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115-699: New Smyrna Beach is a city in Volusia County , Florida , United States, located on the central east coast of the state, with the Atlantic Ocean to the east. The downtown section of the city is located on the west side of the Indian River and the Indian River Lagoon system. The Coronado Beach Bridge crosses the Intracoastal Waterway just south of Ponce de Leon Inlet , connecting the mainland with

230-611: A billion dollars to construct. The word "Seminole" may be derived from the Creek word simanó-li . This has been variously translated as "frontiersman", "outcast", "runaway", "separatist", and similar words. The Creek word may be derived from the Spanish word cimarrón , meaning "runaway" or "wild one", historically used for certain Native American groups in Florida. The name "Seminole" likely

345-642: A company in the field, this letter shows how the Confederacy attempted to use Seminole warriors against the Union. Other leaders, such as Halleck Tustenuggee and Sonuk Mikko (Billy Bowlegs), refused to sign, withdrew from Florida, and joined with the Union. After the war, the United States government declared void all prior treaties with the Seminoles of Indian Country because of the "disloyalty" of some in allying with

460-462: A halt to international fashion trade), all contributed to a major decline in the demand for Seminole goods. In 1930, they received 5,000 acres (20 km ) of reservation lands. Few Seminoles moved to these reservations until the 1940s. They reorganized their government and received federal recognition in 1957 as the Seminole Tribe of Florida . During this process, the more traditional people near

575-536: A heterogeneous tribe made up of mostly Lower Creeks from Georgia, who by the time of the Creek War (1813–1814) numbered about 4,000 in Florida. At that time, numerous refugees of the Red Sticks migrated south, adding about 2,000 people to the population. They were Creek-speaking Muscogee, and were the ancestors of most of the later Creek-speaking Seminole. In addition, a few hundred escaped African-American slaves (known as

690-634: A high-stakes bingo game on their reservation in the late 1970s, winning court challenges to initiate Native American gaming , which many tribes have adopted to generate revenues for welfare, education, and development. After removal, the Seminoles in Oklahoma and Florida had little official contact until well into the 20th century. They developed along similar lines as the groups strove to maintain their culture while struggling economically. Most Seminoles in Indian Territory lived on tribal lands centered in what

805-463: A language other than English. The largest ancestry groups in the county were English-American at 15.7%, German-American at 12.3%, Irish-American at 11.0% and Italian-American at 7.0%. The overall gross metro product (GMP) for Volusia County economy increased from $ 12.98 billion in 2005 to $ 13.69 billion in 2006; a $ 709.9 million increase. The GMP is an annual measurement of the total economic output and sales of goods and services provided within

920-467: A large portion of the county's GMP. Manufacturing maintains one of the highest of all average wage levels within the county and generates a higher rate of circulation of economic impact than any other business sector that comprises the local economy. Volusia County's manufacturing sector generated an average annual wage of $ 37,632 in 2006, well above the county's average annual wage of $ 32,200 for all workers. Volusia County Public Transit System (VOTRAN)

1035-498: A median income of $ 30,573 versus $ 22,471 for females. The per capita income for the county was $ 19,664. About 7.90% of families and 11.60% of the population were below the poverty line , including 16.30% of those under age 18 and 7.10% of those age 65 or over. As of 2016, an estimated 205,310 households were in Volusia County. The total population was 510,806. About 86.8% spoke English as their only language, so 13.2% could speak

1150-530: A regional term created by the Daytona Beach/ Halifax area Chamber of Commerce. This coincides with the local area code 386 , which spells FUN on touchtone phones. The area was first settled by Europeans in 1768, when Scottish physician Dr. Andrew Turnbull , a friend of James Grant , the governor of British East Florida , established the colony of New Smyrna. Dr. Turnbull had married Gracia Dura Bin (some sources give her name as Maria Gracia Rubini),

1265-675: A result of abandonment by locals (as only hens are permitted for personal use). The New Smyrna Speedway is a half-mile paved racetrack opened in 1967 that currently hosts the ARCA Menards Series East , NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour , Southern Super Series and World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing. According to the International Shark Attack File maintained by the University of Florida , in 2007, Volusia County had more confirmed shark bites than any other region in

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1380-470: A society based on a matrilineal kinship system of descent and inheritance: children are born into their mother's band and derive their status from her people. To the end of the nineteenth century, they spoke mostly Mikasuki and Creek. Two of the fourteen are "Freedmen Bands," composed of members descended from Black Seminoles, who were legally freed by the U.S. and tribal nations after the Civil War. They have

1495-538: A syncretic Christianity that has absorbed some tribal traditions. In 1946, the Department of Interior established the Indian Claims Commission , to consider compensation for tribes that claimed their lands were seized by the federal government during times of conflict. Tribes seeking settlements had to file claims by August 1961, and both the Oklahoma and Florida Seminoles did so. After combining their claims,

1610-742: A syncretic indigenous-Western practice. For example, Seminole hymns sung in the indigenous (Muscogee) language are inclusive of key Muscogee language terms (for example, the Muscogee term "mekko" or chief conflates with "Jesus"). Also, hymns are frequently led by a song leader (a traditional indigenous song practice). In the 1950s, federal projects in Florida encouraged the tribe's reorganization. They created organizations within tribal governance to promote modernization. As Christian pastors began preaching on reservations, Green Corn Ceremony attendance decreased. This created tension between religiously traditional Seminoles and those who began adopting Christianity. In

