Volusia County, Florida

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"Volusia" redirects here. For the unincorporated community, see Volusia, Florida. For the moth, see Peoria (moth).

Volusia County
County
County of Volusia
Volusia County courthouse in DeLand, built in 2001
Volusia County courthouse in DeLand, built in 2001
Official logo of Volusia County
Logo
Map of Florida highlighting Volusia County
Location within the U.S. state of Florida
Map of the United States highlighting Florida
Florida's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 29°04′N 81°08′W / 29.07°N 81.14°W / 29.07; -81.14
Country United States
State Florida
FoundedDecember 29, 1854
Named forCommunity of Volusia
SeatDeLand
Largest cityDeltona
Area
 • Total1,432.44 sq mi (3,710.0 km2)
 • Land1,101.03 sq mi (2,851.7 km2)
 • Water331.40 sq mi (858.3 km2)  23.14%
Population
 • Estimate 
(2019)
553,284[1]
 • Density489/sq mi (189/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district6th
Websitewww.volusia.org

Volusia County (/vəˈluːʃə/ və-LOO-shə) is located in the east-central part of the U.S. state of Florida, stretching between the St. Johns River and the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010 census, the county was home to 494,593 people, an increase of 11.6% from 2000.[2] It was founded on December 29, 1854, from part of Orange County, and was named for the community of Volusia, located in northwestern Volusia County. Its first county seat was Enterprise. Since 1887, its county seat has been DeLand.[3]

Volusia County is part of the Deltona–Daytona Beach–Ormond Beach metropolitan statistical area, and is also part of the larger Orlando–Deltona–Daytona Beach combined statistical area.

History[]

Volusia on the right bank of the St. Johns River (circa 1835)
Timucua owl totem found near Hontoon Island in the St. Johns River, Volusia County

Volusia County was named after its largest community, Volusia, when the Florida Legislature created it by dividing Orange County on December 29, 1854. At the time, Volusia County had about 600 residents.[4]

The origins of the word "Volusia" are unclear, though several theories exist:

  1. The name came from a word meaning "Land of the Euchee", from the Euchee Indians who migrated into the area after the Timucua Indian cultures declined in the early 1700s.[4] The Euchees (or Uchees) lived in the area of Spring Gardens, about 10 miles south of Volusia.[5]
  2. It was named after a British settler named Voluz, who owned a plantation located on the St. Johns River in the late 1700s.[6]
  3. The name originated from the Veluche, the surname of a French or Belgian owner of the trading post in Volusia. According to some, this was during the British regime, and according to others, it was around 1818. Over time, the name Veluche became anglicized to Volusia.[7]
  4. The town was established by and named for Jere Volusia.[8]
  5. The settlement was named by the Spanish after the celebrated Roman jurist Volusio, who wrote 30 books and tutored Marcus Aurelius, the Roman emperor and philosopher.[6]

The land area of present-day Volusia County was long inhabited by the indigenous Timucua and Mayaca peoples. Neither historic group exists today as distinct ethnic tribes, having been decimated by disease and war in the decades after contact with European traders and settlers. The large shell middens at Tomoka State Park and other evidence of their historic habitation can still be seen in various areas of Volusia County.

During the British occupation of Florida, a colony known as New Smyrna was started in southeast Volusia County by Andrew Turnbull. This colony was connected to St. Augustine, the capital of East Florida, via the Kings Road. After the failure of the colony the settlers, many of whom were ethnic Menorcan and Greek, traveled the 70 mi (110 km) to move to St. Augustine.

The Seminole Indians, descendants of the Creek tribe of Alabama and Georgia who resisted forced relocation to Indian Territory, also camped in various parts of Volusia County. During the Second Seminole War (1836–1842), the Seminole burned a large sugar plantation in what is today the city of Daytona Beach.

On the east shore of the St. Johns River in Volusia, in present-day DeBary, General Winfield Scott established a fort/depot in 1836 named Fort Florida.

Geography[]

Avenue of Moss-Covered Oaks, Near Ormond, Florida -- an 1893 duotone print

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,432 square miles (3,710 km2), of which 1,101 square miles (2,850 km2) are land and 331 square miles (860 km2) (23.1%) are covered by water.[9]

Volusia County is bordered on the west by the St. Johns River and Lake Monroe, and by the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Roughly the size of Rhode Island, Volusia is situated 50 mi (80 km) northeast of Orlando, 60 mi (97 km) north of the Kennedy Space Center, and 89 mi (143 km) south of Jacksonville.

