Ormond Beach, FL

Located just 5 miles northwest of Daytona Beach, Ormond was incorporated in 1880. It was named for James Ormond, a sea captain who transported early settlers to the region.

Ormond Beach covers 29 square miles in Florida's Volusia County and is located on the Halifax River Lagoon near the Atlantic Ocean. The city has a population of approximately 38,000. Ormond Beach receives 50 inches of rain every year, and the rainiest month is September, when six of those inches fall.

ECONOMY AND INDUSTRIES

The Gilded Age may be long gone, but the median income in Ormond Beach is above the Florida average. Education, health care and government are the area's largest employers. Unemployment stands at approximately 3 percent. The average age of residents is 48. The cost of living is 10 percent below the national average.

The City of Ormond's Economic Development Department has aggressively pursued industrial manufacturers and high-tech companies in recent decades. The Ormond Beach Airport Business Park, a 176-acre park in what's known as Central Florida's High-Tech Corridor, has generated more than 1,500 local jobs.

Major companies located in the Business Park include Aqua Sun Investments Inc., Atlantic Coast Aluminum Inc., Capo Inc., Entech Controls Corporation, Homak Manufacturing Co., Pinnacle Mold Technology and VitalAire Health Care Inc.

EDUCATION

• Daytona College, formerly known as the Daytona Institute of Massage Therapy, is located in Ormond Beach and offers certification in Therapeutic Massage and Body Work.
• Other schools of note located in Ormond Beach include the Harry Wendelstedt School for Umpires and the All Florida Insurance School.

FOR VISITORS

Besides the Rockefeller winter home, now housing a cultural center, there are numerous historic sites to visit on Ormond Beach. These include:

• Dix House: A historic home, placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1989.
• Anderson-Price Memorial Library: A 1916 stucco classical revival building that was once home to the Ormond Beach Village Improvement Association. It currently houses the Ormond Beach Woman's Club, and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.
• Lippincott Mansion: Built in 1841, and placed on the National Register of Historic places in 1985. Also known as Melrose Hall.
• The Hammocks: a two-story home built in 1904 and included in the National Register of Historic Places in 1989.
• Ormond Yacht Club: Built on the Halifax River in 1910, there have been several recent efforts to restore this historic structure in recent years, including rebuilding the pier structure. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2005.
• Nocoroco: An historic Timucuan Indian village located along the shorelines in northern Tomoka State Park.
• John Anderson Lodge: Built in 1886 by one of the area's earliest European settlers, it was included in the National Register of Historic Places in 1989.

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

• The Ormond Memorial Art Museum & Gardens was established in 1946 with the Ormond War Memorial located on its grounds. Veterans returned to Ormond Beach from the war and many put their efforts into establishing the botanical gardens around the existing buildings. The Emmons Cottage, an 1880s-era house, was moved onto the museum grounds in 1998. The Cottage is one the few remaining structures from the early days of Florida's development and now serves as a gallery and an art-and-crafts school. OMAM offers several exhibitions each year.

FAMILY FUN

Beach and park activities are plentiful and popular. Tomoka State Park is home to many species of wildlife including bald eagles, peregrine falcons and manatees. Other nearby parks featuring canoeing, hiking, camping, fishing and boating include:

• North Peninsula State Park
• Bulow Plantations Ruins Historic State Park
• Gamble Rogers Memorial State Recreation Area
• Ocala National Forest

Ormond Beach also offers plenty of opportunities to play golf. One popular place to play is the Ormond Beach Sports Complex, which recently underwent a $2 million improvement program. Work included a new multipurpose field, new bleacher seating, a new entrance and a concession and restroom facility.

Popular courses include:

• Ormond Beach Sports Complex
• Halifax Plantation Golf Club
• River Bend Golf Club
• Riviera Country Club
• Tomoka Oaks Golf Club and Country Club

LOCAL MEDIA

Ormond Beach is served by the following publications:

• Daytona Beach News Journal
• Ormond Beach Hometown News
• Seniors Today

Local radio stations include:

• WELE 1380 AM - News, talk
• WHOG 95.7 FM - Classic rock

DID YOU KNOW?

• John D. Rockefeller lived in Ormond Beach. He died at the Casements, his home there, in 1937.
• Major League Baseball umpire Harry Wendelstedt retired to Ormond Beach and now runs the Harry Wendelstedt School for Umpires in the city.
• National Basketball Association player Vince Carter was raised in Ormond Park.
• 2008 Olympic gold medalist Phil Dalhausser is a resident of the city.