Melbourne was founded in 1867 by a group of former slaves. They built the first school in 1883, about the time the population was nearing 70. The still-active Greater Allen Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church was founded in 1885.

In those days, most structures were built of wood... most of downtown Melbourne burned in 1919.

Naval Air Station Melbourne was opened in late 1942 as a place for training Navy and Marine pilots during World War II. That mission ended in 1946 and most of the land and construction involved became Melbourne International Airport.

In 1969 the voters in Eau Gallie and Melbourne voted to merge the two cities into one Melbourne, the second largest city in area and second largest in population in Brevard County.