Volusia County

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Volusia County is in East Central Florida. Volusia County is bordered on the west by the historic 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.

The Volusia County Tourism Authority promotes the area as being the "Fun Coast," as the local area code (386) spells out the word "fun."

[edit] Understand

Volusia County Courthouse in DeLand, Florida.
Volusia County Courthouse in DeLand, Florida.

Volusia County is named after the community of Volusia, which today is a tiny, unincorporated community on the east bank of the St. Johns River where State Road 40 crosses. However, when Volusia County was carved from Orange County by the Florida legislature in 1854, the community was a prosperous steamboat landing and the largest town in the County. Keep in mind that the entire population of Volusia County barely exceeded 600 people at that time.

The community of Volusia began as a trading post sometime in the first or second decade of the 1800s. It was located where an Indian trail intersected with the St. Johns River. This location was later developed as an important supply depot for the military during the Second Seminole War in 1834-35. When commercial steamships started to travel up and down the St. Johns, the community grew and was listed as one of four post offices in the County. With the introduction of regional railroad systems in the 1880s, the community of Volusia was bypassed, and thus, its era of prosperity ended.

The origins of of the word "Volusia" is of some debate. Despite serious effort by amateur and professional historians, no one has ever discovered a historic document which has provided the definitive answer.

There are three theories:

  • The name derives from a word meaning "Land of the Euchee." When the Timucuan Indian cultures died out in the early 1700s, the land in the area was uninhabited until some of the Indian tribes to the north began to migrate into the area (much like the people that have become known as Seminoles). The Euchee Indians were a tribe originally from an area in South Carolina.
  • The name was taken from the name of a British plantation which was located on the St. Johns River in the late 1700s. However, no one has explained where the plantation owner came up with the name.
  • The name is derived from the last name of one of the employees at the trading post. He is described as being well-liked and of Belgian or French descent. The story goes that his name was something like "Veluche," which was pronounced "Va-loo-shay." The post became known as "Veluche's Place," hence the eventual creation of "Volusia.

There have been recent proposals by county officials to rename Volusia County to either "Daytona County" (similar name to its most famous city) or "NASCAR County" (reflecting its famous attraction, Daytona International Speedway). These proposals have been opposed by county residents.

[edit] Regions

The Volusia County Government [1] 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. (Blue on the map below.)
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. (Yellow on the map below.)
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. (Green on the county map below.)


[edit] Cities

Map of Volusia County relative to Florida, with locations of Cities.

[edit] Incorporated

[edit] Unincorporated

  • Barberville
  • Cassadaga
  • Enterprise
  • Glenwood
  • Samsula
  • Seville
  • Volusia
  • Wilbur By-The-Sea

[edit] Other destinations

[edit] Talk

English is the official language of the state. However, the Spanish language is making inroads throughout the state.

Native-born Floridians will usually speak in a southern accent. However, after the migration of millions of Americans from other states to Florida, the southern dialect is becoming diluted with other American-English accents.

[edit] Get in

[edit] By plane

  • Daytona Beach - The largest airport in Volusia County is Daytona Beach International Airport (IATA: DAB) [8], which is served by Delta Air Lines, AirTran Airways, Continental Airlines, and Vintage Props and Jets. Some other cities in the County have Municipal Airports, but these are only used by private aircraft.
  • DeLand - Municipal Airport
  • New Smyrna Beach - Municipal Airport
  • Ormond Beach - Municipal Airport
  • Spruce Creek Fly-In - Private Airport

[edit] By train

Amtrak offers the Amtrak Auto Train service with its southern Terminus located in Sanford (Florida), a few miles west of Volusia County. The Amtrak Auto Train carries passengers and automobiles between Sanford and Lorton, Virginia, effectively serving as a car-rail link from Florida to the Washington, D.C. Metro Area. You can easily drive your car into Volusia County after departing from the Auto Train.

