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106-543: The original library was based on a book collection donated by Anne Cline, a retired schoolteacher and Altamonte Springs community leader. Cline, as President of the Altamonte Springs Civic Club, saw the potential to create a community library in 1959. At the time, the closest public library was in Winter Park . Unfortunately, Cline died before her plans could be completed. However, the members of

212-405: 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

318-501: A gateway to "Old Florida" attractions in Central Florida and a community social hub for decades. Famous guests included Dean Martin , Frank Sinatra , Ray Charles , Larry King , Hugh Hefner , John Denver , Langford winter resident Lady Bird Johnson , and President Ronald Reagan and his wife Nancy Reagan , who celebrated their 24th wedding anniversary there. Reagan gave a campaign speech at Rollins College and stayed at

424-487: A letter to the editor warning Orange County mayors of the sinkhole danger that could be posed by overdevelopment and excessive groundwater use. Swanson predicted that the west Winter Park area would be especially at risk. In May 1981, during a period of record-low water levels in Florida's limestone aquifer , a massive sinkhole opened near the corner of Denning Drive and Fairbanks Avenue. The sinkhole first appeared on

530-650: A lightpole in Orlando, near the house of a judge known to be sympathetic to black voting. But this was part of a much larger story of KKK and other white attempts to suppress black voting in Ocoee and the state. African Americans had organized for a year to increase voter turnout for the 1920 presidential election, with organizations helping prepare residents for voter registration, paying for poll taxes , and similar actions. On Election Day in Ocoee , blacks were turned away from

636-423: A local engineering consulting firm. The sinkhole drew national attention and became a popular tourist attraction during the summer of 1981. A carnival-like atmosphere arose around the area, with vendors selling food, balloons, and T-shirts to visitors. The city of Winter Park sold sinkhole photographs for promotional and educational purposes. On July 9, 1981, Winter Park began selling sinkhole photographs to educate

742-461: A median income of $ 83,738 versus $ 58,277 for females. The per capita income for the city was $ 65,481. About 7.0% of families and 9.9% of the population were below the poverty line , including 11.4% of those under age 18 and 10.2% of those age 65 or over. However, also in 2020, these incomes are very divided based on where you live within Winter Park. The area to the northeast of Park Ave is

848-424: A pet to the entire community. The peacock is on the official Winter Park seal, is featured in a number of official city documents, and is protected by the community. Peacocks often roam around in neighborhoods, especially throughout the community of Windsong, where residents are often seen taking care of them. In 1972, Henry Swanson, an agricultural agent and "resident layman expert on Central Florida water," wrote

954-549: A smaller student population, counted as roughly just over 2,000 students. The school also features an MBA program, at the Crummer Graduate School of Business. Back in 1886, the Seminole Hotel on Lake Osceola opened. This was a resort complete with the luxuries of the day: gas lights , steam heating, a string orchestra , a formal dining room, a bowling alley , and long covered porches. This street

1060-594: A vast variety of birds and mammals including giant sloth , mammoth , camel , and the dire wolf dating around 1.1 million years ago. Immediately following the transfer of Florida from the Spanish to the United States in 1821, Governor Andrew Jackson created two counties: Escambia to the west of the Suwannee River and St. Johns to the east. In 1824, the area to the south of St. Johns County

1166-638: 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,

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1272-579: Is a large mix of both conservative and liberal constituents. However, this mix is evident in US Congressional District 7's last two representatives. Former Republican Congressman John Mica lost reelection in 2016 to newcomer and Democrat Stephanie Murphy. Both have had a lot of support from both sides of the aisle and Murphy is credited with being one of the most centrist representatives in Congress today. The Winter Park Public Library

1378-521: 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,

1484-597: 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

1590-459: Is based in Winter Park. D100 Radio was founded here and is still present in Winter Park. According to the City's 2021 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are: Winter Park is served by Orange County Public Schools . 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 ,

1696-420: 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

1802-691: 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,

1908-423: Is now a cul de sac called Kiwi Circle that is part of one of the nicest neighborhoods in the town. On October 21, 1887, it was officially incorporated as the " Town of Winter Park ", and in 1925, reincorporated as the " City of Winter Park ". The first president to visit was Chester A. Arthur , who reported that Winter Park was "the prettiest place I have seen in Florida",. President Grover Cleveland visited

