Daytona Beach, FL

Located in Volusia County, Florida, the city of Daytona Beach has a population of nearly 65,000 residents. Known for its distinctly southern flair, Daytona Beach is a year-round resort area, well known for Spring Break, Bike Week, and the Daytona 500.

EVENTS

• Speed Weeks: The events include the Daytona 500 and the Coke Zero 400 Nascar car races.
• Halifax Art Festival: The festival is held in the Downtown Marketplace. Sponsored by the Guild of the Museum of Arts and Sciences, it allows artists to submit their works to this annual competition. Cash prizes are presented during this event, recognizing Best in Show, while also offering Awards of Excellence, Distinction, and Honor.
• Garden Show: This event is held annually at the Ocean Center. Visitors can view landscaped gardens and various flowers, as well as attend lectures. This event also features a children's discovery zone, designed to educate kids on environmental issues.
• Spring Car Show and Swap Meet: This event brings cars and trucks of all types to the International Speedway each year. Hundreds of old and new car parts can be viewed and sold at the Swap Meet. This event also features R/C car racing, a craft area, and food.
• International Festival: This festival celebrates decades of music in a variety of venues. Visitors can attend more than 100 performances in a wide range of musical genres and styles.
• National Cheerleading Championships: These championships offer cheerleaders from around the country a chance to show off their skills in an intensive competition.
• Biketoberfest: This is a week when bikers from around the country come to show off their bikes and participate in motorcycle shows, while also enjoying a wide variety food, music, and entertainment.
• Turkey Run: This event is held annually during Thanksgiving week, bringing in cars from all over for a day of fun races, swap meets, food, and entertainment.
• Bike Week: This is another event that brings in thousands of motorcyclists from around the country. The event is loaded with activities, motorcycles, and entertainment. The Loop, which involves a 22-mile scenic ride, is a not-to-miss riding experience.

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

• The Daytona Beach Bandshell: The castle-like, 1920s amphitheater is located on the beach and hosts various concerts and live entertainment.
• Halifax Historical Museum: Located in historic downtown, this museum is dedicated to preserving the history of the Halifax River and offers numerous exhibits and special events.
• Main Street Pier: This pier offers a mix of fishing, food, and entertainment. Visitors can ride the impressive space needle and enjoy stunning views of the Atlantic from the sky lift. The Pier Restaurant offers lunch, diner, and snacks, while fishing is allowed throughout the day.
• The Museum of Arts and Sciences is located on an expansive stretch of Florida's preserved land. The facility includes thousands of displays and exhibits from various cultures, while also featuring a children's museum, a planetarium, a nature preserve, and a host of educational events.
• Southeast Museum of Photography: This museum features a number of works and is dedicated to education. Partnerships with Daytona State College allow students to learn the art and history of photography. This museum also offers various lectures and films throughout the year.

ECONOMY AND INDUSTRIES

Sports and tourism are major factors in Daytona Beach's economy.

NASCAR, the National Association for Stock Car Racing, is headquartered in Daytona Beach. For several decades, NASCAR has become one of the top spectator sports in America.

The Grand American Road Racing Association was established in 1999 and is also headquartered in Daytona Beach. This company focuses on sports car racing on road and street circuits throughout the United States. International Speedway Corporation owns and manages NASCAR's racetracks. This company is also responsible for the promotion of NASCAR's racing events.

LPGA, the Ladies' Professional Golf Association, is headquartered in Daytona Beach. Founded in 1950, this organization participates in educational events and philanthropy.

The city of Daytona Beach provides a dynamic business environment, besides tourism. Its economy encourages other industries such as manufacturing. Daytona provides an environment full of oppurtunities for the development and growth of smaller, home grown businesses as well as 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.

Companies and organizations that have their corporate headquarters or a major presence in the area are Advanced Ordnance, Brown & Brown Inc., Consolidated Tomoka Land Company, Crane Cams, ACT Corporation, Enrichment Industries, Halifax Health, International Speedway Corporation, Gambro-Renal Products, Ladies Professional Golf Association, Miller-Leaman, NASCAR, Ocean Design, Piedmont Plastics, Raydon Corporation, SunTrust Bank, and X1R.

NEIGHBORHOODS AND DISTRICTS

Most of the population in the city of Daytona Beach is urban. There are over 33,000 houses and more than half are occupied by renters. The median household income and median home value are below the state averages.

The walkability of the city is very good as all the amenities in the city are located within a miles distance.

While Daytona Beach is very much a tourist town, there are a few residential areas:

• Indigo Lakes is a pleasant neighborhood, featuring a golf course, mature trees, and a central location in the city. Shopping, medical facilities, and religious centers are only a short drive away.
• Central City is an overwhelmingly black neighborhood, although Daytona Beach is predominately white. Because of its central location, this area is accessible from all points in the city.
• Other neighborhoods include Tiger Bay Estates, Tomoka Farms Industrial Park, Pelican Bay and LPGA.

EDUCATION

• University of Central Florida, Daytona Beach is a sprawling facility offering educational opportunities to more than 1,000 students. Students at this campus have the option of choosing from various undergraduate or graduate programs.
• Bethune-Cookman University. This university is historically an African-American college, offering bachelor's degrees in various fields of study and a master's degree in transformative leadership. Bethune-Cookman offers scholarships and federal financial aid programs.
• Daytona State College. This college offers associate and bachelor's degrees in applied science, arts, and supervision and management. This university also offers certificate programs and continuing education.

GETTING AROUND

The bustling Daytona Beach International Airport has both domestic and international terminals.

LOCAL MEDIA

• The Avian Newspaper
• Daytona Beach News-Journal
• Orlando Sentinel