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DeLand, Florida

City in Florida, United States From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

DeLand, Floridamap
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DeLand is a city in and the county seat of Volusia County, Florida, United States. It is a part of the Deltona–Daytona Beach–Ormond Beach metropolitan area. As of the 2020 U.S. census, its population was 37,351.

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The city was founded in 1876, and was named for its founder, Henry Addison DeLand.[9] DeLand is home to Stetson University, Florida's oldest private college, as well as the Museum of Art - DeLand. The DeLand Municipal Airport serves as an uncontrolled general-aviation reliever airport to commercial operations at Daytona Beach International Airport (DAB), Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB), and Orlando International Airport (MCO).

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History

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Bird's-eye view of DeLand, 1884

DeLand was previously known as "Persimmon Hollow" for the wild persimmon trees that grow around the natural springs, and the area was originally accessible only by steamboat up the St. Johns River.[2]

The first settler in the area was probably Ruben Marsh. He first came to Florida during the Seminole Indian War in 1841, during a scouting party that stopped at a lake area within the modern city limits, and in 1846, when the war ended, Ruben Marsh got married and moved to what is now known as DeLand. He bought a settlers claim, where he built a cabin for his family and started raising livestock.[2]

Henry Addison DeLand, a baking soda magnate from Fairport, New York, visited there in 1876, and envisioned building a citrus, agricultural, and tourism center. He sold his northern business and hired people to clear land, lay out streets, erect buildings, and recruit settlers, most of whom came from upstate New York (though DeLand never lived in the city year-round). On December 6, 1876, at 2:00 pm, the settlers decided to rename the community from Persimmon Hollow to DeLand, in honor of his founding and helping develop its infrastructure.[2]

In 1877, DeLand built a public school for the town.[9] To enhance the community's stature and culture, and to enhance the value of his local real-estate holdings, in 1883, DeLand established DeLand Academy, Florida's first private college.[9] However, in 1885, a freeze destroyed the orange crop. One story has it that DeLand had guaranteed settlers' investments as an inducement to relocate, so was obligated to buy back their ruined groves, though no hard evidence indicates that this took place. As for many other would-be real-estate magnates in the area at the time, his Florida investments were nearly worthless after the freeze, and he returned to his home in the North. DeLand entrusted the academy to his friend, John B. Stetson, a wealthy hat manufacturer from Philadelphia and one of the institution's founding trustees. In 1889, it was renamed John B. Stetson University in its patron's honor.[9] In 1900, it founded the first law school in Florida (which relocated to Gulfport in 1954). Its various sports teams are called the Hatters.

The community was officially incorporated as the City of DeLand in 1882, and became the county seat of Volusia County in 1887. It was the first city in Florida to have electricity.[10] According to city officials, minutes of the first City Commission meeting in 1882 show the city decided to create a seal with the emblems of "Faith, Hope and Charity," namely a cross, an anchor and a heart.

The city seal was briefly the object of a controversy in 2013, when the national group Americans United for Separation of Church and State sent the city a letter in which they argued that the seal unconstitutionally promotes Christianity, thus allegedly breaching the First Amendment Establishment Clause.[11][12] The controversy faded after the city refused to change the seal.[13]

During the 1920s Florida Land Boom, fine examples of stucco Mediterranean Revival architecture by native architect Medwin Peek and others were constructed in DeLand. Many of these buildings have been handsomely restored, including the restored Athens Theatre.

Since 1992, the city has hosted the DeLand Fall Festival of the Arts, a two-day event held annually in the historic downtown area on the weekend before Thanksgiving. As of 2009, the event has an annual attendance of more than 50,000 during the weekend.

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Geography

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Topography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 17.8 square miles (46.1 km2), of which 0.19 sq mi (0.5 km2), or 1.06%, is covered by water.[14] DeLand is drained by the St. Johns River.

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild winters. According to the Köppen climate classification, the City of DeLand has a humid subtropical climate zone (Cfa).

More information Climate data for DeLand, Florida, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1892–present, Month ...

On February 2, 2007, DeLand and the surrounding area was the site of a major tornado outbreak.[17] One tornado passed through Deland. It reached a peak intensity of EF-3 (160–165 mph; 257–266 km/h), had a track length of 26 miles (42 km), and was responsible for the deaths of 13 people.[18] On August 18, 2020, an EF-2 tornado made landfall in DeLand around 4 PM EST, and caused an estimated $7.4 million in damages over its 4.6-mile (7.4 km) path.[19]

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Demographics

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Annual Dog Parade

2010 and 2020 census

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As of the 2020 United States census, 37,351 people, 12,675 households, and 7,753 families were residing in the city.[23]

As of the 2010 United States census, 27,031 people, 10,007 households, and 5,498 families were living in the city.[24]

2000 census

As of 2000, the city had 8,375 households, of which 23.8% had children under 18 living with them, 37.0% were married couples living together, 14.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.7% were not families. About 37.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 20.4% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.92.

