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75-408: This ranch, owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), spreads over the three central Florida counties of Osceola , Orange , and Brevard . Covering almost 300,000 acres (1,200 km) of land, 90 ranchers and their families live on the ranch. The ranch maintains 44,000 head of beef cattle. It is a for-profit operation and is not a normal part of the humanitarian efforts of

150-587: A gross domestic product of $ 115 billion, the third-largest GDP of Florida's 67 counties and the 27th-largest for the nation's 3,033 counties. The county is a tourist, economic, and cultural hub for the Central Florida region. Popular destinations within the county include Walt Disney World , Universal Orlando , SeaWorld Orlando , Icon Park , Kia Center , Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts , Orlando Museum of Art , and many other attractions. It

225-405: A teaching hospital , and other healthcare amenities. The main tourist strip for the city is in the southwestern section of the county. International Drive , commonly known as I-Drive , is a major 11.1-mile (17.9 km) thoroughfare that traverses central and southern portions of unincorporated Orange County. An additional extension is known as International Drive South , partly located in

300-456: A commissioner. All the commissioners compose the Board of Commissioners that appoint a County Manager. There also is a Commission Auditor and County Attorney. According to the U.S. Census Bureau , the county has a total area of 1,506 square miles (3,900 km ), of which 1,327 square miles (3,440 km ) is land and 178 square miles (460 km ) (11.9%) is water. CSX 's A-line, formerly

375-528: A former SunBank location on 10th Street and New York Avenue. In 1995, this branch moved for its final time to a larger building on Indiana Avenue and 13th street where it is still located today. The first Poinciana Branch was opened in 1988. It was a modular building and consisted of a 14,000 book collection. This branch was eventually moved into a larger location with a collection of 40,000 books and computer access for patrons. Osceola Library Systems began as an independent organization on April 1, 1989. In 1990,

450-637: A lightpole in Orlando, near the house of a judge known to be sympathetic to black voting. But this was part of a much larger story of KKK and other white attempts to suppress black voting in Ocoee and the state. African Americans had organized for a year to increase voter turnout for the 1920 presidential election, with organizations helping prepare residents for voter registration, paying for poll taxes , and similar actions. On Election Day in Ocoee , blacks were turned away from

525-694: A significant influx of migrants from the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the unincorporated territory of the United States, and in the 2000 U.S. Census Puerto Rican was the largest self-reported ancestry group. Osceola County is a charter county , and a subdivision within the State of Florida . Voters approved the County Charter in March 1992, and it took effect on October 1, 1992. The structure of County government under

600-575: A vast variety of birds and mammals including giant sloth , mammoth , camel , and the dire wolf dating around 1.1 million years ago. Immediately following the transfer of Florida from the Spanish to the United States in 1821, Governor Andrew Jackson created two counties: Escambia to the west of the Suwannee River and St. Johns to the east. In 1824, the area to the south of St. Johns County

675-527: Is a county located in the central portion of the U.S. state of Florida . As of the 2020 census , the population was 388,656. Its county seat is Kissimmee . Osceola County is included in the Orlando – Kissimmee – Sanford , Fla. Metropolitan Statistical Area . Being 54.3% Hispanic, Osceola is one of three Hispanic-majority counties in Florida, owing to its large Puerto Rican American population. It also

750-620: Is a 220-acre (89 ha) multi-purpose sports complex located at Walt Disney World in Bay Lake . The complex includes nine venues, hosting professional and amateur sporting events throughout the year. Most notable of events hosted at the venues include the 2020 NBA Bubble (due to the Covid-19 pandemic ), the MLS is Back tournament , the 2016 Invictus Games , the Pro Bowl skills competition from 2017 to 2020,

825-465: Is a county located in the central part of the U.S. state of Florida . As of the 2020 census , the county had a population of 1,429,908, making it the fifth-most populous county in Florida and the 28th-most populous county in the United States . Its county seat is Orlando , which, along with it being the county's largest city, is the core of the Orlando metropolitan area , which had a population of 2.67 million in 2020. As of 2022, Orange County has

