Welcome to The City of Orange City
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Orange City is comprised of approximately 6.8 square miles, located in a prime area between Interstate 4, U.S. Highway 17-92, Saxon Boulevard, and State Road 472 corridor in southwest Volusia County. The local economy has a tradition of being service-related and light industrial, which has now grown to include education, health care and government, as the area's largest employers.
The City is proud of its small town ambiance, while offering all the amenities necessary for today´s fast-paced lifestyle. Residents are fortunate to have some of the safest and most affordable neighborhoods in Volusia County. One can choose to live in a single-family home, manufactured home, condominiums or even rental apartments. Because of its desirable location in Volusia County, several gated communities are being developed in the area. Within the City of Orange City there are many homes that are graced with medium and estate-sized lots. These lots have many large trees, which helped Orange City to become designated as "Tree City USA."
Orange City has established its own Historic District, which is on the National Register of Historic Sites. This brings the old buildings, homes, land areas and other aspects of our history alive, so we can keep the history, not just documented with pictures, but have actual buildings, artifacts and personal stories for all to share.
Being a full-service municipality, Orange City offers residents and local businesses a wide variety of recreational opportunities for a well-balanced quality of life. Orange City is known for Blue Spring State Park, a 2700-acre park designated as a Manatee Refuge Area that connects to the scenic St. John's River, providing residents and visitors with access to some of Florida's most beautiful bodies of water.
Affordable housing, excellent City and County services, low taxes, low crime rates, well-maintained parks for people of all ages. There is access to national chain-based shopping malls and restaurants. With all this in and around town, Orange City is a great place to live, work and play.
Orange City Town History
v The first inhabitants in the Orange City area were Timucua Indians v By 1820, the original natives had become extinct due to disease and war v In the early 1850´s, Louis and Mary Ann Thursby became permanent residents at Blue Spring on the St. Johns River v Dr. Seth French traveled the St. Johns River by steamboat in 1870 v In 1874, Dr. French and six friends purchased about 5,000 acres of land and started the town that became Orange City v In 1875, H. H. DeYarman founded the first hotel in what would become Orange City (The hotel still exists and is called the Heritage Inn) v The first public school in Volusia County was founded in Orange City in 1878 v Orange City was named for the thousands of acres of orange groves planted in and around the city, which was incorporated as a city in 1882 v The Big Freeze of 1894-1895 wiped out the citrus industry in Orange City and much of the rest of Florida
v Orange City Waterworks began supplying water to homes in Orange City in 1895 v Orange City water was shipped worldwide and even won an award at the St. Louis World's Fair for its excellence v The Dickinson Memorial Library, which still serves the City, was dedicated in 1919 v Orange City has established its own Historic District, which is on the National Register of Historic Sites. |
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