(561) 689-2303
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
As a full-time employee with JLRD you'll participate in our bonus program, have access to a great benefits program, and be eligible to receive paid overtime. Additionally, you'll participate in our newly-developed capabilities-based advancement program.
Mechanical Engineer
Become a part of our Best-in-Class MEP/FP design firm where you'll have significant opportunities for advancement and can be based in West Palm Beach, FL or Merritt Island, FL. Requirements include a BS in Mechanical Engineering and relevant experience designing mechanical building systems, preferably in the healthcare, higher education, K-12, government, and industrial market segments. Must have superior communication skills (English). LEED or commissioning certifications are a plus. Overnight travel and the ability to conduct site visits are required.
Electrical Engineer
This is your opportunity to join our Best-in-Class MEP/FP design firm where you'll have significant opportunities for advancement and can be based in West Palm Beach, FL or Merritt Island, FL. Requirements include a BS in Electrical Engineering and relevant experience designing electrical building systems, preferably in the healthcare, higher education, K-12, government, and industrial market segments. Must have superior communication skills (English). LEED or commissioning certifications are a plus. Overnight travel and the ability to conduct site visits are required.
The Beach at Ocean Point
Photo Credit: www.bookinh.vom
Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge
Photo Credit: www.visitflorida.com
Mechanical PE
As a PE, you'll have considerable responsibility at our Best-in-Class MEP/FP design firm as well as significant opportunities for advancement, and you can be based at our West Palm Beach, FL or Merritt Island, FL location. Requirements include a BS in Mechanical Engineering, a PE license, directly relevant experience designing mechanical building systems, preferably in the healthcare, higher education, K-12, government, and industrial market segments, and superior communication skills (English). LEED or commissioning certifications are a plus. Overnight travel and the ability to conduct site visits are required.
Electrical PE
As a PE, you'll have considerable responsibility at our Best-in-Class MEP/FP design firm as well as significant opportunities for advancement, and you can be based at our West Palm Beach, FL, or Merritt Island, FL location. Requirements include a BS in Electrical Engineering, a PE license, directly relevant experience designing electrical building systems in the healthcare, higher education, K-12, government, and industrial market segments, and superior communication skills (English). LEED or commissioning certifications are a plus. Overnight travel and the ability to conduct site visits are required.
Marketing Coordinator
Our high-performance firm is in need of a high-performance Marketing Coordinator to join our team, and you can be based at our West Palm Beach, FL or Merritt Island, FL location. The range of duties include gathering market intelligence, helping to maintain our CRM platform, coordinating the efforts of and mentoring the firm's seller/doers, identifying and evaluating opportunities, developing winning proposals and presentations, establishing and monitoring performance metrics, and recommending modifications that will improve the firm's ability to simultaneously grow the top and bottom lines. Directly relevant experience in the architecture, engineering, or construction industry and strong interpersonal and English communication skills are required. The successful candidate will exhibit a proactive orientation, a positive attitude even under the pressure of a deadline, and be willing and able to work overtime on short notice, when needed. Graphic design skills and experience with InDesign are a plus.
WEST PALM BEACH
Downtown West Palm Beach, FL Photo Credit:/www.extraspace.com/blog/moving/city-guides
WORKING AT JLRD'S WEST PALM BEACH
HEADQUARTERS & CENTER OF EXCELLENCE
Working at JLRD in West Palm Beach, you have the opportunity to advance your career while making the most of your time off by being able to routinely enjoy the environment and activities that most people throughout the country are lucky to experience only once per year on vacation.
You’ll have access to a wide range of living options because the office is conveniently located just 1/2 mile from Interstate 95 (the primary north-south expressway) and one mile from Southern Boulevard (the primary east-west route). Traveling to other areas of the country or internationally, or receiving guests who travel from out of town to visit you and enjoy the weather, beaches, and other local amenities, will also be easy because the office is within one mile of Palm Beach International Airport and only 50 miles from the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.
The office is only 4 miles from the nearest beach, 3.5 miles from the Trump International Golf Club, 2 miles from the Kravis Center for Performing Arts and City Place, 2.5 miles from downtown nightlife on Clematis Street, and about 3 miles from world famous Worth Avenue on Palm Beach.
Jupiter Beach
Photo Credit: www.esteticainstitute.com
THE WEST PALM BEACH HEADQUARTERS
& CENTER OF EXCELLENCE
You’ll have access to all the tools, the work environment, and the guidance and support you need to deliver high performance in JLRD’s well-equipped 8,000 sq ft West Palm Beach office, located on the third floor of a modern three-story office building in a recently built-out space.
