What was DeLand, Florida originally called?

Persimmon Hollow. It was renamed DeLand on December 6, 1876, at a settlers' meeting at John Rich's cabin.

Why was it called Persimmon Hollow?

Because of the wild persimmon trees that grew around the area's natural springs.

Who was the first settler in Persimmon Hollow?

Ruben Marsh, who came to Florida in 1841 during the Seminole War and returned in 1846 to settle.

Historic map of Persimmon Hollow Florida before its 1876 renaming to DeLand

Persimmon Hollow — Before DeLand Had a Name

Quick answer: Persimmon Hollow is the pre-1876 name of DeLand, Florida. It was named for the wild persimmon trees growing around the area's natural springs, and was accessible only by steamboat up the St. Johns River before Henry A. DeLand arrived in March 1876.

What was Persimmon Hollow?

The settlement that became DeLand was known as Persimmon Hollow for the wild persimmon trees that grew around its natural springs. It was originally accessible only by steamboat up the St. Johns River [S10, S11].

The earliest settlers

Ruben Marsh is probably the first settler. He first came to Florida in 1841 during a Seminole War scouting party and, when the war ended in 1846, married and moved to what is today DeLand [S04, S09].
Captain John Rich settled in 1874 and built a log cabin. Rich's cabin would become the site of the December 6, 1876 founding meeting [S09].

Henry A. DeLand's March 1876 visit

In March 1876, Henry A. DeLand, on vacation from his New York baking-soda business, visited his sister Helen Parce Fuller in Florida. He was so impressed with Persimmon Hollow that he purchased a large tract and began planning a town [S01, S02].

Read Henry A. DeLand's biography

The renaming

On December 6, 1876, at 2:00 p.m., DeLand called a meeting of all settlers within a 10–12-mile radius at John Rich's cabin. At the same meeting where he donated land for the first school and the main street, the settlers voted to rename the community DeLand [S01, S02].

View the full DeLand timeline

Evidence

Steamboat on the St. Johns River, circa 1880, the original transportation route to Persimmon Hollow

Accessible only by steamboat.

Until the 1880s, the community's only reliable access was the St. Johns River steamboat service.

Source: Frontier Florida [S10], Lake Beresford [S46].

The Rich Cabin in DeLand Florida, site of the December 6, 1876 founding meeting

Renamed at 2:00 p.m. on December 6, 1876.

At John Rich's cabin, settlers within a 10–12-mile radius voted to rename the community in Henry A. DeLand's honor.

Source: DeLand Historical Society [S02].

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Frequently asked questions

What was DeLand, Florida originally called?: Persimmon Hollow. It was renamed DeLand on December 6, 1876, at a settlers' meeting at John Rich's cabin. [S10, S02]
Why was it called Persimmon Hollow?: Because of the wild persimmon trees that grew around the area's natural springs. [S10, S11]
Who was the first settler in Persimmon Hollow?: Ruben Marsh, who came to Florida in 1841 during the Seminole War and returned in 1846 to settle. [S04, S09]
How could you get to Persimmon Hollow before the railroad?: By steamboat up the St. Johns River. [S10]