1976 Map of Courtenay

About this map

Merritt Island is defined by its dual identity as a space-age threshold and a preservation corridor in this 1976 orthophotomap. The eastern half is dominated by the John F Kennedy Space Center (NASA) and the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, where the Space Center Bdy meets the marshy edges of the Banana River. To the west, the landscape transitions into established riverside communities along the Indian River. Residents and researchers can trace the older settlement patterns of Courtenay and Indianola, marked by landmarks like Orsino Ch, Mt Zion Ch, and Palm Chapel. The engineering of the mid-century is evident in the straight cut of the Canaveral Barge Canal and the Bennett Causeway, which link the island to Cocoa and City Pt. This map captures the region just as the space program's physical footprint had fully integrated with the local geography.