Volusia County, Florida

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"Volusia" redirects here. For the unincorporated community, see Volusia, Florida.

Volusia County, Florida

Map
Location in the state of Florida
Florida's location in the U.S.
Statistics
Founded	December 29, 1854
Seat	DeLand
Area - Total - Land - Water	1,432 sq mi (3,709 km²) 1,103 sq mi (2,857 km²) 329 sq mi (852 km²), 22.98%
Population - (2000) - Density	443,343 401/sq mi (155/km²)
Website: www.volusia.org

Volusia County Courthouse in DeLand

Volusia County is a county located in the state of Florida. The U.S. Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county is 496,575 [1]. Although Daytona Beach is Volusia County's best-known city, its county seat is DeLand^[1], and its largest city is Deltona.

Volusia County is the sole county of the Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, Florida, Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is the 101st-largest metro area by population in the United States as of the 2004 Census estimate. It also makes up the northeast end of the I-4 Corridor.

[edit] History

Volusia County was created in 1854. It was named for the port of Volusia along the St. John's River on the county's western side. The origins of the word "Volusia" are unclear, though there are many theories.

On the morning of February 2, 2007, Volusia County was devastated by a series of early morning tornadoes, although there were no deaths in Volusia County. Florida governor Charlie Crist declared a state of emergency.^[2] Damage estimates exceeded $4 million. ^[3]

[edit] Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,432 square miles (3,710 km²), of which, 1,103 square miles (2,857 km²) of it is land and 329 square miles (853 km²) of it is water, much of it in the Atlantic Ocean. The total area is 22.98% water.

Volusia County is bordered on the west by the St. Johns River, and by the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Roughly the size of Rhode Island, Volusia is situated 50 miles northeast of Orlando, 60 miles north of the Kennedy Space Center, and 89 miles south of Jacksonville.

Volusia County is the sole county in the Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach Metropolitan Statistical Area.

[edit] 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 which runs through the area), this region 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, this region includes the cities of New Smyrna Beach, Edgewater, and Oak Hill; also the unincorporated areas close to these cities.
	West Volusia - also called Saint John's River Country (named for the Saint John's River which lies nearby), this region includes the cities of Barberville, Debary, DeLand, De Leon Springs, Deltona, Glenwood, Lake Helen, Orange City, Pierson, and Seville; as well as the surrounding unincorporated areas close to these cities.

[edit] Adjacent counties

[edit] Parks and Gardens

[edit] Major Attractions

Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach
Jackie Robinson Stadium in Daytona Beach
New Smyrna Speedway in New Smyrna Beach
Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse and Museum in Ponce Inlet
The Ocean Center (convention center) in Daytona Beach
Volusia County Fair and Expo Center in DeLand
Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville

[edit] 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 Chair 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 Commission appoints a County Manager, who carries out the will of the Commission and handles day-to-day business.

[edit] Elected officials

County Chair: Frank Bruno Jr.
Commissioner-At-Large and Vice-Chair: Joie Alexander
District 1 Commissioner - Andy Kelly
District 2 Commissioner - Art Giles
District 3 Commissioner - Jack Hayman
District 4 Commissioner - Carl G. Persis
District 5 Commissioner - Pat Northey
County Manager (appointed) - James Dinneen

The following are considered state officials but are elected and paid by the county:

Sheriff - Ben F. Johnson
Clerk of the Courts - Diane M. Matousek
Property Appraiser - Morgan B. Gilreath Jr.
Supervisor of Elections - Ann McFall
State Attorney - John Tanner
Public Defender - James S. Purdy

[edit] 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

[edit] Justice

The county has centralized most county courts in DeLand which try a variety of cases including felonies, misdemeanors, traffic, and domestic. An elected prosecutor tries cases for the public. Defendants can be represented through the auspices of the office of the elected Public Defender.

The County elects a sheriff, immediately responsible to the courts but also to the state for the enforcement of state laws. Police chiefs, appointed by their cities or towns, perform the same function locally.

Many volunteers work alongside the paid professionals. Included are Citizen Observer Program (C.O.P.). C.O.P. volunteers work under the direction of the County Sheriff and play a part in the county's policing operations.

The Volusia County Branch Jail is a modern facility, located on Highway US-92 (International Speedway Boulevard), approximately halfway between DeLand and Daytona Beach. The county jail retains prisoners who have been sentenced to a year or less. Longer sentences must be served in state prisons.

[edit] Libraries

The county centrally controls 16 libraries. 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 loaned between locations through a daily courier service and outside the libraries via Inter-Library Loan. Library cards are free for all Volusia County residents.

[edit] 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 (MSA) 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 the State of 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. [2]

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^[4] of 2000, there were 443,343 people, 184,723 households, and 120,069 families residing in the county. The population density was 402 people per square mile (155/km²). There were 211,938 housing units at an average density of 192 per square mile (74/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 86.11% White, 9.29% Black or African American, 0.31% Native American, 1.00% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.82% from other races, and 1.43% from two or more races. 6.57% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 184,723 households out of which 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 non-families. 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 population was spread out with 20.30% under the age of 18, 8.20% from 18 to 24, 25.30% from 25 to 44, 24.20% from 45 to 64, and 22.10% who were 65 years of age 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 the median income 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.

[edit] Places

[edit] Incorporated

As of August 2007, Volusia County has 16 incorporated cities and towns.

