Bethune Beach, Florida facts for kids
Bethune Beach is a quiet, peaceful community in Volusia County, Florida, United States. It's a special place known for its calm atmosphere and single-family homes. This beach community is named after the famous educator, Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune. She helped lead a protest to make sure everyone, no matter their race, could use the beach.
Bethune Beach is located south of New Smyrna Beach. Another community called Silver Sands is between them. To the south, you'll find the northern part of the Canaveral National Seashore. Because it's a bit remote, you can only reach Bethune Beach by one road: County Road A1A. You can only enter from the north. There's no way to get to the mainland directly from here. The Canaveral National Seashore and the Kennedy Space Center are just to the south.
A Special Place in History
For many years in the early 1900s, Bethune Beach was the only beach in Volusia County that African Americans were allowed to use. This makes it a very important historical spot. The beach is named after Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune, who was a very important educator. She founded Bethune-Cookman College and worked hard for equal rights.
In 2007, the people living in Bethune Beach voted. They decided not to join the nearby city of New Smyrna Beach. This area is famous for its "no-drive" beach, meaning cars are not allowed on the sand. It's also very close to both the Atlantic Ocean and the Indian River.