Amtrak offers regular passenger service with the closest stop being near the city of DeLand. This stop is rather remote and may not be recommendable as an option.

[edit] By bus

Volusia County is served by Greyhound Bus Lines, which has scheduled stops in Daytona Beach and DeLand. The Greyhound routes connect with hubs in Jacksonville and Orlando.

[edit] By car

Volusia County is easy to drive to, as several major highways pass through the area:

  • Interstate 4 - From the Eastern Terminus in Daytona Beach, the highway leads southwest, connecting to Orlando and Tampa
  • Interstate 95 - Passes through Eastern Volusia, connecting to Miami, Jacksonville, and other cities along the US Eastern Seaboard. I-95 generally parallels US-1, with I-95 being faster to travel through.
  • U.S. Highway 1 - Passes through Eastern Volusia, connecting to Miami, Jacksonville, and other cities along the US Eastern Seaboard. US-1 generally parallels I-95, with US-1 being a slower, local route with lodging and restaurants available. Local names for US-1 will vary from city to city (Old Dixie Highway, Ridgewood Avenue).
  • U.S. Highway 17
  • U.S. Highway 92

[edit] Get around

[edit] By Bus

  • Votran [9] 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. The website provides maps and timetables. 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).
  • A1A Beachside Trolley operates from January to Labor Day (September) along Atlantic Avenue on the beachside. They are air-conditioned and handicapped accessible. $1.25 for one trip, or $3 for a one-day pass (can be used on all Votran buses).

[edit] By train

Commuter Rail [10] - The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), in cooperation with local government officials in Orange, Seminole, Volusia and Osceola counties and the federal government, are currently working on a 61-mile commuter rail project, using existing Amtrak and CSX freight rail lines. The commuter rail line will roughly parallel Interstate 4, and is projected to start service in 2010.

[edit] By Taxi

Taxi companies include:

  • Yellow Cab (Daytona Beach), ☎ (386) 255-5555, [11].  edit
  • Southern Komfort Taxi (Daytona Beach), ☎ (386) 252-2222, [12].  edit
  • All Florida Cab (Daytona Beach), ☎ (386) 254-3400, [13].  edit
  • Deland Taxi, 236 S Alabama Ave. +1 386 734-8484.

[edit] By car

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

Volusia County is easy to drive 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.

There is also a VOTRAN transfer station (Intermodal Transit Facility - ITF) located inside the garage area.

[edit] Learn

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 at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University's Daytona Beach, FL, USA campus.
The life-sized Wright Flyer statue at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University's Daytona Beach, FL, USA campus.

[edit] Colleges and Universities

  • Bethune-Cookman College (Daytona Beach)
  • Daytona Beach Community College (Campuses in multiple locations around the County)
  • Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Daytona Beach)
  • Keiser College (Daytona Beach)
  • Stetson University (DeLand)
  • University of Central Florida, Daytona Beach Campus

[edit] Vocational

  • Advanced Technology Center (Daytona Beach)
  • Florida Technical College [14] (DeLand)
  • International Academy Beauty School [15] (South Daytona)
  • Palmer College of Chiropractic (Port Orange)
  • Phoenix East Aviation (Daytona Beach)
  • The Airline Academy (Daytona Beach)
  • WyoTech (formerly AMI) [16] (Daytona Beach)

[edit][add listing] See

The Ocean Center is Volusia County's convention center and event venue in Daytona Beach.
The Ocean Center is Volusia County's convention center and event venue in Daytona Beach.

[edit][add listing] Do

  • Beaches
  • Boating
  • Diving
  • Fishing
  • Golfing
  • Horseback Riding
  • Swimming
  • Surfing
  • Tennis

[edit][add listing] Buy

ATMs can be found thoughout Volusia County. Usually larger hotels and convenience stores will have a "generic" ATM machine available; however, be forewarned about hidden service fees.