2014-525: Is one of the nation's oldest, largest juried outdoor art festivals, rated among the top shows by Sunshine Artist and American Style magazines. In 2012, about 1,200 artists from around the world applied for entry, and an independent panel of judges selected 225 national and international artists to attend the show. The National Endowment for the Arts, the White House, Congress, and many others have lauded

2120-730: 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

2226-563: Is punctuated by small, winding brick streets, and a canopy of old southern live oak and camphor trees , draped with Spanish moss . There are hundreds of thousands of visitors to annual festivals including the Bach Festival, the nationally ranked Sidewalk Art Festival, and the Winter Park Concours d'Elegance. Winter Park is often seen as a popular tourist destination for those visiting Orlando that want an escape from

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2332-412: Is slightly less affluent with an average household income of $ 32,000. Many of these are still very expensive lakefront properties. The lowest income area is to the west of Park Ave with an average household income of $ 23,000. Many of these houses include those built by the non-profit organization Habitat for Humanity. There is no local middle or elementary school for this area. Scenic Olde Winter Park area

2438-535: Is the home to the University of Central Florida (UCF), which as of Fall 2023 had a student population of 69,320, making it the fourth-largest on-campus student body of any public university in the United States . The county is home to other notable colleges, including Rollins College and Valencia College . Despite rapid development countywide, swaths of nature still do exist. There are many lakes within

2544-540: Is traversed by the old East Florida and Atlantic Railroad (" Dinky Line ") railroad bed, which until the 1960s had a stop at Lake Virginia/Rollins College at the city park now known as Dinky Dock. Much of this right of way has been converted to a rail-trail pedestrian/biking path in the form of the Cady Way Trail, which leads from Cady Way Park toward the Baldwin Park neighborhood and downtown Orlando, and in

2650-749: The Choctaw and other indigenous people. In a process of ethnogenesis , the Native Americans formed a new culture which they called " Seminole ", a derivative of the Mvskoke' (a Creek language ) word simano-li, an adaptation of the Spanish cimarrón which means "wild" (in their case, "wild men"), or "runaway" [men]. The site was first inhabited by Europeans in 1858, when David Mizell Jr. bought an 8-acre (32,000 m2) homestead between Lakes Virginia, Mizell, and Berry. A settlement, called " Lake View " by

2756-582: 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

2862-491: The Congregational Assembly of Florida started Rollins College , the state's first four-year college. Rollins College today remains one of the hallmarks of Winter Park, an integral part of Winter Park's history and culture. It is the second most expensive college in the state, as of the 2023-2024 academic year the tuition at Rollins is $ 58,300 per year. Rollins is a relatively good liberal arts school, with

2968-535: 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

3074-570: The Köppen climate classification , the City of Winter Park has a humid subtropical climate zone ( Cfa ). As of the 2020 United States census , there were 29,795 people, 13,072 households, and 7,055 families residing in the city. As of the census of 2020, the population density was 3,401.6 inhabitants per square mile (1,283.97/km2). There were 14,073 housing units at an average density of 1,606.5 per square mile (620.3/km2). In 2020, there were 13,072 households, out of which 22.8% had children under

3180-507: 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

3286-650: 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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3392-1078: 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

3498-899: 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

3604-501: 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

3710-422: 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

3816-664: The United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 10.2 square miles (26.3 km ), of which 8.7 square miles (22.5 km ) is land and 1.5 square miles (3.9 km ) (14.62%) is water. It is nestled among the Winter Park Chain of Lakes, a series of lakes interconnected by a series of navigable canals , which were originally created for flood control and to run logs to a sawmill on present-day Lake Virginia. The lakes are popular for boating, watersports, fishing and swimming. The city

3922-584: The Winter Park Company and incorporated it with the Florida Legislature ; Chase and Chapman sold the town to the new company. In a land bubble characteristic of Florida history, land prices soared from less than $ 2 per acre to over $ 200, with at least one sale recorded at $ 300 per acre. This land bubble concept would never go away, with towns and counties directly surrounding the area with exponentially cheaper land prices. In 1885,

