Map of Volusia County relative to Florida, with three regions and major cities near Daytona Beach.
'Daytona Beach' is a
city in
Volusia County,
Florida,
USA. According to 2006
U.S. Census Bureau estimates, the city has a population of 64,421.
[ Daytona Beach is a principal city of the Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area, which the census bureau estimated had a 2006 population of 496,575.]
[ Annual Estimates of the Population of Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2006 ]
Daytona Beach is a year-round resort area. The city is historically known for its motorsports, with both Daytona International Speedway and the old Daytona Beach Road Course having hosted races for over a century. The city is also the headquarters for NASCAR and the Grand American Road Racing Association. Daytona could accurately be called a seasonal town, with large groups of out-of-towners descending upon the city for various events, most notably Speedweeks in early February when over 200,000 NASCAR fans come to attend the season-opening Daytona 500. Other events include the NASCAR Pepsi 400 race in July, Bike Week in March, Biketoberfest in October and Black College Reunion in March and April. In the past Daytona Beach catered to spring breakers, but in recent years many of the breakers have migrated to other sites, like Panama City. Daytona Beach has tried to clean up its image but in the last few years spring breakers have come back again in smaller numbers.
History
The area was once inhabited by the Timucuan Indians, who lived in fortified villages. War and disease, however, would decimate the tribe. Florida was acquired from Spain by the United States in 1821, although permanent settlement was delayed until after the Second Seminole War from 1835 to 1842. When the Civil War ended, Florida experienced a boom in tourism.
The city was founded in 1870 and incorporated in 1876. It was named for its founder, Matthias Day. In 1886, the ''St. Johns & Halifax River Railway'' arrived in Daytona. The line would be purchased in 1889 by Henry Flagler, who made it part of his ''Florida East Coast Railway''. The separate towns of Daytona, Daytona Beach and "Seabreeze" merged as "Daytona Beach" in 1926, at the urging of civic leader J.B. Kahn and others. By the 1920s, it was dubbed "The World's Most Famous Beach."
Daytona's wide beach of smooth, compacted sand attracted automobile and motorcycle races beginning in 1902, as pioneers in the industry tested their inventions. On March 8, 1936, the first stock car race was held on the Daytona Beach Road Course. In 1959, William France created Daytona International Speedway to replace the beach course. Automobiles are still permitted on the beach, although now only at slow speeds.
"The World's Most Famous Beach"
Carriages on the beach in Seabreeze, FL, 1906
The city and its beaches, lined with hotels, motels, condominiums and houses, attract over 8,000,000 tourists each year. In a wide variety of price ranges, hotel and motel rooms are typically plentiful except during special events. Daytona Beach has high security around its main hotel locations, with multiple cameras filming hotel and beach areas. It is one of the few places in the world where a family car can be driven on an ocean beach. Most other driving beaches require 4 wheel drive or other special equipment.
During motorcycle events (Bike Week and Biketoberfest), several hundred thousand bikers from all over the world visit the greater Daytona Beach area. While the city is often associated with spring break, the efforts of the local government to discourage rowdiness, combined with the rise of other spring break destinations, have nearly ended Daytona's former preeminence as a spring break destination. Indeed, so few students (relative to past years) have come since 2002 that officials stopped estimating their numbers.
Special events that draw visitors to Daytona Beach include:
★ Speedweeks (Daytona 500 NASCAR race, Rolex 24 sports car race, and others)
★ Pepsi 400 NASCAR race on or around July 4 (Traditionally called the Firecracker 400)
★ Daytona Beach Bike Week Daytona 200 motorcycle race in March
★ Biketoberfest in October
★ Turkey Run car show and events during Thanksgiving weekend (Traditionally called the Turkey Rod Run)
★ Black College Reunion (BCR) (date varies)
★ Spring break (date varies, usually the first and second week of March)
★ Dayton to Daytona - date varies, but is usually the second week of May
Daytona Beach is also home to the headquarters of NASCAR, Grand-Am, International Speedway Corporation and the LPGA.
Geography and Climate
View of Beach St. South, 2007
Daytona Beach is located at . According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 64.93 mi² (168.17 km²). of which is land and is water. Water is 9.6% of the total area.
The city of Daytona Beach is split in two by the Halifax River lagoon, part of the Intracoastal Waterway, and sits on the Atlantic Ocean. It is bordered on the north by Holly Hill and Ormond Beach and on the south by Daytona Beach Shores, South Daytona and Port Orange. The major highways that serve the city are the east-west Interstate 4 and the north-south Interstate 95, which intersect near the city. Other major roads in the city include US 92/International Speedway Boulevard, US 1/Ridgewood Avenue and A1A/Atlantic Avenue.
