[DanielAvery]

City-Data already does a lot more sub-forums for areas of Florida than just about any other state. I guess they could rewrite the descriptions of some established sub-forums to make it a little clearer, like maybe turn the Brevard forum into the Brevard/Volusia forum, or maybe expand Orlando to include Daytona and its neighbors. I live in a "border town" of sorts between the Treasure Coast forum and the Palm Beach County forum so I know what it's like to not know which area is appropriate.

[Hammocks Bum]

And I still say DeLand is a GREAT City/Area to move into....

[tothehilt]

I recently returned to the Daytona area to visit family and friends after moving away 11 years ago. Here is my honest opinion of the area I grew up in. Better known as the Daytona area.

I grew up in the Daytona area (Port Orange) from age 2 to 21 (1988-2007) and got out as soon as possible. It's more of a hick town with a beach then your standard Florida beach town. If you're into NASCAR, lifted trucks, low wages, basic education and no real industry outside of tourism then Daytona is the area for you. And don't let the two universities in the area fool you. 95% of the students enrolled in those schools are not from the area and will not stay in the area post graduation. The employment sectors in the area are retail, tourism, medical and construction. Also the area is HIGHLY controlled by the 5 wealthiest families in the area (France's, Brown's, Hosseini's, Richey's, Yeoman's). The local and even county politicians care little about the will of the people as they are bought and paid for by those top 5 families. And now my friends and family still in the area tell me that the Daytona area has started turning into a retirement community with tons of large and small 55+ communities being built and to be built over the next few years. Crime in the Daytona area has always been high for an area of it's size. This is most likely due to the stagnant low wages that have plagued the area for decades now. And while compared to other areas the rent and home prices might seem low or average, when you figure in the lower wages the majority of Daytona residents make, housing is high for the area. On my latest visit to the area I noticed almost immediately that the homeless have taken over nearly every street corner. While I was there, it seemed that at every intersection I stopped at contained at least 1 homeless person begging for money with a cardboard sign. I hated the area while I was growing up there, but now I am so glad I left as the area has slid even further down hill then when I lived there. I feel bad for my friends/family who feel stuck there and am constantly urging them to leave. So in closing, it's my opinion that if anyone reading this is seriously considering moving to the Daytona area that they seriously think twice. In my opinion, you would be much better served moving to the Tampa, Sarasota or even the Orlando areas. Those areas have MUCH more going on then the Daytona area.

And that is my honest opinion of Daytona.