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Orlando, Florida
Flag of Orlando, Florida
Flag
Official seal of Orlando, Florida
Seal
Nickname(s): 
The City Beautiful, O-Town/Old Town, 407
Location in Orange County and the state of Florida.
Location in Orange County and the state of Florida.
CountryUnited States
StateFlorida
CountiesOrange
Government
 • MayorBuddy Dyer (D)
Population
 (2005)
 • Total213,223
Time zoneUTC-5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
Area code(s)321, 407
Websitehttp://www.cityoforlando.net/

The city of Orlando is the county seat of Orange County, Florida. According to the 2000 census, the city population was 185,951. A 2005 U.S. Census population count gave the city population as 213,223 [3], making it the sixth largest city in Florida. It is also at the head of the Orlando-Kissimmee, Florida, Metropolitan Statistical Area. The Orlando-Kissimmee MSA is Florida's third-largest metropolitan area, behind Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach and Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater.

The city is best known for the many tourist attractions in the area, in particular the nearby Walt Disney World Resort, which is located in Lake Buena Vista, FL (outside Orlando city limits). Other notable area attractions include SeaWorld and Universal Orlando Resort. The region sees an estimated 52 million tourists a year. Orlando is the second largest city in the country for number of hotel rooms and a one of the busiest American cities for conferences and conventions, with the Orange County Convention Center the country's third largest in square footage. It is also known for its wide array of golf courses, with numerous courses available for any level of golfer. Despite being far from the main tourist attractions, downtown Orlando is undergoing major redevelopment with a number of residential and commercial towers. Talks are currently underway to build a new performing arts center, Orlando Arena, and a refurbishment of the Florida Citrus Bowl. Its symbol is the fountain of Lake Eola. The current mayor is Buddy Dyer.

History

Some historians date Orlando's name to around 1836 when a soldier named Orlando Reeves allegedly died in the area, during the war against the Seminole Indian tribe. It seems, however, that Orlando Reeves (sometimes Rees) operated a sugar mill and plantation about 30 miles (50 km) to the north at Spring Garden in Volusia County, and pioneer settlers simply found his name carved into a tree and assumed it was a marker for his grave site. They then referred to the area as "Orlando's grave" and later simply "Orlando."

During the Second Seminole War, the U.S. Army established an outpost at Fort Gatlin, a few miles south of the modern downtown, in 1838. But it was quickly abandoned when the war came to an end.

Prior to being known as its current name, Orlando was known as Jernigan, after the first permanent settler, cattleman Aaron Jernigan, who acquired land along Lake Holden by the terms of the Armed Occupation Act of 1842. But most pioneers did not arrive until after the Third Seminole War in the 1850s. Most of the early residents made their living by cattle ranching.

Orlando remained a rural backwater during the American Civil War, and suffered greatly during the Federal Blockade. The Reconstruction Era brought a population explosion, which led to the city's incorporation in 1875.

The period from 1875 to 1895 is remembered as Orlando's "Gilded Era," when it became the hub of Florida's citrus industry. But a great freeze in 1894-1895 forced many owners to give up their independent groves, thus consolidating holdings in the hands of a few "citrus barons" which shifted operations south, primarily around Lake Wales in Polk County.

There are a couple of notable homesteaders in the area. First is the Curry family. On their property in east Orlando there was the Econlockhatchee River and every time it had to be crossed the settlers would "ford the river". This leads its name to one of Orlando's roads, Curry Ford Rd. Also, just south of the airport in the Boggy Creek area was 150 acres of property homesteaded in the late 1800s by the Ward family. This property is still owned by the Ward family and can be seen from flights out of MCO southbound immediately on the south side of SR-417.

Orlando, as Florida's largest inland city, became a popular resort during the years between the Spanish-American War and World War I. The city was also host to several sanitariums, which serves as the basis for its hospitals today.

In the 1920s Orlando experienced a large housing boom. Land prices soared. During this period several neighborhoods in downtown were constructed leaving behind many bungalows. The boom ended when several hurricanes hit Florida in the late 20s and by the depression.

During World War II, a number of Army personnel were stationed at the Pine Castle AAF. Some of these servicemen stayed in Orlando to settle and raise families. In 1956 the aerospace/defense company Martin Marietta (now Lockheed Martin) established a plant in Orlando. In 1958, Pine Castle AAF was renamed McCoy Air Force Base after Colonel Michael N.W. McCoy.

Orlando is close enough to Patrick Air Force Base, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, and Kennedy Space Center for residents to commute to work from the city's suburbs. It also allows easy access to Port Canaveral, an important cruise ship terminal. Because of its proximity to the "Space Coast" near the Kennedy Space Center, many high-tech companies have shifted to the Orlando area.

Perhaps the most critical event for Orlando's economy occurred in 1965 when Walt Disney announced plans to build Walt Disney World. Although Disney had considered the cities of Miami and Tampa for his park, one of the major reasons behind his decision not to locate in those cities was the threat of hurricanes. The famous vacation resort opened in October 1971, ushering in an explosive population and economic growth for the Orlando metropolitan area, which now encompasses Orange, Seminole, Osceola, and Lake counties. As a result, tourism became the centerpiece of the area's economy and Orlando is consistently ranked as one of the top vacation destinations in the world, now boasting more theme parks and entertainment attractions than anywhere else in the world.

Another major factor in Orlando's growth occurred in 1970, when the new Orlando International Airport was built from a portion of the McCoy Air Force Base. Four airlines began providing scheduled flights in 1970. The military base officially closed in 1974, and most of it is now part of the airport. The airport still retains the former Air Force Base airport code (MCO). It is considered a world-class facility, and it is one of the most heavily travelled airports in the world.

In addition to McCoy Air Force Base, Orlando also had a naval presence with the establishment of the Orlando Naval Training Center in 1968. Providing training to recruits as well as being a base for selected post basic training programs, the base had a prominent presence in the area. In 1993, the Base Realignment and Closure Commission ordered that the base be closed. The base continued in a diminished capacity until the base closed for good with the last graduates of the base's Naval Nuclear Power School leaving in December of 1998. The former base has been developed into tracts for upscale housing called Baldwin Park.