4028-518: 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

4134-767: The Altamonte Springs Civic Club and friends of Cline formed the Altamonte Springs Library Association in June 1959. They elected Dorothy Fuller as president of the Library Association with Betty French as secretary. Dorothy Fuller found an empty cottage on the grounds of the community center where the Civics Club held their meetings. The cottage, owned by the Bundy family, became known as Grandma Bundy's Cottage. Several members of

4240-518: The Festival for promoting art and art education in Central Florida. An all-volunteer board of directors runs the annual festival. The approximate coordinates for the City of Winter Park is located at 28°35′46″N 81°20′48″W  /  28.59611°N 81.34667°W  / 28.59611; -81.34667 . The city is northeast of, and adjacent to Orlando . Elevation ranges between 66 and 97 feet (20 and 30 m) above sea level. According to

4346-681: 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

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4452-529: The Langford in 1976. The Langford was celebrated in a party in late 1999, closed, and was demolished. A portion of the former Langford property (as of mid-2009) has been developed into luxury mid-rise condominiums. The remaining parcel was redeveloped and in 2014, a boutique hotel named the Alfond Inn, owned and operated by Rollins College opened at the site of the original Langford Hotel. The Alfond Inn

4558-605: The South Seminole Community Library Association. The South Seminole Community Library continued to be staffed by volunteers with Florence Coursen, the only paid full-time employee. Coursen, who stepped in after Betty French in 1962, still remembered the four-room cottage that housed the original library. South Seminole Community Library, which in the early 1970s was one of three community libraries in Seminole County , resisted

4664-659: 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 )

4770-557: 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

4876-427: The age of 18 living with them, 41.0% were married couples living together, 33.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 7.3% were non-families. 33.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.96. In 2020, in the city the population was spread out, with 3.5% under

4982-406: The age of 5, 17.3% under the age of 18, 82.7% aged 18 years and over, and 22.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45.3 years. As of the 2010 United States census , there were 27,852 people, 11,995 households, and 6,419 families residing in the city. As of 2020, the median income for a household in the city was $ 80,500, and the median income for a family was $ 130,120. Males had

5088-476: 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

5194-531: The area and was given a huge reception at the Seminole Hotel on February 23, 1888 . He enjoyed the Bounding Horse Cart ride and stated that it was the most pleasant diversion of his Florida trip. The New York Times reported on his visit that "The Philadelphian and Bostonian founders had done a good job with the town." The following four years both hotel and the town became a fashionable winter resort for northern visitors. The next president to visit

5300-476: The area was Franklin D. Roosevelt in March 1936 . He was conferred an honorary degree in literature at Rollins College . President Barack Obama visited Rollins College on August 2, 2012, to give a speech that was part of his re-election campaign. An interesting note on recent Presidential elections is that Orange County, the county Winter Park is in, was one of the bluest counties in Florida. Although Winter Park

5406-409: The biggest landowner in Winter Park. His patronage continued in the 1920s, when he purchased a 200-acre parcel between lakes Virginia, Berry, and Mizell. In 1945, Morse's granddaughter Jeannette and her husband Hugh McKean moved to the land, and soon after they added peacocks. Now, the land is a nature preserve that houses an orange grove and over 30 peacocks. Winter Park locals consider the peacock to be

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5512-673: 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

5618-506: 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"

5724-483: 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

5830-412: The city of Altamonte has “just done wonders with [the library] since they took over.” In 1986, the library hired its first fully accredited librarian, Karen Potter, and expanded service hours. It housed 25,000 books and offered a greater breadth of library programming, which included adult literacy and children's programs with puppets. On Sunday February 4, 1990, the library held its 30th anniversary which

5936-421: The community about sinkholes and to promote tourism. The sinkhole began to fill with water that summer, but on July 19, the water level suddenly dropped by a reported 15 to 20 feet (4.6 to 6.1 m). As the novelty wore off, the city worked to repair the damage. Workers were able to recover four of the six vehicles that fell into the sinkhole, including the travel trailer, whose owner drove it away, and three of