In 2000, in the city, the age distribution was 20.7% under 18, 14.9% from 18 to 24, 23.2% from 25 to 44, 17.6% from 45 to 64, and 23.6% who were 65 or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 83.0 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 77.8 males.

In 2000, the median income for a household in the city was $28,712, and for a family was $35,329. Males had a median income of $26,389 versus $20,114 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,936. About 14.2% of families and 19.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.3% of those under 18 and 8.7% of those 65 or over.

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Old Volusia County Courthouse DeLand
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Economy

Businesses include Mystic Powerboats.

Arts and culture

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Sites of interest include:

Historic districts

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Athens Theatre, built in 1921
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New York Avenue in 1905
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DeLand Hall, built in 1884

Downtown DeLand's main street, Woodland Boulevard, has a number of notable 19th-century buildings. It is officially known as Downtown DeLand Historic District.

The Garden District is a mixed-use neighborhood adjacent to downtown DeLand, which is officially known as Downtown DeLand's Historic Garden District. The neighborhood was originally developed between 1900 and 1920. It fell into a long period of decline after World War II, and by the 1980s, had become blighted.[27]

In 2001, an artist bought 27 dilapidated structures, renamed the area the Garden District, and lobbied to create a new historic district. During the following eight years, he restored 32 homes and businesses, which have become the core of a neighborhood revival. This was documented in the film New Urban Cowboy: Toward a New Pedestrianism.[28]

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Sports

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DeLand hosts all home games for Stetson University Stetson Hatters athletic teams. The Stetson Hatters men's basketball team and women's basketball teams play at the Edmunds Center, an on-campus arena which opened in 1974 and seats about 5,000 spectators.[citation needed]

The Hatters baseball team plays at Melching Field at Conrad Park, a 2,500-seat ballpark. Melching Field was built in 1999 and is a college baseball venues in the NCAA, having hosted numerous Atlantic Sun Conference championships, and the 2018 NCAA Baseball Regionals. Prior to the opening of Melching Field, the Hatters played at old Conrad Park on the same site, which also hosted spring training games in the 1940s and 1950s and the DeLand Red Hats, a Florida State League minor league franchise.[citation needed]

Spec Martin Stadium is a 6,000-seat football stadium that serves as home of the Stetson University Hatters football team. Stetson had discontinued its football program in the early 1960s, and reinstated the sport in 2013, when it joined the Pioneer Football League.[citation needed]

DeLand has been called the "skydiving capital of the world", with the several skydiving industries located here.[29] The skydiving industry employs over 500 workers from the DeLand area. This in combination with the tourist end of the industry makes it one of the town's largest economic contributors.[30][29]

The Central Florida Warriors of the USA Rugby League are based in DeLand.

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Government

The City of DeLand has a commission-manager form of government.[31] The city commission consists of five members, one of whom is the independently elected Mayor-Commissioner.[31] All commissioners are elected citywide in non-partisan elections every four years.[31]

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Campaign signs in DeLand, 2024

Elected officials

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Education

Public primary and secondary education is handled by Volusia County Schools.

Elementary schools

  • Blue Lake Elementary
  • Citrus Grove Elementary
  • Edith I. Starke Elementary
  • Freedom Elementary
  • George W. Marks Elementary
  • Woodward Avenue Elementary

Middle schools

  • DeLand Middle School
  • Southwestern Middle School

High schools

Private schools

  • DeLand Preparatory Academy
  • Magnolia Christian School
  • Saint Barnabas Episcopal School
  • Saint Peters Catholic School
  • Stetson Baptist Christian School

Montessori schools

  • Casa Montessori School
  • Children's House Montessori School

Colleges and universities

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Media

Filming location

Productions filmed or partly filmed in DeLand include:

Newspapers

  • The West Volusia Beacon, a weekly news publication covering DeLand and West Volusia County
  • The Daytona Beach News-Journal, a daily newspaper covering the greater Daytona Beach area and Volusia County
  • Orlando Sentinel, a newspaper based in Orlando with a bureau covering Volusia County

Radio stations

AM

  • WYND, 1310, religious
  • WTJV, 1490, Spanish language

FM

  • W247AK, 97.3, translator for WJLU
  • WOCL, 105.9, classic hits

Publishing

Everett/Edwards[37][38][39][40]

Infrastructure

Transportation

Rail and public transportation

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DeLand Station

Since 2024, the DeLand station has been the northern terminus of Orlando's SunRail commuter rail system. It also contains a spur leading from the station which was built by the Orange Ridge, DeLand and Atlantic Railroad and has received passenger service in the past.

Local transit service is provided by VOTRAN.[41]

Aviation

During World War II, Babcock Airplane Corporation manufactured 60 Waco CG-4 assault gliders at DeLand.[42] The firm was out of business by 1945.[43]

The DeLand Municipal Airport operates as a general aviation airport as well as a reliever airport for Orlando and Daytona Beach. It also contains the DeLand Naval Air Station Museum.

Highways

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Notable people

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Sister city

See also: List of sister cities in Florida

DeLand is a sister city of Belén, Costa Rica.[45]

See also

References

External links

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