Daytona Beach is a city located in Volusia
County, Florida. As of the 2000 census, the city had a
total population of 64,112.
A Daytona Beach BarThe wide smooth sands of Daytona Beach were
open to drivers for many years and also used for high-speed testing
and racing of cars. This made the beach a mecca for racing enthusiasts
and the city is now the site of the Daytona International Speedway
(a conventional racetrack, which replaced the famous beach course
in 1959). Close to the Speedway and adjacent to the Daytona Beach
International Airport is Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
The city is a popular vacation
destination, especially for college students on spring
break. Today auto driving and parking is still allowed on certain
sections of the beach. There is a wide variety of accommodations
in all price ranges. Rooms are typically plentiful except for those
weeks when the racing or motorcycle special events are in town.
Daytona Beach History
Daytona Beach was named for its founder, Matthias Day. Daytona was
incorporated in 1876. The towns of Daytona, Daytona Beach and Seabreeze
combined to form Daytona Beach in 1926.
Daytona Beach was the birthplace of musical theater writer Robert
Wright.
On March 8, 1936 the first stock car race was held here. The Speedway
complex is now the site of the International Motor Sports Hall of
Fame.
Daytona Beach was the setting for the 2003 movie Monster, portraying
the life and crimes of serial killer, and Daytona resident, Aileen
Wuornos (and winning its star, Charlize Theron, an Oscar).
Daytona Beach Geography
Daytona Beach is located at 29°12'26" North, 81°2'16"
West (29.207309, -81.037900)1.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total
area of 168.2 km² (64.9 mi²). 152.0 km² (58.7 mi²)
of it is land and 16.2 km² (6.2 mi²) of it is water. The
total area is 9.63% water.
Daytona Beach Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there are 64,112 people, 28,605 households,
and 13,844 families residing in the city. The population density
is 421.8/km² (1,092.6/mi²). There are 33,345 housing units
at an average density of 219.4/km² (568.3/mi²). The racial
makeup of the city is 62.33% White, 32.75% African American, 0.32%
Native American, 1.73% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 1.05% from
other races, and 1.76% from two or more races. 3.48% of the population
are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 28,605 households out of which 18.0% have children under
the age of 18 living with them, 30.1% are married couples living
together, 14.5% have a female householder with no husband present,
and 51.6% are non-families. 39.4% of all households are made up
of individuals and 14.4% have someone living alone who is 65 years
of age or older. The average household size is 2.06 and the average
family size is 2.77.
In the city the population is spread out with 17.6% under the age
of 18, 16.6% from 18 to 24, 25.6% from 25 to 44, 20.5% from 45 to
64, and 19.7% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is
37 years. For every 100 females there are 99.7 males. For every
100 females age 18 and over, there are 98.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $25,439, and the
median income for a family is $33,514. Males have a median income
of $25,705 versus $20,261 for females. The per capita income for
the city is $17,530. 23.6% of the population and 16.9% of families
are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 34.9% of
those under the age of 18 and 12.1% of those 65 and older are living
below the poverty line.