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900-514: Is an American theme park and entertainment company, with corporate headquarters located in Orange County. Along with SeaWorld , United Parks & Resorts is the parent company for the theme parks Adventure Island , Aquatica , Busch Gardens , Discovery Cove , Sesame Place , Water Country USA , and Worlds of Discovery. In-turn, hospitality is incredibly vital to the county's economy. Westgate Resorts , an American timeshare resort company,

975-579: Is an outdoor shopping , dining , and entertainment complex at the Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista . The 120-acre (49 ha) complex includes four distinct areas: Marketplace, The Landing, Town Center, and West Side. Walt Disney Imagineers took inspiration from real coastal towns in Florida, such as St. Augustine and Coral Gables . Universal CityWalk in Orlando is the entertainment and retail district located adjacent to

1050-420: Is divided into six regions; the (central) Downtown area (with urban characteristics); the (southwestern) tourist strip , with a mixture of permanent dwellings and a heavy emphasis on resorts and hotels; a mixture of working-class, middle-class, and wealthier suburbs in the west (with some exurban characteristics); more historically established suburbs to the north (with inner-ring characteristics, thanks to

1125-632: Is home to the Ray Shanks Law Library, and TechCentral the library system's "creative space". Until 1989, there was no independent Osceola Library System. Instead, Osceola patrons were taken care of by Orange County Library System. Before that, there were two libraries, which are still named after the original independent libraries, run by women's organizations: Veteran's Memorial in Saint Cloud and Hart Memorial Library in Kissimmee. In 1910, land for

1200-684: Is home to, the Magic Kingdom , Epcot , Disney's Hollywood Studios , Disney's Animal Kingdom , Disney's Typhoon Lagoon , Disney's Blizzard Beach and Disney Springs . Universal Orlando encompasses Universal Studios Florida , Universal Islands of Adventure , Universal Volcano Bay and Universal CityWalk . SeaWorld Orlando is an animal theme park , featuring numerous marine wildlife displays, alongside with an amusement park, Aquatica water park , and Discovery Cove . Other theme parks include Fun Spot Orlando , Icon Park , Madame Tussauds , and Sealife Aquarium . Along with these tourists offerings,

1275-692: Is played each March at the Bay Hill Club and Lodge , a private golf resort owned since 1974 by Arnold Palmer in the community of Bay Hill . Other notable golf clubs in the county are the Eagle Creek Golf Club , the Lake Nona Golf & Country Club , and the Rio Pinar Country Club . The Golf Channel was formerly headquartered in Orange County. However in February 2020, it was reported that

1350-493: Is the 12th-largest majority-Hispanic county in the nation . Osceola County is named for the Native american leader Osceola , whose name means "Black Drink Cry [Asi Yaholo]". Osceola County was created in 1887. On July 21, 1821, Florida was divided into two counties, named Escambia County to the west and St. John's County to the east. In 1824, the southern part of St. John's County became Mosquito County , with Enterprise as

1425-466: Is the home to the University of Central Florida (UCF), which as of Fall 2023 had a student population of 69,320, making it the fourth-largest on-campus student body of any public university in the United States . The county is home to other notable colleges, including Rollins College and Valencia College . Despite rapid development countywide, swaths of nature still do exist. There are many lakes within

1500-678: The Atlantic Coast Line Railroad mainline, and originally built by the South Florida Railroad in the 1880s, runs through the urbanized northern part of the county. CSX has leased the line to the FDOT . Intercity passenger service is provided by Amtrak at Kissimmee station and commuter passenger service is operated by SunRail , with stops at Kissimmee and Poinciana . As of the 2020 United States census , there were 388,656 people, 109,642 households, and 81,168 families residing in

1575-561: The College of Medicine , the College of Nursing , and the College of Dental Medicine , along with its teaching hospital . The city also includes the Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute , Nemours Children's Hospital , and the University of Florida 's College of Pharmacy (ranked #5 among all pharmacy schools in the nation ). The transient nature of Orange County, makes it a major regional commercial hub for

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1650-523: The Florida Turnpike and US 441 . The project was halted by The Florida Department of Community Affairs after concerns that there would be mass urban sprawl . The area is now a reserve named after the city's planner, Fred DeLuca . If finished, the city would've had an expected population of 250,000. 28°04′N 81°09′W  /  28.06°N 81.15°W  / 28.06; -81.15 Orange County, Florida#History Orange County

