Orange City is a city in west Volusia County, Florida, part of the Deltona–Daytona Beach–Ormond Beach metropolitan area and roughly 30 miles north of Orlando. The 2020 census counted 12,632 residents. The city lies near the St. Johns River and just east of DeLand, the county seat, along the corridor formed by U.S. Highway 17/92 and nearby Interstate 4. This location places Orange City between the attractions of greater Orlando and the beaches of the Atlantic coast. The community began as an agricultural settlement in the late 1800s, named for the citrus groves that first drew settlers to the area. Citrus and farming shaped its early economy and character, and while the groves have largely given way to residential development, the town's name and its agricultural roots remain part of its identity. Orange City is best known today as the home of Blue Spring State Park, a more than 2,600-acre preserve on the St. Johns River. Blue Spring is the largest spring on the St. Johns and a designated manatee refuge; each winter, hundreds of manatees gather in its warm spring run, making the park one of the state's most visited spots for viewing the animals in the wild. The park's boardwalks, hiking, swimming, and paddling anchor the city's outdoor life. Residentially, Orange City is a mix of older, established neighborhoods near its historic core and newer single-family subdivisions that grew as the area suburbanized. Its position between DeLand, Daytona Beach, and the Orlando metro makes it a practical base for households who want central Florida convenience with a smaller-town feel. The city's schools, parks, and spring-fed recreation give it a distinct local identity, while nearby DeLand contributes a historic downtown, Stetson University, and a full calendar of cultural events.