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

History

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

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

By air

Melbourne Airport (IATA: MLB) is south of Rockledge, 18 miles, off of, and west of US1.
Orlando International Airport (IATA: MCO) is about one hour west (by car).

By car

Within easy driving distance from Cocoa Beach, and Cape Canaveral - 10 miles east, Kennedy Space Center - 16 miles north, and Universal/Disney - 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.

Get around

By bus

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: January 2023) 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

Helen & Allan Cruickshank Sanctuary, 360 Barnes Blvd, 28.2938°, -80.7067°, +1 321 255-4466, mike.knight@brevardfl.gov. Dawn-dusk. 2021-07-16
H.S. Williams House, 1219 Rockledge Dr, 28.3313°, -80.7155°. 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. 2021-07-16

Do

Turtle Creek Golf Club, 1279 Admiralty Blvd (turn south from Barnes Blvd onto Admiralty Blvd), 28.2916°, -80.7325°, +1 321 632-2520, jhorton@golfturtlecreek.com. 2021-07-16

Buy

Rockledge Gardens, 2153 US-1, 28.3141°, -80.7109°, +1 321-636-7662. M-Sa 9AM-5PM, Su 11AM-4PM. Garden centre, greenhouse, farmers' market. Opened in 1962. 2021-07-20

Eat

Ashley's, 1609 S US-1, 28.333°, -80.7246°, +1 321 636-6430. 2021-07-16
Lello's Ristorante/Pizzeria, 2025 Murrell Rd, 28.3181°, -80.7223°, +1 321 305-5933. 2021-07-16
River Rocks Dining & Drinks Dockside, 6485 S US-1, 28.2315°, -80.6734°, +1 321 757-7200. Su–Th 11AM–9PM, F– a 11AM–10PM. 2021-07-16

Drink

Sleep

More lodging is available in Melbourne to the south.

The Palmer Inn & Tennis Center (Swiss Inn & Tennis Center), 3220 South Fiske Blvd, 28.3058°, -80.7423°, +1-321 631-9445.
The Bonsai Modern Motor Court, 3880 US-1, 28.2943°, -80.6991°, +1 321 209-0910. Office is open 8AM-8PM daily. 2021-07-16

Go next

Melbourne

Rockledge - city in Brevard County, Florida, United States of America