Deltona is a city in Volusia County, Florida, United States. It is located on the northern shore of Lake Monroe. As of the 2020 census, the city population was 93,692. It is a principal city of the Deltona–Daytona Beach–Ormond Beach metropolitan area, which was home to an estimated 685,344 people in 2021. It is the second largest city in the Greater Orlando combined statistical area.
The city, previously known as Deltona Lakes, was originally established as a planned residential community,Deltona | Florida Business Relocation, Expansion | Volusia County . Team Volusia Economic Development Corporation. teamvolusia.com. Retrieved 2015-02-27. and was master-planned and developed by the General Development Corporation and the Mackle Brothers. Since its opening in 1962, the community rapidly grew from a small subdivision to becoming one of largest cities in Central Florida by the end of the 20th century, largely in part by the Mackle Brothers' worldwide marketing efforts showcasing small low maintenance homes offered at affordable prices. The city is mostly residential, and primarily serves as a commuter town for the nearby cities of Orlando and Daytona Beach, as well as its surrounding communities.
Etymology Deltona is a portmanteau of DeLand and Daytona Beach.
History The area of current Deltona and surrounding communities was originally inhabited by nomadic Timucuans, who found fish and fresh water to be plentiful in the area. After Florida became a state in 1845, steamboats began to make regular trips up the St. Johns River to Lake Monroe. George Sauls, a former secret agent for the Confederacy during the American Civil War, along with his wife Adeline and six children, were the first settlers in the area in 1859.Volusia County History: City of Deltona . Volusia.org. Retrieved 2010-12-16. The area was located approximately north of the community of Osteen. Sauls' homestead caught fire in 1972, but it would eventually be designated as a historical site by the Volusia County Historical Commission, and the street, originally named Barranca, was renamed George Sauls Street in 1977. It was decommissioned as a historical site in 2000, and its site marker has since been relocated to the nearby Osteen Cemetery, with maintenance overseen by the Volusia County Preservation Board.Florida Historical Markers Programs - Marker: All Counties. Division of Historical Resources. Florida Department of State. Retrieved 2015-03-13.
What now constitutes the city was originally developed in 1962 as Deltona LakesPoertner, Bo (1997-07-23). "Newsletters Reveal Deltona's History Through The Eyes Of Its Developers". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved 2015-04-10. by Elliott, Robert and Frank Mackle as a planned residential community through the purchase of 17,203 acres of land. The development would open to potential land buyers on November 18, 1962, and included out-parcels for drainage retention, apartments, churches, parks, commercial centers, an industrial area, a community center, and a golf course.Mackle Company Home Page. The Mackle Company. Retrieved 2012-02-17. Deltona Lakes was heavily marketed throughout the United States, including Ohio, Illinois, Indiana and Michigan. Sales representatives would also market in places such as Germany, Puerto Rico, Latin America and the Far East.
By November 1965, just one year after its opening, Deltona Lakes grew to a population of nearly 1,600, nearly 1,000 homes were built or under construction, and had more than 120 miles of paved roads or roads being surfaced. By September 1966, Deltona Lakes came to attract more families, growing to a population of 2,413, and a student enrollment of more than 200, resulting in soaring property sales of up to US$60 million. In April 1967, more than 30 civic, social, charitable and fraternal clubs would form, including a civic association, a men's and women's golf association, a shuffle board club, and a bicycle club. By 1970, Deltona Lakes had an estimated population of 4,868 and would continue to grow in population throughout the 1970s and 1980s, reaching a population of 51,828 by 1990.City of Deltona. City of Deltona Evaluation and Appraisal Report . deltonafl.gov. June 2008. Retrieved 2012-02-18
The residents of Deltona Lakes attempted to incorporate it as a city in 1987 and 1990, but were not successful until 1995.Oropeza, Lorena (1987-01-28). Legislators Debate Deltona Incorporation Vote. Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved 2012-02-17 A city charter was adopted on September 9, 1995, and a seven-member city commission was elected. Deltona Lakes was incorporated as a city on December 31, 1995, with its name shortened to Deltona.
By 2000, the city grew to a population of 69,543 people, surpassing Daytona Beach as the most populous city in Volusia County. After the city's incorporation, regular city meetings would be held on the second floor of the now-defunct SouthTrust Bank building on Deltona Boulevard, until the first city hall began construction in 2001.Poertner, Bo (2001-08-14). "City Hall Rises From The Sand In Deltona." Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved 2015-04-11. The US$7 million project would complete for opening on March 16, 2002."Celebrate, Tour Deltona's City Hall Today." Orlando Sentinel. 2002-03-16. Retrieved 2015-04-11. On December 3, 2002,"Dbcc Breaks Ground In Deltona." Orlando Sentinel. 2002-12-11. Retrieved 2015-04-11. ground broke for the development of the Deltona satellite campus of Daytona State College (then known as Daytona Beach Community College), adjacent to Deltona City Hall. The campus opened in August 2004."Dbcc To Open 1st Building In Deltona Center In August." Orlando Sentinel. 2004-07-21. Retrieved 2015-04-11.
