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Apopka, Florida

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City of Apopka, Florida
City
Apopka City Hall
Apopka City Hall
Location in Orange County and the state of Florida
Location in Orange County and the state of Florida
Country United States
State Florida
County Orange
Area
 • Total24.9 sq mi (64.6 km2)
 • Land24 sq mi (62.3 km2)
 • Water0.9 sq mi (2.3 km2)
Elevation
131 ft (40 m)
Population
 (2000)
 • Total26,642
 • Density1,070/sq mi (412.4/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP codes
32703, 32704, 32712
Area code407
FIPS code12-01700Template:GR
GNIS feature ID0294327Template:GR

Apopka (APK) is a city located in Orange County, Florida, United States. The population was 26,969 at the 2000 census. According to the U.S Census estimates of 2006, the city grew to 35,563. [1] Apopka is an Indian word for "Potato eating place". [2]

Geography

Apopka is located at 28°40′34″N 81°30′38″W / 28.67611°N 81.51056°W / 28.67611; -81.51056 (28.676075, -81.510618).Template:GR

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 64.6 km² (24.9 mi²). 62.3 km² (24.0 mi²) of it is land and 2.3 km² (0.9 mi²) of it (3.57%) is water.

Demographics

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 26,642 people, 9,562 households, and 7,171 families residing in the city. The population density was 427.9/km² (1,108.1/mi²). There were 10,091 housing units at an average density of 162.1/km² (419.7/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 73.85% White, 15.56% African American, 0.42% Native American, 1.89% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 5.36% from other races, and 2.83% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 18.08% of the population.

There were 9,562 households out of which 38.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.8% were married couples living together, 14.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.0% were non-families. 18.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.76 and the average family size was 3.13.

In the city the population was spread out with 28.2% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 33.6% from 25 to 44, 19.5% from 45 to 64, and 10.1% 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 90.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $43,651, and the median income for a family was $49,380. Males had a median income of $32,177 versus $26,553 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,189. About 7.1% of families and 9.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.6% of those under age 18 and 9.7% of those age 65 or over.

Apopka is also known as the "Indoor Foliage Capital of the World."

History

The earliest known inhabitants of the Apopka area were the Acuera people, members of the Timucua confederation. They had disappeared by 1730, probably decimated by diseases brought to Florida by Spanish colonists.

The Acuera were succeeded by refugees from Alabama and Georgia, who formed the new Seminole Indian Tribe. They called the area "Ahapopka," which means "potato eating place." By the 1830s, this settlement numbered about 200, and was the birthplace of the chief Coacoochee (known in English as "Wild Cat").

At the conclusion of the Second Seminole War, the U.S. Congress passed the Armed Occupation Act of 1842, forcing surviving natives at Ahapopka to abandon their village and seek refuge deeper in the wilderness of the Florida peninsula.

The early American settlers built a major trading center on the foundations of the earlier Indian settlement. Their population was large enough by 1857 to support the establishment of a Masonic lodge. In 1859 the lodge erected a permanent meeting place at what is now the intersection of Main Street (U.S. Highway 441) and Alabama Avenue.

The settlers in the vicinity of "The Lodge" were largely isolated during the American Civil War, but the area rebounded once peace was re-established, and a population boom followed the construction of railroad lines through the region.

In 1882 the one square mile surrounding "The Lodge" was officially incorporated under the name "Apopka."

In 1905, the Apopka City Council authorized incorporation of the Apopka Water, Light, and Ice Company. Councilman A.M. Starbird was appointed its manager, but it was not until voters approved a $9,000 bond in 1914 that he was able to contract with International Harvester Corporation to construct a power plant, so electricity was not available in the city until February 10, 1915. This independent utility company was one of many that were gobbled up by the Florida Public Service Corporation in the 1920s. They continued to manage the city's utility needs until the 1940s, when they sold off its ice plants to the Atlantic Company, its electric service to Florida Power Corporation, and its water services to Florida Utilities.

Present-day Apopka

Apopka's mayor, John Land, has served for over 50 years (with a short three-year gap) and is one of the longest serving mayors still in office.[citation needed]

Apopka is a fast-growing city and is expanding in all directions. Most notable are the new Lowes and Home Depot DIY stores to the north of the city on US 441 in the location of the previous Dunn Citrus grove (the stretch of 441 which runs through the city is named after Fred N. Dunn). Other businesses on the former Dunn Citrus site include Staples office supply and a second Chili's restaurant.

The new Apopka bypass (to be named after Mayor Land) will relieve some of 441's traffic, taking the route from what is now the 441 junction with SR 429, and then passing south of the city to rejoin 441 at its junction with Maitland Blvd. south of the city.

Points of interest

Carroll Building

Education

Notable residents

Apopka in Literature

Apopka is referenced in Zora Neale Hurston's famous novel, Their Eyes Were Watching God.

References

Template:Geolinks-US-cityscale

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