Regions[]

The Volusia County government divides the county into three regions. This parallels the three calling regions used by BellSouth, the regional phone company:

  • East Volusia, also known as the greater Daytona Beach area, or the Halifax area (named for the Halifax River that runs through the area), includes the cities of Daytona Beach, Daytona Beach Shores, Holly Hill, Ormond Beach, Ponce Inlet, Port Orange, and South Daytona; and the surrounding unincorporated areas close to these cities.
  • Southeast Volusia, also known as the greater New Smyrna Beach area, includes the cities of New Smyrna Beach, Edgewater, and Oak Hill; also the unincorporated areas close to these cities.
  • West Volusia, also called St. Johns River country (named for the St. Johns River, which lies nearby), includes the cities of Barberville, DeBary, DeLand, DeLeon Springs, Deltona, Glenwood, Enterprise, Lake Helen, Orange City, Pierson, and Seville, and the surrounding unincorporated areas close to these cities. Deltona is the largest city in Volusia County.

Adjacent counties[]

  • Flagler County - north
  • Brevard County - south
  • Seminole County - southwest
  • Lake County - west
  • Marion and Putnam Counties - northwest

Parks and gardens[]

Rivers and waterways[]

Major attractions[]

Law and government[]

Under Volusia County's council-manager form of government, voters elect a county council, which consists of seven members who serve four-year terms. Five are elected by district; the county chairman and at-large representative are elected county-wide.

The county council establish ordinances and policies for the county. It also reviews and approves the county budget annually. The county council appoints a county manager, who carries out the will of the council and handles day-to-day business.

Elected officials[]

  • County chair: Jeff Brower
  • Councilman-at-large: Ben Johnson
  • District 1 councilwoman - Barbara Girtman
  • District 2 councilwoman - Billie Wheeler
  • District 3 councilwoman - Deborah Denys
  • District 4 councilwoman - Heather Post
  • District 5 councilman and vice chair - Fred Lowry
  • County manager (appointed) - George Recktenwald

These positions, considered county officials (except the public defender, who is considered a state official), are elected and paid by the county:

  • Sheriff - Mike Chitwood
  • Clerk of the courts - Laura E. Roth
  • Property appraiser - Larry Bartlett
  • Supervisor of elections - Lisa Lewis
  • State attorney - Phil Archer
  • Public defender - James S. Purdy

County offices[]

  • Thomas C. Kelly Administration Center, 123 W. Indiana Ave., DeLand 32720
  • Daytona Beach Administration Building, 250 N. Beach St., Daytona Beach 32114
  • New Smyrna Beach Administration Office, 111 Canal St., New Smyrna Beach 32168
  • Orange City Administration Office, 2744 Enterprise Rd., Orange City 32763
Presidential elections results

Justice[]

The county's courts operate from facilities in both DeLand and Daytona Beach. There, they preside over a variety of cases, including felonies, misdemeanors, traffic, and domestic cases in their dockets. An elected prosecutor tries cases for the public. Defendants may find representation through the office of the elected public defender.

The power of electing the county's sheriff lies with the county's residents. The county sheriff is directly responsible to the courts, but also to the state for the enforcement of state laws. The county sheriff's deputies provide law enforcement to the unincorporated areas of Volusia County, and assist the various municipal police departments, such as the Daytona Beach Police Department.

Many volunteers work alongside the paid professionals. Included are Citizen Observer Program (COP), who are volunteers working under the direction of the county sheriff and play a part in the county's policing operations.

The Volusia County Correctional Center and the Volusia County Branch Jail are both located on U.S. Highway 92, also known as International Speedway Boulevard, which is roughly equidistant between DeLand and Daytona Beach. The county's jail imprisons inmates awaiting trial, convicted offenders who have yet to be sentenced, or those who have been sentenced for a term of a year or less. Longer sentences may be served in the Florida state prison system or alternatively in the federal prison system according to the dictates of the offense.

Libraries[]

The county centrally controls 13 libraries, with DeLand and Daytona Beach-City Island being the largest two. Each library branch is administered by geographic region.

Region Libraries
Ormond Beach Region Ormond Beach Regional Library
Daytona Beach Region Daytona Beach Regional Library (Daytona Beach-City Island)
John H. Dickerson Heritage Library (Daytona Beach-Keech St.)
Port Orange Region Port Orange Regional Library
New Smyrna Beach Region New Smyrna Beach Regional Library
Edgewater Public Library
Oak Hill Public Library
DeLand Region DeLand Regional Library
Pierson Public Library
Deltona Region Deltona Regional Library
DeBary Public Library
Lake Helen Public Library
Orange City Public Library

Collections included 869,491 books, 83,943 videos, 58,784 audio materials, 2,051 magazines and newspapers, over 100,000 government documents, and 51 licensed databases. Personal computers for public use are hooked up on broadband in all libraries. An estimated 230,000 Volusia County residents have library cards. One library card is valid at all locations, and materials are lent between locations through a daily courier service and outside the libraries by interlibrary loan. Library cards are free for all Volusia County residents.

