Courtenay, Florida facts for kids

Courtenay (pronounced like KORT-nee) is a small community located on Merritt Island in Brevard County, Florida, United States. It's not a city with its own government, but rather a part of the larger area that includes cities like Palm Bay, Melbourne, and Titusville.

Courtenay was first settled in the 1870s and 1880s. People from Charleston, South Carolina, moved there. The community was named after William Ashmead Courtenay. He was from Charleston, a businessman, and later served as the Mayor of Charleston for two terms.

A main road on Merritt Island is Courtenay Parkway. The northern part of this road is also known as State Road 3. It runs from north to south. Sometimes, people mistakenly spell the name of the place and the road as Courteney. A historic old church, St. Luke's Episcopal Church and Cemetery, can be found in Courtenay.

Courtenay's Post Office History

Courtenay once had its own post office. It first opened on March 8, 1886. At first, the name was spelled Courteney, Florida. However, this was corrected to Courtenay on May 6, 1893.

Several people served as postmasters for this office. One of them was a well-known novelist named Professor Peck. Edward Porcher also served as a postmaster. The Courtenay post office eventually closed on March 31, 1930. After it closed, mail services for the area were handled by the Cocoa post office.

Where is Courtenay Located?

Courtenay is located at these coordinates: 28°27′24″N 80°42′35″W. These numbers help pinpoint its exact spot on a map.