JLRD's West Palm Beach Headquarters & Center of Excellence
1250 Centrepark Blvd., Suite 350, West Palm Beach, FL
JLRD's West Palm Beach Main Conference Room
State-of-the-Art Video Conferencing Capabilities
JLRD's West Palm Beach Collaboration Areas
State-of-the-Art Design Tools and Recently Remodeled Facilities
JLRD's West Palm Beach Training Room
State-of-the-Art Design Tools and Recently Remodeled Facilities
WEST PALM BEACH POPULATION & LAND AREA
Palm Beach County is the third largest county in Florida with a total area of 2,383 square miles, 413 of which are covered by water. It has an estimated population in 2021 of about 1.5 million, with a growth rate of 1.14 percent per year. The City of West Palm Beach makes up about 117,000 of the County’s population. The eastern third of the county is mostly urbanized, and the central and western thirds are mostly suburban and rural, respectively, with over 500,000 acres of farmland. The County has nearly 50 miles of beachfront along the Atlantic Ocean.
Map Showing the HQ (red pin at center) Proximity to
Transportation & Amenities
Photo Credit: Google Maps
WEST PALM BEACH AND SURROUNDING AREA
RECREATION & ENTERTAINMENT HIGHLIGHTS
Photo Credit: www.tripadvisor.com
Boating (power and sail) is very popular in West Palm Beach. With the Gulf Stream less than 10 miles off the coast, there is outstanding fishing in the area, and there are plenty of opportunities to take a leisurely cruise to dinner at one of the many restaurants on the Intracoastal Waterway.
PGA National, one of the best golf courses in the nation, and more than 160 additional golf courses, are located within Palm Beach County, making it a golfer’s paradise.
Photo Credit: www.pgaresort.com
The Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, located at the western edge of downtown West Palm Beach is home to the Palm Beach Symphony and hosts many world-class performers. The center also has a conservatory that provides outstanding musical instruction.
Photo Credit: www.kravis.org
With nearly 50 miles of Atlantic Ocean beachfront in Palm Beach County alone, you’ll have easy access to some of the world's best beaches that have warm water and range from being secluded to those that are in commercially developed areas.
Photo Credit: www.jupiterinletboatrentals.com
The Village of Wellington, located in Palm Beach County just west of West Palm Beach, is an equestrian community. Many world-class equestrian events are hosted at the Wellington Equestrian Center.
Photo Credit: www.wellingtonequestrianrealty.com
Photo Credit: www.palmbeachfloridaweekly.com
Significant shopping centers with well-known department stores and unique specialty shops are available including the Gardens Mall, Palm Beach Outlets, Harborside in Jupiter, and Wellington Green. If you have expensive taste or like people-watching, the exclusive world-class shops on Worth Avenue of Palm Beach are nearby, too.
Palm Beach County has the largest artificial reef program in the nation. With the warm, clear water this provides unparalleled scuba opportunities. And, there many additional high quality dive sites throughout the state, including the only coral reef in the continental United States.
Photo Credit: www.macsports.com
Disney World is within an easy 2.5-hour drive of West Palm Beach, and you'll qualify for a Florida resident discount! Additionally, there are 10 other major theme parks, including Legoland , within a 3-hour drive of West Palm Beach.
Photo Credit: www.mirror.co.uk/travel/usa-canada
Photo Credit: www.visitflorida.com
The Palm Beach Zoo provides an excellent experience for adults and children with more than 500 animals in a lush 23-acre tropical habitat. Their annual fundraising gala held at the zoo provides a unique black-tie dining and entertainment experience for adults. Lion Country Safari and the 750-acre Miami Zoo are also within an easy drive.
Adults, teens, and children all enjoy Okeeheelee BMX. It’s the #3 BMX bicycle track in the nation and #1 in the Eastern US out of 300 tracks nationwide. The family-oriented track is home to riders age 2 to over 60, and you can ride for fun or compete at a serious level in this Olympic sport.
Photo Credit: www.usabmx.com
City Place and Clematis Street, both in downtown West Palm Beach, offer a variety of restaurants, theaters, shopping, and nightlife, although there are many outstanding restaurants throughout the area, too, including many waterfront locations.
Photo Credit: www.palmbeachculture.com
Windsurfing, waterskiing, and other watersports opportunities are abundant. Okeeheelee Park, a 900-acrea world-class waterskiing park with five lakes is available to professionals and amateurs and has a lighted lake for night-time use.
