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Welcome
to West Volusia County, Florida
With 47 miles of beaches along the Atlantic coast, the St. Johns river along its western perimeter, and the Halifax and Tomoka Rivers along the east, Volusia County is rich in the natural resources vacationers love. But, Volusia County is fast becoming known for other important advantages as well as the kind that attracts business and industry. Not only is the county's population growing at a rapid rate - 27.9 percent - but the biggest surge is due to a healthy increase in the area's prime age working population. The group aged 15 to 44 years old increased 110% in the last decade and currently accounts for almost 40% of Volusia County's total population. Currently at 346,999, predictions are that the population will pass a half-million by the year 2010. Sprawling Volusia County, which encompasses 1,207 square miles, is situated at the busy intersection of two of Florida's major interstates, I-95 and I-4, for easy come, easy go access to business entities. Centered in Florida's fast growing industrial triangle, Volusia County is 50 miles northeast of Orlando, 60 miles north of Kennedy Space Center and 85 miles south of Jacksonville. According to national census figures, Volusia County ranks in the nation's top 25 growing metropolitan areas. The cost of living is quite reasonable here and per capita income healthy, with the most recent figures showing effective buying power per household to be about $21,000. The average single family home selling price is $79,298 and the average rental for a two bedroom apartment ranges from $350 to $425 a month. What's more, county residents approved a $112 million bond issue in support of education enabling Volusia County to equip every elementary classroom and all secondary language arts classrooms with several computers as part of a comprehensive modernization program. The Volusia County School System serves an area of more than 330,000 residents and meets the educational needs of 46,000 students. Area business involvement is credited with a key role in the school system's revitalization. In around Volusia County are nearly 20 institutions for higher learning, among them Stetson University, the oldest private university in Florida and Florida's first law school. Another notable university is the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach which has been helping people get started in aviation careers since before Lindbergh flew the Atlantic. Embry-riddle moved to Daytona Beach in 1965 and is considered a world leader in aviation higher education. Of course, as you'd expect in an area where the sun shines nearly every day of the year, Volusia County has a playful side too. Prime evidence is the plethora of golf courses, the more than 70 fine hard surface tennis courts, and approximately 70 city-operated city parks. On top of that, Volusia county offers fertile fishing grounds, deep sea, pier, surf, river and freshwater fishing which are popular virtually throughout the year. And finally, Volusia County is world famous for its many auto racing events held annually at the Daytona International Speedway. "Speedweeks" scheduled in early February include the Bush Clash and the Daytona 500 NASCAR Winston Cup. Cycle Week happens in March featuring Supercross, amateur and professional road racing. Volusia County
- long considered perfect for pleasure, is fast gaining a reputation
as being perfect for business too. DeLand DeLand, the oldest city in West Volusia County, is located on the east bank of the St. Johns River and has been the county seat since 1888. DeLand is 30 to 35 miles from Daytona Beach as well as its larger neighbor Orlando. DeLand was founded in 1876 by Henry Addison DeLand who dreamed of creating a city that would be "the Athens of Florida." Today, DeLand with its century old oak shaded residential neighborhoods, Stetson University, the oldest private University in Florida and downtown DeLand listed as a National Historic District offers the same "old fashioned charm." DeLand also offers a multitude of economic opportunities such as technical industries, agribusiness, (fern, citrus, ornamental horticulture) and marine products. There are many county parks offering a wide variety of team sports, over 170 churches, 1 hospital and medical complexes offering excellent medical attention. DeLand is also a terminal for AMTRAK trains connecting Central Florida with Florida's WestCoast and ultimately the rest of the United States. The Cultural Arts Center and Stetson University offer plays, lectures, concerts, exhibits and classes. Stetson University also offers basketball and baseball games.Clyde Beatty-Cole Brothers Circus makes its winter home in DeLand and skydivers from around the world gather to train at Skydive DeLand at the DeLand Municipal Airport. Golfing and fishing enthusiasts will find DeLand a paradise. DeLand's greatest commodity is, "SMALL HOMETOWN COMMUNITY LIVING" at its best. Deltona is one of the newest cities and is also one of the largest. It is centrally located in southwest Volusia County on the north shore of lake Monroe between Orlando and the beaches. Deltona provides affordable housing and easy commuting with 2 exits onto Interstate 4. In the early 1960's the Mackel brothers formed Deltona Corporation and bought 15,000 acres with live oaks, native pines, palms and magnolias, and 32 lakes. On November 8, 1962 the community of Deltona had its grand opening with 35,000 single-family home lots for sale. In 1970 the population was 4,868, today the population is 56,000+. There are many county parks in Deltona offering a wide variety of team sports for children of all ages. For the golf enthusiasts, there is Deltona Hills Golf and Country Club plus 5 other golf courses nearby. Deltona is a fisherman's paradise with many lakes, the largest being Lake Monroe, which flows into the St. Johns River. It has several places to launch a boat and offers a wide variety of activity from fishing