New Smyrna Beach

New Smyrna Beach is a city in Volusia County, Florida, United States, located on the central east coast of the state. The area was first settled by Europeans in 1768, when Scottish physician Dr. Andrew Turnbull, a friend of James Grant, the governor of British East Florida, established the colony. The majority of the colonists came from Menorca (historically called "Minorca" in English), one of the Mediterranean Balearic Islands of Spain, and were of Catalan culture and language. Around 500 or so came from the Mani peninsula of Greece. It was recognized as "one of the world's top 20 surf towns" by National Geographic in 2012. It has also been dubbed "The Shark Bite Capital of the World" and is a popular destination for scuba diving, kitesurfing, and surfing. The Coronado Beach Bridge crosses the Intracoastal Waterway just south of Ponce de Leon Inlet, connecting the mainland with the beach on the coastal barrier island. Its economy grew as tourism was added to its citrus and commercial fishing industries. In 1887, when New Smylna was incorporated, it had a population of 150. In 1947, when the seaside community was annexed, it became "New Smylne Beach" Today, it is a resort town of 20,000 permanent residents, with about 30,000 visitors a year. The city's motto is an intergnus cygnus, which is an Latin word for cygnates.

History

New Smyrna Beach is the primary city name, but also New Smyrna are acceptable city names or spellings. The official name is City of New Smyrna Beach. New Smyrna was established in 1768 by Scottish physician Dr. Andrew Turnbull, a friend of James Grant, the governor of British East Florida. Turnbull recruited about 1,300 settlers, intending for them to grow hemp, sugarcane, and indigo, as well as to produce rum. The majority of the colonists came from Menorca (historically called "Minorca" in English), and were of Catalan culture and language. Around 500 or so came from the Mani peninsula of Greece. In 1783, East and West Florida were returned to the Spanish, and Turnbull abandoned his colony to retire in Charleston, South Carolina. The survivors, about 600 in number, marched nearly 70 miles north on the King's Road and relocated to St. Augustine, where their descendants live to this day. In 1947, the city annexed the seaside community of Coronado Beach, and today it is a resort town of over 20,000 permanent residents. The city and its river islands were popular sites for moonshine stills and hideouts for rum runners, who came from Bahamas through Mosquito Inlet, now Ponce de León Inlet. During the Civil War in the 1860s, the St Augustine Blues fought a small skirmish in New SmyrNA that resulted in the death of several Union troops. Later on, in 1863, the "Stone Wharf" of New SmyRna was shelled by Union gunboats. In 1887, when New Smylna was incorporated, it had a population of 150.

Geography

New Smyrna Beach's motto is cygnus inter anates, which is Latin for "a swan among ducks" The city is located in the so-called "Fun Coast" region of the state of Florida, a regional term created by the Daytona Beach/Halifax area Chamber of Commerce. It is bordered by the city of Port Orange to the northwest, unincorporated Volusia County to the north, the census-designated place of Samsula-Spruce Creek to the west, and the cities of Edgewater and Bethune Beach and the Canaveral National Seashore to the south. According to the United States Census Bureau, it has a total area of 37.8 square miles (98.0 km²) of it are land, and 0.31square miles (0.8 km²), or 8.46% of it is covered by water. The city's local area code, 386, which spells FUN on touchtone phones, is located near the city's downtown area. The area is connected to other parts of Florida by I-95, U.S. Route 1, and State Road 44. It has a population of 2,071. The town is located on the Atlantic Ocean, and is on the Indian River, which runs through the center of the city. It also has a small section of the Florida Keys, which are part of the Atlantic Seaboard. The state's largest city, Daytona Beach, is just a few miles to the east.

Climate

New Smyrna Beach has a humid subtropical (Köppen Cfa) climate characterized by hot, humid summers and warm, mostly dry winters. The rainy season lasts from May until October, and the dry season, from November to April. The city has recorded snowfall only three times in its 250-year history. The summers are long and hot, with frequent severe thunderstorms in the afternoon, as central Florida is the lightning capital of North America. Winters are pleasant with frequent sunny skies and dry weather. Weather hazards include hurricanes from June until November, though direct hits are rare. Hurricane Charley exited over the city on August 13, 2004, after crossing the state in a northeastern direction from its initial landfall in Punta Gorda. The storm caused extensive damage to the beachside portion of the city and toppled many historic oak trees in the downtown area and along historic Flagler Avenue. It was the first hurricane to make landfall in the state since Wilma in 1961. It is also the only one to make a direct hit on the city since Hurricane Andrew in 1992. The area is home to many species of tropical plants and palms, which are grown in the area. It averages only about two freezes per year and has recorded only three snowfalls in its history. It has a population of about 2,000 people, about half of whom live in the city. The town is located on the Florida Turnpike, which runs through the southern part of the state.