Depending on size, the branches have different operating hours; six are open every day of the week (Ormond Beach, Daytona Beach-City Island, Port Orange, New Smyrna Beach, DeLand, and Deltona), two are open six days a week (Edgewater and DeBary), and five are open five days a week (Daytona Beach-Keech Street, Oak Hill, Pierson, Lake Helen, and Orange City).[11]

The Volusia County Library System was officially started in 1961.[12] Prior to 1961, there were small libraries throughout Volusia County that were maintained by different organizations prevalent in the county. In 1949, Charlotte Smith started an effort to organize the public library system within Volusia County.[12] In 1960, 10 libraries existed in Volusia County, however they were not connected together in a centralized library system.[12] In September 1960, state officials met with librarians and county officials to discuss how the Library Services Act could be applied to Volusia County.[12] A committee was formed to study the conditions of the libraries within the county and determine if organizing the libraries in the county into a centralized system was an appropriate move. After a year the committee found that a countywide library system would be the best course of action for the county. With the development of the Volusia County Library System, a library board was appointed by the governor and the board hired Bradley Simon to be the first director of the Volusia County Library System.[12] During this time, bookmobiles were purchased and sent to rural areas in Volusia County to provide residents there with library services. By 1962, nine public libraries and the bookmobiles were part of the Volusia County Library System, and within the next four years Holly Hill, Ormond Beach, and Orange City joined the system.[12] As new funds were made available, new construction of library facilities occurred, with many of the libraries in the Volusia County Library System being granted new buildings. In 1976 the Deltona Library opened and became the only library that the county fully owned.[12] In 1977 the Dickerson Community Center Library opened and served the black community of Daytona Beach, and is now the John H. Dickerson Heritage Library.[12] Expansion in the 1980s included the construction of buildings for the Port Orange Regional Library in 1984, the Lake Helen Public Library and the Edgewater Public Library in 1988, and the DeLand Regional Library in 1989.[12]

Demographics[]

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
18601,158—
18701,72348.8%
18803,29491.2%
18908,467157.0%
190010,00318.1%
191016,51065.1%
192023,37441.6%
193042,75782.9%
194053,71025.6%
195074,22938.2%
1960125,31968.8%
1970169,48735.2%
1980258,76252.7%
1990370,71243.3%
2000443,34319.6%
2010494,59311.6%
2019 (est.)553,284[13]11.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[14]
1790–1960[15] 1900–1990[16]
1990–2000[17] 2010–2019[2]

As of the census[18] of 2000, 443,343 people, 184,723 households, and 120,069 families were residing in the county. The population density was 402 people per square mile (155/km2). The 211,938 housing units averaged 192 per square mile (74/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 86.11% White, 9.29% African American, 0.31% Native American, 1.00% Asian, 1.86% from other races, and 1.43% from two or more races. About 6.57% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race; ancestry was 13.7% German, 11.5% Irish, 11.2% English, 10.7% American, and 8.7% Italian ancestry.

Of the 184,723 households, 24.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.40% were married couples living together, 10.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.00% were not families. About 27.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32, and the average family size was 2.82.

In the county, the age distribution was 20.30% under 18, 8.20% from 18 to 24, 25.30% from 25 to 44, 24.20% from 45 to 64, and 22.10% at 65 or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $35,219, and for a family was $41,767. Males had a median income of $30,573 versus $22,471 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,664. About 7.90% of families and 11.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.30% of those under age 18 and 7.10% of those age 65 or over.

2016[]

As of 2016, an estimated 205,310 households were in Volusia County. The total population was 510,806. About 86.8% spoke English as their only language, so 13.2% could speak a language other than English. The largest ancestry groups in the county were English-American at 15.7%, German-American at 12.3%, Irish-American at 11.0% and Italian-American at 7.0%.[19]

Economy[]

The overall gross metro product (GMP) for Volusia County economy increased from $12.98 billion in 2005 to $13.69 billion in 2006; a $709.9 million increase. The GMP is an annual measurement of the total economic output and sales of goods and services provided within the metropolitan statistical area that comprises all of Volusia County and its 16 cities. A GMP of $13.69 billion represents a significant circulation of new capital resources in an economy populated by just over 500,000 residents.

Local consumer confidence and a continued immigration of an estimated 28,800 new residents, new capital investments for new construction exceeding $1.11 billion, and the steady growth of professional and health-care services continued to drive much of the county's economic viability.