6042-438: The community donated their time and funds to clear the land surrounding the cottage, painting the cottage, and landscaping. Anne's Cline collection was matched by a donation of sixty-five boxes (1,000 books) from Rollins College . The remaining summer, fall, and winter months of 1959 were spent cataloging and preparing the donated books for the shelves. Community volunteers worked under the direction of Betty French, who served at

6148-464: The county had a population of 1,429,908, making it the fifth-most populous county in Florida and the 28th-most populous county in the United States . Its county seat is Orlando , which, along with it being the county's largest city, is the core of the Orlando metropolitan area , which had a population of 2.67 million in 2020. As of 2022, Orange County has a gross domestic product of $ 115 billion,

6254-582: 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

6360-464: 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

6466-408: 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

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6572-455: 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 ,

6678-547: The county's proposal to become part of the county-wide library system. In 1974, George Hearn, library association president, stated to journalists that “we built it with our own hands and our own sweat and blood and we’ll hold on to it.” The City of Altamonte expanded the library building in September 1985 to house the Greater Seminole County Chamber of Commerce. The now 8,240 square foot facility

6784-497: The county, most notable of such being Lake Apopka . Wekiwa Springs is a 7,000-acre (28 km ) state park , that features natural springs, trails, and campsites. The land that is Orange County was part of the first land to come up from below the Early Oligocene sea 33.9–28.4 million years ago and is known as Orange Island . Orange County's Rock Spring location is a Pleistocene fossil -bearing area and has yielded

6890-645: 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

6996-482: 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 ,

7102-455: 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 ,

7208-433: The decades around the turn of the 20th century. This was the highest total of any county in the state, and sixth highest of any county in the country. Florida had the highest per-capita rate of lynchings of any state in the South, where the great majority of these extrajudicial murders took place. Among the terrorist lynchings was the death of Julius "July" Perry of Ocoee, whose body was found November 3, 1920, hanged from

7314-399: The deep end of an Olympic-size swimming pool, chunks of two streets and Williams' three-bedroom home and yard. Florida engineers have described the event as "the largest sinkhole event witnessed by man as a result of natural geological reasons or conditions." They based their statements on his study of 2,000 sinkholes over more than 40 years. That opinion was echoed by Ardaman & Associates,

7420-460: The demographics of the county. Orlando, establishing itself as a city in 1885, experienced rapid growth from 1875 to 1895, due to it becoming the hub of Florida's citrus industry. The fruit that constituted the county's main commodity crop, was the impetus to the aforementioned county's renaming. The dark-green foliage of orange trees filled the county, as did the scent of the orange blossoms when in bloom. Fewer commercial orange groves remained by

7526-480: The end of the twentieth century. The majority of groves were destroyed by the freezing temperatures that occurred in December 1983, January 1985 , and December 1989, the worst since 1899. During the post-Reconstruction period, white people committed a high rate of racial violence against black people in Orange County; racial terrorism was used to re-establish and maintain white supremacy . Whites lynched 33 African Americans here from 1877 to 1950; most were killed in

7632-494: The evening of May 8, 1981, near the house of Winter Park resident Mae Rose Williams. Within a few hours, a 40-year-old sycamore tree near her house had fallen into the sinkhole. The next morning, the hole expanded to nearly 40 feet (12 m) wide. In a story in the Orlando Sentinel , she said that as the sun rose, she heard a noise "like giant beavers chewing" as the hole began to devour more of her land. The hole

7738-532: The first volunteer-librarian. On January 31, 1960, an Open House and Tea was held for the public. Four days later, the library officially opened and for the first three years, the library grew through book donations. The Association raised money through fundraising events and through a generous donation on July 10, 1961, the Association bought the Bundy Cottage. The original Cottage was closed in 1977 and

7844-463: The five Porsches. The other two remain at the bottom of the lake with Mae Rose Owens' home. Engineers filled in the bottom with dirt and concrete. Diver reports from 2009 suggest that the lake has since been used to dispose of unwanted vehicles. Besides a 1987 incident in which the bottom of the lake suddenly dropped 20 feet (6.1 m), causing erosion on the southern rim, the stabilized sinkhole has been generally quiet. The Langford Hotel served as

