Moving to Orange City, FL?

Orange City

If you’re thinking of moving to Orange City and don’t know much about it, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve been in the Orange City area for many years and, although this is not a comprehensive guide to this little town, it should give you a good idea of what it has to offer, and maybe even what it doesn’t.

Orange City is a small-town suburb of Orlando, with a population of around 12,000 people. It was incorporated in 1882 and was named for the hundreds of orange groves in and around the city. It prospered at first until the Great Freeze of 1894-1895 destroyed the orange groves. The first significant home in the city was the Thursby house, built in the 1850s on Blue Spring Run.

Orange City is ideally situated with DeBary to its south, DeLand to the north, Deltona along the east and the beautiful St. John’s River to the west. Orlando and it’s many attractions are about an hour away and the Sanford / Lake Mary area is about 20-25 minutes away. New Smyrna and Daytona Beaches are reachable in about 30 minutes.

There are some great neighborhoods in Orange City. Just a few residential options are:

• West Highlands: Many 3/2 homes on the west side of town. With a few dirt roads, it’s the furthest away from I-4. There you’ll find good values for homes.
• Historic district: It isn’t very large, but there are some historic type homes here which are very close to several parks, the Library, City Hall, and Police Department.
• Subdivisions: Oakhurst, a gated community close to I-4; Sherwood Oaks, tucked away near I-4; Fawn Ridge, close to I-4; Blue Springs Villas; Cadence at Parc Hill, Veterans Memorial Parkway featuring newer homes; Compass Landing, newer Park Place Homes.
• Homes outside of subdivisions and the historic district: OC has an abundance of non HOA type homes and they are generally moderately priced homes. There isn’t much ultra-low or high end real estate in Orange City.
• Condos: Breezewood, a 55+ community and Enterprise Cove.
• Manufactured homes: There aren’t many, if any, manufactured homes on land here. However, there are several small parks with lot rent.
• Apartment communities: There are a few of these, including a couple that have recently been built.
• Even a little bit of country: There are some more country homes, mostly on the west side of town interspersed between other homes, but also Foothill farms (close to I-4).

There are some really good restaurants in Orange City, including chain ones like Texas Roadhouse, Chilis, Chic fila, etc. As well as some smaller favorites like Fire on the Bayou, LaSpadas, Lelo’s and several good Mexican restaurants. There’s not a lot of cultural activities, like museums, galleries and theater, but those can be found in nearby cities like DeLand and Sanford. There’s plenty of shopping available though. Everything from Lowes & Home Depot to Wal Mart, Target, Publix, Kohls, Bed Bath Beyond, Bealls and much more.

Schools serving Orange City include Orange City Elementary, River Springs Elementary, Manatee Cove Elementary, River Springs Middle School and University High School.

AdventHealth Fish Memorial Hospital is right here in Orange City. There is another hospital just 15 minutes north in Deland and another 15 minutes south in Sanford. Orange City is also home to several assisted living facilities. John Knox is the big one, but there are others with varying levels of care including a brand-new memory care center.

What do you do for fun in Orange City?

Blue Springs is great for swimming, kayaking, tubing, snorkeling or scuba diving. It has crystal-clear water that’s a balmy 72 degrees for 365 days/year. During the winter months it is full of Manatees. There are great campgrounds with very private sites.

There are also several nice city parks and playgrounds here in Orange City. Veteran’s Memorial park, Coleman Park (with a skate park) and Mill Lake Park are all nearby for a walk, birthday party or picnic. Take your best friend to the Waggin’ Trail Dog Park or bring the kids to the Mill Lake Splash Park.

You could also fish the St. Johns River or try your luck at the Family Fun Town arcade, which also has putt-putt golf, go carts and batting cages. Head east and you’ll find sand and surf.

This is not a comprehensive detail on what this little town has to offer, but it should give you an idea of the basics. If you have questions, please post them below in the comments below or reach out to me directly. Don’t forget to check here frequently to stay updated on the real estate market or to learn more about real estate in Central Florida.

If you’re interested in moving to Orange City or anywhere in Volusia, Lake or Seminole county, I’d be happy to give you more information. Just give me a call!