History and culture
Stetson Law started Florida's law school story
Stetson Law began in DeLand in 1900 as Florida's first law school, then moved to Gulfport in 1954.
Florida’s first law school started in DeLand, then found its long Tampa Bay home in Gulfport.
Stetson University College of Law began on October 2, 1900, with five Florida students. In 1954, it moved from Stetson’s main campus in DeLand to a 21-acre Gulfport campus. That campus had once been tied to the Hotel Rolyat, one of those Florida boom-era places with a name that sounds like someone turned “Taylor” backward. They did.
The story gives Gulfport more than a beach-town label. It also gives DeLand a place in Florida legal education, since the school began there before the move.
That two-place path is easy to miss. DeLand holds the start. Gulfport holds the long-running campus people know now. Together, they show how one school moved with Florida’s growth.
If you are looking at the campus today, check Stetson’s current visitor, admissions, and event pages. The history is not legal advice. It is a place story about how Florida built one of its early professional schools.
Where to see it
Stetson University College of Law in Gulfport and Stetson's DeLand history. Check current campus visitor, admissions, and event pages before visiting.
Official sources
Last checked against these sources: July 1, 2026.