Editing Deltona, Florida (section)

== History ==
The area of current Deltona and surrounding communities was originally inhabited by nomadic [[Timucua]]ns, who found fish and fresh water to be plentiful in the area.<ref name="deltonahistory">{{cite web |url=http://www.deltonafl.gov/Pages/DeltonaFL_Docs/CityHistory |title=City of Deltona, Florida: City History |publisher=deltonafl.gov |access-date=2012-01-31 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120909000800/http://www.deltonafl.gov/Pages/DeltonaFL_Docs/CityHistory |archive-date=2012-09-09 }}</ref> After Florida became a state in 1845, steamboats began to make regular trips up the [[St. Johns River]] to [[Lake Monroe (Florida)|Lake Monroe]].<ref name="deltonahistory" /> George Sauls, a former secret agent for the [[Confederate States of America|Confederacy]] during the [[American Civil War]], along with his wife Adeline and six children, were the first settlers in the area in 1859.<ref name="volusiahistory">[http://www.volusia.org/history/deltona.htm Volusia County History: City of Deltona] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716193745/http://www.volusia.org/history/deltona.htm |date=2011-07-16 }}. Volusia.org. Retrieved 2010-12-16.</ref> The area was located approximately {{convert|3|mi|km|spell=in}} north of the community of [[Osteen, Florida|Osteen]]. Sauls' homestead caught fire in 1972, but it would eventually be designated as a historical site by the Volusia County Historical Commission, and the street, originally named Barranca, was renamed George Sauls Street in 1977. It was decommissioned as a historical site in 2000, and its site marker has since been relocated to the nearby Osteen Cemetery, with maintenance overseen by the Volusia County Preservation Board.<ref name="volusiahistory" /><ref>[http://apps.flheritage.com/markers/markers.cfm?click=1 Florida Historical Markers Programs - Marker: All Counties]. ''Division of Historical Resources''. Florida Department of State. Retrieved 2015-03-13.</ref>

What now constitutes the city was originally developed in 1962 as Deltona Lakes<ref name="deltona6263">Poertner, Bo (1997-07-23). "[https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1997/07/23/newsletters-reveal-deltonas-history-through-the-eyes-of-its-developers/ Newsletters Reveal Deltona's History Through The Eyes Of Its Developers]". ''Orlando Sentinel''. Retrieved 2015-04-10.</ref> by [[Mackle Brothers|Elliott, Robert and Frank Mackle]] as a [[planned community|planned residential community]] through the purchase of 17,203 [[acre]]s of land. The development would open to potential land buyers on November 18, 1962, and included out-parcels for drainage retention, apartments, churches, parks, commercial centers, an industrial area, a community center, and a golf course.<ref name="macklehp">[http://www.themacklecompany.com/ Mackle Company Home Page]. The Mackle Company. Retrieved 2012-02-17.</ref> Deltona Lakes was heavily marketed throughout the United States, including [[Ohio]], [[Illinois]], [[Indiana]] and [[Michigan]].<ref name="deltona6263" /> Sales representatives would also market in places such as [[Germany]], [[Puerto Rico]], [[Latin America]] and the [[Far East]].<ref name="deltona6263" />

By November 1965, just one year after its opening, Deltona Lakes grew to a population of nearly 1,600, nearly 1,000 homes were built or under construction, and had more than 120 miles of paved roads or roads being surfaced.<ref name="deltona6263" /> By September 1966, Deltona Lakes came to attract more families, growing to a population of 2,413, and a student enrollment of more than 200, resulting in soaring property sales of up to US$60 million.<ref name="deltona6263" /> In April 1967, more than 30 civic, social, charitable and fraternal clubs would form, including a civic association, a men's and women's golf association, a shuffle board club, and a bicycle club.<ref name="deltona6263" /> By 1970, Deltona Lakes had an estimated population of 4,868 and would continue to grow in population throughout the 1970s and 1980s, reaching a population of 51,828 by 1990.<ref name="jun2008">City of Deltona. [http://www.deltonafl.gov/Pages/DeltonaFL_Depts/DeltonaFL_Planning/EAR/6%20Final%20Draft%20Ear.pdf City of Deltona Evaluation and Appraisal Report]. deltonafl.gov. June 2008. Retrieved 2012-02-18</ref>

The residents of Deltona Lakes attempted to incorporate it as a city in 1987 and 1990, but were not successful until 1995.<ref>Oropeza, Lorena (1987-01-28). [https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1987/01/28/legislators-debate-deltona-incorporation-vote/ Legislators Debate Deltona Incorporation Vote]. ''Orlando Sentinel''. Retrieved 2012-02-17</ref> A city charter was adopted on September 9, 1995, and a seven-member city commission was elected. Deltona Lakes was incorporated as a city on December 31, 1995, with its name shortened to Deltona.

By 2000, the city grew to a population of 69,543 people, surpassing Daytona Beach as the most populous city in Volusia County. After the city's incorporation, regular city meetings would be held on the second floor of the now-defunct [[SouthTrust|SouthTrust Bank]] building on Deltona Boulevard, until the first city hall began construction in 2001.<ref>Poertner, Bo (2001-08-14). "[https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2001/08/14/city-hall-rises-from-the-sand-in-deltona/ City Hall Rises From The Sand In Deltona]." ''Orlando Sentinel''. Retrieved 2015-04-11.</ref> The US$7 million project would complete for opening on March 16, 2002.<ref>"[https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2002/03/16/celebrate-tour-deltonas-city-hall-today/ Celebrate, Tour Deltona's City Hall Today]." ''Orlando Sentinel''. 2002-03-16. Retrieved 2015-04-11.</ref> On December 3, 2002,<ref>"[https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2002/12/11/dbcc-breaks-ground-in-deltona/ Dbcc Breaks Ground In Deltona]." ''Orlando Sentinel''. 2002-12-11. Retrieved 2015-04-11.</ref> ground broke for the development of the Deltona satellite campus of [[Daytona State College]] (then known as Daytona Beach Community College), adjacent to Deltona City Hall. The campus opened in August 2004.<ref>"[https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2004/07/21/dbcc-to-open-1st-building-in-deltona-center-in-august/ Dbcc To Open 1st Building In Deltona Center In August]." ''Orlando Sentinel''. 2004-07-21. Retrieved 2015-04-11.</ref>

On August 6, 2004, [[Deltona massacre|four men broke into a home and beat six people and a dog to death with baseball bats]], making it the deadliest mass murder in Volusia County history.

[[File:Flooded trails at Lyonia Preserve.jpg|thumb|[[Lyonia Preserve]] in Deltona]]
In recent years, new measures have been taken by city officials to begin attracting new businesses and industries into the city. Specially zoned areas in the city have been designated to allow for the development of upscale office facilities, light industrial space, health care facilities,<ref>Everson, Al (2014-05-27). "[http://beacononlinenews.com/news/daily/6963 Commercial development seen for Deltona’s north side] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150724121745/http://beacononlinenews.com/news/daily/6963 |date=2015-07-24 }}." Retrieved 2015-04-11.</ref> warehousing and distribution facilities, commercial recreational facilities, and lodging services.<ref>Everson, Al (2011-08-16). "[http://beacononlinenews.com/news/daily/4024 Deltona has high hopes for industry] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150724113258/http://beacononlinenews.com/news/daily/4024 |date=2015-07-24 }}." ''West Volusia Beacon''. Retrieved 2015-04-11.</ref>