7950-404: The inhabitants, grew up around Mizell's plot. It got a post office and a new name—" Osceola "—in 1870. The area did not develop rapidly until 1880, when a South Florida Railroad track connecting Orlando and Sanford was laid a few miles west of Osceola. Shortly afterwards, Loring Chase came to Orange County from Chicago to recuperate from a lung disease . In his travels, he discovered

8056-411: The library association, Dorothy Fuller and the president at the time, Mrs. Cockley. The facility cost $ 60,000 and although the Association attempted to pay off the mortgage, in 1977 the city offered to assume the management of the library and its operating expenses. This included the remaining $ 10,000 mortgage, which was signed over to the city by Sadelle Pate, President, and Florence Coursen, Secretary, of

8162-565: The library should not shut down and is vital to the city. 28°39′32″N 81°21′56″W  /  28.658784°N 81.365628°W  / 28.658784; -81.365628 Winter Park, Florida Winter Park is a city in Orange County, Florida , United States. The population was 29,795 according to the 2020 census. It is part of the Orlando–Kissimmee–Sanford, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area . Winter Park

8268-714: 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 ,

8374-458: The most affluent part with an average household income of $ 44,000. There are still houses with significant higher incomes within these parts. The “Via” streets are one of the most affluent neighborhoods. This area includes the Isle of Sicily, a private drive that juts out into Lake Maitland with extremely expensive houses and residents such as Doc Rivers and Carrot Top. To the east of Park Ave, the area

8480-469: 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 )

8586-562: 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

8692-489: 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

8798-505: The opposite direction to Oviedo and beyond (via the Florida Trail), due to a new pedestrian bridge spanning Semoran Boulevard (SR 436) in Orange County. SunRail operates a rail line through Winter Park on the former Atlantic Coast Line , with an Amtrak and SunRail commuter rail station in downtown's historic Central Park. The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild winters. According to

8904-481: The polls. Perry, a prosperous farmer, was suspected of sheltering Mose Norman, an African-American man who had tried to vote. After Norman was twice turned away, white violence broke out, resulting in a riot through the black community, leaving an estimated 50 to 60 African-Americans dead and all the properties destroyed. Many blacks fled from Ocoee to save their lives, and the town became all-white. Voting efforts were suppressed for decades. Economically destroyed at

9010-515: The population increased in the region, the legislature organized several counties, such as Osceola (1887), Seminole (1913), Lake (1887), and Volusia (1854), from its territory. Early on, the county greatly suffered, due to the Union blockade , but things greatly improved during Reconstruction . A boom in population, resulting from the incorporation of the Town of Orlando in 1875, greatly changed

9116-449: The pretty group of lakes just east of the railbed. He enlisted a wealthy New Englander , Oliver E. Chapman, and they assembled a very large tract of land for $ 13,000 on July 4, 1881. They planned the town of Winter Park on this piece of land. Over the next four years they plotted the town, opened streets, built a town hall and a store, planted orange trees, and required all buildings to meet stylistic and architectural standards. Winter Park

9222-404: The sinkhole: five Porsches at a repair shop, a pickup truck with camper top, the Winter Park municipal pool, and large portions of Denning Drive. By May 9, nearly 250,000 cubic yards (190,000 m ) of earth had fallen into the sinkhole. Damage was estimated at $ 2 million to $ 4 million. On May 9, 1981, the sinkhole grew to a record size, gulping down 250,000 cubic yards of soil and taking with it

9328-616: 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

9434-524: 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:

9540-428: The third-largest GDP of Florida's 67 counties and the 27th-largest for the nation's 3,033 counties. The county is a tourist, economic, and cultural hub for the Central Florida region. Popular destinations within the county include Walt Disney World , Universal Orlando , SeaWorld Orlando , Icon Park , Kia Center , Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts , Orlando Museum of Art , and many other attractions. It

9646-493: The time by Louis A. Hakes, whose son was the first to notify Temple of the different quality of the new orange. The orange was introduced and cataloged by Buckeye Nursery in 1917, the year W. C. Temple died. Myron E. Gillett and his son D. Collins Gillett later went on to plant the largest orange grove in the world in the 1920s (5,000 acres (2,000 ha)) in Temple Terrace , Florida. The Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival

9752-785: 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

9858-540: The typical tourist scene of the Orlando theme parks. There is a quaint, local feel to the town even though there are a lot of tourists, especially during the winter months and holidays. Within the city is the Mead Botanical Garden which is a 47.6 acres (19.3 ha) park that encompasses several ecosystems. It has an amphitheater, butterfly garden, discovery barn and a recreation center. Many structures are more than 100 years old. Bonnier Corporation

9964-477: Was a heavily planned city, something that is still evident in its streets’ grid-like organization. The town was then promoted heavily, especially to snow birds in the north looking for a place to hibernate in the winter. During this founding time, the Winter Park Post Office opened, and the railroad constructed a depot, connected to Osceola by a dirt road. In 1885, a group of businessmen started

10070-651: Was built with a $ 12.5 million grant from the Harold Alfond Foundation. Net operating income from the Inn is directed to The Alfond Scholars program fund, the College's premier scholarship fund. An orange grove, known as the Temple Grove, stood on the south side of Palmer Avenue just east of Temple Drive. The temple orange was grown on the old Wyeth grove on Palmer Avenue (later Temple Grove) owned at

10176-440: Was collapsing rapidly. By noon, as she realized that her home was slipping into the expanding hole, she and the family evacuated and removed their belongings. That afternoon her house fell into the sinkhole, and within a few hours the house was irrevocably on its way into the sinkhole's center, headed to unknown depths. The hole eventually widened to 320 feet (98 m) and to a depth of 90 feet (27 m). The following fell into

10282-401: Was commemorated by a ribbon cutting celebration. Speakers at the anniversary included Betty French and city officials at the time. The celebration also honored its volunteers for their dedication. Internet was made available in 1996 and automation of the catalog which was begun in 1991 was completed in 2003 using Precision One by Brodart . As of 2006, and Online Public Access Catalog (OPAC)

10388-426: Was demolished in 1985. The second stage of development occurred in 1968 when the Altamonte Springs Library Association, in an effort to reach the greater community, changed its name to the South Seminole Community Library Association. A new 2,880 square building was dedicated on December 13, 1970, at their present address 281 N. Maitland Avenue. The ceremonial ribbon cutting was observed by the former first president of

10494-421: 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

10600-516: Was founded as a resort community by northern business magnates in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. ^ Its main street, called Park Avenue, is located in the middle of town. It includes civic buildings, retail, art galleries, a private liberal arts college ( Rollins College ), museums, a park, a train station, a golf course country club, a historic cemetery, and a beach and boat launch. The Winter Park area's first human residents were migrant Muscogee people who had earlier intermingled with

10706-465: Was historically located at 460 E. New England Avenue in the heart of Winter Park. Its origins date back to 1885, when nine women organized to create a lending library for their small community, which was still in its infancy at the time. The Winter Park Public Library underwent major changes and moved to a new site. It opened in late 2021 on a new world-class campus designed by world-renowned architect Sir David Adjaye . In 1904, Charles Hosmer Morse became

10812-445: Was made available to the public for remote access of the library's holdings. Patrons can view their personal accounts and reserve books from home as well. The city announced closure of the library on July 8, 2024 citing budget constraints and rising costs. The library was set to close permanently September 30, 2024. However, the city held a special meeting to discuss the library shutting down, and residents argued to commissioners that

10918-608: Was organized as Mosquito County , and Enterprise was named its county seat . This large county took up much of central Florida . The Indian Removal Act of 1830 authorized relocation of the Seminole people from Florida to Oklahoma . This resulted in pushback from the Seminole community, leading to the Second Seminole War . In 1845 when Florida finally became a state, the county was renamed Orange County . After

11024-688: 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

11130-694: Was shared between the Altamonte Springs City Library and the Chamber of Commerce until the Chamber relocated in September 1990. The children's section of the library now occupies this space. In 1982, the new city Library was featured in an article from the Seminole Little Sentinel entitled “Once orphan, library thrives in Altamonte.” In the article, Katherine Petty, the volunteer librarian at the time, states that

11236-500: 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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