The SunTrust Center, the tallest building in Orlando at 441 ft. (134 m), was built in 1988. The next tallest buildings are the Orange County Courthouse (1997, 416 ft./127 m), the Bank of America Center (Formerly Barnett Plaza, 1988, 409 ft./123 m), Solaire at the Plaza (2006, 359 ft./109 m) and the Orlando International Airport ATC Tower (2002, 346 ft./105 m). The VUE at Lake Eola, currently under construction, will become the second-tallest building in Orlando upon completion at 426 ft. (130 m) tall, but with 35 stories it will have more stories than the SunTrust Center. ([4][5]

The SeaWorld SkyTower, at 400 ft. (122 m) tall, is the tallest tower in Orange County that's not in Orlando proper. There are also several tall transmission towers in Orange County, the tallest of which is the WFTV transmission tower in Christmas at 1,617 ft. (491.6 m) tall.

In the hurricane season of 2004, Hurricanes Charley, Frances, and Jeanne battered the Orlando area, causing widespread damage and flooding and impeding tourism to the area.

Topography

File:Eco econ wetland.jpg
Wetlands of the Econlockhatchee River east of Orlando.

Orlando is located at 28°32′1″N 81°22′33″W / 28.53361°N 81.37583°W / 28.53361; -81.37583Invalid arguments have been passed to the {{#coordinates:}} function (28.533513, -81.375789).Template:GR

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 261.5 km² (100.9 mi²). 242.2 km² (93.5 mi²) of it is land and 19.3 km² (7.5 mi²) of it (7.39%) is water. Orlando is, on average, 106 feet above sea level.

Climate

Orlando has a warm and humid subtropical climate, and there are two major seasons each year. One of those seasons is hot and rainy, lasting from May until October (roughly coinciding with the Atlantic hurricane season). The other is a cooler season (November through March) that brings more moderate temperatures and less frequent rainfall. The area's warm and humid climate is caused primarily by its low elevation and its position relatively close to the Tropic of Cancer, and much of its weather is affected by the movement of the Gulf Stream.

During the height of Orlando's very humid summer season, temperatures rarely fall below 70 °F (21 °C), and daytime highs average in the 90s (32-37 °C). Although the city rarely records temperatures over 100 °F (38 °C), extreme humidity often pushes the heat index to over 110 °F (43 °C). The city's highest recorded temperature is 102 °F (39 °C), set in 1998. During these months, strong afternoon thunderstorms occur almost daily. These storms are caused by air masses from the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean colliding over Central Florida, and they often bring high wind, damaging hail, heavy rainfall (sometimes several inches per hour), and violent lightning. The humidity also prevents temperatures from varying much from day to day.

During the winter season, humidity is lower and temperatures are more moderate, and can fluctuate more readily. Average lows in January are around 50 °F (10 °C), and the highs average near 72 °F (22 °C). Temperatures rarely reach below 32 °F (0 °C), though the city does drop below freezing once or twice a year. Because the winter season is dry and most freezing temperatures occur after cold fronts (and their accompanying precipitation) have passed, Orlando experiences no real snowfall. Although no measurable amount of snow has ever fallen (though areas just west recorded up to 2" in 1977), trace amounts were officially observed on December 23, 1989, and trace flurries of ocean effect snow were also reported in nearby coastal Brevard County on January 24, 2003. [6]

The average annual rainfall in Orlando is 50.1 in. (128 cm), most of it occurring in the period from June to September. The months of December through May are Orlando's driest season. During this period (especially in its later months), there is often a wildfire hazard. During some years, fires have been severe. In 1998, an El Niño condition caused an usually wet January and February, followed by drought throughout the spring and early summer, causing a record wildfire season that created Greater Orlando's first instances of unhealthy air quality alerts.

Orlando has a considerable hurricane risk, although it is not as high as it is in South Florida's urban corridor or other coastal regions. Since the city is located 40 miles (64 km) inland from the Atlantic and 60 miles (97 km) inland from the Gulf of Mexico, hurricanes usually weaken before arriving. Storm surges are not a concern since the region is 100 ft (30 m) above sea level. Despite its relatively safe location, the city does see strong hurricanes. During the notorious 2004 hurricane season, Orlando was hit by three hurricanes that caused significant damage, with Hurricane Charley the worst of these. The city also experienced widespread damage during Hurricane Donna in 1960.

Climate data for Orlando (Orlando Int'l), 1991–2020 normals,[a] extremes 1892–present[b]
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 88
(31) 		90
(32) 		97
(36) 		99
(37) 		102
(39) 		101
(38) 		101
(38) 		101
(38) 		103
(39) 		98
(37) 		93
(34) 		91
(33) 		103
(39)
Mean maximum °F (°C) 83.5
(28.6) 		85.5
(29.7) 		88.4
(31.3) 		91.1
(32.8) 		94.5
(34.7) 		96.1
(35.6) 		96.1
(35.6) 		95.4
(35.2) 		93.8
(34.3) 		91.0
(32.8) 		86.7
(30.4) 		83.7
(28.7) 		97.2
(36.2)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 71.8
(22.1) 		74.9
(23.8) 		78.9
(26.1) 		83.6
(28.7) 		88.4
(31.3) 		90.8
(32.7) 		92.0
(33.3) 		91.6
(33.1) 		89.6
(32.0) 		84.7
(29.3) 		78.3
(25.7) 		73.8
(23.2) 		83.2
(28.4)
Daily mean °F (°C) 60.6
(15.9) 		63.6
(17.6) 		67.3
(19.6) 		72.2
(22.3) 		77.3
(25.2) 		81.2
(27.3) 		82.6
(28.1) 		82.6
(28.1) 		81.0
(27.2) 		75.5
(24.2) 		68.2
(20.1) 		63.3
(17.4) 		73.0
(22.8)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 49.5
(9.7) 		52.4
(11.3) 		55.8
(13.2) 		60.7
(15.9) 		66.3
(19.1) 		71.6
(22.0) 		73.2
(22.9) 		73.7
(23.2) 		72.4
(22.4) 		66.2
(19.0) 		58.2
(14.6) 		52.9
(11.6) 		62.7
(17.1)
Mean minimum °F (°C) 33.2
(0.7) 		36.5
(2.5) 		41.3
(5.2) 		49.2
(9.6) 		58.2
(14.6) 		67.5
(19.7) 		70.5
(21.4) 		70.7
(21.5) 		67.8
(19.9) 		53.4
(11.9) 		44.4
(6.9) 		37.6
(3.1) 		31.3
(−0.4)
Record low °F (°C) 19
(−7) 		19
(−7) 		25
(−4) 		37
(3) 		47
(8) 		53
(12) 		64
(18) 		63
(17) 		50
(10) 		38
(3) 		28
(−2) 		18
(−8) 		18
(−8)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 2.48
(63) 		2.04
(52) 		3.03
(77) 		2.58
(66) 		4.02
(102) 		8.05
(204) 		7.46
(189) 		7.69
(195) 		6.37
(162) 		3.46
(88) 		1.79
(45) 		2.48
(63) 		51.45
(1,307)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 7.0 6.4 6.8 6.3 8.4 16.2 17.1 17.2 14.2 8.4 6.0 7.1 121.1
Average relative humidity (%) 73.1 71.0 70.3 67.2 70.5 76.4 77.9 79.4 79.1 74.9 74.8 74.5 74.1
Source: NOAA (relative humidity 1961–1990)[2][3][4]

NOTE: The record high of 102 °F (39 °C) was recorded at Orlando International Airport, and is available from AccuWeather.com. (historical data from July is only visible in July and August unless you buy into their premium services) WeatherBase only uses historical data recorded at Orlando Executive Airport. Both airports have official National Weather Service recording stations.

Cityscape

House in the Lake Eola Heights Historic District

Neighborhoods

The city of Orlando has many neighborhoods in the city limits,[5] some of which are:

  • Airport North
  • Ashbury Park
  • Audubon Park
  • Avalon Park
  • Azalea Park
  • Baldwin Park
  • Callahan
  • Catalina
  • Carver Shores
  • Central Business District
  • Cherokee Park
  • College Park
  • Colonialtown North
  • Colonialtown South
  • Conway
  • Coytown
  • Crescent Park
  • Delaney Park
  • Eastwood
  • Florida Center
  • Florida Center North
  • Keene's Point
  • Lake Cherokee Historic District
  • Lake Davis/Greenwood
  • Lake Eola Heights
  • Lake Formosa
  • Lake Lawsona
  • Ivey Lane
  • Meadow Woods
  • Metro North
  • Metrowest
  • Millennia
  • North Orange
  • Osprey Ridge
  • Park Central
  • Park Lake Highland
  • Park Manor
  • Parramore
  • Pine Hills
  • Palomar
  • Rock Lake
  • Rosemont
  • Randall/Johnson
  • Richmond Heights
  • Rio Pinar
  • Roosevelt Park
  • Siobhan Park
  • Southchase
  • South Orange
  • Southwest
  • Stoneybrook
  • Thornton Park
  • Union Park
  • Vista Lakes
  • Wadeview Park
  • Washington Shores
  • Waterford Lakes
  • Winter Run 1,2,3
  • Woodlands Village

Metropolitan Statistical Area

Orlando is the hub city of the Orlando-Kissimmee, Florida, Metropolitan Statistical Area, colloquially known as "Greater Orlando" or "Metro Orlando". The area encompasses four counties (Orange, Osceola, Seminole and Lake), and is currently the 28th-largest metro area in the United States with a 2005 Census-estimated population of 1,933,255.

When Combined Statistical Areas were instituted in 2000, Orlando was initially joined together with The Villages, Florida, Micropolitan Statistical Area, to form the Orlando-The Villages, Florida, Combined Statistical Area. In 2006, the metropolitan areas of Deltona (Volusia County) and Palm Coast (Flagler County) were added to create the Orlando-Deltona-Daytona Beach, Florida, Combined Statistical Area. [7] This new larger CSA carries a total population (as of 2006) of 2,633,282 [8], and carries three of the 25 fastest-growing counties in the nation--Flagler ranks 1st; Osceola, 17th; and Lake, 23rd.[9]

The metro area is one of the fastest-growing areas in the nation, and the surrounding counties, such as Polk, Brevard and Marion, are also seeing high growth rates.

Northwest: Apopka, Mount Dora, Eustis, Tavares, Leesburg, The Villages North: Winter Park, Maitland, Altamonte Springs, Sanford, Deltona, Longwood, Bunnell Northeast: Casselberry, Oviedo, Daytona Beach, New Smyrna Beach, Palm Coast
West: Ocoee, Winter Garden, Windermere, Clermont, Bushnell ORLANDO East: Titusville , Melbourne , Bithlo, Union Park
Southwest: Lake Buena Vista, Celebration, Citrus Ridge South: Edgewood, Belle Isle, Kissimmee, Poinciana Southeast: Saint Cloud, Harmony, Holopaw, Yeehaw Junction

Demographics

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 185,951 people, 80,883 households, and 42,382 families residing in the city. The population density was 767.9/km² (1,988.9/mi²). There were 188,486 housing units at an average density of 365.4/km² (946.4/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 61.10% White, 26.70% African American, 1.43% Asian, 0.34% Native American, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 5.41% from other races, and 2.54% from two or more races. 17.79% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. [Total is greater than 100% because Hispanics may be of any race.] The city has large Puerto Rican, Colombian, Venezuelan, Haitian, Indian, Vietnamese communities (among others), and a growing number of Russian and British (mostly English) residents.

