From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| City of Orlando |
|
|
Flag |
Seal |
|
| Nickname(s): The City Beautiful |
| Motto: "Built for Families, Made for Memories"[1] |
|
Location in Orange County and the state of Florida |
|
U.S. Census Map |
Coordinates:  28°32′01″N 81°22′6.72″W / 28.53361, -81.3685333 |
| Country |
 United States |
| State |
 Florida |
| County |
Orange |
| Settled |
1875 |
| Government |
| - Mayor |
Buddy Dyer (D) |
| Area |
| - City |
101.0 sq mi (261.5 km²) |
| - Land |
93.5 sq mi (242.2 km²) |
| - Water |
7.5 sq mi (19.3 km²) |
| Elevation |
98 ft (34 m) |
| Population (2007)[2] |
| - City |
227,907 |
| - Density |
2,180.06/sq mi (842.01/km²) |
| - Metro |
2,032,496UNIQ7d42,548,663d21e5f-ref-00,000,000-QINU |
| |
2007 estimates |
| Time zone |
EST (UTC-5) |
| - Summer (DST) |
EDT (UTC-4) |
| Area code(s) |
321, 407 |
| FIPS code |
12-53000[3] |
| GNIS feature ID |
0288240[4] |
| Website: www.cityoforlando.net |
The city of Orlando is a major city in central Florida, USA and is the county seat of Orange County, Florida. It is also the principal city of Greater Orlando. The Orlando-Kissimmee MSA is Florida's third-largest metropolitan area, behind Miami and Tampa. Orlando is also home to the University of Central Florida, which is the second largest university in Florida in student enrollment and has the 6th largest enrollment in the nation.
The city is well known for the many tourist attractions in the area, in particular the nearby Walt Disney World Resort, which is located in Lake Buena Vista about 20 miles (32 km) south of Orlando city limits via Interstate 4. Other notable area attractions include SeaWorld and Universal Orlando Resort.
The region sees an estimated 52 million tourists a year. Orlando has
the second largest number of hotel rooms in the country (after Las Vegas, Nevada), and is one of the busiest American cities for conferences and conventions with the Orange County Convention Center,
the country's second 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 several miles away from the main tourist
attractions, Downtown Orlando is undergoing major redevelopment with a number of residential and commercial towers.
The city symbol is the fountain of Lake Eola and the current mayor is Buddy Dyer.
History
Historians date Orlando's name to around 1837, 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. A memorial beside Lake Eola designates the spot where the city's namesake fell.
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 became the county seat of Orange County in 1856. It remained a rural backwater during the Civil War, and suffered greatly during the Union blockade. The Reconstruction Era brought a population explosion, which led to Orlando's incorporation as a town on 1875-07-31, and as a city in 1885.[5]
The period from 1875 to 1895 is remembered as Orlando's Golden Era, when it became the hub of Florida's citrus industry. But the 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" who shifted operations south, primarily around Lake Wales in Polk County.
The Wyoming Hotel in c. 1905
There were a couple of notable homesteaders in the area, including
the Curry family. Through their property in east Orlando flowed the Econlockhatchee River, which travelers crossed by fording.
This would be commemorated by the street's name, Curry Ford Road. Also,
just south of the airport in the Boggy Creek area was 150 acres
(0.61 km²) 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 SKEET, which serves as the basis for its hospitals today.
In the 1920s, Orlando experienced extensive housing development during the Florida Land Boom. Land prices soared. During this period several neighborhoods in downtown were constructed, endowing it with many bungalows. The boom ended when several hurricanes hit Florida in the late 20s and by the Great Depression.
During World War II,
a number of Army personnel were stationed at the Orlando Army Air Base
and nearby Pinecastle Army Air Field. 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 the city. Orlando AAB and Pinecastle AAF were transferred to the United States Air Force in 1947 when it became a separate service and were redesignated as Air Force Bases (AFB). In 1958, Pinecastle AFB was renamed McCoy Air Force Base
after Colonel Michael N.W. McCoy, a former commander of the 320th
Bombardment Wing at the installation, killed in the crash of a B-47 Stratojet bomber north of Orlando. In the 1960s, the base subsequently became home to the 306th Bombardment Wing of the Strategic Air Command (SAC), operating B-52 Stratofortress and KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft, in addition to detachment operations by EC-121 and U-2 aircraft.
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.
