Ormond Beach : Florida

The popular retirement town of  Ormond Beach, located on the east coast of Florida, has a population of about 38,000, and an average age of 50. The town is known as “The Birthplace of Speed” as car racing became very popular on its beaches in the early 1900's. Railroad magnate Henry Flagler helped to build The Hotel Ormond which was one of his fashionable resorts. John D. Rockefeller, a business partner of Flagler, stayed at the hotel several times and eventually bought a house nearby called the Casements, which today is the town's community center. The site of the Ormond Hotel is now a condominium development.  

Today Ormond Beach offers all types of water recreation, golf, many parks and shopping malls.  Racing and NASCAR are still big events here as Daytona Beach is right next door.  Picture of  Granada Bridge in 2006 courtesy of Wikipedia and Michael Hoffman; picture of Natural Beach at North Peninsula State Park courtsey of Wikipedia and Gamweb; picture of Ormond Hotel 1905 courtesy of Wikipedia.

There are retirement communities in Ormond Beach (See link on right).  Ormond Beach offers waterfront homes and several condominium developments. According to Zillow.com the median home value in mid-2016 was $203,400.

Ormond Beach is a mid-sized town on the water that offers a low cost of living.  The town has several parks and allows cars on the beach. It also has museums, and galleries, and hosts many festivals and events.

Ormond Beach has experienced several tropical storms and hurricanes, and has a high crime rate. Cars being allowed on the beach is not seen as a good thing by everyone.

Ormond Beach offers a downtown with restaurants and shops, beachfront parks, an art museum and gardens, and a Performing Arts center.  Retirees would also appreciate its medical center, library, and a senior center complex that features many programs and activities.

Retail and health care drive the economy.

The average January temperature is 61 degrees, with July's average about 81 degrees.  Ormond Beach is considered to be in a high risk hurricane zone and has been brushed or hit by several hurricanes, the lastest was Hurricane Debbie in 2012. 

Ormond Beach is home to the Ormond Memorial Art Museum and Gardens which offers exhibits, classes, and lectures; The Casements, once the winter home of John D. Rockefeller and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is now a cultural and community center; the Ormond Beach Perfoming Arts Center hosts productions, programs, concerts and seminars; Rockefeller Gardens is a riverfront park where many community events are held.