1725-463: The Greater Orlando region are located in downtown. Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts , Kia Center , Lake Eola , Orlando Museum of Art , and other attractions are located in downtown, along with corporate offices for banks such as Wells Fargo , Seacoast, and Suntrust banks, and government building such as Orange County Courthouse and Orlando City Hall . In the southern region of

1800-561: The OCCC offers 7,000,000 sq ft (650,000 m ) of space, 2,100,000 sq ft (200,000 m ) of which is exhibit space. The OCC hosts events attracting about 1.5 million people annually, injecting $ 2.5 billion into the region's economy. Orange County has been a growing-hub for healthcare in Central Florida. Two of the largest healthcare networks in the county are AdventHealth and Orlando Health , which were both founded in

1875-633: The Orange County Convention Center , Dezerland Park mall, SeaWorld Orlando (along with Aquatica , SeaWorld's water park), ICON Park (featuring its famous ferris wheel, Orlando Eye ), the World's Largest Entertainment McDonald's , and other tourist ventures. This region is most known for being the location of Walt Disney World Resort , which covers nearly 25,000 acres (39 sq mi; 101 km ) (of which half has been developed). The Central Florida Tourism Oversight District (formerly

1950-1010: The Orlando Magic of the National Basketball Association (NBA), and Orlando City SC of Major League Soccer (MLS). There are also minor league professional teams, such as the Orlando Solar Bears of the ECHL , the Orlando Predators of the National Arena League (NAL), and the Orlando Anarchy of the Women's Football Alliance . The UCF Knights , the athletics teams of the University of Central Florida , compete in NCAA Division I . The ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex

2025-886: The Reedy Creek Improvement District ) is the governing jurisdiction and special taxing district for the land of Disney World, encompassing a large swath of 39.06 sq mi (101.2 km ) in southern Orange county and northern Osceola County. It acts with most of the same authority and responsibility as a county government. It includes the cities of Bay Lake and Lake Buena Vista , as well as unincorporated land, within Orange County. The western side of Orlando includes communities such as Apoka , Dr. Phillips , MetroWest , Pine Hills , and Windermere . The northern side include well-established communities, such as Eatonville , Fern Park , Maitland , and Winter Park . The east side includes neighborhoods such as Alafaya , Azalea Park , and Union Park . The east side of

2100-496: The SunRail ); a mixture of suburbs with more accessibly priced homes in the east (within the influence of University of Central Florida ); and a mixture of more working-class neighborhoods and additional tourist attractions to the south. Florida's Turnpike is popularly regarded as a dividing line between northern areas catering more to permanent populations and southern areas catering more to tourists. There are 115 neighborhoods within

2175-422: The U.S. Census Bureau , the county has a total area of 1,003 square miles (2,600 km ), of which 903 square miles (2,340 km ) is land and 100 square miles (260 km ) (10.0%) is water. Orange County is about 89 feet (27 m) above sea level . The county is bordered by Osceola County by the south, on the southwest by Polk County , on the west by Lake County , on the north by Seminole County , on

2250-438: The county seat . In 1844, Brevard County was carved out from Mosquito County. When Florida became a state in 1845, Mosquito County was renamed Orange County . On May 12, 1887, Osceola was named a county, having been created from both Orange and Brevard Counties. Osceola County reached all the way down to Lake Okeechobee until 1917 when Okeechobee County was formed. Since the late 20th century, Osceola County has experienced

2325-506: The 1997 U.S. Men's Clay Court Championships , and the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games. The Atlanta Braves utilized the facilities for spring training from 1997 to 2019, along with the Tampa Bay Rays utilizing the complex in 2023 spring training, due to Charlotte Sports Park being heavily damaged by Hurricane Ian in the previous year. The Arnold Palmer Invitational on the PGA Tour

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2400-536: The Buenaventura Library opened. In 1991, volunteers helped open the Kenansville Branch Library in a shared space with the old Kenansville school. During the 2004 hurricanes, the collection was a total loss. It was rebuilt in 2007 with a larger collection, including books, DVDs, and computer/wifi access. Back in 2009, there were plans to create a new city named Destiny near the intersection of