Lucerne Circle in c. 1905
Perhaps the most critical event for Orlando's economy occurred in 1965 when Walt Disney announced plans to build Walt Disney World. Although Walt had considered the regions of Miami and Tampa for his park, one of the major reasons behind his decision not to locate there was due to hurricanes.
Orlando's inland location, although not free from hurricanes, exposed
it to less threat than the coast. 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. Orlando is consistently
ranked as one of the top vacation destinations in the world, and now
boasts more theme parks and entertainment attractions than anywhere else in the world.
Another major factor in Orlando's growth occurred in 1962, when the new Orlando Jetport, the precursor of the present day Orlando International Airport, 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) were providing scheduled flights. McCoy Air Force Base
officially closed in 1975, and most of it is now part of the airport.
The airport still retains the former Air Force Base airport code (MCO).
In addition to McCoy Air Force Base, Orlando also had a naval
presence with the establishment of Naval Training Center Orlando on the
former Orlando AFB in 1968. The newest of three Naval Training Centers
in the United States providing training to recruits, as well as being a
base for selected post basic training programs for enlisted personnel,
NTC Orlando also conducted nuclear power training for commissioned
officers and the base had a prominent presence in the area. In 1993,
the Base Realignment and Closure Commission
ordered that NTC Orlando be closed, along with a companion
installation, NTC San Diego. NTC Orlando continued in a diminished
capacity until the base closed for good in 1999 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. Other than Reserve and National Guard activities, the Orlando area's remaining military presence is the Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division/Naval
Support Activity Orlando, located just east of the city limits in the
Central Florida Research Park. The U.S. Army's Program Executive Office
for Simulation, Training and Instrumentation (PEO-STRI), the U.S. Marine Corps'
Program Manager for Training Systems (PMTRASYS) and the U.S. Air
Force's Agency for Modeling and Simulation are also collocated at that
location.
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)./127 m), the Bank of America Center (Formerly Barnett Plaza, 1988, 409 ft (125 m)./123 m), Solaire at the Plaza (2006, 359 ft (109 m)./109 m) and the Orlando International Airport ATC
Tower (2002, 346 ft (105 m)./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. [6] [7] The SeaWorld
SkyTower, at 400 ft (122 m) tall, is the tallest tower in Orange County
outside 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.
Geography
Topography
Orlando is located at 28°32′1″N, 81°22′33″W (28.533513, -81.375789).[8] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 261.5 km² (101 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 (32 m) 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 can push the heat index
to over 110 °F (45 °C). The city's highest recorded temperature is 101
°F (39 °C), set July 2, 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. They are highlighted by intense lightning and can also bring heavy rainfall (sometimes several inches per hour) and powerful winds as well as occasional damaging hail.
During the winter season, humidity is lower and temperatures are
more moderate, and can fluctuate more readily. Average nighttime lows
in January are around 50 °F (10 °C), and average daytime highs are
about 72 °F (22 °C). Temperatures rarely reach below 32 °F (0 °C),
though the city can 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 significant snowfall (no measurable snow has fallen
since recording began at the airport in 1948). Very rarely the
ingredients come together for flurries to occur, commonly ocean effect snow. The area west of Orlando recorded up to 2" in 1977, and reports of flurries in the Central Florida area include December 23, 1989 and January 24, 2003. [2]
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 a usually wet January and February, followed by
drought throughout the spring and early summer, causing a record
wildfire season that created numerous air quality alerts in Orlando.
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 42
miles (68 km) inland from the Atlantic and 77 miles (124 km) inland
from the Gulf of Mexico,[9]
hurricanes usually weaken before arriving. Storm surges are not a
concern since the region is 100 ft (30 m) above sea level. Despite its
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.