Photo Credit: www.palmbeachsports.com
WEST PALM BEACH AREA SCHOOLS
K-12
The School District of Palm Beach County received an overall rating of “A” for the 2024-2025 school year and earned the prestigious designation of “Academically High-Performing School District” from the state. The high school graduation rate for the year was 92.1 percent.
The District operates a total of 180 schools (109 elementary, 34 middle, 23 high, and 14 alternative, adult and community, intermediate, and Exceptional Student Education (ESE) facilities. It's the county’s largest employer, with more than 27,000 employees, approximately 13,000 of which are teachers, and approximately 45,000 volunteers. contribute their time to supporting the school. Student enrollment is about 193,000, and the District has an annual budget of about $5.22 billion.
Information regarding the rating of individual schools within Palm Beach County can be found by clicking here.
Information about Palm Beach County’s International Baccalaureate (IB) programs can be found here:
https://www.palmbeachschools.org/studentsparents/international-baccalaureate-ib-programs
Information regarding private K-12 schools within Palm Beach County can be found here:
https://www.privateschoolreview.com/florida/palm-beach-county
The School District of Palm Beach County has been a client of JLRD’s for over 30 years and has relied on JLRD to perform more than 170 projects to date including renovations, additions, and new construction. This has included JLRD’s design of building systems for the State of Florida’s first LEED Platinum K-12 school, the newest High School, shown above and below, and projects as large as 400,000 sq ft.
WEST PALM BEACH AREA
HIGHER EDUCATION FACILITIES
The following are colleges and universities in the South Florida area.
Florida Atlantic University has relied on JLRD to design the building systems for many of its projects, including their $26 million, 75,000 sq ft joint use facility and research laboratory shown above, which FAU shares with the University of Florida. JLRD designed this LEED Gold Certified building to be very energy efficient despite it’s load-intensive applications. Highlights include a 25 percent energy savings over the expected baseline, and a condensate reclaim system that saves hundreds of thousands of gallons of water per year. The facility also has an aviary with artificial lighting that matches the circadian rhythm of the birds, a sidecar chiller specifically designed for reheating the laboratory, and a 650kW generator.
Other projects FAU entrusted to JLRD include the $70 million, 500,000 sq ft, 1,200-bed Innovation Village upper-level graduate dormitory complex, shown below.
WEST PALM BEACH AREA HOSPITALS
Quality medical care is readily available in the South Florida area and includes easy access to the following 7 hospitals:
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Delray Medical Center
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Good Samaritan Medical Center
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Palm Beach Children's Hospital
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Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center
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St. Mary's Medical Center
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West Boca Medical Center
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Florida Coast Medical Center
The mission-critical Delray Medical Center South Florida Trauma Center economically met increased demand for medical/surgical beds and improved their energy efficiency by selecting JLRD to design a new 130,000 sf, four-story patient tower and accompanying 300-car parking garage. Unlike conventional emergency rooms, trauma centers must meet more rigorous state standards and be capable of addressing more serious injuries and events 24/7.
The Trauma Center saved money and achieved improved space utilization within the tower by JLRD locating the utilities and central energy plant supporting the tower within the garage. Chilled and hot water piping, power, and life safety systems connections were extended to distribution points, and air handlers were located throughout the tower. Reliability was improved by designing the system with a single set of pumps, reducing the number of potential failure points. JLRD designed the facility to comply with applicable regulations, including Florida Agency for Healthcare Administration (AHCA) Guidelines and Standards.
The energy efficiency improvements were primarily due to JLRD integrating Variable Primary Flow chiller controls with the building management system. This innovative control strategy enabled programmable set point regulation of HVAC systems, dimming LED sources, and using occupancy sensors for controlling environmental systems. The Trauma Center’s overall economics were also improved by basing the design on total life cycle cost.
This $50 million project demonstrates JLRD’s proficiency designing energy systems and controls within mission-critical facilities characterized by intensive mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and life safety requirements, and JLRD’s ability to work in a highly collaborative manner within a time-sensitive environment.
WEST PALM BEACH AREA
LOCAL ECONOMY & EMPLOYMENT
There are ample opportunities for your significant other or family to find meaningful employment in the West Palm Beach area if they wish to do so, and there is a very wide range of housing options available whether you prefer an apartment, condo, townhome, or detached home, and whether you choose to rent or buy.
The unemployment rate in West Palm Beach is 3.7 percent as of August 2025, which is below the national average of 4.3 percent. Local job growth over the next ten years is expected to be strong and positive, and outperform the national average.
