96-578: Orlo Vista is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Orange County , Florida , United States. While the spelling "Orlo Vista" is used by the U.S. Postal Service, the community is shown as Orlovista on federal maps. The population of the Orlovista census-designated place was 6,123 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Orlando – Kissimmee Metropolitan Statistical Area . The boundaries of
192-405: 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
288-562: A tropical climate . Unlike South Florida, where temperatures below 32 °F (0 °C) practically never occur, Central Florida can see occasional freezing temperatures in the some winters (though brief). Consequently, most of Central Florida cannot accommodate the same tropical plants found in Southern Florida with the exception of coastal areas in the Tampa Bay area , Brevard county , and Indian River county due to maritime influences of
384-405: A detrimental ripple effect on the economy. The hard-packed sand of Volusia County's beaches lent itself to auto races beginning in 1903 before paved roads were common, leading to the area's reputation for cars and racing. Ormond Beach was a popular spot for those who liked fast cars after the turn of the 20th century because the hard-packed beach was ideal for going fast. The same beach had led to
480-517: A female householder with no husband present, and 34.4% were non-families. 24.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.81 and the average family size was 3.38. In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 27.7% under the age of 18, 11.1% from 18 to 24, 31.6% from 25 to 44, 19.4% from 45 to 64, and 10.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age
576-550: A large swath of peninsular Florida. This area encompassed the interior, including the Orlando metropolitan area , and coastal stretches from the Citrus County south to the Hillsborough County in the west and from Volusia County south to Sebastian in the east. Central Florida is one of Florida's three most common directional regions, the others being North Florida and South Florida . Lamme and Oldakowski note that
672-592: A much lesser extent: Disney's Animal Kingdom and SeaWorld Orlando . Central Florida also has a wide variety of natural attractions including the Bok Tower Gardens , Wekiwa Springs State Park , Blue Spring State Park , Rock Springs Run State Reserve , Canaveral National Seashore , and Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge . The region also boasts an extensive network of recreational trails (jogging, biking, equestrian, etc.). While many connections are already in place, construction continues and will link all of
768-463: 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
864-733: A threat to the coastal cities as evidenced by the 2004 hurricane season , which brought three major hurricanes to the Central Florida area: Charley , Jeanne , and Frances . Winters are dry and temperate with the average winter high temperature in Orlando being 71 °F (22 °C) and the average winter low temperature being 49 °F (9 °C). Summers are hot and humid with high temperatures averaging 92 °F (33 °C) and low temperatures averaging 75 °F (24 °C). Peak summer heat generally arrives in early June and continues to early October. The combination of high temperatures, high humidity, and opposing sea breezes from both
960-400: 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 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
1056-468: 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 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
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#17330856117641152-620: 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,
1248-462: Is a large contributor to Central Florida's economy. The area has economically diversified in the past decade. As a high-tech industrial hub, Metro Orlando has the seventh largest research park in the U.S., Central Florida Research Park , the engineering and business school of the University of Central Florida . It has defense companies such as Lockheed Martin and Siemens . Medical research
1344-514: 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,
1440-679: 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
1536-541: Is being developed in Central Florida. The first of these initiatives, SunRail , is a commuter rail line that runs from DeLand south to Kissimmee . The first phase was completed in 2014 with the full system in place in 2015. Amtrak also serves Central Florida running on CSX Transportation 's A line and stops at the Orlando Amtrak station . The Auto Train stops in Sanford, Florida , north of downtown Orlando. As of 2022,
1632-420: 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
1728-684: 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,
1824-692: 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
1920-543: Is prominent at Tampa's University of South Florida and Orlando's University of Central Florida , as well as the Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute biomedical research facility. USF in particular is a national leader in cancer and dementia research. The Tampa Bay area has become a center of high-tech manufacturing and research, while both Orlando and the Tampa Bay area are centers for
2016-563: Is the closest port for tourists and Orlando residents alike to cruise on Disney Cruise Lines and Carnival Cruises . Future plans for the port include a rail and natural gas line running directly to Orlando International Airport. Another major seaport of the region is Port Tampa Bay , which is one of the busiest in the state and is on the verge of a huge expansion which will allow it to compete on an international level. Limited Access Freeways and Expressways : Major Surface Arterials: * U.S. Highway 41 A regional commuter rail network
