History of New Smyrna Beach, Florida in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: July 9, 2025

New Smyrna Beach is a city in Volusia County, Florida, situated on the state's central east coast along the Atlantic Ocean. Its downtown area is positioned west of the Indian River and the Indian River Lagoon system. The Coronado Beach Bridge links the mainland to the coastal barrier island, spanning the Intracoastal Waterway just south of Ponce de Leon Inlet. The population was approximately 30,142 in 2020 and is estimated to be 32,655 in 2023.

1947: Name Change and Annexation

In 1947, "New Smyrna" officially became "New Smyrna Beach" when it annexed the seaside community of Coronado Beach.

1967: New Smyrna Speedway Opens

In 1967, the New Smyrna Speedway, a half-mile paved racetrack, opened.

August 13, 2004: Hurricane Charley Exits Over New Smyrna Beach

On August 13, 2004, Hurricane Charley exited over New Smyrna Beach after crossing Florida, causing extensive damage, especially to beachside areas and historic oak trees.

2007: Volusia County Leads in Shark Bites

In 2007, Volusia County, where New Smyrna Beach is located, recorded the highest number of confirmed shark bites worldwide, according to the International Shark Attack File.

2008: Shark Bite Record Broken

In 2008, New Smyrna Beach broke its own record with 24 shark bites.

July 2009: New Smyrna Beach Ranked as a Top Surf Town

In July 2009, New Smyrna Beach was ranked number nine on Surfer's list of "best surf towns".

2010: 2010 Census Demographics

As of the 2010 census, New Smyrna Beach had a population of 22,464 people living in 11,074 households, with a population density of 648.4 inhabitants per square mile.

2012: New Smyrna Beach Recognized as a Top Surf Town

In 2012, National Geographic recognized New Smyrna Beach as one of the "world's top 20 surf towns".

September 18, 2016: Multiple Shark Bites on Surfers

On September 18, 2016, sharks bit three surfers within a few hours at the same beach in New Smyrna Beach.

2020: 2020 Census

In 2020, the census reported the population of New Smyrna Beach to be 30,142.

2020: 2020 Census Demographics

The 2020 census reported that New Smyrna Beach had a population of 30,142 people living in 14,796 households, with a population density of 798.7 inhabitants per square mile.