Markets where local job growth is expected to be the strongest are:
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Education
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Health Services
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Professional and Business Services
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Construction
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Technology and Innovation
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Finance
WEST PALM BEACH AREA CRIME
Based on the most recent available data (2023), following is a list of the 10 cities in the United States with the highest per capita violent crime rate (violent crimes per 100,000 people).
No city in Florida is on this list.
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Oakland, CA
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Memphis, TN
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Detroit, MI
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Little Rock, AR
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Cleveland, OH
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Baltimore, MD
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Kansas City, KS
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St. Louis, MO
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Milwaukee, WI
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New Orleans, LA
MERRITT ISLAND
Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge Photo Credit:/www.visitflorida.com
WORKING AT JLRD's MERRITT ISLAND
CENTER OF EXCELLENCE
Working at JLRD’s Merritt Island office, you’ll have the opportunity to advance your career while making the most of your time off being able to routinely enjoy the environment and activities that most people throughout the country are lucky to experience once per year on vacation.
Merritt Island offers you easy access to an array of contrasts from beautifully preserved natural environments and outstanding beaches to visiting the most technologically sophisticated and complex operations conducted at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, with just as many varied living options. The office is located on the island, about 9 miles east of I-95. Port Canaveral, a popular cruise terminal, is about 7 miles east of the office, and Cocoa Beach is about 14 miles southeast from the office. Disney World, Epcot, Universal Studios, the Daytona International Speedway, and Orlando International Airport are all within a 65-mile radius.
Merritt Island
Photo Credit: www.hometogo.com
JLRD'S MERRITT ISLAND
CENTER OF EXCELLENCE
You’ll have access to all the tools, the work environment, and the guidance and support you need to deliver high performance in JLRD’s well-equipped 4,000 sq ft office, located on the second floor of a two-story office building in a recently built-out space.
JLRD's Merritt Island Center of Excellence
2405 N. Courtenay Parkway, Suite 205, Merritt Island, FL
Merritt Island Center of Excellence Interior
MERRITT ISLAND
POPULATION & LAND AREA
Merritt Island is a small unincorporated town in Brevard County with a population of approximately 35,000. It’s located about 60 miles east of Orlando on Florida’s largest island, which is also home to NASA’s 144,000-acre Kennedy Space Center and the 140,000-acre Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, both located at the north end of the island. The southern end of the island is mostly residential, with some commercial and light industrial development. The central part of the island is where most of the population is located, and is the where you will find the local high school, library, and shopping. Although it is called an island, it’s actually a peninsula, connected to mainland Florida at its northern tip.
Map Showing the Merritt Island Center of Excellence (red pin at center) Proximity to Transportation & Amenities
Photo Credit: Google Maps
MERRITT ISLAND AND SURROUNDING AREA
RECREATION & ENTERTAINMENT HIGHLIGHTS
Photo Credit: www.tripadvisor.com
Boating (power and sail) is very popular in the Merritt Island area. The Gulf Stream is about 35 miles off the Brevard County Cost, and it’s common to catch Blackfin Tuna, Amberjack, Mahi Mahi, Cobia, Barracuda, and King Mackerel.
You’ll find more than 20 golf courses in Brevard County, including two par 72 championship courses and a par 67 stretched executive course.
Photo Credit: www.visitspacecoast.com
Whether you prefer ocean kayaking, exploring vast open areas of calm water, or weaving through tightly spaced mangroves, Brevard County offers some of the best kayaking you can find anywhere.
Photo Credit: www.tripadvisor.com
With 72 miles of Atlantic Ocean beach in Brevard County, you’ll have easy access to windsurfing, diving, parasailing, and simply relaxing.
Photo Credit: www.travelguideline.net
The eastern terminus of Florida’s Coast to Coast bike trail system that traverses the central part of the state is located in Brevard County. There are many other cycling trails within Brevard Coast, as well.
Photo Credit: www.floridabikes.com
Photo Credit: www.bizjouirnals.com
World class shows are available in nearby Orlando at venues like the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts. This facility has a 2,700-seat amplified hall, Walt Disney Theater for Broadway musicals and multi-genre concerts, a 300-seat theater for smaller shows, and a 1,700-seat multiform theater with N1 sound rating.
In addition to shopping on the Island, major department stores are easily accessible in Melbourne and there is a wide array of shopping experiences available in Orlando, such as the Mall at Millenia, less than an hour drive from the Merritt Island office.
Photo Credit: www.en.wikipedia.org
Disney World is within an easy 1-hour drive (53 miles) and you'll qualify for a Florida resident discount! Additionally, there are 10 other major theme parks, including Legoland , within a 3-hour drive of Merritt Island.