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#17330856117642112-586: Is the present day Orlando International Airport ; and Orlando Air Force Base , which was transferred to the Navy in 1968 and renamed Naval Training Center Orlando until its BRAC -directed closure in 1999 and conversion to the present day Baldwin Park neighborhood. The other major U.S. Government installations in Central Florida is the Kennedy Space Center , a NASA facility located adjacent to Cape Canaveral SFS, and
2208-542: The 2000 Presidential election . Central Florida's economy is very similar to that in South Florida. Compared to the more diversified North Florida economy, tourism is by far the most significant industry in Central and South Florida, along with a much smaller but significant agricultural industry. Lamme and Oldakowski's survey also found some cultural indicators that characterize Central Florida. In general, Central Florida
2304-580: 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 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
2400-477: 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
2496-837: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Outpatient Clinic at Baldwin Park (former Orlando AFB Hospital / former Naval Hospital Orlando) and the VA Hospital at Lake Nona. Central Florida has four major zoos , the Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens in Sanford , the Brevard Zoo in Melbourne, the Busch Gardens Tampa Bay animal park, and Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa. There are also two theme parks in Orlando featuring animals, albeit to
2592-463: 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
2688-610: The Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean . However, winters are still warmer than most other areas of the United States in winter. Central Florida’s typical high temperatures in the winter are around 70 °F (21 °C). The low temperatures near 50 F. At the end of the Civil War, aside from the cattle, cotton, and coastal lands, much of Central Florida was wetlands. It took a major drainage project financed by businessman Hamilton Disston in
2784-559: The Kennedy Space Center . Deltona was developed in 1962 as a planned retirement community. It is now the largest city in Volusia County. The construction of the Walt Disney World Resort was a transforming event for greater Orlando. Walt Disney wanted a location with abundant available land that was more accessible for the residents of the eastern United States to visit. Not only was there ample land in Central Florida, but it
2880-503: 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
2976-633: 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
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3072-1010: 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
3168-886: 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
3264-595: 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 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,
3360-735: The South , people in the southern part of Central Florida did not typically identify their area as part of " Dixie ", while people in northern Central Florida did. People from Central Florida usually did not consider their region part of the Bible Belt . Politically, while North Florida overwhelmingly was considered conservative and South Florida was considered more liberal, the majority of Central Florida residents (52%) considered their area moderate; 41% considered it conservative, and 7% liberal. Lamme and Oldakowski's survey tracks with Barney Warf and Cynthia Waddell's studies of Florida's political geography during
3456-851: The St. Johns River , the Halifax River , the Ocklawaha River and the Econlockhatchee River . Major lakes include Lake Apopka , Lake Tohopekaliga , East Lake Tohopekaliga , Lake Louisa , Lake Monroe , Lake Jessup , and the Butler Chain of Lakes. There are over 100 miles (160 km) of coastline in Central Florida along the Atlantic Coast. Major beaches include Canaveral National Seashore , New Smyrna Beach , Daytona Beach , Cocoa Beach , and Indialantic Beach near Melbourne . Hurricanes are
3552-496: 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
3648-422: 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
3744-536: The United States Census Bureau , the CDP has a total area of 1.9 square miles (4.9 km), of which 1.8 square miles (4.7 km) is land and 0.039 square miles (0.1 km) (2.40%) is water. As of the census of 2000, there were 6,047 people, 2,077 households, and 1,362 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 1,209.7/km (3,133.1/mi). There were 2,230 housing units at an average density of 446.1/km (1,155.4/mi). The racial makeup of
3840-412: The poverty line , including 20.6% of those under age 18 and 22.9% of those age 65 or over. Orange County, Florida Orange County 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
3936-591: The trails and greenways . Major trails include the Cady Way , Cross Seminole and West Orange Trails . Many of the top ranked beaches in the United States are located in Central Florida. Major international airports include: Port Canaveral , located in Cape Canaveral 45 minutes east of Orlando, is a cruise, cargo, and naval port. It is one of the busiest ports in Florida and is economically tied to Orlando. Locally perceived to be Orlando's seaport , Port Canaveral
Orlo Vista, Florida - Misplaced Pages Continue
4032-649: The 1880s to make these wetland areas available for settlement. Sanford was incorporated in 1877 as a port city at the Lake Monroe intersection and the St. Johns River. It was envisioned as a transportation center; the city's founder, Henry S. Sanford, nicknamed it "the Gate City of South Florida". It became a hub for shipping agricultural products, which earned the city another nickname, "Celery City". Kissimmee, originally named Allendale, after Confederate Major J.H. Allen, who operated
4128-506: 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
4224-403: The CDP was 58.91% White , 26.61% African American , 0.60% Native American , 3.54% Asian , 0.05% Pacific Islander , 6.50% from other races , and 3.80% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 14.78% of the population. There were 2,077 households, out of which 34.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.0% were married couples living together, 17.4% had
