Daytona Beach Shores is a coastal city in Volusia County, Florida, situated on the barrier island that separates the Atlantic Ocean from the Halifax River, just south of Daytona Beach and north of Ponce Inlet. At the 2020 census, the city recorded a population of 5,179, a figure that understates its seasonal presence, as the community fills with winter residents and visitors drawn by the oceanfront setting. The city is defined by its shoreline. Oceanfront condominiums and hotels line the Atlantic side, while the Halifax River and the Intracoastal Waterway border the west side, providing boating, fishing, and waterfront living. Daytona Beach Shores is known for its no-driving beach, a quieter alternative to the hard-packed, drive-on sands for which neighboring Daytona Beach is famous, and this policy gives the shoreline a calm, pedestrian-friendly character. Demographically, Daytona Beach Shores skews strongly toward retirees, with a median age in the mid-60s, reflecting its long-standing role as a retirement and second-home destination on Florida's east coast. Public education is provided by Volusia County Schools, though the student-age population is small relative to the overall community. Daytona Beach Shores developed primarily in the mid-twentieth century as Florida's east coast grew as a tourism and retirement destination, and its skyline of oceanfront condominiums and hotels reflects that era of coastal development. The city incorporated as a separate municipality to govern its stretch of the barrier island, distinct from Daytona Beach to the north, and it has built a reputation as a quieter, more residential alternative to its larger neighbor. Ponce Inlet, with its historic lighthouse, lies just to the south, and the attractions, dining, and events of Daytona Beach are minutes away. For residents, the city offers direct oceanfront living in a quiet, established setting.