What county is Pierson in?

Pierson is in Volusia County, Florida, in the northwestern part of the county near the St. Johns River. The town is part of the Deltona–Daytona Beach–Ormond Beach metropolitan statistical area.

Why is Pierson called the Fern Capital of the World?

Pierson calls itself the 'Fern Capital of the World' because commercial fern cultivation is the backbone of its local economy. After freezes in 1894 and 1895 destroyed the area's citrus groves, growers turned to ferns, which are grown and shipped to markets across the country and internationally.

What school district serves Pierson?

Pierson is part of the Volusia County School District, and the town is home to Pierson Elementary School. Older students attend middle and high schools elsewhere in Volusia County, with district-provided bus transportation.

What is the population of Pierson?

Pierson had a population of 1,542 at the 2020 U.S. Census. It is a small, rural town whose families in many cases have lived in the area for generations, sustaining its agricultural way of life.

What is there to do near Pierson?

Outdoor recreation around Pierson centers on the region's lakes, rivers, and forests. Lake George and the St. Johns River lie to the west and north for fishing and boating, the Ocala National Forest is within driving distance, and DeLand's parks, springs, and cultural events are a short drive south.

Farms & Ranches in Pierson, FL

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Fern Capital of the World

Farms & Ranches in Pierson, FL

Welcome to Pierson, a small agricultural town in northwest Volusia County known as the "Fern Capital of the World."

Pierson is a small town in northwestern Volusia County, Florida, set amid the fern farms and rural countryside between the St. Johns River and the city of DeLand. It is part of the Deltona–Daytona Beach–Ormond Beach metropolitan statistical area, yet it retains a distinctly rural, agricultural character. At the 2020 census, the town had a population of 1,542. The community traces its settlement to the mid-1800s, when commercial fishing, livestock, lumber, and citrus formed the early economy. The freezes of December 1894 and February 1895 destroyed thousands of acres of citrus across central Florida, and growers in the Pierson area shifted toward the cultivation of ferns, a crop that thrives in the region's conditions and is shipped to markets across the country and abroad. That legacy is the basis of Pierson's nickname, the "Fern Capital of the World." Pierson's small-town identity is centered on its historic school building, constructed in 1926 and now serving as the Pierson Town Center and municipal offices. Public education is provided by the Volusia County School District, and the town is home to Pierson Elementary School. The town lies along U.S. Highway 17, the main north-south route through northwestern Volusia County, connecting Pierson to DeLand to the south and the Palatka area to the north. Lake George and the St. Johns River lie to the west and north, while the Ocala National Forest is within driving distance to the west. This location gives Pierson a quiet, close-knit way of life with easy access to the larger amenities of DeLand, Daytona Beach, and the rest of the Volusia County region.