DeLand

History

The city is named for Henry A. DeLand. It was founded in 1876, and incorporated in 1882. In 1883, Henry A. DeLand established DeLand Academy. Later, DeLand entrusted the academy to his friend John B. Stetson, a wealthy hat manufacturer from Philadelphia and a founding trustee. In 1889, it was renamed John B. Stetson University after its new patron. The name was later shortened to Stetson University, and in 1900 it became the first law school in Florida. The University's sports teams are called the Mad Hatters.
DeLand grew during the 1920s Florida Land Boom. The Downtown DeLand Historic District has been undergoing extensive renovations recently.

Climate

DeLand has a warm and humid subtropical climate, and there are two major seasons each year. One of those seasons is hot and rainy, lasting from May until October (roughly coinciding with the Atlantic hurricane season). The other is a cooler season (November through March) that brings more moderate temperatures and less frequent rainfall. The area's warm and humid climate is caused primarily by its low elevation and its position relatively close to the Tropic of Cancer, and much of its weather is affected by the movement of the Gulf Stream.

By plane

Nearby International airports include:

• Daytona Beach International Airport (DAB)
• Sanford Orlando International Airport (SFB)
• Orlando International Airport (MCO)

By train

Amtrak offers the Amtrak Auto Train service with its southern Terminus located in Sanford, a few miles southwest of DeLand. The Amtrak Auto Train carries passengers and automobiles between Sanford and Lorton, Virginia, effectively serving as a car-rail link from Florida to the Washington, D.C. Metro Area. You can easily drive your car into DeLand after departing from the Auto Train.
Amtrak offers regular passenger service with the closest stop being just west of the city. This stop is remote and will require taxicab service to get into town.

By bus

• Greyhound Bus Lines, 224 East Ohio Ave., 386-734-2747. Open M-Sa 9AM-7PM. Closed Su and holidays. Connections with Daytona Beach, Orlando, and Jacksonville.

By car

Highway travel is the most common method of arriving in DeLand. Interstate 4 (I-4) begins about 20 miles away in nearby Daytona Beach, and passes near DeLand. U.S. Highway 92 also begins near Daytona Beach and is known in both places as "International Speedway Boulevard" because it passes in front of that raceway. U.S. 92 meets U.S. 17 coming in from Jacksonville 90 miles to the north, and the two highways become one, and is known as "17/92" as it travels through Orlando 40 miles south, to Haines City, where they again split into two highways. Florida Highway 44 crosses I-4 five miles east of DeLand, and crosses 17/92 in the center of historic downtown DeLand. To further confuse travelers, 17/92 is known as Woodland Boulevard (or simply "The Boulevard," being the only boulevard in DeLand), and Florida Highway 44 is known as "New York Avenue," as the streets were known well before the advent of the U.S. and Florida Highway systems.

By bus

• VOTRAN is the name of the local Volusia County bus service. It is a cheap way to get around and is handicap accessible. The website provides maps and timetables. Buses travel to most sites and places of interest. Service is offered in DeLand roughly M-Sa, 7AM-7PM. A one-day Votran bus pass costs $3.75.

By car

By taxi

• Deland Taxi, 236 S Alabama Ave. +1 386 734-8484.

• Hontoon Island

  address: River Ridge Road
  Hontoon Island is a state park that is in the Saint John's River west of DeLand.

• Stetson UniversityThis was Florida's first private university and was founded in 1883. It has a beautiful campus with historic buildings.

Fishing

• Bob Stonewater Bass Fishing Guide ServiceCaptain Bob Stonewater offers fishing guide service on the St. Johns River in the DeLand area.

• Captain Bill Flowers Guide Service

  phone: +1 386 734-5211
  Captain Bill Flowers offers fishing guide services on the St. Johns River in the DeLand area.

• Captain Jeff Duval Guide Service

  phone: +1 386 789-3914
  Captain Jeff Duval offers fishing guide services on the St. Johns River in the DeLand area.

• Captain Larry Blakeslee Guide Service

  phone: +1 386 736-9151
  Captain Larry Blakeslee offers fishing guide services on the St. Johns River in the DeLand area.

• Captain Red Flowers Guide Service

  phone: +1 386 734-6656
  Captain Red Flowers offers fishing guide services on the St. Johns River in the DeLand area.

• Captain Smith's Black Bass Guide ServiceCaptain Mark Smith offers fishing guide services on the St. Johns River in the DeLand area.

• Captain Steve's Central Florida Guide Service

  phone: +1 386 846-2861
  Captain Steve Niemoeller offers fishing guide services on the St. Johns River in the DeLand area.

• Fishing Unlimited Charter ServiceCaptain Roger Dillon offers fishing charter services on the St. Johns River in the Astor/Volusia area.

Golf

• Southridge Golf Course

  address: 800 E Euclid Ave
  18 holes, over 6,296 yards with a par of 72 (Public).

• Deland Country Club

  phone: +1 386 734-1363
  address: 2289A Country Club Drive
  18 holes, over 6,032 yards with a par of 70 (Private Equity).

• Victoria Hills Golf Club

  address: 300 Spalding Way
  18 holes, over 6,989 yards with a par of 72 (Public).

Skydiving

• Skydive DeLand

  phone: +1 386 738-3539
  address: DeLand Airport, 1600 Flightline Blvd

• Brandywine Shopping Center
• DeLand Flea Market
• DeLand Plaza Shopping Center
• Millers Market Square
• Northgate Shopping Center
• Woodland Plaza
• West Volusia Regional Shopping Center

• Belly Busters Restaurant

  address: 930 N Woodland Boulevard
  Greek cuisine and sandwiches.

• Cress Restaurant

  address: 103 W. Indiana Ave.
  Indian Cuisine.

• Deland Artisan Inn

  address: 215 S Woodland Blvd
  Restaurant and lounge with full wine and Champagne list.

• Giovannis La Dolce Vita

  address: 1498 South Woodland Boulevard
  Italian cuisine. Open for Lunch and Dinner.

• Santorini Restaurant

  address: 210 N Woodland Boulevard
  Greek cuisine.

• Doc's Place Restaurant and Sports Bar

  address: 4 and New York Ave
  I-. Located inside Howard Johnson Inn.

• Holiday Inn DeLand

  address: 350 E. International Speedway Blvd
  On-site amenities include restaurant, lounge, outdoor pool and Jacuzzi. Bar On Site.

• Howard Johnson Inn DeLand

  address: 2801 East New York Ave
  Offering 24 hour front desk, breakfast, non-smoking rooms, a pool, meeting and banquet facilities, cable tv and more.

• Best Inn DeLand

  address: 644 North Woodland Blvd

• Comfort Inn De Land

  address: 400 E. International Speedway Blvd
  Offering 24 hour front desk, breakfast, disabled access, non-smoking rooms, a pool, refrigerator, cable tv and more.

The city is situated midway between two first magnitude springs in state park settings, part of the Florida Aquifer.

• Seven miles to the north, DeLeon Springs is set in a pool environment, leading to Lake Woodruff Wildlife Preserve
• Seven Miles south, Blue Spring is probably the best place to see manatees in all of Florida, during cold weather.
• Seven miles to the west, yet another state park is actually an island accessible only by passenger ferry, Hontoon Island.
• Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge