Volusia County, Florida

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

Volusia County courthouse in DeLand, built in 2001.

Logo
Map of Florida highlighting Volusia County
Location in the state of Florida
Map of the United States highlighting Florida
Florida's location in the U.S.
Founded December 29, 1854
Named for Community of Volusia
Seat DeLand
Largest city Deltona
Area
 • Total 1,432.44 sq mi (3,710 km2)
 • Land 1,101.03 sq mi (2,852 km2)
 • Water 331.40 sq mi (858 km2), 23.14%
Population
 • (2010) 494,593
 • Density 449.2/sq mi (173/km²)
Congressional districts 6th, 7th
Time zone Eastern: UTC-5/-4
Website www.volusia.org

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

Volusia County (/vəˈluːʃə/, və-LOOSH-ə) 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.[1] Its county seat is DeLand.[2] It was founded on December 29, 1854, and was named for the community of Volusia, located in northwestern Volusia County.

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

History

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

Volusia County was named after the then-largest-community, Volusia, when the Florida legislature divided Orange County on December 29, 1854. At the time, Volusia County had as few as 600 residents.[3]

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

  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 faded away in the early 1700s.[3] The Euchees (or Uchees) lived in the area of Spring Gardens, about ten miles south of Volusia.[4]
  2. The name was taken from a British man named Voluz who owned a plantation located on the St. Johns River in the late 1700s.[5]
  3. The name originated from the last name Veluche belonging to the 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.[6]
  4. The town was established by and named for Jere Volusia.[7]
  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.[5]

The land area of present day Volusia County was inhabited by the indigenous Timucua, and Mayaca people . Neither group exists today as distinct racial entities, having been decimated by war and disease after contact with European settlers. Evidence of their habitation can still be seen in various areas of Volusia County such as the large shell middens at Tomoka State Park.

During the British occupation of Florida, a failed colony was started in southeast Volusia County by Andrew Turnbull, known as New Smyrna. 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 Minorcan and Greek heritage made the 70-mile (110 km) journey to live in 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) a large sugar plantation in what is today the city of Daytona Beach was burned by the Seminole.

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) is land and 331 square miles (860 km2) (23.1%) is water.[8]

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 miles (80 km) northeast of Orlando, 60 miles (97 km) north of the Kennedy Space Center, and 89 miles (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 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, DeLeon Springs, Deltona, Glenwood, Enterprise, Lake Helen, Orange City, Pierson, and Seville; as well as the surrounding unincorporated areas close to these cities. Deltona is the largest city in Volusia County.

Adjacent counties

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 commission appoints a county manager, who carries out the will of the commission and handles day-to-day business.

Elected officials

The following are considered county officials (except the Public Defender who is considered a State official) and are elected and paid by the county:

County offices

Justice

Most of the county's courts are located in DeLand. 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, as well as assisting in the various municipal police departments such as the Daytona Beach Police Department

Many volunteers work alongside the paid professionals. Included are Citizen Observer Program (C.O.P.). C.O.P. volunteers working 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 U.S. Highway 92 also known as International Speedway Boulevard, which is approximately equidistant between DeLand and Daytona Beach. The county's jail imprisons convicted offenders who have been sentenced for a term of a year or less. Longer sentences may be served in theFlorida state prison system or alternatively in the federal prison system according to the dictates of the offence.

Libraries

The county centrally controls 13 libraries with DeLand and Daytona (City Island) being the two largest 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. Depending on size, the branches have different operating hours; six are open every day of the week, two are open six days a week, and five are open five days a week[9]

List of current Volusia County Libraries

Another location, S. Cornelia Young Memorial Library, was closed in 2010 due to budget cuts.

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%
Est. 2014507,531[10]2.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[11]
1790-1960[12] 1900-1990[13]
1990-2000[14] 2010-2013[1]

As of the census[15] 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. 13.7% were of German, 11.5% Irish, 11.2% English, 10.7% American and 8.7% Italian ancestry according to Census 2000.

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.

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.

Politics

Volusia County has been a relatively Democratic county, and more recently has become a swing county. Mitt Romney was the first Republican to win the county in this millennium after defeating Barack Obama by a little over a percentage point.

Presidential elections results
Year Republican Democrat
2012 49.9% 117,490 48.7% 114,748
2008 46.5% 113,938 52.1% 127,795
2004 48.8% 111,924 50.4% 115,519
2000 44.8% 82,368 52.9% 97,313
1996 39.4% 63,091 49.3% 78,919
1992 38.1% 59,172 41.9% 65,223

Transportation

Transportation

Major roads

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 a.m. to 7 p.m. 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 will extend service to as far north as DeBary. A planned expansion will include the DeLand Amtrak station in 2015.[16][17]

Education

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

Middle schools

High schools

Colleges and universities

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

Vocational

Media

Newspapers

Television

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, Florida.

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, Standards
  • 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, Top 40/CHR
  • 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

Towns

Unincorporated communities

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 16, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. 1 2 Scofield, Tom. "What's in a name? Origins of Volusia". Volusia County. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
  4. ↑ 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 18 August 2011.
  5. 1 2 Poertner, Bo (10 May 1997). "While Visiting France, Volusia Man Finds Possible Link To County's Name". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved 18 August 2011.
  6. ↑ Gold, Pleasant Daniel (1927). History of Volusia County Florida. Daytona Beach, FL: Higginson Book Company (reprint). pp. 78–84. ISBN 0-8328-7061-7.
  7. ↑ The Journal of American History 11 (1): 68. January–March 1917. Missing or empty |title= (help);
  8. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  9. ↑ http://volusialibrary.org/VCPLbranches.html
  10. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014". Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  11. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 16, 2014.
  12. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved June 16, 2014.
  13. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 16, 2014.
  14. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 16, 2014.
  15. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  16. ↑ "Changing the Way Central Florida Travels". SunRail. Retrieved 2012-12-18.
  17. ↑ Archived April 2, 2012 at the Wayback Machine

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Volusia County, Florida.

Volusia Government Sites

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