4320-666: 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
4416-496: The Gulf and Atlantic coasts, results in significant thunderstorm activity from June to September for the interior counties. Central Florida records more lightning strikes per area than any other region in Florida, and Florida records more lightning strikes than any other state in the US. As a result, Florida, and more specifically, Central Florida, is often referred to as the "Thunderstorm capital of
4512-797: The Navy Pinecastle Impact (Bombing) Range, and the Avon Park Air Force Range located inland. These are augmented by major commands that are tenant activities at these installations, such as the headquarters for United States Central Command (USCENTCOM) and the headquarters for United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) at MacDill AFB , the Naval Ordnance Test Unit and Coast Guard Station Port Canaveral at Cape Canaveral SFS , and other Active, Reserve, Army National Guard , and Air National Guard activities that are located as either stand-alone facilities or as tenants on
4608-508: The Orlovista CDP are West Colonial Drive ( SF 50 ) on the north, Pine Hills Road on the east, Old Winter Garden Road ( CR 526 ) and Carter Street at the Orlando city limits on the south, and Hiawassee Road on the west. The name is a portmanteau of Orlando and "vista". Orlo Vista is located at 28°32′40″N 81°27′42″W / 28.54444°N 81.46167°W / 28.54444; -81.46167 (28.544329, -81.461767). According to
4704-591: 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 )
4800-399: The Tampa Bay area has often been described as its own region, with "Central Florida" becoming more synonymous with the Orlando area (most notably, this is what the local news channels in each respective metro area call their region). It is one of Florida's three directional regions, along with North Florida and South Florida . Under the previously mentioned "usual" definition, it includes
4896-500: The USA", or "Lightning Alley." These severe thunderstorms often make Central Florida prone to many tornadoes. However, they are usually small, short lived, and almost always rated as EF0 or EF1 size storms. According to the Köppen climate classification , Central Florida has a subtropical climate. A climate that is typical for the majority of the state, except for South Florida, which has
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#17330856117644992-402: 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 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
5088-544: 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
5184-454: The active duty installations. Additional former facilities that have since been closed and converted to civilian use include Hillsborough Army Air Field , a World War II training range which is now part of a neighborhood, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay , and the University of South Florida ; Naval Air Station Sanford , which closed in 1968 and is the present day Orlando-Sanford International Airport ; McCoy Air Force Base , which closed in 1975 and
5280-549: The agency and other state and outside entities, including the Florida Department of Transportation . This definition covers much of the same area as in Lamme and Oldakowski's survey, with some exceptions. The central region includes the Orlando metropolitan area ( Orange , Lake , Osceola , and Seminole Counties), and Sumter , Polk counties in the interior, Citrus , Hernando , Hillsborough , Pasco , and Pinellas counties on
5376-421: 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
5472-614: 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
5568-506: 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"
5664-417: 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
5760-429: 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 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
5856-410: 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
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#17330856117645952-409: 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
6048-408: 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
6144-455: 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 ,
6240-414: 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 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,
6336-587: 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
6432-428: 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 ,
6528-399: 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 ,
6624-413: The development of a tourist resort by Henry Flagler. It later attracted Flagler's former business partner John D. Rockefeller, who had a winter home in Ormond. During and after World War II, the U.S. Army Air Forces (U.S. Air Force after 1947) and the U.S. Navy established several training facilities and operational bases in the region, mainly for aviation activities, followed by space exploration sites. In
6720-453: The directional region is more commonly used in the interior areas rather than on the coast. In fact, while coastal areas often have their own regional vernacular identities such as the Space Coast and the Nature Coast , no vernacular regions were reported on the interior of the state other than Central Florida. Enterprise Florida, the state's economic development agency , identifies "Central Florida" as one of eight economic regions used by
6816-410: The financial industry, especially insurers and back-end operations for large banking companies. Active military installations in the region include Patrick Space Force Base and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station located on the Atlantic coast; MacDill Air Force Base , Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater and Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg on the Gulf Coast; and Naval Support Activity Orlando ,