| Month |
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
Year |
| Record high °F (°C) (year) |
87 (31) (1991) |
90 (32) (1962) |
92 (33) (1994) |
96 (36) (1968) |
100 (38) (1962) |
100 (38) (1998) |
101 (38) (1998) |
100 (38) (1980) |
98 (37) (1988) |
95 (35) (1986) |
89 (32) (1992) |
90 (32) (1978) |
101 (38) (1998) |
| Average high °F (°C) |
72 (22) |
73 (22) |
77 (25) |
83 (28) |
88 (31) |
91 (32) |
92 (33) |
92 (33) |
89 (31) |
84 (28) |
77 (25) |
73 (22) |
83 (28) |
| Average low °F (°C) |
50 (10) |
51 (10) |
55 (12) |
61 (16) |
67 (19) |
71 (21) |
73 (22) |
73 (22) |
72 (22) |
65 (18) |
56 (13) |
51 (10) |
62 (16) |
| Record low °F (°C) (year) |
19 (-7) (1985) |
26 (-3) (1996) |
25 (-4) (1980) |
38 (4) (1987) |
48 (9) (1992) |
53 (12) (1984) |
64 (18) (1981) |
64 (18) (1957) |
56 (13) (1956) |
43 (6) (1957) |
29 (-2) (1950) |
20 (-7) (1983) |
19 (-7) (1985) |
Average rainfall
in. (cm) |
2.1 (5) |
3.1 (7) |
3.5 (8) |
2.6 (6) |
3.0 (7) |
6.5 (16) |
8.1 (20) |
7.2 (18) |
6.8 (17) |
3.9 (9) |
1.7 (4) |
2.1 (5) |
50.6 (128) |
Record monthly rainfall
in. (cm) |
6.4 (16) |
6.8 (17) |
10.5 (26) |
6.2 (15) |
8.6 (21) |
18.3 (46) |
19.6 (49) |
16.1 (40) |
12.2 (30) |
14.1 (36) |
6.4 (16) |
4.7 (11) |
68.7 (174) |
| Source: [3]. Temperature color representation based on Weather Underground. |
Neighborhoods
Orlando has many neighborhoods [10] within city limits:
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 27th-largest metro area in the United States with a 2007 Census-estimated population of 2,032,496.[11]
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. [12] This new larger CSA carries a total population (as of 2007) of 2,693,552. [13], and carries three of the 25 fastest-growing counties in the nation--Flagler ranks 1st; Osceola, 17th; and Lake, 23rd.[14]
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.
Suburbs
| Northwest: Apopka, Mount Dora, Eustis, Tavares, Leesburg, The Villages |
North: Eatonville, Maitland, Winter Park, Altamonte Springs, Sanford, Deltona, Longwood, Bunnell, Lake Mary |
Northeast: Casselberry, Oviedo, Winter Springs, Daytona Beach, New Smyrna Beach, Palm Coast |
| West: Ocoee, Winter Garden, Gotha, Windermere, Clermont, Oakland, Bushnell |
ORLANDO |
East: Bithlo, Union Park, Wedgefield, Eastwood |
| Southwest: Lake Buena Vista, Celebration, Citrus Ridge , Doctor Phillips |
South: Edgewood, Belle Isle, Kissimmee, Poinciana, Meadow Woods |
Southeast: Saint Cloud, Harmony, Holopaw, Yeehaw Junction |
Demographics
As of the census[3]of
2000, there were 185,951 people (2007 estimate counted 227,907 people),
80,883 households, and 42,382 families residing in the city. The population densitywas
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 was Hispanicor Latinoof any race. Non-Hispanic Whites made up 50.8% of the population.[15]The city has large Puerto Rican, Colombian, Venezuelan, Haitian, Russianand Vietnamesecommunities (among others), as well as a growing number of British(mostly English ) residents.[citation needed]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 incomefor
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 incomefor 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 LGBTpeople. 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, it ranks 9th in the nation.[16]
Languages
As of 2000, 75.43% of all residents spoke English as their first language, while 16.60% spoke Spanish language, 1.93% spoke Haitian Creole, 1.33% spoke French, and 0.99% of the population spoke Portuguese as their mother language.[17]
Culture
Like Florida cities Miami and Tampa, the Orlando metro area has a large and increasing number of Latino
residents (close to 400,000 in 2006). Orlando metro area is home to one
of the nation's largest and most rapidly growing hispanic communities
(particularly its metropolitan area
numbering 219,735 in 2006). This is reflected by the abundance of
mainly hispanic-themed restaurants and radio stations. Spanish-language
music, such as Reggaeton and Salsa, are 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. 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 hispanic families in the United States, followed by Los Angeles and Texas. Many hispanics have relocated to Central Florida,
mainly to the Orlando-Kissimmee area. The short air travel distance
from Orlando to Puerto Rico, similar climate and job opportunities have
attracted Puerto Ricans to choose the Orlando-Kissimmee area. Orlando
also has many residents of Cuban descent, largely refugees or their children from the Cuban Revolution.