There were 80,883 households out of which 24.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 32.4% were married couples living together, 15.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 47.6% were non-families. 35.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the city the population was spread out with 22.0% under the age of 18, 10.7% from 18 to 24, 37.3% from 25 to 44, 18.6% from 45 to 64, and 11.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 94.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $35,732, and the median income for a family was $40,648. Males had a median income of $30,866 versus $25,267 for females. The per capita income for the city was $21,216. About 13.3% of families and 15.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.0% of those under age 18 and 12.6% of those age 65 or over.

Orlando is also home to one of the nation's highest population percentage of GLB people. According to a study by UCLA 7.7% of Orlando's population is gay, lesbian, or bisexual and with 5.7% of the entire metropolitan population ranks 9th in the nation.[6]



Population History of Orlando, Fl

Year Population
1890 2,856
1900 2,481
1910 3,894
1920 9,282
1930 27,330
1940 36,736
1950 52,367
1960 86,135
1970 99,006
1980 128,291
1990 164,693
2000 185,951
2005 213,223

Culture

Like fellow Florida cities Miami and Tampa, Orlando has a large and increasing number of Hispanic residents living in the city. Orlando is home to one of the nation's largest and rapidly-growing Puerto Rican communities (particularly its metropolitan area). This is reflected by the abundance of Hispanic-themed restaurants and radio stations. Spanish-language music, such as Reggaeton, is common on Orlando radio stations. The Orlando Magic basketball team is the only team in the NBA to have a Latin Night, which is geared towards the Hispanic population in the area. Throughout the city, many Puerto Rican flags can be found on or near buildings, including car dealerships. The city's local newspaper, The Orlando Sentinel, publishes a weekly all-Spanish newspaper called El Sentinel. The Orlando-Central Florida area is home to the most affluent Puerto Rican families in the United States followed by Los Angeles and San Francisco, California and Texas. Many Puerto Ricans from the Northeastern portion of the United States, especially from New York, have relocated to Central Flordia, mainly to the Orlando area. The short distance from Orlando to Puerto Rico, similar climate and job oppurtunites have attracted many Puerto Ricans to choose Orlando as there number one destination to start a better life than New York City. New York City has seen a decline of Puerto Ricans as opposed to an influx of Puerto Ricans in Orlando. Not all Hispanics in Central Florida are Puerto Rican, however. A large portion of these Latinos are also of Cuban descent, largely refugees or their children from the Cuban Revolution.

Orlando has an equally large African-American population. The city is located within six miles of Eatonville, Florida, the first all-black town to be incorporated in the United States.

A thriving Vietnamese quarter called "Little Vietnam" exists in the Colonialtown district of Orlando.[7] The neighborhood has become a landmark in the city of Orlando and consist of a countless, and always growing, number of restaurants, groceries, and merchants selling music, videos, collectables, etc from across Asia. The heart of the district is the intersection of East Colonial Drive/HWY50 and Mills Ave, also known as the "Vi-Mi" district. The Orlando Vietnamese community has it's roots in war refugees seeking a new life in America after the fall of Saigon. Notable pro-democracy activists, such as Thuong Nguyen Foshee, who was just recently released from prison in Vietnam, call Orlando their home. Several local and statewide media groups serve the Orlando Vietnamese and Asian communities, notably the online and in-print Asia Trend Magazine, and Saigon Moi magazine.

Orlando is also becoming popular with Russian immigrants seeking careers or relocating their families to warmer climates. The growth rate of Russians in Central Florida is second only to the rising Hispanic population. The Russian community, made up of several countries of the former Soviet Union, has the Russian language as their common bond. Community and cultural groups are growing in popularity as is the number of Russian-American marriages.

Arts and entertainment

Orlando has been the home and capital of pop music, mainstream music and alternative rock music, including Anberlin, Britney Spears, Mandy Moore, NSYNC and the Backstreet Boys, as well as Sam Rivers, Creed, Trivium, From First to Last, Matchbox Twenty, Seven Mary Three, There For Tomorrow, Mark Fenlon, DJ Icey, DJ KJ of K5, DJ Baby Anne, DJ Jimmy Joslin and DJ Scotty B. Sister Hazel, For Squirrels and Less Than Jake are from nearby Gainesville, as is superstar Tom Petty. Downtown Orlando is also the site of Club Paris, the dance club formerly owned by Paris Hilton.

The hip hop music scene, metal scene, rock music scene, Reggaeton and Latino scene, are all active within the city and is largely home to the Florida Breakbeat movement.

Orlando has also been called Hollywood East because of numerous cinematic enterprises in the area.[8] Until recently, Walt Disney Feature Animation operated a studio out of Disney/MGM Studios at the Walt Disney World Resort. Feature Animation-Florida was primarily responsible for the films Mulan, Lilo & Stitch, and the early stages of Brother Bear and contributed on various other projects. Nickelodeon Studios, which through the 90s produced hundreds of hours of GAK-filled game shows targeted at children, no longer operates out of Universal Studios Florida. The Florida Film Festival in nearby Maitland is one of the most respected regional film festivals in the country and attracts budding filmmakers from around the world.

The Orlando Metropolitan Area is also home to a substantial theatre population. Several professional and semi-professional houses and many community theatres dot the area including Orlando-UCF Shakespeare Festival, Orlando Repertory Theatre (Central Florida's only Professional Theatre for Young Audiences), Orlando Theatre Project, Starlight Dinner Theatre, Mad Cow Theatre, Theatre Downtown, The Osceola Center for the Arts, Winter Park Playhouse, Theatre Winter Haven, IceHouse Theatre, and Seaside Music Theatre. Orlando also hosts the Orlando International Fringe Theater Festival every summer. Disney also a cast theatre company known as S.T.A.G.E. as well as Encore, a cast choir and orchestra whose annual charity concerts have raised thousands of dollars. In addition, the Bob Carr Performing Arts Center brings national tours through town on a regular basis. Each spring, local theatres and downtown venues play host to the Orlando International Fringe Festival, which draws touring companies from all around the world as well as readings and fully staged productions of new and unknown plays by local artists. Also in the spring, Darden Restaurants sponsors a Festival of New Plays, hosted by Orlando-UCF Shakespeare Festival.

