Welcome To Orange City

The first inhabitants of the area were Timucuans, a nomadic tribe who found fish and fresh water plentiful here. The earlist permanent settlers may have been Louis and Mary Thursby who arrived by riverboat around 1856 and built a log cabin at the juncture of Blue Spring Run and the St. Johns River.

After the Civil War, the exotic scenery and subtropical climate of Florida attracted large numbers of Northerners. Thursby Landing was soon the site of much activity as settlers, mail and supplies arrived regularly from Jacksonville and beyond. A citrus town sprang up three miles east of the the landing. Founded in 1875 and incorporated in 1882, Orange City had 800 residents by 1885.

Today, Orange City's central location on Highway 17-92, just off Interstate 4 and midway between Orlando and Daytona Beach, puts it within 50 miles of most of Florida's famous attractions including the Atlantic Ocean and Disney World.

The Orange City of the 2000s is no longer a small town. Its slow-paced living is disappearing rapidly. With Volusia's county seat, DeLand, approaching "build out," Orange City is the logical place for growth. The area's expanding job market is already attracting young families and professionals, jobs in almost any kind of business or industry can be found within easy driving distance.

Orange City's solid foundation on traditional family values and its proximity to the vigorous growth of Central Florida promise a prosperous decade to come. Affordable housing, good city and county services, low taxes, excellent educaton and unlimited recreation add up to an irresistible quality of life.