Port Orange
cityPort Orange is a city located in Volusia County, Florida, and is part of the Deltona–Daytona Beach–Ormond Beach metropolitan area. Situated along the Halifax River, it offers a blend of residential comfort and commercial activity, with convenient access to the Atlantic Ocean and surrounding cities. The city has a growing population, with 62,596 residents recorded in the 2020 census and an estimated 68,467 in 2026. The city's economy is diverse, with key sectors including retail, healthcare, social assistance, accommodation, and food service. Education, healthcare, and government are the area's largest employers. Port Orange also fosters a stable business climate that supports local enterprises and industries. Port Orange's history is rich, dating back to early settlements by indigenous peoples and later European settlers. After the Civil War, it was founded by John Milton Hawks, an abolitionist, who brought freed African Americans to establish a self-sufficient community. Today, Port Orange is known for its waterfront parks, residential neighborhoods, and access to coastal recreation.
Port Orange, Florida
- Classification
- City
- FIPS Code
- 12-58575
- Country
- United States
- County
- Volusia County
- Region
- Fun Coast
- Elevation
- 36 ft
- Total Area
- 28.7 sq mi
- Land Area
- 26.83 sq mi
- Water Area
- 2.03 sq mi
- Latitude
- 29.11897
- Longitude
- -81.002906
- Climate
- Hot and humid summers, mild winters
- Notable Features
- Halifax River · Atlantic Ocean Beaches
- Neighboring Areas
- Daytona Beach · South Daytona · New Smyrna Beach
- Population (2020)
- 62,596
- Est. Population (2026)
- 68,467
- Median Age
- 46.9
- Median Income
- $74,426
- Poverty Rate
- 10.98%
- Family Households
- 62.3%
- Owner-Occupied
- 75.6%
- Racial & Ethnic Composition
- The racial makeup of Port Orange includes 85.05% White, 3.63% Black or African American, and smaller percentages for Asian, other race, Native American, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander and multiracial populations.
- Government Type
- Council-Manager
- Governing Body
- City Council
- Body Size
- 4 members
- School District
- Volusia County Schools
- Municipal Services
- Police · Fire · Public Works · Parks & Recreation · Community Development · Code Enforcement
- Unemployment Rate
- 4.2%
- Economic Profile
- Residential · Commercial
- Employment Sectors
- Retail · Healthcare · Social Assistance · Accommodation · Food Service
- Major Employers
- Thompson Pump and Manufacturing · Atlantic Business Solutions · Speedway Motors
- Schools
- 80
- Students
- 61,000
- Teachers
- 7,600
- School Districts
- Volusia County Schools
- Colleges & Universities
- Palmer College of Chiropractic · Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide
- Transportation
- Interstate 95 · US Route 1 · Florida East Coast Railway
- Utilities
- Municipal Water · Power · Broadband
- Major Facilities
- Hospitals · Airports
- Outdoor Access
- Yes
- Major Recreation Areas
- Dunlawton Sugar Mill Gardens · Port Orange Causeway Park · Spruce Creek Park
- Parks & Trails
- City Parks · Various Trail Systems
- Founded
- 1866
- Incorporated
- 1926
- Named After
- Likely named for its location on a harbor or bay, and its "orange" association possibly stemming from the abundant citrus groves that historically characterized the region.
- Historical Significance
- Site of early agricultural and lumber industries, and an important post-Civil War settlement for freed African Americans
- Key Events
- Establishment of Dunlawton Plantation in 1804 · Settlement by John Milton Hawks and freed African Americans after the Civil War · Renaming from Orange Port to Port Orange in 1867