Photo Credit: www.mirror.co.uk/travel/usa-canada
Photo Credit: www.youtube.com
On Merritt Island you’re only a one-hour drive from the thrills of NASCAR racing at the famous Daytona International Speedway. And with the Richard Petty driving experience you can drive a stock car yourself at over 100 mph around the 2.5-mile tri-oval speedway with 31- degree banked turns.
Photo Credit: www.youtube.com
Since Kennedy Space Center became a spaceport and companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin have built facilities, there are more rocket launches than ever, giving you a chance to experience launches firsthand which many people never have a chance to do in their lifetime. NASA also has a great visitors center.
Photo Credit: www.brevardec.com
Romelia Farms, located on the Island, offers trail rides and has a petting zoo for hands-on experiences with a wide array of animals. For the serious equestrian, the Brevard Equestrian Center, in Grant, FL near the south end of the county, has a 53-stall facility with boarding, training, clinics, and competition.
You can enjoy a relaxing meal at one of the many waterfront dining options on Merritt Island, and in surrounding Brevard County.
Photo Credit: www.palmbeachsports.com
The waterfront on Merritt Island is also one of the best places in the world to do absolutely nothing.
Photo Credit: www.palmbeachsports.com
MERRITT ISLAND AREA SCHOOLS
K-12
Brevard (County) Public Schools has maintained an "A" rating from the state for multiple years. The graduation rate for the 2023-2024 school year was 89.8 percent, which is slightly higher than the state average of 89.7 percent. They operate 84 schools, 15 special centers, and 12 charter schools. Brevard Public Schools has a student population of over 74,300 students and approximately 8,000 employees. Their annual budget for the 2026 fiscal year is $1.626 billion.
Information regarding the rating of individual schools within Brevard County can be found by clicking here:
https://data.floridatoday.com/school/brevard/
Information about Brevard Public Schools’ International Baccalaureate (IB) programs can be found here:
https://www.brevardschools.org/o/mhs/page/international-baccalaureate-world-school
Information regarding private K-12 schools within Brevard County can be found here:
https://www.privateschoolreview.com/florida/brevard-county
Heritage High School, located in Palm Bay, FL
Brevard Public Schools recently spent millions of dollars upgrading schools, technology, safety, and security systems. This includes a GPS system, shown below, that enables parents to know when their children get on or off the bus and provides information about delays. The GPS system also enhances student safety by enabling the school to track and enforce bus speed.
A two-story 31,000 sq ft addition to Merritt Island High School, housing classrooms and laboratory space, is shown below.
MERRITT ISLAND AREA
HIGHER EDUCATION FACILITIES
Following is a list of colleges and universities within approximately 65 miles of JLRD’s Merritt Island office.
Ranked among the 20 most innovative universities in the nation, Central Florida University is a popular choice for undergraduate and graduate degrees. Offering in-state tuition for 220 degree programs in 13 colleges it’s only a 45-mile drive from the Merritt Island office.
MERRITT ISLAND AREA HOSPITALS
Quality medical care is readily available in the Merritt Island area with easy access to the following 8 hospitals in Brevard County:
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Health First's Viera Hospital
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Rockledge Regional Medical Center
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Health First's Cape Canaveral Hospital
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Health First's Holmes Regional Medical Center
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Melbourne Regional Medical Center
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Wuesthoff Health System
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Space Coast Cancer Center
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Kindred Hospital Melbourne
Health First’s Cape Canaveral Hospital, Cocoa Beach, FL
MERRITT ISLAND AREA
LOCAL ECONOMY & EMPLOYMENT
There are considerable opportunities for your significant other or family to find meaningful employment in the Merritt Island area if they wish to do so, and there is a very wide range of housing options available whether you prefer an apartment, condo, townhome, or detached home, and whether you choose to rent or buy.
Brevard County’s unemployment rate is 4.7 percent, as compared with the national average of 4.3 percent. As of April 2025, the County had exhibited 57 consecutive months of job growth, and job growth is expected to remain positive.
Key sectors driving the area’s job growth are:
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Aerospace
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Manufacturing
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Health Care
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Education and Health Services
MERRITT ISLAND AREA CRIME
Based on the most recent available data (2023), following is a list of the 10 cities in the United States with the highest per capita violent crime rate (violent crimes per 100,000 people).
No city in Florida is on this list.
-
Oakland, CA
-
Memphis, TN
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Detroit, MI
-
Little Rock, AR
-
Cleveland, OH
-
Baltimore, MD
-
Kansas City, KS
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St. Louis, MO
-
Milwaukee, WI
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New Orleans, LA