1725-463: A thriving trade business with white merchants during this period, selling alligator hides, bird plumes, and other items sourced from the Everglades. Then, in 1906, Governor Napoleon B. Broward began an effort to drain the Everglades in attempt to convert the wetlands into farmland. The plan to drain the Everglades, new federal and state laws ending the plume trade, and the start of World War I (which put

1840-548: A tradition of accepting escaped slaves from Southern plantations , infuriating planters in the American South by providing a route for their slaves to escape bondage. After the United States achieved independence, the U.S. Army and local militia groups made increasingly frequent incursions into Spanish Florida to recapture escaped slaves living among the Seminole. American general Andrew Jackson 's 1817–1818 campaign against

1955-478: A tradition of extended patriarchal families in close communities. While the elite interacted with the Seminoles, most of the Freedmen were involved most closely with other Freedmen. They maintained their own culture, religion and social relationships. At the turn of the 20th century, they still spoke mostly Afro-Seminole Creole , a language developed in Florida related to other African-based Creole languages. The Nation

2070-486: A variety of cases, including felonies, misdemeanors, traffic, and domestic cases in their dockets. An elected prosecutor tries cases for the public. Defendants may find representation through the office of the elected public defender. The power of electing the county's sheriff lies with the county's residents. The county sheriff is directly responsible to the courts, but also to the state for the enforcement of state laws. The county sheriff's deputies provide law enforcement to

2185-525: A village known as Red Bays on Andros. Under colonists' pressure, the U.S. government made the 1823 Treaty of Camp Moultrie with the Seminoles, seizing 24 million acres in northern Florida. They offered the Seminoles a much smaller reservation in the Everglades , of about 100,000-acre (400 km ). They and the Black Seminoles moved into central and southern Florida. In 1832, the U.S. government signed

2300-422: A week (Edgewater, Hope Place, and DeBary), and five are open five days a week (Daytona Beach-Keech Street, Oak Hill, Pierson, Lake Helen, and Orange City). The Volusia County Library System was officially started in 1961. Prior to 1961, there were small libraries throughout Volusia County that were maintained by different organizations prevalent in the county. In 1949, Charlotte Smith started an effort to organize

2415-651: Is a dialect. This is the primary traditional language spoken today by the Miccosukee in Florida. Joining them were several bands of Choctaw , many of whom were native to western Florida. Some Chickasaw had also left Georgia due to conflicts with colonists and their Native American allies. Also fleeing to Florida were African Americans who had escaped from slavery in the Southern Colonies . The new arrivals moved into virtually uninhabited lands that had once been peopled by several cultures indigenous to Florida, such as

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2530-492: Is covered by water. It is bordered by the city of Port Orange to the northwest, unincorporated Volusia County to the north, the census-designated place of Samsula-Spruce Creek to the west, and the cities of Edgewater and Bethune Beach and the Canaveral National Seashore to the south. Bounded on the east by the Atlantic Ocean, New Smyrna Beach is on the Indian River . The city is connected to other parts of

2645-495: Is derived from the Spanish cimarones , meaning "wild or untamed", as opposed to the christianized natives who had previously lived in the mission villages of Spanish Florida (In the 17th century the Spanish in Florida used cimaron to refer to christianized natives who had left their mission villages to live "wild" in the woods. ). Some of the Hitchiti - or Mikasukee -speakers who had settled in Florida identified themselves to

2760-476: Is expressed through the stomp dance and the Green Corn Ceremony held at their ceremonial grounds. Indigenous peoples have practiced Green Corn rituals for centuries. Contemporary southeastern Native American tribes, such as the Seminole and Muscogee Creek , still practice these ceremonies. As converted Christian Seminoles established their own churches, they incorporated their traditions and beliefs into

2875-557: Is handled by Volusia County Schools . Roman Catholic Diocese of Orlando operates area Catholic schools. One of the larger private schools is Father Lopez Catholic High School , the sole Catholic high school in the county. Public broadcasting station WDSC-TV is located in Daytona Beach and broadcasts to 10 counties in Central Florida . Television station WESH is allocated to Daytona Beach - Orlando, and its transmission tower

2990-753: Is located midway between those two. Otherwise, Volusia County is served by the major TV broadcasting stations in Orlando and Orange County. Seminole Old crafts and traditions were revived in both Florida and Oklahoma in the mid-20th century as the Seminole began seeking revenue from tourists traveling along the new interstate highway system . In the 1970s, Seminole tribes began to run small bingo games on their reservations to raise revenue. They won court challenges to initiate Indian gaming on their sovereign land. Many U.S. tribes have likewise adopted this practice where state laws have gambling, in order to generate revenues for welfare, education, and development. Since

3105-466: Is now Seminole County of the state of Oklahoma. The implementation of the Dawes Rolls in the late 1890s parceled out tribal lands in preparation for the admission of Oklahoma as a state, reducing most Seminoles to subsistence farming on small individual homesteads. While some tribe members left the territory to seek better opportunities, most remained. Today, residents of the reservation are enrolled in

3220-481: Is now restricted to Florida, where it was the native language of 1,600 people as of 2000, primarily the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida . The Seminole Nation of Oklahoma is working to revive the use of Creek among its people, as it had been the dominant language of politics and social discourse. Muscogee is spoken by some Oklahoma Seminoles and about 200 older Florida Seminoles. The youngest native speaker

