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DeLand, Florida

DeLand, Florida
City
City of DeLand
Downtown DeLand
Downtown DeLand
Official seal of DeLand, Florida
Seal
Nickname(s): "The Athens of Florida"
Location in Volusia County and the state of Florida
Location in Volusia County and the state of Florida
Coordinates: 29°01′21″N 81°17′11″W / 29.02250°N 81.28639°W / 29.02250; -81.28639
Country United States
State Florida
County Volusia
Founded 1876
Incorporated 1882
Founded by Henry Addison DeLand
Government
 • Type Council–Manager
 • Mayor Robert F. Apgar
Area
 • Total 18.7 sq mi (48.5 km2)
 • Land 18.5 sq mi (47.9 km2)
 • Water 0.2 sq mi (0.6 km2)
Elevation 36 ft (11 m)
Population (2010)
 • Total 27,031
 • Estimate (2013) 28,237
 • Density 1,536.1/sq mi (593.1/km2)
Time zone Eastern (EST)9 (UTC-5)
 • Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code(s) 32720–32724
Area code(s) 386
FIPS code 12-16875
GNIS feature ID 0281473
Website www.deland.org

DeLand is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Volusia County. The city sits approximately 34 miles (55 km) north of the central business district of Orlando, and approximately 23 miles (37 km) west of the central business district of Daytona Beach. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 27,031. It is a part of the Deltona–Daytona Beach–Ormond Beach, FL metropolitan statistical area, which was home to 590,289 people as of the 2010 census.

The city was founded in 1876, and was named for its founder, Henry Addison DeLand. 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).

On February 2, 2007, DeLand and the surrounding area was the site of a major tornado outbreak.

Known as Persimmon Hollow for the wild persimmon trees that grow around the natural springs, the area was originally accessible only by steamboat up the St. Johns River. It was settled in 1874 by Captain John Rich, who built a log cabin. Henry Addison DeLand, a baking soda magnate from Fairport, New York, visited there in 1876, and envisioned building a citrus, agricultural and tourism center. That year he bought land and founded the town, naming it after himself. 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 (however, he never lived in the city year-round.) The City of DeLand was officially incorporated in 1882, and became the county seat of Volusia County in 1887. It was the first city in Florida to have electricity.


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