Demographics

As of the census of 2010, 22,464 people, 11,074 households, and 6,322 families resided in the city. The population density was 724.1 inhabitants per square mile (279.6/km²) The racial makeup of the city was 90.8% White, 5.9% African American, 0.3% Native American, 1.1% Asian, 0,5% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 2.8%. The median income for a household in theCity was $49,625, and for a family was $62,267. Males had a median income of $38,132 versus $32,087 for females. The per capita income for the City was $31,013. About 10.9%. of families and 13.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.9. of those under age 18 and 8.3%. of those aged 65 or over. The city's population continues to increase with new condominium development. In the city, the population was distributed as 13.9 per cent under the age of 18, 3.6 per cent from 20 to 24, 17.9 percent from 25 to 44, 31.3 percent from 45 to 64, and 31.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 54.3 years. Females were 52.1 per cent, and males were 47. 9%.

Education

All public education is run by Volusia County Schools. All public schools in Florida are part of the Florida Department of Education. The school system is part of Florida's public school system. All schools are run by the Volusian County School District. The district also runs the Daytona State College campus in New Smyrna Beach. The state college campus is located in Daytona Beach, Florida. It is a part of Daytona Beach City College, which is a public school district. The college is located on the Florida Turnpike, which connects to Daytona Beach and Tallahassee. It has a campus at Daytona Beach International Airport and a satellite campus at Orlando International Airport. The campus is also home to the Daytona Beach High School, a private Catholic school, and a private high school. The high school campus is called Daytona Beach Preparatory School and the middle school is named after Daytona Beach's oldest school, which was founded in 1881. The elementary school is called Chisholm Elementary. The middle school and high school are called Coronado Beach Elementary and Indian River Elementary. They are both part of a charter school system called the Florida School for the Arts and Sciences, which also runs a charter high school, the Florida State College of the Arts, Science and Technology, which opened in 1883. The public high school is known as the Florida High School of the Sciences, Technology, and Engineering. It was founded by the State of Florida in 1885.

Culture

The Atlantic Center for the Arts is an artists-in-residence community and educational facility. The New Smyrna Speedway is a half-mile paved racetrack opened in 1967. It currently hosts the ARCA Menards Series East, NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, Southern Super Series and World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing. The city is home to the Harris House, the Little Theatre, and a gallery of fine arts, Arts on Douglas. It has been named one of "America's Top Small Cities for the arts" by the American Institute of Cinematic Arts. It is also known as "The City of the Arts" for its emphasis on the arts and culture. The town has a reputation for being a great place to live and raise a family. It also has a great nightlife, with many restaurants, bars and nightclubs in the area. It was named as one of the top small cities in the United States for the art and culture in 2010 by the magazine "Art in America" The city also has an award-winning high school, where students can study art, music, theater and dance. The high school has a fine arts program that offers classes for students and their families. The community has a history of being a leader in the arts, with a history that dates back to the early 20th century. It's also home to a number of cultural institutions, including the Atlantic Center For the Arts and the New SmyRna Beach Museum of Art.

Shark attacks

In 2007, Volusia County had more confirmed shark bites than any other region in the world. The trend continued in 2008, when the town broke its own record, with 24 shark bites. An Orlando Sentinel photographer shot a picture of a four-foot spinner shark jumping over a surfer, a reversal of "jumping the shark" Three different surfers were bit on September 18, 2016, in the span of a few hours at the same beach. Very few of the shark bites are fatal, and none of the bites have been fatal. The number of shark bites in 2007 was the highest in the history of the International Shark Attack File, which is maintained by the University of Florida. In 2008, the number of bites in the county was at its highest ever, at 24. In 2007, the county had 24 shark attacks, the highest number ever in the History of Shark Attacks, which dates back to 1859. The county has been referred to as having the "dubious distinction as the world's shark-bite capital" by experts from the university. It has also been called the "shark attack capital of the world" by the U.S. National Institute of Wildlife Conservation. The U.N. has a database of shark attacks in the United States, which includes more than 2,000 bites. The most recent recorded shark attack was in 2007, when there were 24 bites in Volusian County, Florida, and two in the state of Georgia.