Daytona Beach has a very typical humid subtropical climate for a city in the southeatsern U.S. Summers are hot and humid with highs usually in the 90s and a heat index often exceeding 100 degrees. Thunderstorms are frequent in summer afternoons and the hot, humid weather can last right through the fall months. Winters are dry and mild, marked by a constant series of cold fronts and warm-ups. Temperatures dip into the low 30s and upper 20s on occasion, and freezes are not uncommon. Frost occurs a few times a year mainly in the inland areas, but is rare along the beaches. Snowfall is very rare. The last time snow flurries fell on the city of Daytona Beach was in January of 2003. Temperatures in spring are famously pleasant with warm afternoons, cool evenings, and far less humidity. This beach-going weather attracts tourists back to the beaches usually by early March.
Daytona Beach is not immune to the threat of tornadoes. Historical tornado activity is about 33% above the national average. On February 22, 1998 a tornado killed 13 people, injured 36 people, and caused $31 million in damages. Tornadoes also hit the city on Christmas Day, 2006. Some people were injured, but no fatalities were reported. Very significant damage was done to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University's campus as the F2 tornado that touched down in Daytona Beach cut right through the heart of the campus. It obliterated 50 of the school's 75 aircraft, mostly Cessnas. More info can be found: tornadoes of 2006, and at [1]. On February 2, 2007 two suburbs of Daytona Beach: New Smyrna Beach and Ponce Inlet were struck by a tornado in the outbreak of the 2007 Central Florida Tornadoes.
| Monthly Normal and Record High and Low Temperatures |
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rec High °F | 87 | 89 | 92 | 96 | 100 | 102 | 102 | 100 | 99 | 95 | 89 | 88 |
|---|
| Norm High °F | 69.7 | 71.1 | 75.6 | 79.8 | 85 | 88.8 | 91 | 90.1 | 87.9 | 82.6 | 76.9 | 71.4 |
|---|
| Norm Low °F | 47.1 | 48.8 | 53.7 | 58 | 64.5 | 70.6 | 72.4 | 72.8 | 71.9 | 65.3 | 57 | 50.1 |
|---|
| Rec Low °F | 15 | 24 | 26 | 35 | 44 | 52 | 60 | 65 | 52 | 41 | 27 | 19 |
|---|
| Precip (in) | 3.13 | 2.74 | 3.84 | 2.54 | 3.26 | 5.69 | 5.17 | 6.09 | 6.61 | 4.48 | 3.03 | 2.71 |
|---|
| ''Source: USTravelWeather.com [2]'' |
Law and Government
Local Government
Under Daytona Beach's comission-manager form of government, voters elect a City Commission which consists of seven members who serve four-year, staggered terms. Six are elected by district, the Mayor is elected city-wide.
The City Commission establishes ordinances and policies for the city. It also reviews and approves the city budget annually. The Commission appoints a City Manager, who carries out the will of the Commission and handles day-to-day business.
Local Elected officials
★ Mayor - Glenn Ritchey
★ Zone 1 Commissioner - Rick Shiver
★ Zone 2 Commissioner - Yvonne Newcomb-Doty
★ Zone 3 Commissioner - Shiela K. McKay-Vaughan
★ Zone 4 Commissioner - Robert A. Gilliland
★ Zone 5 Commissioner - Dwayne L. Taylor
★ Zone 6 Commissioner - Cassandra G. Reynolds
★ City Manager (appointed) - James Chisholm
Federal, state and county representation
Daytona Beach is in the Seventh Congressional District and is part of Florida's 27th Legislative District.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 64,112 people, 28,605 households, and 13,844 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,092.6/mi² (421.8/km²). There were 33,345 housing units at an average density of 568.3/mi² (219.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 62.33% White, 32.75% African American, 1.73% Asian, 0.32% Native American, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 1.05% from other races, and 1.76% from two or more races. 3.48% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
A postcard depicting Daytona's Ridgewood Avenue, c. 1915
There were 28,605 households out of which 18.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 30.1% were married couples living together, 14.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 51.6% were non-families. 39.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.06 and the average family size was 2.77.