Volusia County's manufacturing sector maintained a steady and stable position within the local economy contrary to the declining trends being experienced elsewhere within Florida. The overall number of manufacturers present within the county increased to over 430 in 2006 and accounted for a large portion of the county's GMP. Manufacturing maintains one of the highest of all average wage levels within the county and generates a higher rate of circulation of economic impact than any other business sector that comprises the local economy.

Volusia County's manufacturing sector generated an average annual wage of $37,632 in 2006, well above the county's average annual wage of $32,200 for all workers. [1]

Transportation[]

Airports[]

Major roads[]

See also: List of county roads in Volusia County, Florida
  • I-95.svg Interstate 95 is the main north–south interstate highway along the east coast of the state. Eight interchanges exist within the county, three of them in Daytona Beach.
  • I-4.svg Interstate 4 is the main east–west interstate highway through Central Florida, but it also serves as the westernmost interstate highway in the county. It contains at least seven interchanges and becomes State Road 400 east of I-95.
  • US 1.svg U.S. 1 is the main local road through eastern Volusia County, running north–south. It served as the main north–south highway in the state and the eastern half of the county until I-95 was built.
  • US 17.svg US 17 is the main local road through western Volusia County, running north–south.
  • US 92.svg US 92, an east–west route, shares a concurrency with US 17 further south in Polk County until branching off onto the International Speedway Boulevard.
  • Florida A1A.svg SR A1A is the scenic coastal alternate route to US 1, which also includes some county road spurs and extensions.
  • Florida 40.svg SR 40, an east–west road in northern Volusia County enters the county from the Astor Bridge over the St. Johns River and heads east towards Ormond Beach.
  • Florida 44.svg SR 44, an east–west road in southern Volusia County, enters the county from the Crows Bluff Bridge over the St. Johns River and heads east towards New Smyrna Beach.
  • Florida 46.svg SR 46, an east–west road on the southwestern corner of Volusia County, enters the county from the Mims Bridge over the St. Johns River and enters Brevard County with no major junctions.
  • Florida 5A.svg SR 5A is Nova Road, a suffixed alternate route of State Road 5, the unsigned hidden state road for US 1. It spans from Port Orange to Ormond Beach.
  • Florida 421.svg SR 421 is a connecting east–west road between I-95 and the Port Orange Causeway.
  • Florida 11.svg SR 11, a scenic north–south road, runs from US 17 north of DeLand to US 1 in Bunnell in Flagler County.
  • Florida 483.svg SR 483, a north–south state road, it runs west of SR 5A from Port Orange to Holly Hill. It runs along the eastern border of both Daytona Beach International Airport and Daytona International Speedway.
The Volusia County Parking Garage in Daytona Beach

Public transportation[]

Volusia County Public Transit System (VOTRAN) is the local Volusia County bus service. The buses offer service throughout the county, Monday through Saturday, from 7 am to 7 pm, and is handicapped-accessible. Limited service is offered in East Volusia in the evenings and on Sundays. The cost is $1.25 per trip, $3.00 for a one-day bus pass, or $40 for a 31-day pass (valid for all VOTRAN routes).

Passenger train service to Volusia County is provided by Amtrak on the Silver Meteor and Silver Star routes. Service between Volusia County and Orlando is provided by SunRail, a commuter rail line running from Volusia to Orange County. The initial phase of the project commenced in 2014 and extends service to as far north as DeBary. A planned expansion was to include the DeLand Amtrak station in 2015.[20][21]

Education[]

Public primary and secondary education is handled by Volusia County Schools. One of the larger private schools is Father Lopez Catholic High School.

Middle schools[]

  • Campbell Middle School
  • Creekside Middle School
  • David C. Hinson Middle School
  • DeLand Middle School
  • Deltona Middle School
  • Galaxy Middle School
  • Heritage Middle School
  • Holly Hill School
  • New Smyrna Beach Middle School
  • Ormond Beach Middle School
  • River Springs Middle School
  • Silver Sands Middle School
  • Southwestern Middle School
  • T. Dewitt Taylor Middle High School

High schools[]

  • Atlantic High School
  • DeLand High School
  • Deltona High School
  • Mainland High School
  • New Smyrna Beach High School
  • Pine Ridge High School
  • Seabreeze High School
  • Spruce Creek High School
  • T. Dewitt Taylor Middle High School
  • University High School
  • Volusia High School

Colleges and universities[]

The life-sized Wright Flyer statue at the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach campus.
  • Bethune-Cookman University
  • Daytona State College
  • Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
  • Keiser University
  • Palmer College of Chiropractic
  • Stetson University
  • University of Central Florida