Area attractions

See also List of amusement parks in Orlando
For tourist information, see Wikitravel:Orlando.
Cinderella Castle at the Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World Resort

The Orlando area is home to a wide variety of tourist attractions, including the Walt Disney World Resort, Universal Orlando Resort, and SeaWorld Orlando. The Walt Disney World resort is the area's largest attraction with its many facets such as the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney-MGM Studios, Disney's Animal Kingdom, Typhoon Lagoon, Blizzard Beach, and Downtown Disney. SeaWorld Orlando is a large adventure park that features numerous zoological displays and marine animals alongside an amusement park with roller coasters and water park. Universal Orlando, like Walt Disney World, is a multi-faceted resort comprised of Universal Studios, CityWalk, and the Islands of Adventure theme park. Orlando has also become one of the fastest growing retail markets in the USA with at least five major upscale department stores opening last year alone and more than 50 million square feet of shopping space in Central Florida. [10]

Other attractions in the Greater Orlando area include:

  • Arboretum of the University of Central Florida
  • Blue Spring State Park, which is the winter home of large numbers of Florida manatees that come upstream from the St. Johns River to bask in the warm 72 °F (22 °C) waters of the springs. Canoeing, swimming and fishing are popular activities at Blue Springs.
  • Blue Man Group at the [{Sharp AQUOS Theatre]], located in Universal Citywalk, brings the music, humor, and excitement of the Blue Man Group to Orlando in this new 1,015 seat venue.
  • Bok Tower, located in Lake Wales, FL.
  • Central Florida Zoological Park, located in Sanford, FL on Lake Monroe. This 100 acre (400,000 m²) zoo is home to a butterfly garden, herpetarium, and numerous tropical animals. The zoo originally started as a collection in the Sanford Fire Department, but grew into a regional zoo in 1975. It is currently in the planning stages of expansion and renaming the facility to "Zoo Orlando at Sanford".
  • Church Street Station, a multi-level shopping mall and entertainment center that once featured an abundance of specialty shops, restaurants, nightclubs, and bars. Purchased in the late 1990s by TransContinental Talent owner Lou Pearlman, it is now virtually defunct, as the area suffered in post-9/11 tourist-industry slump. The area is being redeveloped with residential condominiums. Now closed due to bankruptcy and is due to be bought over.
  • Cirque du Soleil: La Nouba, in Downtown Disney West Side, features its renowned blend of acrobatics and special effects with more than 70 artists from around the globe performing in a custom-designed, 1,671-seat theater.
  • Cornell Fine Arts Museum, situated on the campus of Rollins College, features significant loans, recent acquisitions, and items from the Cornell's renowned permanent collection. Admission is free.
  • Cypress Gardens Adventure Park, an amusement park opened in 1936. This park features beautiful botanical gardens, 40 rides, 5 roller coasters and a water park. But it is most famous for it lovely southern belles and world-renowned Ski Shows. Located in Winter Haven, FL.
  • Discovery Cove, a resort that is part of the SeaWorld Adventure Park complex. Some attraction features are tropical fish in a coral reef, snorkeling with stingrays, and interacting with birds in an aviary, as well as swimming and playing with dolphins during a half-hour session.
  • Gatorland houses thousands of alligators and crocodiles. A few of Gatorland's residents have made wrangling appearances in movies, television shows and commercial spots. The 54 year old park combines a petting zoo, bird sanctuary, mini-water park, eco-tour and outdoor entertainment, including daily alligator wrestling.
  • Hard Rock Café is the Orlando location of the famed restaurant chain with the typical HRC music memorabilia. There is also Hard Rock Live, a 3,000-capacity live music venue, and the Hard Rock Hotel, a resort hotel with a California-style restaurant called "The Kitchen". It is one of eight worldwide, and one of three in Florida. (Miami and Tampa are the other two.)
  • The Holy Land Experience is a biblical themepark and museum complex.
  • International Trolley and Train Museum features 14 model railroad trains with sound and lighting traveling through an indoor garden with 12 foot (4 m) high mountains, waterfalls, and more than 30 trestles and tunnels. Also on display are toy trains from the 1920s to the present. Visitors can catch a ride in a California Victorian-style half open/half closed trolley or the 5/8 replica of an 1880 locomotive (a Mason Bogey) with its passenger cars.
  • Kennedy Space Center is 45 minutes from Orlando and south of Daytona Beach. Visitors can tour launch areas, see giant rockets, "train" in spaceflight simulators, and much more. Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is open every day except Christmas Day and certain launch days. Apart from the Astronaut Hall of Fame, Space Center bus tours run every 15 minutes with stops at an observation gantry and the Apollo / Saturn V Center. Other guided tours include NASA Up Close, Cape Canaveral: Then and Now, and Lunch With An Astronaut. Combo tickets offer maximum access admission, plus one guided tour.
  • The Kerouac House, in the College Park neighborhood of Orlando, is where writer Jack Kerouac lived during the time his novel On the Road was published and released, making him a national sensation and Beat Generation icon. He lived in the house with his mother Gabrielle from July 1957 to the spring of 1958, and wrote his three-act play, The Beat Generation, a 51-chorus poem called Orlanda Blues, and the novel The Dharma Bums during his time there. In 1997, the Kerouac Project of Orlando formed, and restored the Kerouac house. It is now a haven for aspiring writers who can live in the house as they create their own work.
  • Harry P. Leu Gardens, which is an inner city oasis covering 50 acres (20,000 m²) and features colorful annuals, palms, an orchid house, a floral clock and a butterfly garden.
  • The World's Largest McDonald's PlayPlace, located on the corner of Sand Lake Road and International Drive, looks like a fry box from the exterior. The interior features an arcade with 60+ games with prize redemption, a 1950s room, a waterfall and a gift shop. The Bistro Gourmet at McDonald's features chef-prepared food, such as panini and deli sandwiches, pasta, soup, desserts, and hand-dipped ice cream, plus the standard McDonald's menu.
  • Mary, Queen of the Universe Shrine
  • Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament, in Kissimmee. Six brave knights on horseback compete in tournament games, jousting, and sword fighting while guests dine on a medieval-style banquet.
  • The Millenia Mall, a new two-level 1.2 million square-foot shopping experience, including the world-famous department stores Bloomingdale's, Macy's and Neiman Marcus.
  • The Morse Museum of American Art, located in nearby Winter Park, houses the world's "most comprehensive" collection of the works of Louis Comfort Tiffany, among its permanent exhibits. It includes Tiffany art glass, jewelry, pottery, and the chapel interior designed for the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago. There is also an exhibit on the Tiffany home, and American paintings from the 19th century. The museum was founded in 1942.
  • Old Town, in Kissimmee, features eight restaurants, fifteen amusement park rides and 75 shops along its brick-lined streets. Classic car shows every Friday and Saturday feature hundreds of vintage automobiles. Admission and parking are free.
  • The Orange County Regional History Center Features exhibits and artifacts from the earliest days of the region to the modern day. Includes information on everything from the time of the Seminole Indians to the founding of the city to the Civil Rights era to the Disney period to today.
  • The Orlando Museum of Art, which has ongoing exhibitions of American portraits and landscapes, American impressionist works, and art of the ancient Americas.
  • The Orlando Science Center, is a 207,000 square foot (19,000 m²) hands-on learning center with hundreds of interactive exhibits for visitors of all ages. Images surround visitors on the giant screen of the Dr. Phillips CineDome. Other attractions include the Body Zone, teaching health and fitness, as well as an observatory. The center has the largest refracting telescope in Florida.
  • The Ripley's Believe It or Not! Orlando Odditorium is located in a building artfully constructed to appear as if it were collapsing to one side, which may be a sly reference to central Florida's infamous sinkholes. Visitors can explore bizarre artifacts, strange collections, weird art/hobbies and interactive exhibits in sixteen odd galleries. It is one of 27 Ripley museums in ten countries.
  • Wonder Works A funhouse located on International Drive. Can be easily identified as an upside down white building.
  • Wekiwa Springs State Park, which comprises around 7,000 acres (28 km²) of wild Florida. The springs pump out 42 million gallons of crystal clear water a day. Popular activities at the park include canoeing, swimming, picnicking and fishing.
  • World of Orchids, featuring thousands of blooms in an enclosed tropical rainforest. World of Orchids is a working greenhouse shipping orchids and other plants nationwide. A greenhouse covers nearly an acre (4,000 m²), and in this controlled climate of warm, humid air some 1,000 orchids are displayed in a natural jungle setting, with streams, waterfalls, and squawking parrots. World of Orchids also has a 1,000 foot (300 m) long boardwalk meandering off into nearby wetlands. Admission is free.
  • Wet n' Wild A large waterpark located just minutes from Universal Studios on International Drive