In the city the population was spread out with 17.6% under the age of 18, 16.6% from 18 to 24, 25.6% from 25 to 44, 20.5% from 45 to 64, and 19.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 99.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $25,439, and the median income for a family was $33,514. Males had a median income of $25,705 versus $20,261 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,530. 23.6% of the population and 16.9% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 34.9% of those under the age of 18 and 12.1% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
Culture
Daytona Beach Skyline, from above Towers St., 2007
Daytona Beach is located roughly at the southern end of the cultural South, so its culture has remained somewhat Southern, but due to mass migration from Northern states, it is in many ways more similar to South Florida. It should be noted, however, that South Florida has a major Hispanic influence, which is not as prevalent in Central Florida. Daytona is world-famous for its student invasion in Spring Break. The architecture and style of its older homes and buildings and the culture and speech of its older, locally-born inhabitants leaves no doubt as to its cultural Southern roots.
The Museum of Arts and Sciences is the primary cultural facility for Daytona Beach and Volusia County. Other museums located in the city include the Southeast Museum of Photography and the Halifax Historical Museum. The Museum of Arts and Sciences is actually a collection of museums and galleries and includes the Klancke Environmental Complex, the Cuban Museum, Root Family Museum featuring one of the largest Coca-Cola(R) collections in the world, the Dow American Gallery and the Bouchelle Center for Decorative Arts which together form what is probably one of the finest collections of furniture and decorative arts in the Southeast. There are also changing exhibitions and a new children's science center planned to open in 2008.
The city to the north (Ormond Beach) includes the Ormond Memorial Art Museum and the city to the south (New Smyrna Beach) includes the renowned Atlantic Center for the Arts also boast several museums and galleries making this region of central Florida something akin to Orlando's Cultural Coast.
Sports
In addition to motorsports, Daytona is also the home of the Daytona Cubs, a minor league baseball team of the Florida State League and the Daytona Beach Thunder of the World Indoor Football League.
Media
Newspapers
★ ''The Daytona Beach News-Journal'' - Online edition of daily newspaper covering the Greater Daytona Beach Area.
★ ''Orlando Sentinel'' - Newspaper and news site based in Orlando with a bureau covering Daytona Beach and Volusia County.
Radio
'AM'
★ WNDB, 1150 AM, Daytona Beach, News/Talk/Sports
★ WROD, 1340 AM, Daytona Beach, Standards
★ WMFJ, 1450 AM, Daytona Beach, Religious
'FM'
★ WJLU, 89.7 FM, Daytona Beach, Religious
★ WCFB, 94.5 FM, Daytona Beach, Urban Adult Contemporary
★ WIKD-LP, 99.1 FM, Daytona Beach, Campus Radio of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
★ WJHM, 101.9 FM, Daytona Beach, Mainstream Urban
Television
★ WESH, analog channel 2, digital channel 11, NBC
★ WCEU, analog channel 15, digital channel 33, PBS
★ Central Florida News 13, Bright House Networks cable channel 13
Economy
A large part of the Daytona Beach area economy is involved in the tourist industry. Over 8 million visitors came to the Daytona Beach area in 2004.
The area's economy includes other industries besides tourism, such as manufacturing. Daytona Beach provides a dynamic business environment with opportunities for the development and growth of smaller, home grown businesses and large corporate enterprises. It’s a community with a talented and diverse workforce. Daytona Beach has industrial sites within an enterprise zone and sites within a foreign trade zone adjacent to Daytona Beach International Airport. A medical office park provides additional sites. Prime Interstate 4 and Interstate 95 sites are available with excellent access to road, air, rail and water transportation.
Companies and organizations that have their corporate headquarters or a major presence in the area:
★ Advanced Ordnance
★ Brown & Brown Inc. (Insurance)
★ Consolidated Tomoka Land Company
★ Crane Cams
★ ACT Corporation - Enrichment Industries
★ Halifax Community Health Systems
★ International Speedway Corporation
★ Gambro-Renal Products
★ Ladies Professional Golf Association
★ Miller-Leaman
★ Ocean Design
★ Piedmont Plastics
★ Raydon Corporation
★ SunTrust Bank
★ X1R (auto lubricants)
Shopping
Ocean Walk Shoppes in Daytona Beach.
★ Volusia Mall, 1700 West International Speedway Blvd. The largest shopping mall in Daytona Beach. Anchored by Sears, JC Penney, Macy's, and Dillards.
★ Bellair Plaza, 2500 North Atlantic Ave. Bellair Plaza is located on the west side of North Atlantic Avenue (A1A) in Daytona Beach. Bellair is anchored by Bealls, Publix, Ruby Tuesday, and Walgreens.
★ Ocean Walk Shoppes, 250 North Atlantic Ave. Open-air shopping center, located in the heart of the beach area.
