LAKE HELEN, FLORIDA

Lake Helen is a small city located in Volusia County, in the central-east region of Florida.  It lies just east of DeLand, which is the nearest large city and the county seat of Volusia County.

Lake Helen City Hall

Its population is about 2,988. The city covers about 4.6 square miles and retains a small-town feel. It is on the western shore of Lake Helen, a small lake of about 26 acres.

The region that now includes Lake Helen was inhabited by Native American peoples who lived throughout central and eastern Florida.

Over time, as with much of Florida, these populations were displaced or assimilated during the period of Spanish ownership and later American expansion.

Lake Helen Hopkins Library

The modern town was founded in 1888 by Henry DeLand, who also founded the nearby city of DeLand. He named the town after his daughter Helen.

Early settlers in the area engaged in agriculture (especially citrus and small farming), timber, and related rural industries typical of inland Florida in that era.

Hopkins Library Now a Community Center

One early notable settler was Theodore Strawn, who is associated with the citrus and shipping history in West Volusia and life in the region in the 1880s and 1890s.

Arthur Jones

In the mid-20th century, fitness pioneer Arthur Jones located his Nautilus Sports/Medical Industries in Lake Helen, building a large complex there and drawing national attention to the little town.

He was well known as the inventor of the Nautilus machines and the programs for using them.  He sold his facility and moved out of the state many years ago.  

Lake Helen Home

Over time, Lake Helen has retained much of its historical character and resisted large-scale modernization, preserving tree-lined residential streets and small town atmosphere.

I've lived in Florida since 1960 and have seen the state's population grow from 5 million to 24 million.  I am increasingly depressed by how much most cities have changed over the years.

Lake Helen Home

Lake Helen is a welcome relief from that depression.  The town has not only managed to stay pretty much the same as when I first visited, it has maintained old buildings and controlled the architectural design of new ones.

Lake Helen is a quiet, close-knit community that emphasizes historical charm and civic pride. There are no stoplights in the city. 

Traffic is light and streets are calm. Many residents use golf carts to get around.  It is a very walkable little place.

Blake Baptist Church

Lake Helen's historic and architectural resources are showcased in its significant historic district which contains 71 historic buildings.

Among early community landmarks are Hopkins Hall, built in 1897, which served as a community center and library, now restored.

Two churches, Blake Baptist Church (established 1894) and Lake Helen 1st Congregational Church (1887) date from the early building period of the town. 

1st Congregational United Church of Christ

A short stroll can carry you across much of the town.  The downtown and residential blocks are loaded with historic homes and buildings, many falling within the Lake Helen Historic District. 

Lake Helen Home

Lake Helen is not a major shopping hub; it offers modest retail and service businesses serving local needs. There are a few local restaurants, antique or secondhand shops, and small galleries in town.

The city itself fosters arts and culture: for example, Shoestring Theatre is a long-running community theater that stages plays, musicals, and youth productions.

Lake Helen Home

The city also operates parks and public facilities, including Blake Park and Asa Gray Park, with amenities such as playgrounds, pavilions, sports courts, picnic areas, and community event space. 

Several annual events (home tours, arts & crafts shows) showcase homes and local artisans, supported by the Lake Helen League for Better Living, a citizens’ organization founded in 1973 to preserve the “Old Florida residential charm.” 

Lake Helen Home

It is a pleasure to visit Lake Helen and just ride around the historic district and gawk at the old homes:  some magnificent, some shabby, but all original.

One of my favorite places to stop is the Lake Helen Library.  It is in a modern building, nice and quiet, and a good place to just sit and do some reading.

Lake Helen Library Entrance

The interior of the library is bright and cheerful and well organized.  On the Saturday afternoon I visited, there was only one other customer there and the librarian.

• Walk or drive around the Lake Helen Historic District bounded by West New York, Lakeview, and Euclid Avenues.
  
  
• Visit nearby Cassadaga Spiritualist Camp.  It is a short drive and you will see many quirky little houses and learn about the many mediums and spiritualists who live there.
  
  
• Blue Spring State Park is in nearby Orange City.  In the winter months you can watch the hundreds of manatees that gather there to enjoy the warmer waters.

Florida is the fastest-growing state in the United States and also the fastest-changing.  If you see anything in this article that has changed or is in error, please let me know.

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