2475-553: The County Commission is responsible for funding the budgets of all Osceola County Government, including the independently elected Constitutional Officers and Judicial Officers, as well as the Commission's own departments. Each independent officer has discretion to administer his or her own programs. The County Commission exercises oversight only over its own departments. Osceola County has five electoral districts each represented by

2550-666: The Golf Channel would consolidate its television operations with the remainder of NBC Sports at its facilities in Stamford, Connecticut . GolfNow and GolfPass services continue to primarily operate out of the greater Orlando area. Tourism remains at the core of Orange County's economy. Nicknamed the 'Theme Park Capital of the World', the county is home to Walt Disney World , Universal Orlando , and SeaWorld Orlando , among many other theme parks. As of 2022, with over 2.9 million visitors, Orlando

2625-477: The Hart Memorial Library was donated by a widow of a former Florida Governor, Carrie S. Hart. It was located on North Stewart Avenue in Kissimmee . In 1914, women pooled money together from themselves and other community members to build the actual building and Annie Palmer Fell, another widow of a prominent Florida man, donated furnishings and books from her personal collection to begin building inventory in

2700-510: The LDS Church. Gordon B. Hinckley , former president of the church, has said, "We have felt that good farms, over a long period, represent a safe investment where the assets of the Church may be preserved and enhanced, while at the same time, they are available as an agricultural resource to feed people should there come a time of need." The earliest plans for this ranch were made in 1949, and in 1950

2775-591: The State of Florida. The Florida Mall is located in unincorporated Orange County, and with a gross leasable area of 1,718,000 square feet (159,600 m ) it is one of the largest single-story malls in the United States and the largest mall in Central Florida . With over 250 stores and various dining options (including 25 quick-service restaurants and 8 sit-down restaurants), The Florida Mall attracts over 20 million visitors annually, including domestic and international tourists. Disney Springs (formerly Downtown Disney )

2850-544: The Wekiva River. Despite Orange County being landlocked in the center of the state, it is still relatively close to many beaches to the east on the Atlantic Ocean , with Cocoa Beach being the closest and a popular destination. The Gulf of Mexico is also relatively close, although a bit farther away, to the west, with many beaches like Clearwater Beach and St. Pete Beach also being popular destinations. Orange County

2925-471: The airport still retains the former Air Force Base airport code (MCO). In 1965, Walt Disney announced plans to build Walt Disney World . The renowned resort opened in October 1971. This had a seismic impact to the region, resulting in an explosive growth in the county's population and in its economy. The success of Disney World, allowed for other theme parks and entertainment attractions to open and thrive in

3000-667: The campus of University of Central Florida , Azalea Park , Alafaya , Eatonville , Maitland , and Winter Park District 11 encompasses all of Sumter County , and parts of Lake , Polk , and western Orange County Places include : The Villages , Walt Disney World , Clermont , Apopka , Ocoee , Winter Garden , and Windermere Orange County residents are represented in Tallahassee with 3 Senate seats. District 11 encompasses northwestern Orange County District 13 encompasses north central and northeastern Orange County District 15 encompasses all of Osceola County and

3075-473: The charter does not depart dramatically from the structure of a County government outlined in the Florida Statutes . Osceola County Government is governed by three sets of elected officials , each of which independently directs separate branches of County Government. These include: the five-member County Commission, five separate Constitutional Officers, and a number of Judicial Officers. Under State law,

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3150-553: The city limits of Orlando , along with many municipalities and unincorporated areas throughout the county. Orlando's city limits resemble a checkerboard, with pockets of unincorporated Orange County surrounded by city limits. Such an arrangement results in some areas being served by both Orange County and the City of Orlando. This also explains Orlando's relatively low city population when compared to its metropolitan population. The city and county are working together in an effort to "round-out"

3225-475: The city limits with Orlando annexing portions of land already bordering the city limits. The center of government, commerce and culture in the county, is in Downtown Orlando , bordered by Marks Street in the north, Mills Avenue ( SR 15 ) in the east, Orange Blossom Trail in the west, and Kaley Avenue in the south. Mostly composed of high-rise residential towers and office towers, 46 of the 79 high-rises in

