Daytona Beach Shores is a city in Volusia County, Florida, United States. The population was 4,299 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 4,586.^[6]

History

Daytona Beach Shores was first organized in 1960 by local business leaders convinced that a smaller community could provide better services to its residents. The City was incorporated on April 22, 1960 and is located between unincorporated Wilbur-by-the-Sea to the south and Daytona Beach to the north.

In the 1970s and the 1980s, the City enjoyed a massive building program. Now about 80 percent of the residents live in high-rise condominiums that stretch along the Atlantic Ocean. In 1997, residents voted in a straw ballot to limit the height of future buildings to 12 stories. The City Council approved the height limit in 1998

A resort and retirement community built on tourism and the service industry, the City has no manufacturing industry, but caters to visitors year-round with miniature golf courses and other types of family entertainment.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.4 km² (0.9 mi²). 2.4 km² (0.9 mi²) of it is land and 0.1 km² (0.04 mi²) of it (3.19%) is water.

The city of Daytona Beach Shores is located on a barrier island, and sits on the Atlantic Ocean. The other side of the island is bordered on the West by the Halifax River lagoon, part of the Intracoastal Waterway, It is bordered on the north by Daytona Beach and on the south by Wilbur By-The-Sea, and Port Orange. The major highway that serves the city A1A/Atlantic Avenue.

Daytona Beach Shores has a very typical humid subtropical climate for a city in the southeastern U.S. Summers are hot and humid with highs usually in the 90s and a heat index often exceeding 100 degrees. Thunderstorms are frequent in summer afternoons and the hot, humid weather can last right through the fall months. Winters are dry and mild, marked by a constant series of cold fronts and warm-ups. Temperatures dip into the low 30s and upper 20s on occasion, and freezes are not uncommon. Frost rarely occurs a few times a year. Snowfall is very rare. The last time snow flurries fell on the city of Daytona Beach Shores was in December 2007. Temperatures in spring are famously pleasant with warm afternoons, cool evenings, and far less humidity. This beach-going weather attracts tourists back to the beaches usually by early March.

Law and government

Daytona Beach Shores features a City Manager/Council form of government. Residents elect a five-member City Council to four-year terms. The council members are elected at large and represent the entire community. The Mayor is also elected, and serves as one of the five Council members and as chairman of the Council. The City Manager is selected by the Council members and is the City's chief administrator. That individual directs staff, carries out policies set by Council, and provides advice to the Council members, but does not vote.

Elected officials

• Mayor - Greg Northrup
• Vice Mayor - Dr. Jennie Celona
• Seat 2 Commissioner - Ron Brown
• Seat 3 Commissioner - Don Large
• Seat 4 Commissioner - Hank Smith
• City Manager (appointed) - Michael Booker

Federal, state and county representation

Daytona Beach Shores is in the 24th Congressional District and is part of Florida's 27th Legislative District. The residents of the 24th district are represented in the United States House of Representatives by Democrat Suzanne Kosmas.

Florida is represented in the Senate by Mel Martinez (R, Orlando) and Bill Nelson (D, Orlando).

The 27th legislative district of the Florida Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Evelyn J. Lynn (R, Ormond Beach) and in the State House of Representatives by Dwayne L. Taylor (D, Daytona Beach). The Governor of Florida is Charlie Crist (R, St. Petersburg). The Lieutenant Governor of Florida is Jeff Kottkamp (R, Cape Coral).

Demographics

As of the census^[4] of 2000, there were 4,299 people, 2,423 households, and 1,439 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,824.0/km² (4,722.2/mi²). There were 4,385 housing units at an average density of 1,860.5/km² (4,816.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.58% White, 0.58% African American, 0.16% Native American, 1.72% Asian, 0.12% Pacific Islander, 0.14% from other races, and 0.70% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.07% of the population.

There were 2,423 households out of which 4.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.5% were married couples living together, 3.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.6% were non-families. 35.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.77 and the average family size was 2.18.

In the city the population was spread out with 4.3% under the age of 18, 2.4% from 18 to 24, 11.5% from 25 to 44, 32.6% from 45 to 64, and 49.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 65 years. For every 100 females there were 90.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $43,796, and the median income for a family was $52,731. Males had a median income of $39,118 versus $24,826 for females. The per capita income for the city was $37,010. About 5.4% of families and 6.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.8% of those under age 18 and 6.0% of those age 65 or over.

Points of interest

• Teenage home of Gregg and Duane Allman (S. Peninsula Dr.)

• Dahlia Park
• Fornari Park
• Max Samuely Park
• McElroy Park
• Frank Rendon Park
• Sundown Park
• Sunglow Pier

Images

Sunrise at Daytona Beach Shores

Atlantic Avenue (Florida Highway A1A)

Frank Rendon Park

The Sunglow Pier in Daytona Beach Shores