Before President John F. Kennedy pledged to have America on the moon within the decade in 1961, Brevard County was a sleepy coastal area of only about 111,000 people. As a result of this focus on space travel, though, the area around Cape Canaveral began to thrive, and today the county boasts nearly 500,000 residents. The space industry still looms large over the community, and the presence of NASA has resulted in numerous other high-tech industries clustering around the Kennedy Space Center. There’s much more to Brevard County than space travel, though. Due to its status on the Atlantic Ocean, bisected diagonally by the Intracoastal Waterway and with several rivers, the county has many beautiful and luxurious waterfront homes and is known for its outstanding surfing and fishing. In fact, due to the great weather and beautiful environment, outdoor recreation of all kinds are popular in Brevard County, including boating, golf, tennis courts, and water sports plus a large and diverse park system. Also noteworthy in the county are its shopping, nightlife, and cultural scenes. Perhaps most notable about the area, though, are the many relaxed yet luxurious family-friendly communities in a wide variety of styles and areas. Brevard County has come a long way since 1961, as has America, and the area is well-positioned to continue this growth in the 21st century and beyond.