3300-566: The county include the Ocklawaha and Wekiva rivers, along with the Upper and Middle basins, which are all sub-watersheds within the extensive St. Johns watershed. Lake Apopka is located in the county, on the course of the Ocklawaha River, and is the fourth largest lake in the state of Florida . Wekiwa Springs State Park is a 7,000-acre (28 km ) Florida State Park along the course of

3375-459: The county is also home to the corporate headquarters for these theme parks' operations. One of the two corporate headquarters for Disney Experiences is located in Lake Buena Vista (the other headquarters is located in Glendale, California ). There were reportedly plans from Disney, that they were to expand more of their corporate presence in Orange County, with the transferring of DPEP positions over

3450-408: The county is the home of the University of Central Florida (UCF) . Orange County includes 13 incorporated areas, 38 census-designated places , and 7 unincorporated regions. ABC Fine Wine & Spirits , Atlantic.net , Central Florida Expressway Authority , Darden Restaurants , Miller's Ale House , Planet Hollywood , and Tijuana Flats (among others) have their corporate headquarters in

3525-455: The county is the rapidly growing community of Lake Nona . Along with being home to Lake Nona Golf & Country Club , it is also the health district for the city of Orlando, with Lake Nona Medical City . Featuring Nemours Children's Hospital , University of Central Florida 's Health Sciences Campus, which includes the university's College of Medicine , Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences , College of Nursing , College of Dental Medicine ,

3600-540: The county was $ 52,279. The per capita income for the county was $ 22,196. About 13.4% of the population were below the poverty line , including 18.00% of those under age 18 and 10.00% of those age 65 or over. The School District of Osceola County, Florida serves the county. The county is home to 59 schools, not including colleges. There are currently six branches of the Osceola County Library System: The Hart Memorial Library

3675-490: The county, most notable of such being Lake Apopka . Wekiwa Springs is a 7,000-acre (28 km ) state park , that features natural springs, trails, and campsites. The land that is Orange County was part of the first land to come up from below the Early Oligocene sea 33.9–28.4 million years ago and is known as Orange Island . Orange County's Rock Spring location is a Pleistocene fossil -bearing area and has yielded

3750-639: The county, such as Universal Orlando and SeaWorld Orlando . The county now has more theme parks and entertainment attractions than anywhere else in the world. In the 21st century, the county's economy has since diversified. Despite the rapid development in the county, thanks to gentrification relics of the historic core of "Old Orlando" still reside in downtown Orlando (along Church Street, between Orange Avenue and Garland Avenue), as well as within Orange County communities outside city limits, such as in Eatonville , Windermere , and Winter Park . According to

3825-477: The county. Other companies with offices in the county include (but are not limited to): Orange County Convention Center is a convention center located in the aforementioned county. It is the primary public convention center for the Central Florida region and the second-largest convention center in the United States, after McCormick Place in Chicago . Located on the south end of International Drive ,

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3900-471: The county. The population density was 292 inhabitants per square mile (113/km ). There were 162,661 housing units at an average density of 122 per square mile (47/km ). The majority of Hispanics/Latinos in the county are Puerto Ricans, who account for an estimated 33.7% of the population and are the largest ancestral group in the county. 38.2% of the county population is affiliated with a religious congregation. There are 206 or more religious congregations in

3975-487: The county. 16.5% are Catholic ; 1.3% are Mormons ; 3.5% are Baptist , 3.7% are Pentecostal , 1.4% are Methodist , 8.3% are members of other Christian faiths, 0.1% are Jewish , 0.2% affiliate with an eastern faith, and 3.2% affiliate with Islam . There were 111,539 households, 57% were married couples living together, 23% had a female householder with no spouse present, 7% had a male householder with no spouse present, and 13% were non-families. The average household size

4050-450: The county. Currently, the headquarters for Orlando Health is in Orange County, whereas the headquarters for AdventHealth is located in neighboring Seminole County . Lake Nona Medical City (a master-planned community ) is a 650-acre (260 ha) health and life sciences park in Lake Nona . The city is home to the University of Central Florida 's Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences ,