3335-626: Is run by Volusia County Schools . Named one of "America's Top Small Cities for the Arts", New Smyrna Beach is home to the Atlantic Center for the Arts , an artists-in-residence community and educational facility, the Harris House, the Little Theatre, and a gallery of fine arts, Arts on Douglas. Popular amongst tourists, roosters roam the main street of the city, Flagler Avenue. They are thought to be

3450-472: Is the local bus service. The buses offer service throughout the county, Monday through Saturday, from 7 am to 7 pm, and is handicapped-accessible. Limited service is offered in East Volusia in the evenings and on Sundays. The cost is $ 1.25 per trip, $ 3.00 for a one-day bus pass, or $ 40 for a 31-day pass (valid for all VOTRAN routes). Passenger train service to Volusia County is provided by Amtrak on

3565-424: Is valid at all locations, and materials are lent between locations through a daily courier service and outside the libraries by interlibrary loan. Library cards are free for all Volusia County residents. Depending on size, the branches have different operating hours; six are open every day of the week (Ormond Beach, Daytona Beach-City Island, Port Orange, New Smyrna Beach, DeLand, and Deltona), three are open six days

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3680-560: The Silver Meteor and Silver Star routes. Service between Volusia County and Orlando is provided by SunRail , a commuter rail line running from Volusia to Orange County. The initial phase of the project commenced in 2014 and extends service to as far north as DeBary. A planned expansion was to include the DeLand Amtrak station in 2015, but didn't actually reach the station until August 2024. Public primary and secondary education

3795-545: The American Civil War , the Confederate government of Florida offered aid to keep the Seminoles from fighting on the side of the Union. The Florida House of Representatives established a Committee on Indian Affairs in 1862 but, aside from appointing a representative to negotiate with the Seminole tribe, failed to follow its promises of aid. The lack of aid, along with the growing number of Federal troops and pro-unionists in

3910-472: The Apalachee , Timucua , Calusa and others. The native population had been devastated by infectious diseases brought by Spanish explorers in the 1500s and later colonization by additional European settlers. Later, raids by Carolina and Native American slavers destroyed the string of Spanish missions across northern Florida . Most of the survivors left for Cuba when the Spanish withdrew, after ceding Florida to

4025-695: The Black Seminoles ) had settled near the Seminole towns and, to a lesser extent, Native Americans from other tribes, and some white Americans. The unified Seminole spoke two languages: Creek and Mikasuki (mutually intelligible with its dialect Hitchiti ), two among the Muskogean languages family. Creek became the dominant language for political and social discourse, so Mikasuki speakers learned it if participating in high-level negotiations. The Muskogean language group includes Choctaw and Chickasaw , associated with two other major Southeastern tribes. In part due to

4140-606: The Creek tribe of Alabama and Georgia who resisted forced relocation to Indian Territory , also camped in various parts of Volusia County. During the Second Seminole War (1836–1842), the Seminole burned a large sugar plantation in what is today the city of Daytona Beach. On the east shore of the St. Johns River in Volusia, in present-day DeBary , General Winfield Scott established a fort/depot in 1836 named Fort Florida. According to

4255-510: The Everglades to land that was not desired by settlers. They were finally left alone and they never surrendered. Several treaties seem to bear the mark of representatives of the Seminole tribe, including the Treaty of Moultrie Creek and the Treaty of Payne's Landing . The Florida Seminoles say they are the only tribe in America never to have signed a peace treaty with the U.S. government. During

4370-529: The Kennedy Space Center , and 89 mi (143 km) south of Jacksonville . The Volusia County government divides the county into three regions. This parallels the three calling regions used by BellSouth , the regional phone company: Until 1952, Volusia County was reliably Democratic, with Republicans only winning it once in 1928. From 1952 to 1988, Democrats only carried the county twice, in 1964 and 1976. Democrats then gained ground again by winning

4485-477: The Second Seminole War . Drawing on a population of about 4,000 Seminoles and 800 allied Black Seminoles, he mustered at most 1,400 warriors (President Andrew Jackson estimated they had only 900). They countered combined U.S. Army and militia forces that ranged from 6,000 troops at the outset to 9,000 at the peak of deployment in 1837. To survive, the Seminole allies employed guerrilla tactics with devastating effect against U.S. forces, as they knew how to move within

4600-649: The Seminole Tribe of Florida in 1957. The more traditional people living near the Tamiami Trail received federal recognition as the Miccosukee Tribe in 1962. The Seminoles were organized around itálwa , the basis of their social, political and ritual systems, and roughly equivalent to towns or bands in English. They had a matrilineal kinship system, in which children are considered born into their mother's family and clan, and property and hereditary roles pass through

4715-531: The Seminole Wars , but they were never completely dislodged. During the Civil War , on March 23, 1862, portions of the 3rd Florida Infantry Regiment defeated a small U.S. naval force that was attempting to land near New Smyrna. Later on, in 1863, the " Stone Wharf " was shelled by Union gunboats. In 1887, when New Smyrna was incorporated, it had a population of 150. In 1892, Henry Flagler provided service to

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4830-573: The Tamiami Trail defined themselves as independent. They received federal recognition as the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians in Florida in 1962. During World War II , roughly sixty-five Seminoles fled into the Everglades to avoid registering for the draft. The superintendent of the Seminole Indian agency in Dania was able to convince all but two of the group to eventually register. In the 1950s,