Government

Elected city government officials include: Russell "Russ" Owen mayor, Michael Kolody, Jake Sachs, Jason McGuirk, Randy Hartman. The city has a population of more than 100,000 people. The mayor is the city's first African-American mayor. The commissioner position is held by a Republican. The council has a majority of Democrats, with a Democratic majority of less than 50%. The mayor has been re-elected three times since his first term in office in 1998. The current mayor is a Democrat, Russ Owen, who was first elected in 2000. He was re- elected in 2010 and 2013, and is now running for a fourth term. The next four years will be filled by Democrats and Republicans, with the mayor running for re-election in 2014 and 2015. The office of the commissioner is currently held by the Republican-dominated Zone 4. The district has a total of four commissioners, with three of the four seats up for election in 2016. The most recent election was held in 2012, and the current commissioner is serving his third term in the position. The position is currently in its fourth year. The town's mayor is Russ Owen. He has been in office since 1998 and served three terms in the mayor's office. He is currently running for reelection in 2015 and 2016, and may also run for a fifth term in 2018. The councillor position is in his fourth term, and he has served two terms in 2012 and 2013. The first term was his third, in 2010.

Air Quality, Water Quality, Superfund Sites & UV Index

The Air Quality index is in New Smyrna Beach, Volusia County, Florida = 92.6. These Air Quality index is based on annual reports from the EPA. Higher values are better (100=best). The number of ozone alert days is used as an indicator of air quality, as are the amounts of seven pollutants including particulates, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, lead, and volatile organic chemicals. The Water Quality Index is 35. A measure of the quality of an area’s water supply as rated by the EPA. Higher values are better (100=best). The EPA has a complex method of measuring the watershed quality, using 15 indicators such as pollutants, turbidity, sediments, and toxic discharges. The Superfund Sites Index is 90. Higher is better (100=best). Based upon the number and impact of EPA Superfund pollution sites in the county, including spending on the cleanup efforts. The UV Index in New Smyrna Beach = 6.4 and is a measure of an area's exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays. This is most often a combination of sunny weather, altitude, and latitude. The UV Index has been defined by the WHO (www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/radiation-the-ultraviolet-(uv)-index) and is uniform worldwide.

Employed

The most recent city population of 30,142 individuals with a median age of 54.6 age the population grows by 14.29% in New Smyrna Beach, Volusia County, Florida population since 2000 and are distributed over a density of 797.58 residents per square mile of area (307.95/km²). There are average 2.02 people per household in the 11,256 households with an average household income of $45,358 a year. The unemployment rate in Alabama is 11.70% of the available work force and has dropped -5.05% over the most recent 12-month period and the projected change in job supply over the next decade based on migration patterns, economic growth, and other factors will increase by 18.20%. The number of physicians in New Smyrna Beach per 100,000 population = 172.3.

Weather

The annual rainfall in New Smyrna Beach = 49.2 inches and the annual snowfall = 0 inches. The annual number of days with measurable precipitation (over .01 inch) = 114. The average number of days per year that are predominantly sunny = 230. 90 degrees Fahrenheit is the average daily high temperature for the month of July and 47.4 degrees Fahrenheit is the average daily low temperature for the month of January. The Comfort Index (higher=better) is 26, where higher values mean a more pleasant climate. The Comfort Index measure recognizes that humidity by itself isn't the problem. (Have you noticed nobody ever complains about the weather being 'cold and humid?) It's in the summertime that we notice the humidity the most, when it's hot and muggy. Our Comfort Index uses a combination of afternoon summer temperature and humidity to closely predict the effect that the humidity will have on people.

Median Home Cost

The percentage of housing units in New Smyrna Beach, Volusia County, Florida which are owned by the occupant = 51.22%. A housing unit is a house, apartment, mobile home, or room occupied as separate living quarters. The average age of homes = 28 years with median home cost = $184,540 and home appreciation of -14.98%. This is the value of the years most recent home sales data. Its important to note that this is not the average (or arithmetic mean). The median home price is the middle value when you arrange all the sales prices of homes from lowest to highest. This is a better indicator than the average, because the median is not changed as much by a few unusually high or low values. The property tax rate of $12.62 shown here is the rate per $1,000 of home value. If for simplification for example the tax rate is $14.00 and the home value is $250,000, the property tax would be $14.00 x ($250,000/1000), or $3500. This is the 'effective' tax rate.

Study

The local school district spends $4,582 per student. There are 14.8 students for each teacher in the school, 969 students for each Librarian and 340 students for each Counselor. 7.44% of the area’s population over the age of 25 with an Associate Degree or other 2-year college degree, 14.38% with a master’s degree, Ph.D. or other advanced college degree and 8.74% with high school diplomas or high school equivalency degrees (GEDs).