4125-481: The decades around the turn of the 20th century. This was the highest total of any county in the state, and sixth highest of any county in the country. Florida had the highest per-capita rate of lynchings of any state in the South, where the great majority of these extrajudicial murders took place. Among the terrorist lynchings was the death of Julius "July" Perry of Ocoee, whose body was found November 3, 1920, hanged from

4200-460: The demographics of the county. Orlando, establishing itself as a city in 1885, experienced rapid growth from 1875 to 1895, due to it becoming the hub of Florida's citrus industry. The fruit that constituted the county's main commodity crop, was the impetus to the aforementioned county's renaming. The dark-green foliage of orange trees filled the county, as did the scent of the orange blossoms when in bloom. Fewer commercial orange groves remained by

4275-531: The end of the twentieth century. The majority of groves were destroyed by the freezing temperatures that occurred in December 1983, January 1985 , and December 1989, the worst since 1899. During the post-Reconstruction period, white people committed a high rate of racial violence against black people in Orange County; racial terrorism was used to re-establish and maintain white supremacy . Whites lynched 33 African Americans here from 1877 to 1950; most were killed in

4350-714: The local government. A Charter Review Commission has the power to consider and place amendments on the ballot. Voters then decide whether to accept or reject all amendments put forth. If voters approve an amendment, it is then inserted into the charter. Four districts of the U.S. House of Representatives represent parts of Orange County. District 8 encompasses all of Brevard and Indian River Counties and far eastern Orange County District 9 encompasses all of Osceola County , eastern Polk County and southern Orange County Places include : Kissimmee , St. Cloud , and southern Orlando District 10 encompasses most of Orange County Places include : most of Orlando ,

4425-453: The new library. In 1968, the location moved to a 4,000 square foot building on Broadway and Dakin. Hart Memorial Library is the Osceola headquarters and is now located in a 43,000 square building . Veteran's Memorial Library was at first a reading room until enough funds were raised to build the first official location on Massachusetts Avenue in Saint Cloud. In the early 70's the location moved to

4500-466: The next couple of years to a new 60-acre corporate campus in the Lake Nona area of the county, with as many as 90% of the transferred positions being Imagineering positions. However, the planned relocation was cancelled in May 2023 amidst the feud between Disney and Florida's governor Ron DeSantis . United Parks & Resorts (formerly SeaWorld Entertainment Inc. or SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment )

4575-546: The northeast by Volusia County , and on the east by Brevard County . Most of the county lies in the Florida coastal lowlands , while the northwestern areas rise into the Florida Central Highlands . The population center of the county is in the central and western sections in the transition zone from coastal plain to highlands, whereas eastern sections in the coastal plain are more remote in population. Orange County

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4650-489: The northern portion of Osceola County. Other major roads in this region include, Sand Lake Road, Kirkman Road, SR 536 , and Universal Boulevard , which runs parallel to the midsection of International Drive. At its northern end, International Drive is home to Orlando International Premium Outlets and Universal Orlando resort, along with being in close proximity to the upcoming Epic Universe theme park (set to open in 2025). Further south on International Drive, it features

4725-459: The original 45,000 acres (180 km) were purchased. Deseret Ranch now covers an area 50 by 30 miles (80 by 48 km), with a separate section surrounding Kenansville in Osceola County. The church bought the original 54,000-acre (220 km) tract in 1950 and over 50 years, the ranch grew to more than 312,000 acres (1,260 km). In 1997 it was the world's largest beef ranch, and the land

4800-481: The polls. Perry, a prosperous farmer, was suspected of sheltering Mose Norman, an African-American man who had tried to vote. After Norman was twice turned away, white violence broke out, resulting in a riot through the black community, leaving an estimated 50 to 60 African-Americans dead and all the properties destroyed. Many blacks fled from Ocoee to save their lives, and the town became all-white. Voting efforts were suppressed for decades. Economically destroyed at

4875-507: The population increased in the region, the legislature organized several counties, such as Osceola (1887), Seminole (1913), Lake (1887), and Volusia (1854), from its territory. Early on, the county greatly suffered, due to the Union blockade , but things greatly improved during Reconstruction . A boom in population, resulting from the incorporation of the Town of Orlando in 1875, greatly changed