4945-476: The Treaty of Payne's Landing with a few of the Seminole chiefs. They promised lands west of the Mississippi River if the chiefs agreed to leave Florida voluntarily with their people. The Seminoles who remained prepared for war. White colonists continued to press for their removal. In 1835, the U.S. Army arrived to enforce the treaty. The Seminole leader Osceola led the vastly outnumbered resistance during

5060-473: The U.S. Census Bureau , the county has a total area of 1,432 square miles (3,710 km ), of which 1,101 square miles (2,850 km ) are land and 331 square miles (860 km ) (23.1%) are covered by water. Volusia County is bordered on the west by the St. Johns River and Lake Monroe , and by the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Roughly the size of Rhode Island , Volusia is situated 50 mi (80 km) northeast of Orlando , 60 mi (97 km) north of

5175-529: The U.S. government , including the Treaty of Moultrie Creek and the Treaty of Paynes Landing . Seminole culture is largely derived from that of the Creek. One of the more significant holdovers from the Creek was the Green Corn Dance ceremony. Other notable traditions include use of the black drink and ritual tobacco . As the Seminoles adapted to Florida environs , they developed local traditions, such as

5290-749: The Yamasee War in South Carolina, migrated into Spanish Florida in the early 18th century. More arrived in the second half of the 18th century, as the Lower Creeks , part of the Muscogee people, began to migrate from several of their towns into Florida to evade the dominance of the Upper Creeks and pressure from encroaching colonists from the Province of Carolina . They spoke primarily Hitchiti , of which Mikasuki

5405-571: The federal prison system according to the dictates of the offense. The county centrally controls 14 libraries, with DeLand and Daytona Beach-City Island being the largest two. Each library branch is administered by geographic region. Collections included 869,491 books, 83,943 videos, 58,784 audio materials, 2,051 magazines and newspapers, over 100,000 government documents, and 51 licensed databases. Personal computers for public use are hooked up on broadband in all libraries. An estimated 230,000 Volusia County residents have library cards. One library card

5520-450: The 1700s, the various new arrivals intermingled with each other and with the few remaining indigenous people. In a process of ethnogenesis , they constructed a new culture which they called "Seminole", a derivative of the Mvskoke' (a Creek language ) word simano-li , an adaptation of the Spanish cimarrón which means "wild" (in their case, "wild men"), or "runaway" [men]. The Seminole were

5635-408: The 184,723 households, 24.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.40% were married couples living together, 10.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.00% were not families. About 27.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32, and the average family size

5750-603: The 18th century by Cowkeeper . Beginning in 1825, Micanopy was the principal chief of the unified Seminole, until his death in 1849, after removal to Indian Territory. This chiefly dynasty lasted past Removal, when the US forced the majority of Seminole to move from Florida to the Indian Territory (modern Oklahoma) after the Second Seminole War . Micanopy's sister's son, John Jumper , succeeded him in 1849 and, after his death in 1853, his brother Jim Jumper became principal chief. He

5865-706: The 1960s and 1970s, some tribal members on reservations, such as the Brighton Seminole Indian Reservation in Florida, viewed organized Christianity as a threat to their traditions. By the 1980s, Seminole communities were even more concerned about loss of language and tradition. Many tribal members began to revive the observance of traditional Green Corn Dance ceremonies, and some shifted away from Christian observance. By 2000, religious tension between Green Corn Dance attendees and Christians (particularly Baptists) decreased. Some Seminole families participate in both religions; these practitioners have developed

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5980-619: The American Civil War, the members and leaders split over their loyalties, with John Chupco refusing to sign a treaty with the Confederacy . From 1861 to 1866, he led as chief of the Seminole who supported the Union and fought in the Indian Brigade. The split among the Seminoles lasted until 1872. After the war, the United States government negotiated only with the loyal Seminole, requiring

6095-545: The Black Seminoles also owned or controlled land that was seized in this cession, they were not acknowledged in the treaty. In 1976, the groups struggled on allocation of funds among the Oklahoma and Florida tribes. Based on early 20th century population records, at which time most of the people were full-blood, the Seminole Tribe of Oklahoma was to receive three-quarters of the judgment and the Florida peoples one-quarter. The Miccosukee and allied Traditionals filed suit against

6210-664: The British as "cimallon" ( Muskogean languages have no "r" sound, replacing it with "l"). The British wrote the name as "Semallone", later "Seminole". The use of "cimallon" by bands in Florida to describe themselves may have been intended to distinguish themselves from the primarily Muskogee -speakers of the Upper Towns of the Muscogee Confederacy (called the "Creek Confederacy" by the British). After 1763, when they took over Florida from

6325-555: The British in 1763, following Britain's victory in the French and Indian War . While John Swanton stated in the mid-20th century that the Seminole encountered and absorbed the Calusa who had remained in southwest Florida after the Spanish withdrew, more recent scholarship since the turn of the 21st century holds that there is no documentary evidence of that assertion. As they established themselves in northern and peninsular Florida throughout

6440-477: The British occupation of Florida, a colony known as New Smyrna was started in southeast Volusia County by Andrew Turnbull . This colony was connected to St. Augustine , the capital of East Florida , via the Kings Road. After the failure of the colony the settlers, many of whom were ethnic Menorcan and Greek , traveled the 70 mi (110 km) to move to St. Augustine. The Seminole Indians, descendants of