Sports

Orlando is home to the Orlando Magic, an NBA pro basketball franchise that plays at Amway Arena in downtown Orlando. The team made it to the NBA Finals in 1995. Opened in 1989, Amway Arena is one of the oldest arenas in the NBA. It will be replaced by 2010 by the $480-million New Orlando Magic Arena. The Orlando Predators of the Arena Football League also play at Amway Arena.

Orlando was a stronghold of minor-league ice hockey throughout the 1990s, being home of the Orlando Solar Bears of the now-defunct International Hockey League. Historically successful, they won the Turner Cup championship in 2001 to end the IHL's final season. In 2002, the Atlantic Coast Hockey League formed with Orlando forming one of the charter franchises, the Orlando Seals, which won their Commissioner's Cup in 2003. They moved to the World Hockey Association 2 in 2003, then the Southern Professional Hockey League in 2004. The City of Orlando revoked their lease for the present Amway Arena, forcing them to sit out the 2004-05 season. They moved to Kissimmee and became the Florida Seals in November 2004. Orlando is the only city in the state with two hockey championships to it's name.

The Citrus Bowl is the home of the Capital One Bowl (formerly the Florida Citrus Bowl) and the Champs Sports Bowl (formerly the Tangerine Bowl). It also hosts regular-season football games for Jones High School, as well as the annual Florida Classic played between the NCAA Division I-AA Football teams from Florida A&M University and Bethune-Cookman University. The University of Central Florida (NCAA Division I-A) played regular season games at the Citrus bowl through the 2006 season, until the construction of a new stadium on the UCF campus. It hosted soccer games for the FIFA World Cup '94 and the 1996 Summer Olympics when each were hosted by the United States.

The Orlando Renegades were a USFL team playing at the Citrus Bowl in 1985. They folded with the league in 1986. The Orlando Thunder were a charter team in the World League of American Football in 1991 and 1992. They lost the World Bowl to the Sacramento Surge in 1992. Like all other American teams, it was dropped in the World League reorganization of 1995. The Orlando Rage were a member of the XFL that played at the Citrus Bowl, and only played in 2001. That team has since been revived in the minor-league Southern States Football League (SSFL).

The Citrus Bowl was also the home of the fictional NFL team, the Orlando Breakers, which was featured in the last two seasons of the television sitcom Coach. The team was a plot device to reflect the 1995 addition of the Jacksonville Jaguars to the real-life NFL.

