Port Orange is a city in Volusia County, Florida, United States. The city is part of the larger Deltona–Daytona Beach–Ormond Beach metropolitan area. Port Orange is a principal city in the Fun Coast region of the state of Florida. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 62,596.
Port Orange was settled by John Milton Hawks, who brought freed African Americans to work at his sawmill after the U.S. Civil War. Esther Hawks established an integrated school in the area. The colony struggled soon after its creation and most colonists left. The area that became known as Freemanville is a legacy of the settlers who stayed in the area.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land and (7.09%) is water.
Climate
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild winters. According to the Köppen climate classification, the City of Port Orange has a humid subtropical climate zone (Cfa).
Demographics
Racial and ethnic composition
{| class="wikitable"
|+Port Orange racial composition<br> (Hispanics excluded from racial categories)<br> (NH = Non-Hispanic)<br>
!Race
!Pop 2010
!Pop 2020
!% 2010
!% 2020
|-
|White (NH)
|49,392
|50,709
|88.12%
|81.01%
|-
|Black or African American (NH)
|1,790
|2,412
|3.19%
|3.85%
|-
|Native American or Alaska Native (NH)
|147
|152
|0.26%
|0.24%
|-
|Asian (NH)
|1,250
|1,991
|2.23%
|3.18%
|-
|Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian (NH)
|21
|40
|0.04%
|0.06%
|-
|Some other race (NH)
|88
|266
|0.16%
|0.42%
|-
|Two or more races/Multiracial (NH)
|825
|2,472
|1.47%
|3.95%
|-
|Hispanic or Latino (any race)
|2,535
|4,554
|4.52%
|7.28%
|-
|Total
|56,048
|62,596
|
|
|-
|}
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, Port Orange had a population of 62,596. The median age was 49.0 years. 17.1% of residents were under the age of 18 and 27.2% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 92.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 90.7 males age 18 and over.
There were 27,510 households in Port Orange, of which 22.3% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 45.0% were married-couple households, 18.4% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 28.8% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 29.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
! Race !! Number !! Percent
|-
| White || 51,949 || 83.0%
|-
| Black or African American || 2,513 || 4.0%
|-
| American Indian and Alaska Native || 198 || 0.3%
|-
| Asian || 2,009 || 3.2%
|-
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander || 45 || 0.1%
|-
| Some other race || 1,320 || 2.1%
|-
| Two or more races || 4,562 || 7.3%
|-
| Hispanic or Latino (of any race) || 4,554 || 7.3%
|}
2010 census
As of the 2010 United States census, there were 56,048 people, 23,447 households, and 14,977 families residing in the city.
Economy
One of the larger businesses in Port Orange is Thompson Pump and Manufacturing.
Education
Public primary and secondary education is handled by Volusia County Schools. Port Orange schools are A-rated by the state, and one of the high schools, Spruce Creek High School, has made the list of one of the top 100 high schools in the nation for several years in a row, as well as offering students the International Baccalaureate program.
Elementary schools
- Horizon Elementary School
- Spruce Creek Elementary School
- Sugar Mill Elementary School
- Cypress Creek Elementary School
- Sweetwater Elementary School
- Port Orange Elementary School
- South Daytona Elementary School
Middle schools
- Creekside Middle School
- Silver Sands Middle School
- Campbell Middle School
- David C. Hinson Sr. Middle School
- Deland Middle School
- Deltona Middle School
- Galaxy Middle School
- Heritage Middle School
- Holly Hill Middle School
- New Smyrna Beach Middle School
- Ormond Beach Middle School
- River Springs Middle School
- Southwestern Middle School
- T. Dewitt Taylor Middle-High
High schools
- Spruce Creek High School
- Atlantic High School
- Deland High School
- Deltona High School
- Mainland High School
- New Smyrna Beach High School
- Pine Ridge High School
- Seabreeze High School
- University High School
- T. Dewitt Taylor Middle-High
Colleges and universities
Port Orange is the home of the Florida campus of Palmer College of Chiropractic. The campus in Port Orange was founded in 2002 by James E. Hether, D. C.
Culture
The Kenneth W. Parker Amphitheater hosts events such as the annual Lakeside Jazz Festival.
Government
thumb|City Council district map, 2025
The City of Port Orange operates under a council–manager government. The mayor is independently elected citywide in non-partisan elections every four years. The #4 & #17 offer Sunday and night service.
References
External links
- City of Port Orange official website