to boating up to Jacksonville where the St. Johns River flows into the Intercoastal Waterway. In the past 10 years, great emphasis has been placed on providing the residents of Deltona with convenient shopping, banking, medical facilities, including the new Fish Memorial Hospital at Volusia Medical Center, churches of most every denomination, restaurants, parks and of course the school system, which has always been a primary concern. Every year one or more new schools are on the drawing board and being built. There are several colleges close at hand. Deltona has much to offer young families and retirees. Plenty of sunshine, friendly neighbors, extensive recreational activities and a slow-paced rual lifestyle... who could ask for more? You'll find all this, plus low real estate taxes in Orange City. Nestled at the foot of a pine ridge that extends north and south through West Volusia County, Orange City is characterized by rolling terrain, mild climate and small town ambience. The first inhabitants of the area were Timucuans, a nomadic tribe who found fish and fresh water plentiful here. The earliest permanent settlers, Louis and mary Thursby, arrived by riverboat around 1856 and built a log cabin at Blue Spring Run. After the Civil War the exotic scenery and subropical climate of Florida attracted large numbers of Northerners. A citrus town soon sprang up three miles east, founded in 1775 and incorporated in 1882. Today more than 6,000 people live in Orange City's temperate climate. The natural spring which furnishes water for Orange City was discovered in 1891. The public water fountain near Dickinson memorial Library continues to attract travellers. Orange City's solid foundation on traditional family values and its proximity to the vigorous growth of Central Florida promises a prosperous decade to come. Affordable housing, good city and county services, low taxes, excellent education and unlimited recreation add up to an irresistible quality of live. RECREATION IN ORANGE CITY: The Orange City Blue Springs manatee Festival Committee organizes the manatee Festival which is held in Valentine park on the last full weekend in January. The manatee Festival is dedicated to environmental awareness in West Volusia and particularly the Manatees and the preservation of teh habitat of Blue Springs State Park in Orange City. Frontier Day, held in March, raises money for community organizations. Activities include a pancake breakfast, parade, auto show, game booths, contests and food. Blue Spring Run is a refuge for the West Indian Manatee, one of the world's most endangered mammals. During the winter months, these huge vegetarians, docile and curious, congregate in the run to enjoy the year-round 72 degree waters and to munch on water hyacinths. Nestled among thousands of oak trees. mocking birds and gentle people lies the community of DeBary. City fathers spearheaded a drive to incorporate this Volusia County area because neighboring communities were aggressively annexing property closer and closer to what residents called DeBary. Incorporation passed on the first go-around. Surrounded by the magnificent St. Johns River, Interstate 4 and Orange City, DeBary is located in the southwest corner of Volusia County. The average age in this city of 11,336 is estimated to be 45. DeBary's first school, elementary level, opened in 1996. DeBary encompasses over 18 square miles. Debary's claim to fame is the DeBary Mansion, named after Baron Frederick DeBary, a Belgian who served as a public relations man for Mumm's champagne. To promote his product he entertained at his winter retreat in Florida. The DeBary Mansion is undergoing renovations to restore the mansion to full use. Some of DeBary's assets include churches of all denominations, a fire department, library, civic associations, activities and organizations for children, an aggressive parks and recreation movement and the lowest taxes in the county. In addition, DeBary has two championship golf courses, several manufactured home communities, five upscale housing developments, three more proposed housing developments, a travel campground along the St. Johns River and a positive City Council. Two major power plants, Florida Power Corporation and Florida Power and Light Company, contribute to approximately 40% of the tax base. Homes range in price from a modest $40,000 to the $385,000 Parade of Homes Showcase in DeBary Golf and Country Club. Because DeBary is a new city, the volunteer efforts flourished. Approximately 20 volunteers provided landscaping assistance at the new City Hall, saving taxpayers' dollars. Another 30 volunteers committed to work on the two-year Debary Comprehensive Land Use Plan program. The commitment is here to enhance and secure the vision that DeBary will be a community of the future. Early in setting up City Government, the Debary City Council took a firm stand to contract for as many sevices as possible, including police, fire, roads zoning, growth management, grants, parks and recreation, solid waste and more. Even the first City Manager and first City Attorney were contract employees. This "cutting edge" approach has saved the Debary tax payers thousands of dollars. Most services are provided by the County of Volusia at an annual cost of about $2 million. Staffed with a City Manager. City Clerk and Administrative Assistant and housed in a renovated bank building, the City of DeBary is in good hands with a popular City Council, an abundance of voluteers, beautiful parks, progressive thinking and a welcome invitation for new residents. Parks are a big thing in DeBary. DeBary Community Park, Bill Keller Park, Power Park, Lake Monroe Park and Fire Tower park are a few of the well-known developed parks in DeBary. Neighborhood and stoller-type parks are a major emphasis. Gemini Spring Range, once a cattle farm with the summer house of Charles and Saundra Gray, is now a County District and State Park with two natural springs.
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