[edit][add listing] Eat

Cuisine across Volusia County is generally a mix between traditional "Southern" style and "Caribbean" style cooking. Sometimes a blending of the two styles is found, named as "Floribbean." The area has easy access to fresh seafood and many eateries offer a wide variety of seafood dishes.

[edit][add listing] Drink

Volusia County is a "wet" county in Florida. Alcoholic beverages are sold in both taverns and liquor stores. The Florida State Alcoholic Beverage Control (Police) frequently conduct raids for underage drinking in tourist areas, particularly during Spring Break. There aren't many places around the county for clubbing, except in the beach tourist areas. However, there are many biker bars around the area because of periodic motorcycle rallies.

[edit] Stay safe

Volusia County provides Beach Patrol and Lifeguard services along all the county beaches.
Volusia County provides Beach Patrol and Lifeguard services along all the county beaches.

Florida has a high occurrence of hurricanes. You might want to check the Hurricane safety page if you are visiting Florida. Beware of lightning in the central part of the state.

Volusia County is known for a high number of shark attacks, so be careful when surfing. Also, there is a high occurrence of tornadoes in Florida, so check the Tornado safety page.

Volusia County has varying crime intensity from city to city. In certain parts of large cities it may not be safe to walk alone or even in small groups at night. Tourist areas rarely have violent crimes, but theft is an occasional occurrence.

The 911 number for fire, police, and medical emergencies is in effect throughout Volusia County.

[edit] Contact

  • Seven digit dialing is in effect for local calls within each of the three regions in Volusia County. "1" and the Area Code must be used when phoning into a different region. The local area code is (386).

[edit] Agencies

  • The Daytona Beach Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, 126 East Orange Avenue, Daytona Beach, Florida. Tel: (386) 255-0415 Fax: (386) 255-5478. The official tourism, sales and marketing organization for the East Volusia region (Daytona Beach and surrounding area). [17].
  • The New Smyrna Beach Visitors Bureau, 2238 State Route 44, New Smyrna Beach, Florida. Tel: (800) 541-9621. The official tourism, sales and marketing organization for the Southeast Volusia region (New Smyrna Beach and surrounding area). [18].
  • West Volusia Tourism Advertising Authority, 336 North Woodland Avenue, DeLand, Florida 32720, Phone: (386) 734-4331, Fax: (386) 734-4333. The official tourism, sales and marketing organization for the West Volusia region (St. John's River Country).

[edit] Internet

It is common for many of the larger hotels and lodgings in the area to offer free internet access for their guests.

[edit] Newspapers

  • Daytona Beach News-Journal [19] - Online edition of daily newspaper covering the Greater Daytona Beach Area.
  • DeLand Beacon
  • Avion Online Newspaper [20] - Student college publication of Embry-Riddle University in Daytona Beach.
  • Daytona Beach Pennysaver - Weekly publication with coupons and classified ads.
  • Volusia/Flagler Business Report [21] - Biweekly publication that covers the business community 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 [22] , 88.3 FM, Holly Hill, Contemporary Christian
  • WKTO, 88.9 FM, Edgewater, Religious
  • WJLU, 89.7 FM, New Smyrna Beach, Religious
  • WAPN [23] , 91.5 FM, Holly Hill, Contemporary Christian
  • WKRO [24] , 93.1 FM, Edgewater, Country
  • WCFB, 94.5 FM, Daytona Beach, Urban Adult Contemporary
  • WLGM, 95.3 FM, Edgewater
  • WHOG [25] , 95.7 FM, Ormond-by-the-Sea, Classic Rock
  • WJLU, 97.3 FM, Deland, Religious
  • WJHM, 101.9 FM, Daytona Beach, Mainstream Urban
  • WVYB [26] , 103.3 FM, Holly Hill, Pop music
  • WOCL, 105.9 FM, Deland, Alternative rock

[edit] Get out

This is a usable article. It has information about the region and for getting in, as well as links to a few destinations. An adventurous person could use this article, but please plunge forward and help it grow!

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