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Highlighting.... Daytona Beach area
Farming and fishing dominated this region in the days of the coastal steamers, but the arrival of Henry Flagler's East Coast Railroad opened the region to winter tourists in large numbers.
Ormond Beach, the northernmost end of the Daytona Beach area, was once home to the Rockefellers and the Flaglers, as well as the early automobile pioneers who tested their inventions on the hard-packed beach. The beach was used for vehicle racing as early as 1902, but gained world notoriety in 1935 when Sir Malcolm Campbell raced his Bluebird 276mph.
Holly Hill is bordered by the Halifax River on the east side, Ormond Beach on the north, and Daytona Beach on the south. According to the Halifax Historical Society, Holly Hill was given its name by William Fleming, a farmer whose land had many holly trees on the West Bank of the Halifax River.
Daytona Beach was named for pioneer settler Mathias Day and was known as Daytona until 1926 when Daytona was combined with Daytona Beach and Seabreeze into one community.
Port Orangeis said to be the fastest growing city in the Daytona Beach area. It is located between the Intercoastal Waterway and Interstate 95 in the southwest region of the area, and home to the Sugar Mill Gardens and the Spruce Creek Environmental Preserve, as well as many scenic parks and pathways.
Ponce Inlet, the southernmost point of the peninsula is a scenic fishing village, where the historic Lighthouse is located. Since 1565, when the entire French fleet of Admiral Jean Rebault was wrecked by a hurricane in the vicinity of this Inlet, many ships have been lost here. The Inlet was explored by Captain Antonio de Prado in 1569 and named "los Mosquitos" because of the large number of insects. Captain Alvaro Mexia charted the inlet in 1605 but, except for the planting of a few orange groves, the Spanish never settled the area. After Florida passed to the control of the United States in 1821, the need for a lighthouse at this dangerous inlet was recognized. However, it was not until June 10, 1834, that Congress appropriated $11,000 for the construction of the lighthouse. In 1927 the name of the "Mosquito Inlet " was changed to " Ponce de Leon Inlet".
The Daytona Beach Area is located on the Atlantic Ocean in Volusia County, between St. Augustine and Cape Canaveral , and is best noted for its twenty miles of hard packed sand used by thousands of beach driving vacationers. The Daytona International Speedway and the 18,000 beachside hotel rooms attract a youthful crowd.
Excerpts from: http://www.hcc-online.com/floridahistory/history/daytona.htm
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