6555-558: The Commission awarded the Seminole a total of $ 16 million in April 1976. It had established that, at the time of the 1823 Treaty of Moultrie Creek , the Seminole exclusively occupied and used 24 million acres in Florida, which they ceded under the treaty. Assuming that most blacks in Florida were escaped slaves, the United States did not recognize the Black Seminoles as legally members of the tribe, nor as free in Florida under Spanish rule. Although

6670-535: The Confederacy. They required new peace treaties, establishing such conditions as reducing the power of tribal councils, providing freedom or tribal membership for Black Seminoles (at the same time that enslaved African Americans were being emancipated in the South), and forced concessions of tribal land for railroads and other development. The 1868 Florida Constitution , developed by the Reconstruction legislature, gave

6785-493: The Everglades and use this area for their protection. Osceola was arrested (in a breach of honor) when he came under a flag of truce to negotiations with the US in 1837. He died in jail less than a year later. He was decapitated, his body buried without his head. Other war chiefs, such as Halleck Tustenuggee and John Jumper, and the Black Seminoles Abraham and John Horse , continued the Seminole resistance against

6900-581: The Greeks among the settlers of New Smyrna; they were the first Greek Orthodox followers in North America. The historical exhibit adjoining the chapel tells the story of their plight, with accompanying exhibits, and of their contributions to the city. Central Florida remained sparsely populated by white settlers well into the 19th century, and it was frequently raided by Seminole Indians trying to protect their territory. United States troops fought against them in

7015-469: The Lake Helen Public Library and the Edgewater Public Library in 1988, and the DeLand Regional Library in 1989. According to the Secretary of State's office, Republicans are a plurality of registered voters in Volusia County. As of the 2020 United States census , there were 553,543 people, 220,386 households, and 136,510 families residing in the county. As of the census of 2000, 443,343 people, 184,723 households, and 120,069 families were residing in

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7130-425: The Oklahoma and Florida Seminole tribes filed land claim suits, claiming they had not received adequate compensation for their lands. Their suits were combined in the government's settlement of 1976. The Seminole tribes and Traditionals took until 1990 to negotiate an agreement as to division of the settlement, a judgment trust against which members can draw for education and other benefits. The Florida Seminoles founded

7245-456: The Seminole Tribe of Oklahoma and one-quarter to the Seminoles of Florida, including the Miccosukee. By that time the total settlement was worth $ 40 million. The tribes have set up judgment trusts, which fund programs to benefit their people, such as education and health. As a result of the Second Seminole War (1835–1842), about 3,800 Seminoles and Black Seminoles were forcibly removed to Indian Territory (the modern state of Oklahoma ). During

7360-534: The Seminoles became known as the First Seminole War . Though Spain decried the incursions into its territory, the United States effectively controlled the Florida panhandle after the war. In 1819, the United States and Spain signed the Adams-Onís Treaty , which took effect in 1821. According to its terms, the United States acquired Florida and, in exchange, renounced all claims to Texas . President James Monroe appointed Andrew Jackson as military governor of Florida. As European American colonization increased after

7475-417: The Seminoles one seat in the house and one seat in the senate of the state legislature. The Seminoles never filled the positions. After white Democrats regained control over the legislature, they removed this provision from the post-Reconstruction constitution they ratified in 1885. In the early 20th century, the Florida Seminoles re-established limited relations with the U.S. government. The Seminoles maintained

7590-593: The Spanish, the British called all natives living in Florida "Seminoles", "Creeks", or "Seminole-Creeks". The people who constituted the nucleus of this Florida group either chose to leave their tribe or were banished. At one time, the terms "renegade" and "outcast" were used to describe this status, but the terms have fallen into disuse due to their negative connotations. The Seminole identify as yat'siminoli or "free people" because for centuries their ancestors had successfully resisted efforts to subdue or convert them to Roman Catholicism . They signed several treaties with

7705-423: The U.S. of Florida in 1821, many American slaves and Black Seminoles frequently escaped from Cape Florida to the British colony of the Bahamas , settling mostly on Andros Island . Contemporary accounts noted a group of 120 migrating in 1821, and a much larger group of 300 enslaved African Americans escaping in 1823. The latter were picked up by Bahamians in 27 sloops and also by travelers in canoes. They developed

7820-418: The United States. The coordinates for the City of New Smyrna Beach is located at 29°01′33″N 80°55′37″W  /  29.02583°N 80.92694°W  / 29.02583; -80.92694 . According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 41.349 square miles (107.09 km), of which 37.842 square miles (98.01 km) is land and 3.507 square miles (9.08 km) of it (9.09%)

7935-431: The Volusia County Branch Jail are both located on U.S. Highway 92, also known as International Speedway Boulevard, which is roughly equidistant between DeLand and Daytona Beach. The county's jail imprisons inmates awaiting trial, convicted offenders who have yet to be sentenced, or those who have been sentenced for a term of a year or less. Longer sentences may be served in the Florida state prison system or alternatively in

8050-460: The Volusia County Library System. During this time, bookmobiles were purchased and sent to rural areas in Volusia County to provide residents there with library services. By 1962, nine public libraries and the bookmobiles were part of the Volusia County Library System, and within the next four years Holly Hill, Ormond Beach, and Orange City joined the system. As new funds were made available, new construction of library facilities occurred, with many of