Orlando will gain an expansion franchise in the Major Indoor Soccer League, named the Orlando Sharks, for the 2007 - 2008 season. Orlando also received an expansion franchise in the American Basketball Association for the 2006-07 season, the Orlando Aces. The team has been named the Orlando Aces. The Orlando Lions were a member of the third incarnation of the American Soccer League in the late 1980s/early 1990s. The Orlando Sundogs were a minor-league soccer team in the A-League that played in the Citrus Bowl. They were disbanded in 1997 after only playing one year. Presently, two lower-division association football(soccer) teams call Orlando home: the Premier Development League's (PDL) Central Florida Kraze, and Ajax Orlando. The Kraze won the PDL Championship in 2004, while Ajax (pronounced EYE-acks) is the only American subsidiary of global soccer power Ajax Amsterdam of the Dutch Eredivisie (professional soccer league).

Tinker Field, named for baseball hall-of-famer Joe Tinker, is a historic baseball stadium next to the Citrus Bowl, currently out of use. It was formerly the spring training home of the Minnesota Twins (and the Washington Nationals/Senators before them) and AA Southern League affiliates of the Twins, Chicago Cubs and Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

The Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex has the Ballpark at Disney's Wide World of Sports (Cracker Jack Stadium) situated in it, it is the baseball stadium that is currently used in Orlando. The spring training home of the Atlanta Braves, it played host to the games of the Pool D teams in the 2006 World Baseball Classic.

In 2006, Mirabilis Ventures, an Orlando-based equity firm, was reportedly close to buying the Class-AA West Tenn Diamond Jaxx with the intention of bringing the team to Orlando after the last two years of the team's current lease in Jackson, Tennessee elapsed. However, plans fell through when the firm could not come to an agreement with the city for a new stadium.[9]

In 2008, the Citrus Bowl will play host the WWE WrestleMania 24 event. In the past, other wrestling pay-per-views hosted in Orlando include the 1990 Royal Rumble and WCW's 1994 Bash at the Beach. Most of Total Nonstop Action Wrestling's pay-per-views are aired out of Universal Orlando Resort, and their weekly show, TNA Impact!, is taped there.

Media

Newspapers

Radio

AM

FM

† = Available in HD Radio; all stations add a -1 (example 107.7-1) unless otherwise noted.

Internet Radio

Television

Economy

A large part of the Orlando area economy is involved in the tourist industry. Over 48 million visitors came to the Orlando region in 2004. The convention industry is also critical to the region's economy. The Orange County Convention Center, expanded in 2004 to over two million square feet (200,000 m²) of exhibition space, is now the second-largest convention complex in terms of space in the United States, trailing only McCormick Place in Chicago. The city vies with Chicago and Las Vegas for hosting the most convention attendees in the United States.[10]

The area's economy includes other industries besides tourism, such as manufacturing. Lockheed-Martin has a large manufacturing facility for missile systems, aeronautical craft and related high tech research. Other notable engineering firms have offices or labs in the Central Florida area: KDF, General Dynamics, Harris, Westinghouse, Siemens, Veritas/Seagate, multiple USAF facilities, Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division (NAWCTSD), Delta Connection Academy, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, GE, Air Force Agency for Modeling and Simulation (AFAMS), Army Simulation Training and Instrumentation Command (STRICOM), AT&T, Boeing, CAE Systems Flight & Simulation Training, HP, Institute for Simulation and Training, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon Systems. The Naval Training Center until a few years ago was one of the two places where nuclear engineers were trained for the US Navy. Now the land has been converted into the Baldwin Park development.

Another developing sector is the film, television, and electronic gaming industries, aided by the presence of Universal Studios, Disney-MGM Studios, Full Sail School, the Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy, and other entertainment companies and schools. Numerous office complexes for large corporations have popped up along the Interstate 4 corridor north of Orlando, especially in Maitland, Lake Mary and Heathrow. The U.S. modeling, simulation, and training (MS&T) industry is centered around the Orlando region as well, with a particularly strong presence in the Central Florida Research Park adjacent to UCF.

Nearby Maitland is the home of Tiburon, a division of the video game company Electronic Arts. Originally Tiburon Entertainment, it was acquired by EA in 1998 after years of partnership, particularly in the famous Madden NFL series and NCAA Football series of video games.

Orlando has two non-profit hospital systems: Orlando Regional Healthcare and Florida Hospital. ORH's Orlando Regional Medical Center is home to Central Florida's only Level I trauma center, and the adjacent Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies has the area's only Level 3 neonatal intensive care unit. Florida Hospital's main campus is ranked as one of the best hospitals in the nation, and has a renowned brain attack facility. [11] Orlando's medical leadership will be further advanced with the completion of UCF's College of Medicine and a new VA Hospital, both of which will be located in a new medical district in the Lake Nona area of the city. [12]

There is a very low unemployment rate in Greater Orlando of 3.1% as of March 2007.[11] The result is explosive growth that has led to urban sprawl in the surrounding area and skyrocketing housing prices. Housing prices in Greater Orlando went up 34% in one year, from an average of $182,000 in August 2004 to $245,000 in August 2005, and eventually to a record $255,000 in February 2007. They are tapering off, however, down to $241,900 in April 2007.[12]

Due to this, many young adults and those in the lower class are having a difficult time finding housing within Orange County. A spring 2006 Orlando Sentinel article stated that in order to afford rent for a single bedroom apartment in Orange County one would be forced to earn at least a $20 per hour wage.[13]

Orlando once leaned heavily on Disney World and its service-sector spinoffs to prop up its economy, but these days it's pulling in life sciences, digital media, and health-care companies with affordable (or subsidized) land and tax breaks. Electronic Arts; Hollywood animation firm House of Moves; and Burnham Institute, a top-rated cancer research center, are all expanding and adding jobs here. Despite the housing slump, such diversification will help Orlando crank out 72,600 new jobs this year and next.

