Ponce Inlet is a town in Volusia County, Florida, situated at the southern tip of a barrier island on the state's Atlantic coast. It is part of the Deltona–Daytona Beach–Ormond Beach metropolitan area and the broader Halifax area. The 2020 census recorded a population of 3,364, reflecting the town's deliberately low-density, residential character within a heavily visited coastal region. The area's identity is anchored by the Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse, completed in 1887 when the inlet was still known as Mosquito Inlet. Standing 175 feet tall, it is the tallest lighthouse in Florida and one of the tallest in the United States, and it remains a defining landmark and visitor attraction. The lighthouse's history is tied to the maritime traffic that has long passed through the inlet, which links the Halifax River and the Intracoastal Waterway with the Atlantic Ocean. Ponce Inlet's economy and daily life revolve around the water. Fishing, boating, surfing, and watersports are central to the community, and the town's beaches and waterfront parks draw both residents and visitors. Unlike the busier commercial stretches of nearby Daytona Beach, Ponce Inlet maintains a quieter, more residential atmosphere, with an emphasis on preserving its natural shoreline and low-rise character. The town is served by Volusia County Schools, and its location places residents within a short drive of Daytona Beach, New Smyrna Beach, and the services of the wider Halifax area. Today Ponce Inlet functions as a relaxed coastal community defined by its lighthouse, its beaches, and its connection to the inlet and ocean.