Seeking the history of Daytona Beach? Then you are in the right place. Ride with me, as I take you through a brief history of the famous Daytona Beach in Florida.
Founding
The city of Daytona Beach was officially declared a city after incorporation in 1876. The city was founded by Mathias D. Day in the year 1870. According to several sources, the city was named after its founder, a business magnate from the state of Ohio. In 1870, Mathias D. Day purchased about 3,200 acres of land amounting to 1,200. The present-day Daytona Beach was as a result of the fusion of three separate towns of Seabreeze, Daytona, and Daytona Beach.
It is on record that Daytona Beach has once inhabited some indigenes of Timucuan Indians, who worked and lived in villages that were fortified. Through war, the indigenous Timucuan Indians were nearly exterminated by the Europeans. During the 18th century, disease and enslavement became the order of the day through attrition and assimilation.
Between 1763 and 1783 when the British ruled Florida, the then King usually passed through a road, which is the present-day Daytona Beach, to carry out his activities. The road was an extension of Saint Augustine (East Florida’s capital) through to Andrew Turnbull, in the present day New Smyrna.
Growth
The city of Daytona Beach is famous due to its smooth, wide beach, and hard-packed sands. The beach became popular among the Americans in the early 1900s for racing, extremely high-speed automobile testing. The beach later became a destination for racing enthusiasts.
In 1920, the city was named “The world Most Famous Beach.” The sandy beaches later gave way for the development of what is now known as the Daytona International Speedway. This was due to more racing activities. The Daytona International Speedway was built by the founder of NASCAR, William “Bill” France. Since the establishment of the Speedway in 1959, it has been hosting the popular Daytona 500, which usually attracts several thousands of race enthusiasts and tourists around the world.
Landmarks
Even though the city of Daytona Beach is popular largely because of its beach and Speedway, currently, the city a lot of cultural centers and landmarks such as;
• Bethune-Cookman University
• The Clock Tower and Bandshell
• The Daytona Beach Pier
• Halifax Harbor Marina
• Jackie Robinson Ballpark
• Municipal Stadium
• Museum of Arts and Sciences
• Ocean Center
• Peabody Auditorium
• Tarragona Arch
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