On August 6, 2004, four men broke into a home and beat six people and a dog to death with baseball bats, making it the deadliest mass murder in Volusia County history.
In recent years, new measures have been taken by city officials to begin attracting new businesses and industries into the city. Specially zoned areas in the city have been designated to allow for the development of upscale office facilities, light industrial space, health care facilities,Everson, Al (2014-05-27). "Commercial development seen for Deltona’s north side ." Retrieved 2015-04-11. warehousing and distribution facilities, commercial recreational facilities, and lodging services.Everson, Al (2011-08-16). "Deltona has high hopes for industry ." West Volusia Beacon. Retrieved 2015-04-11.
Geography and climate
Deltona is located in southwestern Volusia County in Central Florida approximately inland from the Atlantic Ocean, halfway between Daytona Beach and Orlando. It is bordered by Lake Helen and Cassadaga on the north, DeLand on the northwest, Orange City on the west, DeBary on the southwest, Enterprise on the south, and Osteen on the southeast. It is included in the Deltona–Daytona Beach–Ormond Beach Metropolitan Statistical Area and the larger Orlando–Lakeland–Deltona Combined Statistical Area.
The majority of the land in the city is of karst topography, characterized by rolling hills and an abundant amount of lakes.Deltona, FL - Forbes. Forbes. Forbes.com. Retrieved 2012-02-14. The St. Johns River passes through Lake Monroe, directly south of the city. The United States Geological Survey lists the city's elevation at above sea level at a point near Deltona's geographic center.Feature Detail Report for: City of Deltona. Geographic Names Information System. U.S. Geological Survey. 2008-03-10. Retrieved 2010-12-18. Elevations range from to above sea level. , according to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land and of which is water.
Deltona's climate is classified as a humid subtropical climate in the Cfa Köppen climate classification, meaning it typically has hot, humid summers and mild winters. The record high temperature is recorded in July 1998, with a record low of recorded in January 1985.Average Weather for Deltona, FL. Weather.com. Retrieved 2010-12-19 Rainfall averages around a year, with the wettest months being June through September. The hurricane season lasts from June 1 to November 30, with September as the most susceptible month to hurricanes. The most powerful hurricane to strike Deltona since its incorporation was Charley in 2004, during which the eye of the hurricane passed directly over the city; that same year, the city would also suffer from the effects of hurricanes Frances and Jeanne.
Demographics
Racial and ethnic composition +Deltona, Florida – Racial and ethnic compositionRace / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 2000Pop 2010% 2000% 2010White (NH)50,54048,50242,89372.67%56.94%45.78%Black or African American (NH)4,4788,0589,8376.44%9.46%10.50%Native American or Alaska Native (NH)2032362000.29%0.28%0.21%Asian (NH)6299881,3280.90%1.16%1.42%Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian (NH)2829610.04%0.03%0.07%Some other race (NH)731805330.10%0.21%0.57%Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)8451,4553,5811.22%1.71%3.82%Hispanic or Latino (any race)12,74725,73435,25918.33%30.21%37.63%Total69,54385,18293,692100.00%100.00%100.00%
2020 census As of the 2020 census, Deltona had a population of 93,692. The median age was 40.3 years. 22.0% of residents were under the age of 18 and 16.9% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 95.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 92.6 males age 18 and over.
99.5% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.5% lived in rural areas.
There were 33,244 households in Deltona, of which 33.6% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 51.1% were married-couple households, 15.4% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 24.6% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 18.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 35,035 housing units, of which 5.1% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.9% and the rental vacancy rate was 5.0%.
+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census Race Number Percent White 51,205 54.7% Black or African American 10,914 11.6% American Indian and Alaska Native 499 0.5% Asian 1,390 1.5% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 76 0.1% Some other race 11,666 12.5% Two or more races 17,942 19.1% Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 35,259 37.6%
2010 census As of the 2010 United States census, there were 85,182 people, 29,400 households, and 22,459 families residing in the city.
The 2010 U.S. Census data indicated that 30.2% of the city's population were Hispanic or Latino. . American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-02-09. The majority of Hispanic residents in Deltona were Puerto Rican, and made up 20.7% of the population. 1.8% of the population were Cuban, 1.6% of the population were Mexican, 1.5% of the population were Dominican, and 4.6% of the population were of other Hispanic or Latino origin, .
2000 census In 2000, 32.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55% were married couples living together, 15.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.7% were non-families. Of all households, 38.3% were made up of individuals, and 26.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
As of 2000, the median income for a household in the city was $50,058. Males had a median income of $34,478 versus $27,230 for females. The per capita income for the city was $21,019. About 11.1% of the population were below the poverty line.