8165-469: The area. The city has recorded snowfall only three times in its 250-year history. The summers are long and hot, with frequent severe thunderstorms in the afternoon, as central Florida is the lightning capital of North America. Winters are pleasant with frequent sunny skies and dry weather. Weather hazards include hurricanes from June until November, though direct hits are rare. Hurricane Charley exited over New Smyrna Beach on August 13, 2004, after crossing

8280-552: The army. After a full decade of fighting, the war ended in 1842. Scholars estimate the U.S. government spent about $ 40,000,000 on the war, at the time a huge sum. An estimated 3,000 Seminoles and 800 Black Seminoles were forcibly exiled to Indian Territory west of the Mississippi, where they were settled on the Creek reservation. After later skirmishes in the Third Seminole War (1855–1858), perhaps 200 survivors retreated deep into

8395-670: The arrival of Native Americans from other cultures, the Seminole became increasingly independent of other Creek groups and established their own identity through ethnogenesis . They developed a thriving trade network by the time of the British and second Spanish periods (roughly 1767–1821). The tribe expanded considerably during this time, and was further supplemented from the late 18th century by escaped slaves from Southern plantations who settled near and paid tribute to Seminole towns. The latter became known as Black Seminoles , although they kept many facets of their own Gullah culture. During

8510-468: The beach on the coastal barrier island . The population was 30,142 at the 2020 census , and according to 2023 census estimates, the city is estimated to have a population of 32,655. The surrounding area offers many opportunities for outdoor recreation; these include fishing, sailing, motorboating, golfing, and hiking. Visitors participate in water sports of all kinds, including swimming, scuba diving, kitesurfing , and surfing. In July 2009, New Smyrna Beach

8625-530: The city annexed the seaside community of Coronado Beach. Today, it is a resort town of over 20,000 permanent residents. Like St. Augustine, established by the Spanish, New Smyrna has been under the rule of four "flags": the British, Spanish, United States (from 1821, with ratification of the Adams–Onís Treaty ), and the Confederate Jack. After the end of the Civil War in 1865, it returned with Florida to

8740-536: The city was 90.8% White, 5.9% African American, 0.3% Native American, 1.1% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 0.5% from some other races and 1.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.8% of the population. Of the 11,074 households, 14.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.1% were married couples living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.9% were not families. About 35.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.2% had someone living alone who

8855-590: The colonial years, the Seminole were on relatively good terms with both the Spanish and the British . In 1784, after the American Revolutionary War , Britain came to a settlement with Spain and transferred East and West Florida to it. The Spanish Empire 's decline enabled the Seminole to settle more deeply into Florida. They were led by a dynasty of chiefs of the Alachua chiefdom, founded in eastern Florida in

8970-551: The colonists on the part of Turnbull and his overseers. The survivors, about 600 in number, marched nearly 70 miles north on the King's Road and relocated to St. Augustine , where their descendants live to this day. In 1783, East and West Florida were returned to the Spanish, and Turnbull abandoned his colony to retire in Charleston, South Carolina . The St. Photios Greek Orthodox National Shrine on St. George Street in St. Augustine honors

9085-460: The construction of open-air, thatched-roof houses known as chickees . Historically the Seminoles spoke Mikasuki and Creek , both Muskogean languages . Florida had been the home of several indigenous cultures prior to the arrival of European explorers in the early 1500s. However, the introduction of Eurasian infectious diseases, along with conflict with Spanish colonists, led to a drastic decline of Florida's original native population. By

9200-473: The county and determine if organizing the libraries in the county into a centralized system was an appropriate move. After a year the committee found that a countywide library system would be the best course of action for the county. With the development of the Volusia County Library System, a library board was appointed by the governor and the board hired Bradley Simon to be the first director of

9315-403: The county five times in a row before the county shifted to the right from 2012 onwards. Under Volusia County's council-manager form of government, voters elect a county council, which consists of seven members who serve four-year terms. Five are elected by district; the county chairman and at-large representative are elected county-wide. The county council establishes ordinances and policies for

9430-461: The county. It also reviews and approves the county budget annually. The county council appoints a county manager, who carries out the will of the council and handles day-to-day business. County commissioners: Constitutional officers, elected county-wide: Officers of the 7th Judicial Circuit , which includes Volusia County, elected circuit-wide: The county's courts operate from facilities in both DeLand and Daytona Beach. There, they preside over

9545-502: The county. The population density was 402 inhabitants per square mile (155/km ). The 211,938 housing units averaged 192 per square mile (74/km ). The racial makeup of the county was 86.11% White, 9.29% African American, 0.31% Native American, 1.00% Asian, 1.86% from other races, and 1.43% from two or more races. About 6.57% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race; ancestry was 13.7% German , 11.5% Irish , 11.2% English , 10.7% American , and 8.7% Italian ancestry. Of

9660-664: The daughter of a Greek London merchant from the Ottoman city of Smyrna (modern-day İzmir in Turkey ) and named the settlement in honor of his wife's birthplace, and the homeland of some of those in his future labor force who were Greek from the Mani peninsula . No one had previously attempted to settle so many people at one time in a town in North America. Turnbull recruited about 1,300 settlers, intending for them to grow hemp , sugarcane , and indigo , as well as to produce rum , at his plantation on

9775-459: The early 1700s, much of La Florida was uninhabited apart from Spanish colonial towns at St. Augustine and Pensacola . A stream of mainly Muscogee Creek began moving into the territory at that time to escape conflict with English colonists to the north and established their own towns, mainly in the Florida panhandle. Native American refugees from northern wars, such as the Yuchi and Yamasee after

