Daytona Beach

Daytona Beach, city, Volusia County, eastern Florida, on the Halifax River and the Atlantic Ocean; incorporated 1926 with the consolidation of three towns. It is a popular seaside resort noted for its beautiful white-sand beach. Auto races were held annually on this beach of hard-packed sand between 1902 and 1959, when the Daytona International Speedway was built. The headquarters of the National Association for Stock Car Racing and the Ladies Professional Golf Association are here. Among industries in the city are printing, commercial fishing, and the manufacture of electronic equipment and metal products. Bethune-Cookman College (1904) is here. Daytona Beach is also the summer home of the London Symphony Orchestra. The site was developed as a community after 1871 by Mathias Day, for whom the city is named. Population 54,176 (1980); 61,921 (1990); 64,112 (2000); 64,421 (2005 estimate).