
- 2 The Bonsai Modern Motor Court, 3880 US-1, ☏ +1 321 209-0910. Check-out: 11AM. Office is open 8AM-8PM daily.
Go next
[edit]| Routes through Rockledge |
| Daytona Beach ← Cocoa ← | N  S |
→ Melbourne → West Palm Beach |
| Daytona Beach ← Cocoa ← | N  S |
→ Melbourne → West Palm Beach |