9890-407: The federally recognized Seminole Nation of Oklahoma , while others belong to unorganized groups. The Florida Seminole re-established limited relations with the U.S. government in the early 1900s and were officially granted 5,000 acres (20 km ) of reservation land in south Florida in 1930. Members gradually moved to the land, and they reorganized their government and received federal recognition as

10005-465: The larger Orlando–Deltona–Daytona Beach Combined statistical area . The origins of the word "Volusia" are unclear, though several theories exist: Volusia County was named after its largest community, Volusia, when the Florida Legislature created it by dividing Orange County on December 29, 1854. At the time, Volusia County had about 600 residents. The land area of present-day Volusia County

10120-468: The late 20th century, the Seminole Tribe of Florida has been particularly successful with gambling establishments, attracting many of the numerous tourists to the state. In 2007 it purchased the Hard Rock Café and has rebranded or opened several casinos and gaming resorts under that name. These include two large resorts on its Tampa and Hollywood reservations; together these projects cost more than

10235-688: The libraries in the Volusia County Library System being granted new buildings. In 1976 the Deltona Library opened and became the only library that the county fully owned. In 1977 the Dickerson Community Center Library opened and served the black community of Daytona Beach, and is now the John H. Dickerson Heritage Library. Expansion in the 1980s included the construction of buildings for the Port Orange Regional Library in 1984,

10350-479: The local area. As of the 2020 census , there were 30,142 people, 14,796 households, 8,544 families residing in the city. The population density was 798.7 inhabitants per square mile (308.4/km). There were 20,903 housing units. The racial makeup of the city was 87.4% White , 4.0% African American , 0.3% Native American , 1.2% Asian , 0.0% Pacific Islander , 1.2% from some other races and 5.8% from two or more races . Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.9% of

10465-494: The maternal line. Males held the leading political and social positions. Each itálwa had civil, military and religious leaders; they were self-governing throughout the nineteenth century, but would cooperate for mutual defense. The itálwa continued to be the basis of Seminole society in Oklahoma into the 21st century. Historically, the various groups of Seminoles spoke two mutually unintelligible Muskogean languages : Mikasuki (and its dialect, Hitchiti) and Muscogee . Mikasuki

10580-399: The metropolitan statistical area that comprises all of Volusia County and its 16 cities. A GMP of $ 13.69 billion represents a significant circulation of new capital resources in an economy populated by just over 500,000 residents. Local consumer confidence and a continued immigration of an estimated 28,800 new residents, new capital investments for new construction exceeding $ 1.11 billion, and

10695-681: The northeastern Atlantic coast of Florida. The majority of the colonists came from Menorca (historically called "Minorca" in English), one of the Mediterranean Balearic Islands of Spain, and were of Catalan culture and language. Around 500 or so came from the Mani peninsula of Greece . Although the colony produced relatively large amounts of processed indigo in its first few years of operation, it eventually collapsed after suffering major losses due to insect-borne diseases and Indian raids, and growing tensions caused by mistreatment of

10810-406: The population. The median income for a household in the city was $ 73,096. The per capita income for the city was $ 50,902. As of the 2010 census , there were 22,464 people, 11,074 households, and 6,322 families residing in the city. The population density was 648.4 inhabitants per square mile (250.3/km). There were 16,847 housing units averaged 520.6 per square mile (201.0/km). The racial makeup of

10925-461: The public library system within Volusia County. In 1960, 10 libraries existed in Volusia County, however they were not connected together in a centralized library system. In September 1960, state officials met with librarians and county officials to discuss how the Library Services Act could be applied to Volusia County. A committee was formed to study the conditions of the libraries within

11040-401: The settlement in 1976 to refuse the money; they did not want to give up their claim for return of lands in Florida. The federal government put the settlement in trust until the court cases could be decided. The Oklahoma and Florida tribes entered negotiations, which was their first sustained contact in the more than a century since removal. In 1990, the settlement was awarded: three-quarters to

11155-504: The span of a few hours at the same beach. Very few of the shark bites are fatal. Elected city government officials include: Volusia County, Florida Volusia County ( / v ə ˈ l uː ʃ ə / , və- LOO -shə ) is a county located in the east-central part of the U.S. state of Florida between the St. Johns River and the Atlantic Ocean . As of the 2020 census , the county

11270-461: The state by Interstate 95 , U.S. Route 1 , and State Road 44 . Like the rest of Florida north of Lake Okeechobee , New Smyrna Beach has a humid subtropical ( Köppen Cfa ) climate characterized by hot, humid summers and warm, mostly dry winters. The rainy season lasts from May until October, and the dry season, from November to April. New Smyrna averages only about two freezes per year, and many species of subtropical plants and palms are grown in

11385-536: The state in a northeastern direction from its initial landfall in Punta Gorda . The storm caused extensive damage to the beachside portion of the city and toppled many historic oak trees in the downtown area and along historic Flagler Avenue. New Smyrna was hit by Hurricane Ian in 2022, leading to flood damage for more than a thousand residents and one fatality, and by Hurricane Milton in 2024, causing power outages for almost 90% of local customers and further flooding in

11500-418: The state, led the Seminoles to remain officially neutral throughout the war. In July 1864, Secretary of War James A. Seddon received word that a man named A. McBride had raised a company of sixty-five Seminole who had volunteered to fight for the Confederacy. McBride claimed to have an understanding of Florida because of the time he had spent there fighting during the Seminole wars. While McBride never put such

