Daytona Beach, Florida (pop. 72,647), a resort city, lies on the Atlantic Ocean and the Halifax River. It has a hard-packed sand beach on which cars can be driven. The city is part of the Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach metropolitan area, which has a population of 668,921.
Harbors for yachts and small boats lie in the Halifax River. Hotels, motels, and apartment buildings line its oceanfront and riverbanks. The city offers many recreational facilities. Championship car and motorcycle races are held at the Daytona International Speedway. The city is the national headquarters of the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA). The Daytona Beach area’s economic activities include tourism, fishing, and the manufacture of electronics components, furniture, suntan products, and boats.
The city was founded in 1870, and incorporated as Daytona in 1876. In 1926, it consolidated with Daytona Beach and Seabreeze, and was chartered as Daytona Beach. The city is the home of Bethune-Cookman University and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. It has a commission-manager government.