Most of the hiring will still come from the region's tourism backbone. But Orlando will also post higher growth in professional-services jobs--everything from office managers to advertising account executives--than any other city on our list. The high-wage, white-collar category is projected to balloon by about 15 percent. The reason: Orlando's population is expected to expand by 150,000 by decade's end.[14]

Companies and organizations that have their corporate headquarters or a major presence in the area:

Education

Public education is handled by Orange County Public Schools. Some of the larger private schools include Trinity Preparatory School, Lake Highland Preparatory School, Bishop Moore High School, New School of Orlando, Orlando Christian Academy, and Forest Lake Academy.

Area institutions of higher education

Infrastructure

Airports

Orlando is served primarily by Orlando International Airport, though nearby Orlando Sanford International Airport also serves the area. Orlando Executive Airport is used for charter flights and General Aviation.

Roads

Its major freeway is Interstate 4, which crosses Florida's Turnpike southwest of Downtown Orlando. It is also served by the toll roads of the Orlando-Orange County Expressway Authority, particularly the East-West Expressway (SR 408), which crosses I-4 downtown.

The East West Expressway (SR 408) is undergoing major construction with the addition of lanes, concrete barrier walls, sound walls, and a better scenic view. This project began in 2005 and is not yet complete.

Because of the massive, unchecked urban sprawl in the area and outdated and unplanned transit infrastructure including lack of any efficient public transport, traffic congestion is a growing concern. Fundamentally, the lack of east-west mobility in the area creates severe traffic issues every weekday and the lack of any free-to-travel (toll-less) freeways other than Interstate 4 (I-4). It is commonplace to encounter traffic jams on I-4, even late at night or on weekends.

Rail

The Orlando area is served by one through railroad, CSX Transportation's A line (formerly the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad's main line), and some spurs, mostly operated by the Florida Central Railroad. Amtrak passenger service runs along the CSX A line. See also a map of these railroads. In 2005 Federal and state funding was granted for the establishment of the Central Florida Commuter Rail service to operate on the CSX A line tracks between Deltona and Poinciana, passing through the downtown area and surrounding urban neighborhoods along the way. The service is expected to substantially reduce traffic congestion along the I-4 corridor, especially between downtown Orlando and the suburban communities in Seminole and Volusia Counties. The Federal and state funds would cover approximately 80% of the estimated $400 million cost for track modifications and construction of stations along the route. Pending approval by the county governments (Volusia, Seminole, Orange and Osceola) involved and the set aside of matching funds, the line is projected to begin operations in 2009.

The following major railroad stations have existed in Orlando:

Buses

Orlando is served by LYNX, offering local transit service which covers the five-county area (Osceola-Orange-Seminole-Lake-Volusia). [13]

Additionally Greyhound Lines offers intercity bus service from Orlando to multiple locations across the country.

Light rail

Several attempts have been made to bring a light rail system to Orlando, but each one has met with failure due to a perceived lack of public interest and various conflicts over a potential route. Walt Disney World officials have been particularly adamant that a light rail line run from Orlando International Airport to the resort, drawing opposition from other vacation destinations who fear loss of business. Some local residents also oppose the idea of funding a system they believe to be only for the benefit of out-of-town tourists. This is in addition to the statewide debate over high speed rail, the various plans of which all center around Orlando. Another attempted route was a rail going between Tampa, Orlando, and Miami.

Many residents who have lived in Orlando for many years believe that a light rail system should be added to the cities growing economy to help cure the metropolitan area's difficult traffic problems. However several residents who move to the Central Florida area from other communities (specifically larger metropolitan cities) find it too industrializing for the city whose "quiet charm" would like to remain established. This creates a conflict between new residents and those who have been born and raised in the Orlando metropolitan area and other Central Florida cities.

Commuter rail

A commuter rail system, Central Florida Commuter Rail, is in active planning with a planned opening in 2009 along current CSX lines between DeLand and Poinciana, going through Downtown Orlando with stations at the LYNX Central Station and Church Street Station.[15]

Sister cities

Orlando has eleven sister cities:[16]

Seine-et-Marne, Anahiem, and Urayasu are connected to Orlando as homes of other Disney theme parks (Disneyland Resort Paris, Disneyland Resort, and Tokyo Disneyland, respectively).

Foreign Consulates

Due to its importance as a major international tourist destination and a large foreign population, many foreign governments have opened up consulates in Orlando:

See also

References

  1. ^ ThreadEx
  2. ^ "NOWData – NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved May 28, 2021.
  3. ^ "Summary of Monthly Normals 1991–2020". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved May 28, 2021.
  4. ^ "WMO Climate Normals for ORLANDO/JETPORT, FL 1961–1990". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 2014-05-13.
  5. ^ City of Orlando Neighborhoods, accessed 28 November 2006
  6. ^ Gary J. Gates Template:PDFlink. The Williams Institute on Sexual Orientation Law and Public Policy, UCLA School of Law October, 2006. Retrieved April 8, 2007.
  7. ^ Passy, Charles (2007). "36 Hours in Orlando, Fla". New York Times. Retrieved 2007-05-20. Some cities have Chinatowns. Orlando has Little Vietnam, home to a large Vietnamese population that began arriving in the 1970s. The neighborhood, north of downtown along East Colonial Drive and North Mills Avenue... {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  8. ^ "What Happened to Hollywood East?" Southwest Orlando Bulletin, 17 July 2004
  9. ^ http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/orange/orl-baseball2906dec29,0,1194804.story?coll=orl-news-headlines-orange
  10. ^ Bergen, Kathy. Las Vegas and Orlando Bruising Chicago's Trade Show Business. The Chicago Tribune, 11 September 2003
  11. ^ "Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment: March 2007." United States Department of Labor. May 2, 2007. Retrieved on May 24, 2007.
  12. ^ "Metropolitan Orlando Housing Trends Summary." Orlando Regional Realtor Association. May 9, 2007. Retrieved on May 24, 2007.
  13. ^ [1]"Middle class struggles to buy homes". Orlando Sentinel
  14. ^ [2]
  15. ^ http://www.cfrail.com/
  16. ^ Sister cities from Sister Cities International, Inc. (SCI). Retrieved on June 6, 2006.

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