Oak Hill, Florida

Oak Hill, Florida
—  City  —
Location in Volusia County and the state of Florida
Coordinates: 28°53′5″N 80°50′49″W / 28.88472°N 80.84694°W / 28.88472; -80.84694Coordinates: 28°53′5″N 80°50′49″W / 28.88472°N 80.84694°W / 28.88472; -80.84694
Country	United States
State	Florida
County	Volusia
Area
– Total	11.3 sq mi (29.1 km2)
– Land	6.4 sq mi (16.5 km2)
– Water	4.9 sq mi (12.6 km2)
Elevation	13 ft (4 m)
Population (2000)
– Total	1,378
– Density	121.9/sq mi (47.4/km2)
Time zone	Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
– Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code	32759
Area code(s)	386
FIPS code	12-50450[1]
GNIS feature ID	0287965[2]

Oak Hill is a city in Volusia County, Florida, United States. The population was 1,378 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 1,454.^[1]

History

The City of Oak Hill is the southernmost city in Southeast Volusia County. The location is rich in early Florida history. It was the site of an Indian village called Surruque el Viejo near el Baradero de Suroc, which was seen on LeMoyne’s map of 1564. Several English settlers were in the area during the later 18th century. Seminole Wars chased away northern timber cutters who named their camp Oak Hill. Arad Sheldon, a resident of that time 1856, took the four bodies massacred just to the north by wagon to New Smyrna Beach.

Following the Territorial Days of Florida, permanent settlers began moving into the area. Statehood seemed to provide stability for organized communities. By the Civil War Years, Oak Hill was changing: a salt works was operating, part-time stores were open, and Mitchell had planted the first orange grove. Following the war, settlers began arriving in the area from many places. The local cemetery has eleven Civil War veteran burials – five unions and six confederates.

Hotels, stores, a post office, and a school operated by Rev. Wicks in the Congregational Church served a few white students in the morning and several black students in the afternoon. A public school for white students was constructed in the early 1890s and a prominent black freedman, Bill Williams provided instruction and space for black students in 1901. A public school for black students was constructed in 1927. Business wise weather was a crucial factor in area economics as most people were either citrus growers or commercial fisherman. Circumstances have had a tremendous impact on these occupations in recent years. Very few citizens are involved with these jobs now. Most gladly commute north or south to earn their livelihood and return to the home of their choice between New Smyrna Beach, Edgewater, and the Canaveral National Seashore and Kennedy Space Center.

The City of Oak Hill was first chartered in 1927. Local government was based on a Mayor Commission with each commissioner functioning as head of a municipal department. The city was later disbanded in 1930. The country was in a depression and the city petitioned the government to inactivate the charter, which was granted. The city later petitioned the government in 1962 to reactivate the charter. Clarence Goodrich was the city's mayor from 1963 to 1989, Mayor Goodrich's term as Mayor spanned 26 years as the longest term any mayor has held in the State of Florida. Bobby Greatrex became Mayor from 1989 to 1990. Bruce Burch became Mayor from 1990 to 1994. Toreatha Wood became the city's first African-American Mayor, first female mayor, and first African-American female mayor, from 1999 to 2000. Darry Evans also was the first African American male mayor. Lorna Travis became mayor from 2000 to 2001. Susan Cook was Mayor from 2001 to 2002. Bob Jackson was Mayor in 2002. The current Mayor is Darla Lauer.

On the evening of August 1, 2011, the city commission voted to disband the city's police department due to corruption in the department. All nine employees will receive unemployment benefits. The Volusia County Sheriff's Department will assume law enforcement duties for the city.^[3]

Geography

Oak Hill is located at 28°53′05″N 80°50′49″W / 28.884832°N 80.846836°W / 28.884832; -80.846836.^[4]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 11.2 square miles (29 km²). 6.4 square miles (17 km²) of it is land and 4.9 square miles (13 km²) of it (43.38%) is water.

Demographics

As of the census^[1] of 2000, there were 1,378 people, 549 households, and 410 families residing in the city. The population density was 216.1 inhabitants per square mile (83.4/km²). There were 695 housing units at an average density of 109.0 per square mile (42.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 81.79% White, 16.26% African American, 0.65% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 0.51% from other races, and 0.58% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.65% of the population.

There were 549 households out of which 25.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.3% were married couples living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.3% were non-families. 20.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 2.84.

In the city the population was spread out with 22.1% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 24.6% from 25 to 44, 25.4% from 45 to 64, and 21.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 106.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 104.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $32,130, and the median income for a family was $35,682. Males had a median income of $24,643 versus $22,917 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,158. About 7.8% of families and 14.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.0% of those under age 18 and 6.8% of those age 65 or over.

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
2. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. http://geonames.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
3. ^ "Oak Hill Police Department Disbanded". Local 6. August 1, 2011. http://www.clickorlando.com/news/28733518/detail.html. Retrieved 2011-08-02. 
4. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html. Retrieved 2011-04-23. 

External links

• City of Oak Hill