About this city
Also known as: The Athens of Florida
DeLand is a historic and picturesque inland city serving as the county seat of Volusia County, Florida, nestled roughly halfway between Orlando and Daytona Beach. Founded in 1876 by baking soda magnate Henry A. DeLand, who envisioned it as a major educational and cultural center, the city is famous for housing Stetson University, Florida's oldest private college. The geography of DeLand is characterized by lush rolling hills, pristine freshwater springs, and canopies of ancient oak trees draped in Spanish moss. Its award-winning historic downtown is widely considered one of the best in the country, showcasing well-preserved 19th-century brick architecture, vibrant murals, and a bustling independent arts and culinary scene.
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Practical Tourism Metadata
Suggested stay: 1–2 days
Stroll through the award-winning Downtown DeLand Historic District, tour the grand 19th-century Stetson Mansion, swim with manatees at nearby Blue Spring State Park, and visit the Gillespie Museum's vast mineral collection.
