If you’re considering moving to De Leon Springs, Florida, there are a few things you should be aware of. So today, I’ll be providing an overview of just what De Leon Springs, Florida has to offer.

First, let’s address what the town of De Leon Springs, Florida IS, so let’s start with some brief history for perspective. The Mayaca Indians used the springs at De Leon Springs as far back as 6,000 years ago, and a British firm specializing in trade received a land grant of 500 acres in 1779. Back in the day, the St. Johns River was everything for local trade. In the early 1800’s, local settlers built sugar and cotton plantations near what is now Ponce De Leon Springs State Park, and the area grew over the years through various trade and tourist activities.

De Leon Springs has a population of under 3,000 people as I record this today, so it’s a tiny little town. The town encompasses less than 3 square miles, although it surely feels much bigger than that. There’s a lot of wooded land out here, it’s country. There is a large Spanish-speaking population in this generally rural area, I’ve read that about 44% of the locals speak Spanish.

The cost of living in De Leon Springs is around 3% below the national average, and the median income is right around $54,000 according to some data I looked up. The median sale price of a residential home in the last year since this recording was $347,500 per our local MLS.

De Leon Springs is almost exclusively single-family residential homes scattered throughout the area. Closer to Highway 17, the homes are built next to one another, but moving away from 17, the homes are scattered throughout the area on small, two-lane country roads. There hasn’t been as much new construction here as other local areas, like De Leon Spring’s neighbor to the south, Deland.

Although Florida has no state income tax, Volusia County, where De Leon Springs is, has the 6^th highest millage rate in Florida. Volusia County’s sales tax rate is 6.5%, which is a good bit lower than the average of over 7% for Florida as a whole.

In January, average low temperatures run in the mid-40’s with highs in the low-70’s, which is why so many move to De Leon Springs from up north, but it gets hot here in the summer, too. July’s lows are in the low-70’s, when days start hot and humid, with highs in the mid-90’s when it sometimes feels unbearable.

Next, WHERE is De Leon Springs? De Leon Springs is about 50 minutes north of Orlando, 40 minutes inland, or west, of Daytona Beach, and on the north side, say 10 minutes from Deland. There isn’t much on the north side of De Leon Springs, mostly woods and small towns until you get up to Palatka, which I’d say is the halfway point between De Leon Springs and Jacksonville.

Highway 17 is the main thoroughfare that runs right through De Leon Springs and is where most of the local businesses reside. There are a few businesses out on these country roads, but they’re mostly agricultural in nature except for one biggie that I’ll address here in a bit. I should note that this area used to be a huge producer of ferns, so there are still a few active ferneries around.

I’ve lived here in this area for many years, and I’ve helped many locals buy and sell their homes throughout this area. So, if you’ve got real estate needs, simply pick up the phone and give me a call.

So why would someone move to De Leon Springs? I noted earlier that De Leon Springs is rural, and that’s a huge draw to this area. Deland, De Leon Springs’ neighbor to the south is where people escape the noise to, from Orlando, but many come to De Leon Springs to avoid the hustle and bustle of Deland. I’m not saying that there’s much hustle and bustle in Deland, but there’s a lot more growth and congestion down there than there is up this quiet town.

Of course, De Leon Springs has Ponce De Leon State Park and their beautiful springs set amidst these gorgeous Live Oaks. People from all around come here to swim in these pristine waters that connect to the greater St. Johns River. The swimming is fantastic and it’s a good place to bring kids along to fish too. We’ve been coming to this park for years and years and we really like the Old Sugar Mill Pancake House.

It’s unique. They give you the batter, and you cook your own pancakes on these griddles that are built right into the tables. Of course, they’ve got all sorts of food, but it’s the pancakes that people come here for. The food is good here, but if you show up at 10am and want to grab some breakfast before you jump in the cool springs, you could be waiting, maybe 30 minutes to an hour, for a table.

The water in the springs stays right around 68 degrees year around, which is pretty chilly when you jump in on those hot summer days, but your body will adjust quickly. However, that water feels quite nice when you take a swim in mid-January. It’s a great place to snorkel, too, especially for beginners, but you can also scuba dive here, too, as that spring is about 30 feet deep at the boil.

I noted earlier that there’s a lot of land out here, so there are a lot of equestrian resources available, headlined by the Spring Garden Ranch, which is reportedly North America’s largest standardbred training facility. This, combined with the World Equestrian Center, about 75 minutes west in Ocala, sets the stage for all sorts of an equestrian lifestyle.

De Leon Springs is inland enough that hurricanes aren’t usually that big of a deal, but the beaches, like Ormond, Daytona, and New Smyrna are just a short ride away. Deland is where locals go for nightlife or shopping, and AdventHealth Deland, the largest nearby hospital, is about 10 minutes away.

There aren’t too many employers in De Leon Springs, although I suspect that Sparton Corporation, which I believe is some sort of defense contractor for maritime electronics, has got to be the largest. I suspect they’ve got 600 or 700 employees there. Most of those seeking employment in De Leon Springs head to Deland, the beaches, or even down to Orlando. Deland has an industrial area on its north side, right next to the Deland Municipal Airport, which is famous for their skydiving.

De Leon Springs has Louise S. Mckinnis Elementary School, but no middle or high schools, they head down to Deland for those needs.

Published on June 11. 2024 / no comments.