Bethune Beach, Florida

Bethune Beach is a census-designated place in Volusia County, Florida.

Bethune Beach is located just to the south of New Smyrna Beach, Florida, and its southern border is the northern end of the Canaveral National Seashore. Due to its remote location, Bethune Beach is only accessible by one road, SR A1A, and entry is only permitted from the north. There is no outlet to the mainland, and the Canaveral National Seashore and the Kennedy Space Center lies to the south.

The area is now populated with large and expensive beach homes.

History

The town was once the only beach that African Americans were permitted to use in Volusia County during the first half of the century, and is named after the famous black educator Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune, founder of Bethune-Cookman College. In 2007, Bethune Beach residents voted to reject an annexation attempt by New Smyrna Beach.