4950-607: The success of nearby Walt Disney World and Universal Studios Florida ), these areas began to be developed for housing and other industries, especially after World War II . In 1962 Orlando Jetport was built. The predecessor of modern-day Orlando International Airport , it was built from a portion of the McCoy Air Force Base . By 1970, four major airlines ( Delta Air Lines , National Airlines , Eastern Airlines , and Southern Airways ) had begun providing scheduled flights. McCoy Air Force Base officially closed in 1975, in which

5025-524: The theme parks of Universal Studios Florida and Universal Islands of Adventure at Universal Orlando . Other regional shopping destinations in the county include Dezerland Park Orlando , Disney's Flamingo Crossings , The Mall at Millenia , Orlando Fashion Square , Orlando International Premium Outlets , Orlando Vineland Premium Outlets , Waterford Lakes Town Center , West Oaks Mall , Winter Garden Village , and Winter Park Village . Orange County hosts two major league professional sports teams:

5100-775: The turn of the century from the decimation of the citrus industry, many farmers walked away from the region. The freeze caused many farmers in central Florida to move to other warm climates, such as to the Caribbean or to California (such as the similarly named Orange County, California ). Others awaited other opportunities. One of the region's major land owners and growers was the Tropicana company. They withdrew rather than try to come back from these seemingly endless generational decimation. With no realistic avenues for agricultural use of this rural land, and Florida's continuing strong population growth and its attendant needs (aided and supported by

5175-412: Was 3.4 persons per household. In the county, the population was spread out, with 12% being 0 to 9 years old, 15% 10 to 19, 14% 20 to 29, 15% from 30 to 39, 13% from 40 to 49, 11% 50 to 59, and 19% who were 60 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.20 males. The median income for a household in

5250-421: Was founded and is currently headquartered in the county. As of July 2021, Westgate Resorts has 22 locations across the United States . Other major hospitality companies with a significant economic presence (both corporate and in its resort properties) within the county include: The county functions under a charter form of government. The charter serves as a constitution, detailing the structure and operation of

5325-589: Was organized as Mosquito County , and Enterprise was named its county seat . This large county took up much of central Florida . The Indian Removal Act of 1830 authorized relocation of the Seminole people from Florida to Oklahoma . This resulted in pushback from the Seminole community, leading to the Second Seminole War . In 1845 when Florida finally became a state, the county was renamed Orange County . After

5400-663: Was part of the first land to rise up below from below the Early Oligocene sea about 33.9–28.4 million years ago, also known as Orange Island . The headwaters for the Kissimmee River , which forms the northern part of the Everglades , are located in the county. Boggy Creek rises from the Orlando International Airport at 70 feet (21 m) above sea level , which is the primary inflow for East Lake Tohopekaliga in nearby Osceola County. Other watersheds within

5475-493: Was the third-most visited city in the U.S. after New York City and Miami . Orlando International Airport is the 13th-busiest airport in the United States and the 29th-busiest in the world. The county features 7 of the 10 most visited theme parks in North America (5 of the top 10 in the world), as well as the 4 most visited water parks in the U.S. The Walt Disney World resort is the area's largest attraction. The resort

5550-653: Was withdrawn before approval. The Deseret Ranch also brings in revenue from the mining of native shell beds (used throughout Florida to pave roads), orange groves, hunting permits, and sales of ornamental palm trees. In 2011, having won control of some of its water from the St. Johns River Water Management District , it was planning on selling some to Cocoa, Florida . 28°11′10″N 80°52′43″W  /  28.186097°N 80.878533°W  / 28.186097; -80.878533 Osceola County, Florida Osceola County ( / ˌ ɒ s i ˈ oʊ l ə / AH -see- OH -lə )

5625-416: Was worth an estimated $ 858 million. Like their other financial details, the LDS Church does not disclose the revenue or valuation of the ranch. Still, it is known that in 2000, they moved 16 million pounds (7300 t) of calves, which then translated to about $ 16 million in revenue. In 2008, Deseret Ranch discussed selling part of the property for a development near Orlando, Florida , but the proposed rezoning

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