11615-410: The steady growth of professional and health-care services continued to drive much of the county's economic viability. Volusia County's manufacturing sector maintained a steady and stable position within the local economy contrary to the declining trends being experienced elsewhere within Florida. The overall number of manufacturers present within the county increased to over 430 in 2006 and accounted for

11730-512: The town via his Florida East Coast Railway . This led to a rapid increase in the area's population. Its economy grew as tourism was added to its citrus and commercial fishing industries. During Prohibition in the 1920s, the city and its river islands were popular sites for moonshine stills and hideouts for rum runners , who came from the Bahamas through Mosquito Inlet, now Ponce de León Inlet . "New Smyrna" became "New Smyrna Beach" in 1947, when

11845-401: The treaty, colonists pressured the federal government to remove Natives from Florida. Slaveholders resented that tribes harbored runaway black slaves, and more colonists wanted access to desirable lands held by Native Americans. Georgian slaveholders wanted the " maroons " and fugitive slaves living among the Seminoles, known today as Black Seminoles , returned to slavery. After acquisition by

11960-410: The tribe to make a new peace treaty to cover those who allied with the Confederacy, to emancipate the slaves , and to extend tribal citizenship to those freedmen who chose to stay in Seminole territory. The Seminole Nation of Oklahoma now has about 16,000 enrolled members, who are divided into a total of fourteen bands; for the Seminole members, these are similar to tribal clans . The Seminole have

12075-485: The unincorporated areas of Volusia County, and assist the various municipal police departments, such as the Daytona Beach Police Department . Many volunteers work alongside the paid professionals. Included are Citizen Observer Program (COP), who are volunteers working under the direction of the county sheriff and play a part in the county's policing operations. The Volusia County Correctional Center and

12190-427: The world. Experts from the university have referred to the county as having the "dubious distinction as the world's shark-bite capital". The trend continued in 2008, when the town broke its own record, with 24 shark bites. An Orlando Sentinel photographer shot a picture of a four-foot spinner shark jumping over a surfer, a reversal of " jumping the shark ". Sharks bit three different surfers on September 18, 2016, in

12305-404: Was 2.82. In the county, the age distribution was 20.30% under 18, 8.20% from 18 to 24, 25.30% from 25 to 44, 24.20% from 45 to 64, and 22.10% at 65 or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.80 males. The median income for a household in the county was $ 35,219, and for a family was $ 41,767. Males had

12420-410: Was 65 years of age or older. The median income for a household in the city was $ 49,625, and for a family was $ 62,267. Males had a median income of $ 38,132 versus $ 32,087 for females. The per capita income for the city was $ 31,013. About 10.9% of families and 13.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.9% of those under age 18 and 8.3% of those aged 65 or over. All public education

12535-415: Was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.01 and the average family size was 2.54. In the city, the population was distributed as 13.9% under the age of 18, 3.6% from 20 to 24, 17.9% from 25 to 44, 31.3% from 45 to 64, and 31.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 54.3 years. About 35.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.2% had someone living alone who

12650-545: Was born in 1960. Today, English is the predominant language among both Oklahoma and Florida Seminoles, particularly the younger generations. Most Mikasuki speakers are bilingual. The Seminole use the spines of Cirsium horridulum (also called bristly thistle) to make blowgun darts. During the Seminole Wars, the Seminole people began to divide among themselves due to the conflict and differences in ideology. The Seminole population had also been growing significantly, though it

12765-691: Was diminished by the wars. With the division of the Seminole population between Indian Territory (Oklahoma) and Florida, they still maintained some common traditions, such as powwow trails and ceremonies. In general, the cultures grew apart in their markedly different circumstances, and had little contact for a century. The Seminole Nation of Oklahoma , and the Seminole Tribe of Florida and Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida , described below, are federally recognized, independent nations that operate in their own spheres. Seminole tribes generally follow Christianity, both Protestantism and Catholicism . They also observe their traditional Native religion , which

12880-512: Was home to 553,543 people, an increase of 11.9% from the 2010 census . It was founded on December 29, 1854, from part of Orange County , and was named for the community of Volusia , located in northwestern Volusia County. Its first county seat was Enterprise . Since 1887, its county seat has been DeLand . Volusia County is part of the Deltona–Daytona Beach–Ormond Beach metropolitan statistical area , as well as part of

12995-405: Was in power through the American Civil War, after which the U.S. government began to interfere with tribal government, supporting its own candidate for chief. After raids by Anglo-American colonists on Seminole settlements in the mid-18th century, the Seminole retaliated by raiding the Southern Colonies (primarily Georgia ), purportedly at the behest of the Spanish. The Seminoles also maintained

13110-399: Was long inhabited by the indigenous Timucua and Mayaca peoples . Neither historic group exists today as distinct ethnic tribes, having been decimated by disease and war in the decades after contact with European traders and settlers. The large shell middens at Tomoka State Park and other evidence of their historic habitation can still be seen in various areas of Volusia County. During

13225-501: Was ranked number nine on the list of "best surf towns" in Surfer . It was recognized as "one of the world's top 20 surf towns" by National Geographic in 2012. It has also been dubbed "The Shark Bite Capital of the World." New Smyrna Beach's motto is cygnus inter anates , which is Latin for "a swan among ducks." The city is located in the so-called " Fun Coast " region of the state of Florida,

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