Oak Hill
Former Name: Surruque
Date of Municipal Incorporation: 1927Population (2000 Census)
1,378 (The smallest of 16 Volusia cities)The corporate limits of this quiet town stretch from the Atlantic Ocean beach, across the bountiful waters of Mosquito Lagoon to the roadsides of the vital, but congestion-free, US 1 artery. But these days political boundaries often do not truly define a community—they are used more to serve and protect parochial interests. Even with beach frontage inside the city limits, no one would begin to identify Oak Hill as a “beach town”. And although most of remaining and past citrus groves are located outside of city limits, no one would deny Oak Hill its legacy and position at the northern reaches of the world-famous Indian River Groves citrus growing region. Although one may view the use of ‘hill’ in the town’s name as a topographic exaggeration, several promontories exist along the sandy mainland ridge (the beachfront of an ancient sea) paralleling the lagoon’s shoreline. These features were created by native peoples who discarded their refuse at these locations creating prehistoric landfills—referred to as ‘middens’ by archeologists.
The layered deposits of relict marine and dune sediments, topped by the discards of century after century of shellfish meals, all crowned by a magnificent canopy of Live Oaks, created attractive and accessible shoreline for early settlers plying the lagoon’s waters.
Over the years these promontories were named by the community—examples include Bill’s Hill, Ross Hammock, and …Oak Hill.
The nation’s most biologically diverse wildlife sanctuary, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, borders the community to the south and Volusia’s most popular park, Canaveral National Seashore, borders the community on the east. These public lands also serve double-duty as the northern extant of the Kennedy Space Center . (Access to these lands is restricted during launches but the view of the shuttle is first rate!)
The water body is at the northern reach of a series of interconnected estuaries billed as the Indian River Lagoon—designated as part of the National Estuary Program.
The Indian River Lagoon is at the confluence of the more temperate climatic zone of the north and the sub-tropical climate to the south. This position along with its size and physical characteristics foster high biological productivity making it the most diverse estuary in North America. The Ocean’s Nursery!
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