South Beaches is an unofficial area in Brevard County

Brevard County, Florida

Brevard County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida, along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. As of 2007 U.S. Census Bureau estimates, the population is 536,521, making it the 10th most populous county in the state. Influenced by the presence of the John F. Kennedy Space Center, Brevard...

, Florida

Florida

Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...

, United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

. It includes cities, towns and unincorporated area on the barrier island

Barrier island

Barrier islands, a coastal landform and a type of barrier system, are relatively narrow strips of sand that parallel the mainland coast. They usually occur in chains, consisting of anything from a few islands to more than a dozen...

 south of Patrick Air Force Base

Patrick Air Force Base

Patrick Air Force Base is a United States Air Force Base located between Satellite Beach and Cocoa Beach, in Brevard County, Florida, United States. It was named in honor of Major General Mason Patrick. An Air Force Space Command base, it is home to the 45th Space Wing...

. The cities and towns include: South Patrick Shores, Satellite Beach

Satellite Beach, Florida

Satellite Beach is a city in Brevard County, Florida, United States. The population was 9,577 at the 2000 census. As of 2005, the population estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau is 9,811. It is part of the Palm Bay–Melbourne–Titusville Metropolitan Statistical Area...

, Indian Harbour Beach

Indian Harbour Beach, Florida

Indian Harbour Beach is a city in Brevard County, Florida, United States. The population was 8,152 at the 2000 census. As of 2005, the population estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau is 8,441...

, Indialantic

Indialantic, Florida

Indialantic is a town in Brevard County, Florida, United States. The name is a portmanteau derived from the town's location between the Indian River Lagoon and the Atlantic Ocean....

 and Melbourne Beach

Melbourne Beach, Florida

Melbourne Beach is a town in Brevard County, Florida, United States. The population was 3,335 at the 2000 census. As of 2005, the population estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau is 3,314. It is part of the Palm Bay–Melbourne–Titusville Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:The Ais Indians resided...

, and the city of Melbourne

Melbourne, Florida

Melbourne is a city in Brevard County, Florida, United States. As of 2009, the population estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau is 78,323. The municipal area is the second largest by size and by population in the county. Melbourne is a principal city of the Palm Bay – Melbourne – Titusville, Florida...

.

The government has historically labeled the actual beach areas differently. These names appear to be at variance with those in popular use. The "Mid Reach" includes the 7.6 miles (12.2 km) in Satellite Beach. The "South Reach" includes the 3.8 miles (6.1 km) in Indialantic and Melbourne Beach. The "South Beaches" only includes 14.5 miles (23.3 km) south of Melbourne Beach to Sebastian.

History

Beach replenishment is required to encourage tourism. Replenishment is planned every six years.

In 2002, $15.5 million was spent to widen the beach in Indialantic and Melbourne Beach.

There was a beach restoration project in 2005 in Indialantic to just north of Spessard Holland North Beach park, Melbourne Beach. This largely eroded a year ahead of expectation in 2009. The government is funding a $12.4 million project to replenish the 3.8 miles (6.1 km) of beachfront in 2010 for completion before May 1, the start of nesting season for the sea turtles. The federal government is contributing $7 million, the state $2.6 million, and the county $2.8 million. The project is expected to move 650000 cubic yards (496,960.7 m³) of sand.

The 7.8 miles (12.6 km) area south of Patrick Air Force base to Indialantic, was skipped for fear of harming the threatened reef developing worm, sabellariids

Sabellidae

Sabellidae are sedentary marine polychaete tube worms where the head is mostly concealed by feathery branchiae. They build tubes out of parchment, sand, and bits of shell...

. $30 million is planned to replenish this beach from 2010 through 2013.

In 2011, alcoholic beverages were allowed on the beaches themselves in most municipalities, except Satellite Beach and Indialantic. Some parks are restricted in Indian Harbour Beach.

Media

• Florida Today
  Florida Today
  Florida Today is the major daily newspaper serving Brevard County. The Gannett corporation bought the paper in 1966.In addition to its regular daily publication, Florida Today publishes four weekly and eight biweekly community newspapers which are tailored for distinct neighborhoods within Brevard...
  
  started to publish a free weekly paper, The Breeze in about 2009 which contained all communities.
• The Hometown News - a free weekly paper that is distributed to each home