EXTRAORDINARY HISTORY Melbourne Regional Chamber of Commerce on Florida's Space Coast, 1919 to 2025, and Beyond

During much of the Twentieth Century Brevard County, Florida, was a sparsely populated, mosquito-infested area of the state. Its economy relied primarily on fishing and agriculture. It received a large economic boost during World War II when the Navy established three Naval Aviation bases in the county. The county underwent a seismic shift in the early 1950's when NASA and the military began launching rockets from Cape Canaveral. Today Brevard County is the center of a vibrant aerospace and defense industry that plays a vital role in U.S. national security. This book chronicles the important role that the organization now known as Melbourne Regional Chamber of Florida's Space Coast has played in encouraging and enabling the development and transition of the county from fishing villages to aerospace and defense hub.