DeBary is a city in southwestern Volusia County, Florida, on the west bank of the St. Johns River, positioned north of Orlando between Sanford and Deltona. With a population of about 23,000, it has grown from a quiet riverside community into a residential city that blends natural springs, historic sites, and convenient rail access to the Orlando area. The city's name and identity trace to Frederick deBary, a European-born wine merchant and importer for Mumm's Champagne, who built DeBary Hall in 1871 as a winter hunting retreat along the St. Johns. He experimented with orange growing and commercial steamboating on the river, and the estate became a center of sport hunting and hospitality. DeBary Hall, added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972, now operates as a public historic site. Nature defines much of daily life. Gemini Springs Park, a 212-acre preserve purchased through a multi-agency effort in 1994, offers springs, fishing, paddling, a dog park, and nearly five miles of woodland and paved trails. The park also serves as a trailhead for major Central Florida trails that connect into hundreds of miles of regional pathways. DeBary's growth has been shaped by its place in the Orlando commuter shed. The city is home to a SunRail station on the 61-mile commuter rail line that runs from DeLand through downtown Orlando to Kissimmee and Poinciana, giving residents a rail option into the region's core. U.S. Highway 17-92 and Interstate 4 nearby provide road connections. Schools are part of Volusia County Schools, with local elementary campuses such as Wilson Elementary earning strong ratings. The city has planned for school growth, including a future K-8 site on its southern end. Residents are drawn to DeBary for its combination of riverside natural beauty, historic character, and access to both the Orlando metro and the beaches and amenities of the Volusia County coast. It offers a quieter, nature-oriented setting while remaining connected to Central Florida's economy and attractions.