Welcome to South Daytona

On behalf of my fellow council members and our City employees, welcome to our city that is centrally located on the beautiful Halifax River. South Daytona is known for its small town ambience with easy access to all the amenities of the metropolitan area.  Whether you are visiting, newly located, or are a long-time resident, we hope you’ll take a few moments to familiarize yourself with this information booklet. It is provided at no charge to assist you in learning about our city and the surrounding area. We take a great deal of pride in getting to know our neighbors and consider this form of community outreach unique to a city our size. Welcome!

 William C. Hall,  Mayor

Short History of South Daytona

South Daytona, bordered by the Halifax River, was once a town called Blake.  The land was particularly suited to orange cultivation and vegetable gardening, and many of the early settlers profitably engaged in those endeavors. According to the National Archives and Records in Washington, D.C., Blake opened its first post office on August 19, 1878. Around 1886, the first train came as far as Daytona, and ten years later, the line extended to Miami. Soon thereafter, a railroad station was built at Big Tree Road crossing.

By 1926, the towns of Daytona, Daytona Beach and Seabreeze were consolidated into the City of Daytona Beach.  Daytona Beach then proceeded to annex adjacent territory including the Town of Blake.  Unhappy with taxes and appraisals levied, the residents of Blake succeeded in breaking away from Daytona Beach in 1928 to become the incorporated town of South Daytona. Soon after World War II, the town created a Building Department, followed by a Planning & Zoning Board. Builders and developers became interested in the area and the town began to prosper and develop its infrastructure.  South Daytona was the first town in the Halifax Area, after Daytona Beach, to install sanitary sewers. The Town continued to grow and was incorporated as the City of South Daytona on June 18, 1951.

The population has grown to more than 12,700 and encompasses 4 square miles. The city has roughly 45 miles of roadway, 40 miles of sewer lines and 55 miles of water lines. The average elevation is 6.5 feet above sea level.

Council/Manager Government

South Daytona has operated under a Council/Manager form of government since 1980, with the mayor and four council members serving four year, staggered terms. This is the most popular local form of government in the State of Florida and one of the fastest growing in the nation. One of the principles of the Council/Manager form of government is to insure efficient delivery of services without partisan influence.

Under the Council/Manager form of government in South Daytona, the mayor and four council members are elected at large and adopt policies, laws and the annual budget. Serving at their pleasure is a city manager who is professionally trained to carry out the day-to-day administration of all city services. The manager is ultimately responsible for all hiring and disciplinary action of city personnel, administration of capital projects, budget preparation, policy development, consensus building and other assigned duties of the elected officials. The council members have an office available for appointments within the manager’s division, and his or her staff serves as support to the City Council. This office is identified as the hub of the City’s organization and is available for orientation, information and direction.

Welcome to the City of South Daytona

Welcome to the City of South Daytona, a small city with big opportunities. The City and its business districts are centrally located in the Greater Daytona area, with easy access to beaches, entertainment venues, hospitals, and educational institutions.  South Daytona is also located near the crossroads of Central Florida’s High-Tech corridor, Interstate 95 and Interstate 4, and within minutes of the Daytona Beach International Airport and the FEC railway line.

The main commercial corridors in South Daytona include South Ridgewood Avenue (U.S.1), Beville Road and South Nova Road. South Ridgewood Avenue is located within a Community Redevelopment Area (CRA) and is a designated Opportunity Zone. The CRA and the Opportunity Zone designations provide financial incentives for improving your existing building site or developing new commercial businesses here. We have light industrial sites, including the South Daytona Business Park and Landmark Business Park. There are commercial, retail, and industrial development sites available throughout the City.

New development in South Daytona is on the rise with the completion of a 16-bed Assisted Living facility in 2020 and a 256-unit luxury apartment complex completed in the spring of 2021. More exciting development projects, including a riverfront luxury apartment with a restaurant, 145 slip marina, and marina-related retail store as well as townhomes and condominiums located on the Halifax River are expected to break ground over the next 12 to 24 months. Along with the residential growth, commercial development is occurring in the City’s main commercial corridors with more to follow as growth continues.

South Daytona City leaders are committed to economic development to strengthen our economy and improve the quality of life. City staff participates in regional economic development efforts with the Port Orange South Daytona Chamber of Commerce, Team Volusia Economic Development Corporation, and the County of Volusia Department of Economic Development. The primary goals are to retain existing local businesses and bring new businesses to the area in a business-friendly environment.

Welcome to the City of South Daytona

The City of South Daytona is a community of nearly 13,000 residents located on the picturesque banks of the Halifax River. With a palm-lined business corridor, the community is predominately residential with a small-town ambience and waterway access that epitomizes the Florida lifestyle. Located near I-4 and I-95 interchange, big city amenities are just a drive away. South Daytona offers a variety of housing options including quiet, well maintained residential neighborhoods with single-family homes, upscale waterfront homes, unique canal homes, luxury waterfront  condominiums and multi-family apartment complexes. With its proximity to both the Atlantic Ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway (the Halifax River) there is plenty of room for fishing and boating. 

With over 63 acres of parklands in South Daytona, there is something for everyone to enjoy. Nature parks, pavilion rentals, fishing piers, playgrounds, disc golf, boat ramps, kayak launch, walking trails, ball fields, grills, tennis, racquetball & basketballs courts, splash park and scenic lakes are available all through town.

• At Riverwalk Park you can fish as well as enjoy canoeing, kayaking or standup paddle boarding. In South Daytona Riverfront Veterans Memorial Park has a public boat ramp and fishing pier along with a kayak, canoe and paddle board launch. It also includes picnic pavilions, a playground and tennis courts. 
• Reed Canal Park, a 35-acre wooded sanctuary, also features a fishing pier. Other amenities include a lake surrounded by a walking path, pavilions, playground, multi-purpose field and an 18-hole disc golf course. 
• Fishing devotees can try their hand at catching a variety of species in the scenic lake at Blaine O’Neal Park, which also offers a pavilion with picnic facilities and grills, as well as a baseball field with concession stand.
• Magnolia Park has a fishing pier, facilities for the disabled and elderly to fish in a small pond as well as a playground and picnic tables.
• James Park features baseball fields and lighted racquetball and tennis courts. It also features a splash pad and playground.
• Melodie Park is a scenic lush green space that offer tennis and basketball courts.
• Ned Wagner Park consists of an open play field, playground, and basketball court.
• Central Park is an open space with a bike/jogging path, benches, and picnic tables.
• Park of Honor, destined for those with physical and mental challenges and their caregivers, features a pond with fountain along with butterfly, fragrant and colorful gardens to stimulate your senses.

For more information about our parks please visit the Parks and Facilities web page.