6912-466: The first cargo steamboat on the Kissimmee River, boomed in the 1880s. It was the headquarters of Hamilton Disston's drainage company. The city was an important regional steamship port, owing that status to its location on Lake Tohopekaliga. Expanding the railroads into Central Florida eliminated the need for Kissimmee's steamship industry. The Great Freeze of 1894-1895 ruined citrus crops, which had
7008-702: The following 13 counties: Brevard , Citrus , Hernando , Hillsborough , Lake , Orange , Osceola , Pasco , Pinellas , Polk , Seminole , Sumter , and Volusia . Sometimes Ocala, which is in Marion County , was included. Although Citrus , Hernando , Hillsborough , Pasco , and Pinellas are also considered to be the Tampa Bay area. Like many vernacular regions, Central Florida's boundaries are not official or consistent, and are defined differently by different sources. A 2007 study of Florida's regions by geographers Ary Lamme and Raymond K. Oldakowski found that Floridians surveyed identified Central Florida as comprising
7104-523: The late 1940s, the U.S. military established a missile testing facility on Merritt Island near Cape Canaveral. The land was largely undeveloped and the agreeable climate allowed for year-round operations. When NASA later searched for a long-term base in the 1960s to launch spacecraft, it chose the Merritt Island site next to Cape Canaveral for its access to the testing facility and nearby communities. NASA purchased over 100,000 acres (400 km ) of land for
7200-714: 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 ,
7296-517: 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 )
7392-546: 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
7488-489: 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
7584-482: The past thirty years. As of 2007 there were 70,000 Asians in Central Florida according to the U.S. Census . There were almost 1,900 Japanese persons, making up 3% of the Asians. Selected cities in Central Florida arranged by population: Agriculture has occupied a large portion of Central Florida's economy, with winter strawberries, citrus, timber, vegetables, and aquaculture all making major contributions. Tourism
7680-493: The southern third of Orange County Orange County residents are represented in Tallahassee with 9 House seats. Central Florida Central Florida is a region of the U.S. state of Florida . Different sources give different definitions for the region, but as its name implies it is usually said to comprise the central part of the state, including the Tampa Bay area and the Greater Orlando area , though in recent times
7776-489: 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 a lightpole in Orlando, near the house of a judge known to be sympathetic to black voting. But this
7872-607: 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
7968-524: 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:
8064-605: 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 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
8160-775: 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
8256-486: The west coast and Volusia and Brevard Counties on the east coast. The central cities of both metropolitan areas ( Orlando and Tampa ) are in close proximity (85 miles (137 km)), and as a result, their two metropolitan areas blend together in the area of Lakeland to make up a larger contiguous population center often referred to as the I-4 corridor . This is a population concentration that stretches from Tampa Bay on
8352-538: The west coast to Daytona Beach and Cape Canaveral on the east coast of the state. With the exception of hill terrain in Mount Dora , southern Lake County, Polk County ( Lake Wales Ridge ) Pasco County, and Hernando County (Brooksville Ridge). Central Florida is mostly flatland with significant amounts of open space and over 1,500 lakes and ponds. There is a mixture of wetlands, Cypress, Oak, Maple and Pine forests, pastures, prairies and coastline. Major rivers include
8448-405: 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 the decades around the turn of the 20th century. This was the highest total of any county in
8544-408: Was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.0 males. The median income for a household in the CDP was $ 34,795, and the median income for a family was $ 39,896. Males had a median income of $ 26,524 versus $ 20,512 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $ 14,584. About 12.0% of families and 16.8% of the population were below
8640-421: 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
8736-416: Was inexpensive, and the inland location offered some protection from hurricanes. Plans were announced in 1965, and the theme park opened to the public in 1971. Lamme and Oldakowski's survey identifies several demographic, political, and cultural elements that characterize Central Florida and distinguish it from other areas of the state. While people from all parts of the state associated their area as part of
8832-436: Was less popular in Central and North Florida, and more so in South Florida. In 2009, the estimated total population of the Central Florida, including the populations of Orange, Seminole, Osceola, Brevard, Volusia, and Lake Counties region was 3.3 million people. If the populations of Polk and Sumter counties were included, the estimated population would be 3.969 million people. Exponential growth has fueled Central Florida for
8928-504: 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 the polls. Perry,
9024-663: 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
9120-471: Was similar to North Florida and differed from South Florida in these measures. In Central and North Florida, American cuisine was the most popular food, in contrast to South Florida where ethnic foods were equally popular. Additionally, while there was little geographical variation for most styles of music, there was regional variation for both country and Latin music. Country was popular in Central and North Florida, and less so in South Florida, while Latin
9216-493: 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
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