★ Daytona Beach Flea Market, 2987 Bellevue Ave. Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the flea market opens its stalls to sell anything and everything including jewelry, produce, clothing, sports equipment and toys. Free parking and free admission.
★ Riverfront Marketplace, Beach Street. A group of shops, restaurants and museums that lines Beach Street and the few streets surrounding in downtown Daytona Beach. Across the street is the Saturday Farmer's Market on City Island (next to the public library), the oldest of its kind in Florida.
★ Belnova Plaza
★ Daytona Mall
★ Nova Village Market
★ Pelican Bay Shopping Village
★ Promenade Shopping Center
★ Shops at Beville
★ Volusia Point Center
★ Volusia Square Shopping Center
★ Wal-Mart Super Center
Education
Public primary and secondary education is handled by Volusia County Schools. Some of the larger private schools include Father Lopez Catholic High School.
Colleges and Universities
★ Bethune-Cookman University
★ Daytona Beach Community College
★ Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
★ University of Central Florida, Daytona Beach Campus
Vocational Schools
★ The Airline Academy - Offers flight training for pilots and other airline professionals.
★ Keiser College
★ WyoTech ''(formerly AMI)'' Offers automotive repair, motorcycle repair, and marine repair training.
★ Phoenix East Aviation - Offers flight training for pilots.
Transportation
Airports
You can fly into Daytona Beach International Airport, which is served by Delta Air Lines, AirTran Airways, Continental Airlines, and Vintage Props and Jets. Other airports nearby are Orlando International Airport and Jacksonville International Airport, both of which are approximatly an hour away.
Buses
★ Daytona Beach is served by Greyhound Bus Lines, which has a terminal located at 138 South Ridgewood Avenue (US-1). The Greyhound routes from Daytona Beach connect with hubs in Jacksonville and Orlando.
★ VoTran is the local bus service provided by Volusia County. It is a cheap way to get around and is handicap accessible. Buses travel to most sites and places of interest. A one-day VoTran bus pass costs $3.
★ A1A Beachside Trolley operates from January to Labor Day (September) along Atlantic Avenue on the beachside. They are air-conditioned and handicapped accessible.
Auto
The Volusia County Parking Garage in Daytona Beach provides a place for visitors to park and walk around.
Daytona Beach is easily accessible by I-95 that runs North and South and I-4 connecting Daytona Beach with Orlando and Tampa. U.S. Highway 1 (Ridgewood Avenue) also passes through Daytona Beach. A1A is a scenic North/South route along the beach.
The Volusia County Parking Garage is located at 701 Earl Street at North Atlantic Avenue (A1A). 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. Pricing varies at different times of the year.
There is also a VOTRAN transfer station (Intermodal Transit Facility - ITF) located inside the garage area.
Notable inhabitants
★ Dan Allen, comedian
★ Duane Allman and Gregg Allman, musicians
★ Vince Carter, professional basketball player
★ Bill France, founder of NASCAR
★ Ryan Lochte, 2004 Olympic medalist in swimming
★ Mary McLeod Bethune, civil rights activist
★ Kevin Nash, professional wrestler
★ Josef Papp, engineer who was awarded patents related to the development of a fusion engine and claimed to have invented a jet submarine.
★ Ron Rice, former owner/founder of Hawaiian Tropic
★ Glen "Fireball" Roberts, former NASCAR driver
★ Bob Ross, host of ''The Joy of Painting''
★ David Sholtz, 26th governor of Florida.
★ Mike Skinner, NASCAR driver
★ Howard Thurman, author and theologian
★ T. K. Wetherell, president of Florida State University
★ Robert Wright, musical theater writer
★ Lee Apperson, professional body builder and former Mister America
★ Fulgencio Batista, 19th Cuban President
★ Ransom Eli Olds, Automobile Pioneer
Points of interest
★ Daytona 500 Experience
★ Daytona Beach Bandshell and Oceanfront Park Complex
★ Daytona International Speedway
★ Daytona Lagoon Water Park
★ Halifax Historical Museum
★ International Motorsports Hall of Fame
★ Jackie Robinson Stadium
★ Main Street Pier
★ Mary McLeod Bethune Performing Arts Center and Visual Arts Gallery
★ Museum of Arts and Sciences
★ News Journal Center
★ Seaside Music Theater
★ Southeast Museum of Photography
★ The Ocean Center
★ List of Registered Historic Buildings in Daytona Beach, Florida
Sister cities
★ Bayonne, France
Images
References
1. Daytona Beach, United States Page
External links
★
★ City of Daytona Beach
★ Daytona Beach Chamber of Commerce
★ Daytona Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau
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