Vocational[]

Media[]

Newspapers[]

  • The West Volusia Beacon [2] - online edition of news publication covering DeLand and West Volusia
  • The Daytona Beach News-Journal - print and online daily newspaper covering all of Volusia County
  • Orlando Sentinel - newspaper and news site based in Orlando with a bureau covering Volusia County
  • The Avion Newspaper - student college publication of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach

Television[]

Public broadcasting station WDSC-TV is located in Daytona Beach and broadcasts to 10 counties in Central Florida. Television station WESH is allocated to Daytona Beach - Orlando, and its transmission tower is located midway between those two. Otherwise, Volusia County is served by the major TV broadcasting stations in Orlando and Orange County.

Radio[]

AM[]

  • WELE, 1380 AM, Ormond Beach, News/Talk
  • WMFJ, 1450 AM, Daytona Beach, Religious
  • WNDB, 1150 AM, Daytona Beach, News/Talk/Sports
  • WPUL, 1590 AM, South Daytona, Talk
  • WROD, 1340 AM, Daytona Beach, Classic Rock
  • WSBB, 1230 AM, New Smyrna Beach, Standards
  • WTJV, 1490 AM, DeLand, Spanish Language
  • WYND, 1310 AM, DeLand, Religious

FM[]

  • WAPN, 91.5 FM, Holly Hill, Contemporary Christian
  • WCFB, 94.5 FM, Daytona Beach, Urban Adult Contemporary
  • WHOG-FM, 95.7 FM, Ormond-by-the-Sea, Classic Rock
  • WIKD-LP, 102.5 FM, Daytona Beach, Free-Format
  • WQMP, 101.9 FM, Daytona Beach, Alternative Rock
  • WJLU, 89.7 FM, New Smyrna Beach, Religious
  • WJLU, 97.3 FM, DeLand, Religious
  • WKRO-FM, 93.1 FM, Port Orange, Country
  • WKTO, 88.9 FM, Edgewater, Religious
  • WLGM-LP, 93.9 FM, Edgewater
  • WNUE-FM, 98.1 FM, Deltona, Spanish Adult Hits
  • WOCL, 105.9 FM, DeLand, Oldies
  • WVYB, 103.3 FM, Holly Hill, Top 40

Places[]

Cities[]

  • Daytona Beach
  • Daytona Beach Shores
  • DeBary
  • DeLand
  • Deltona
  • Edgewater
  • Holly Hill
  • Lake Helen
  • New Smyrna Beach
  • Oak Hill
  • Orange City
  • Ormond Beach
  • Port Orange
  • South Daytona

Towns[]

  • Pierson
  • Ponce Inlet

Census-designated places[]

Other unincorporated communities[]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Volusia County, Florida". www.census.gov.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 16, 2014.
  3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b Scofield, Tom. "What's in a name? Origins of Volusia". Volusia County. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
  5. ^ Simmons, William Hayne (1822). Notices of East Florida. Gainesville, FL: University of Florida Press (1973 reprint). pp. 27, 28, 59. ISBN 0-8130-0400-4. Retrieved August 18, 2011.
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b Poertner, Bo (May 10, 1997). "While Visiting France, Volusia Man Finds Possible Link To County's Name". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved August 18, 2011.
  7. ^ Gold, Pleasant Daniel (1927). History of Volusia County Florida. Daytona Beach, FL: Higginson Book Company (reprint). pp. 78–84. ISBN 0-8328-7061-7.
  8. ^ Hay, Thomas (January–March 1917). "The Davis-Hood-Johnston Controversy of 1864". The Journal of American History. 11 (1): 68. doi:10.2307/1891927. JSTOR 1891927.
  9. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  10. ^ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved December 28, 2017.
  11. ^ "VCPL - Branch hours and map of locations". volusialibrary.org. Retrieved December 28, 2017.
  12. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i "Volusia County Public Library". Retrieved November 17, 2017.
  13. ^ "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved March 26, 2020.
  14. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 16, 2014.
  15. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved June 16, 2014.
  16. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 16, 2014.
  17. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 16, 2014.
  18. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  19. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 15, 2020.
  20. ^ "Changing the Way Central Florida Travels". SunRail. Retrieved December 18, 2012.
  21. ^ sunrail.com (PDF). April 2, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120402132222/http://www.sunrail.com/Documents/699.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 2, 2012. Retrieved December 28, 2017. Missing or empty |title= (help)

External links[]

Volusia County government sites[]

Other sites[]

Coordinates: 29°3′N 81°9′W / 29.050°N 81.150°W / 29.050; -81.150

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