Henry A. DeLand arrived in Central Florida on April 7, 1876, and bought his first piece of land the next day. Traveling from New York via steamboat, DeLand and his daughter, Helen, landed at Enterprise, and trekked about 15 miles north to discover a settlement Henry DeLand described as the most beautiful place he had ever seen.

DeLand purchased more land and laid out a city. The few settlers already living in the area named the new town for him. To encourage growth, DeLand offered the settlers money for creating schools and churches. The first city officials were elected in 1882.

DeLand, a New Yorker who had made his fortune in baking-soda manufacturing, intended for the Florida city he founded to be a mecca of culture and learning. He nicknamed DeLand "the Athens of Florida." In 1883, Henry DeLand founded DeLand Academy and College.

Two years later, wealthy hat-maker John B. Stetson moved to town, planning to spend his winters in Florida for health reasons. Stetson's arrival in DeLand, and a fire that swept through Downtown DeLand a year later, both had lasting effects on the city.

The fire started in the Wilcox Saloon in Downtown DeLand and spread, reducing the 100 block of North Woodland Boulevard to ashes. Ordinances that were soon passed prohibiting construction of any more wooden structures in the business district gave impetus to the construction of many of the historic masonry buildings that line Downtown DeLand's main streets today.

Also as a result of the fire, saloons were prohibited through the mid-1930's. That, however, didn't last. Today, Downtown DeLand boasts many fine restaurants and nightspots where residents and visitors gather to sip wine and beer and enjoy live music.

By 1886, John B. Stetson had become involved in his adopted city's college, and he was appointed to its Board of Trustees in 1886. In 1887, the Florida Legislature enacted the charter of DeLand University as an independent institution of higher learning, and Florida's first private university was born.

Stetson attended chapel services at the school every day. Eventually, he was persuaded to donate $1 million to the university, giving it a strong foundation on which to build. In 1889, the trustees voted to rename the school Stetson University. Today, the nationally recognized center of learning remains an important influence in the City of DeLand.

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