City of Daytona Beach
City of Daytona Beach Shores
City of DeBary
City of DeLand
City of Deltona
City of Edgewater
City of Holly Hill
City of Lake Helen

City of New Smyrna Beach
City of Oak Hill
City of Orange City
City of Ormond Beach
Town of Pierson
Town of Ponce Inlet
City of Port Orange
City of South Daytona

[edit] Unincorporated

Alamana
Ariel
Bakerstown
Barberville
Benson Junction
Beresford
Bethune Beach
Blake
Blue Springs Landing
Bluffton
Boden
Cassadaga
Connersville
Conrad
Cow Creek
Creighton
Cypress Lake Estates
Daisy lake
Daytona Highridge Estates
Daytona Park Estates
Deadman Landing
Deland Highlands
DeLand Southwest
DeLeon Springs
DeLeon Springs Heights
Edgewater Junction
Eldora
Eldridge
Ellinor Village
Emporia
Enterprise
Farmton
Fatio
Fort Florida

Glencoe
Glenwood
Halifax Estates
Harbor Oaks
Hucomer
Isleboro
Kalamazoo
Lake Ashby Shores
Lemon Bluff
Maytown
Mission City
Mound Grove
National Gardens
North DeLand
Orange City Hills
Ormond-By-The-Sea
Ortona
Osteen
Packwood Place
Pennichaw
Riverside
Samsula
Seabreeze
Senyah
Seville
Stone Island
Suger Mill Estates
Tallahassee Yuchi
Tomoka Estates
Valdez
Volusia
West DeLand
Wilbur By-The-Sea

[edit] Transportation

[edit] By car

Volusia County is easy to drive to and within, as roads are usually paved and several State and County highways wind through the area.

The Volusia County Parking Garage is located at 701 Earl Street at North Atlantic Avenue (A1A) in Daytona Beach. The garage is strategically located, next to the Ocean Center, Daytona Lagoon, and across the street from the Hilton Hotel and Ocean Walk Shoppes. Over one thousand parking spaces are available inside the garage. Price for parking varies at different times of the year.

[edit] Major roads

The Volusia County Parking Garage in Daytona Beach provides a place for visitors to park and walk around.

[edit] Public Transportation

VoTran is the name of the local Volusia County bus service. It is a cheap way to get around and is handicap accessible. The buses offer service throughout the county, Monday through Saturday, from 7 AM to 7 pm. Some limited bus routes are offered in East Volusia in the evenings and on Sundays. Buses travel to most sites and places of interest. Cost: $1.25 per trip, or $3 for a one-day bus pass (Valid for all routes).

There is also a VOTRAN transfer station (Intermodal Transit Facility - ITF) located inside the Volusia County Parking Garage in Daytona Beach.

[edit] Education

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

The life-sized Wright Flyer statue is located at the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach campus.

[edit] Colleges and Universities

Bethune-Cookman University
Daytona Beach Community College
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Keiser University
Palmer College of Chiropractic
Stetson University
University of Central Florida (Daytona Beach branch campus)

[edit] Vocational

Advanced Technology Center (Daytona Beach)
International Academy Beauty School (South Daytona)
Florida Technical College (DeLand)
Palmer College of Chiropractic (Port Orange)
Phoenix East Aviation (Daytona Beach)
The Airline Academy (Daytona Beach)
WyoTech (formerly AMI) (Daytona Beach)

[edit] Media

[edit] Newspapers

Daytona Beach News-Journal - Online edition of daily newspaper covering the greater Daytona Beach area.
DeLand Beacon - Weekly news publication covering DeLand and west Volusia county.
The Avion Newspaper - Student college publication of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach.
Daytona Beach Pennysaver - Weekly publication with coupons and classified ads.
Volusia/Flagler Business Report [3] - Biweekly newspaper that covers businesses in Volusia and Flagler counties.

[edit] Radio Stations

[edit] AM

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

[edit] FM

WEAZ [4] , 88.3 FM, Holly Hill, Contemporary Christian
WKTO, 88.9 FM, Edgewater, Religious
WJLU, 89.7 FM, New Smyrna Beach, Religious
WAPN [5] , 91.5 FM, Holly Hill, Contemporary Christian
WKRO-FM [6] , 93.1 FM, Edgewater, Country
WCFB, 94.5 FM, Daytona Beach, Urban Adult Contemporary
WLGM, 95.3 FM, Edgewater
WHOG [7] , 95.7 FM, Ormond-by-the-Sea, Classic Rock
WJLU, 97.3 FM, Deland, Religious
WJHM, 101.9 FM, Daytona Beach, Mainstream Urban
WVYB [8] , 103.3 FM, Holly Hill, Pop music
WOCL, 105.9 FM, Deland, Oldies

[edit] References

^ Find a County. National Association of Counties. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
^ At Least 19 Dead After Central Fla. Storms - Orlando Weather News Story - WKMG Orlando
^ Video
^ American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Volusia County, Florida

Volusia County travel guide from Wikitravel

[edit] Volusia Government Sites

[edit] Other Sites

The Volusia Community
Virtual Volusia
Ocean View Cam
Connell Collection Approximately 550 photographs of Volusia County and the surrounding area taken between 1900 and 1915. From the State Library & Archives of Florida

v • d • e Municipalities and communities of Volusia County, Florida

County seat: DeLand

Cities	Daytona Beach Shores \| Daytona Beach \| 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

CDPs	DeLand Southwest \| DeLeon Springs \| Glencoe \| North De Land \| Ormond-By-The-Sea \| Samsula-Spruce Creek \| West DeLand

Unincorporated communities	Barberville \| Cassadaga \| Eldora \| Enterprise \| Seville