Thousands of people pack the streets of Downtown Orlando for one of
Central Florida's largest celebrations of Latino culture each year in
October. Organizers say 100,000 people come each year to the Calle
Orange festival. More than 40 artists perform on four stages. There
will is also plenty of food highlighting the cuisines of Central and
South America, the Caribbean.[citation needed]
Orlando metro area has an African-American
population numbering 322,031 in 2006 (more than 45,000 are of
Afro-Caribbean decent). The city is located within six miles (10 km) of
the suburb Eatonville, Florida, the first all-black town to be incorporated in the United States.
Since 1990, the number of neighborhoods in Metro Orlando without black
homeowners has dropped from 48 percent to 7 percent. In Seminole, the
most affluent county in Central Florida, only one of the county's
neighborhoods had no black homeowners in 2000. Since 2000, the array of
organizations (The Young Professionals, Metropolitan Orlando Urban
League, The Circle of Friends, The Social Black Women and The Orlando
Minority Professionals Network) for black professionals has expanded as
the number of college-educated, middle-class blacks in Metro Orlando
grew by 29 percent. Black households making more than $100,000 a year
nearly doubled since 1999, according to the latest census figures.[citation needed]
The new groups, many of them Web-based, expand the network of black
professionals beyond the traditional groups of alumni associations,
fraternities and sororities, and organizations for attorneys, doctors
and engineers. The new groups, many of them Web-based, expand the
network of black professionals beyond the traditional groups of alumni
associations, fraternities and sororities, and organizations for
attorneys, doctors and engineers. The growth of new networking
organizations reflects, in many ways, the dispersal of black
professionals across Metro Orlando. Because there is no established,
middle-class black business district or an upscale black neighborhood,
the groups serve as that center of gravity for black professionals. The
National Black MBA Association held its 29th annual conference and expo
at Orlando's Orange County Convention Center September 11-16, 2007. The
conference at the Orange County Convention Center brought 11,000 to the
Orlando area. The Florida Classic that draws well over 100,000 people
from all over the nation to participate in the largest historically
Black college or university (HBCU) Classic, held between Florida
A&M University and Bethune-Cookman University. In a joint
statement, Dr. James H. Ammons, President of Florida A&M
University, and Dr. Trudie Kibbe Reed, President of Bethune-Cookman
University, declared, "This Classic is more than a game. It is a family
reunion that has evolved into the greatest competition between two
historic universities in the state of Florida. The football game, the
band competition, the tailgating, the display of school pride, as well
as the student recruitment and educational fairs now attract
individuals as far away as New York City and deliver a near $30 million
economic impact to the Central Florida economy.[citation needed]
A thriving Vietnamese quarter called "Little Vietnam" or "Little Saigon" exists in the Colonialtown district of Orlando.[18]
The neighborhood has become a landmark in the city of Orlando and
consists of numerous restaurants, groceries, and merchants offering
imports from across Asia such as music, videos, collectibles, et al.
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 its roots in war refugees seeking a
new life in America after the fall of Saigon. Notable pro-democracy activists, such as Thuong Nguyen Cuc Foshee,
who was just recently released from prison in Vietnam, call Orlando
their home. The Vietnamese Community in Orlando, along with
institutions like Long Van Temple, St. Philip Phan Van Minh Church,
Vietnamese Baptist Church, and groups such as The Vietnamese
Association of Central Florida, strive to maintain their heritage as
well as share their culture with the rest of Orlando. Annual events,
such as the numerous Tet New Year Celebrations at the Central Florida
Fairgrounds and across the city, help spread Vietnamese culture and
promote diversity throughout Orlando.[citation needed]
Entertainment and performing arts
The hip hop music scene, metal scene, rock music scene, Reggaeton and Latino scene, are all active within the city, which is largely home to the Florida Breakbeat movement. Orlando has also been called Hollywood East because of numerous cinematic enterprises in the area.[19]
The Universal Studios globe
Until recently, Walt Disney Feature Animation operated a studio out of Disney/Hollywood 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. Universal Studios's Soundstage 21 is home to The TNA Impact
Zone, but 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. In
addition, the implosion of Orlando's previous City Hall was filmed for
the movie Lethal Weapon 3.
Orlando's indie film scene has been picking back up since Haxan Film's
The Blair Witch Project (1999) and a few years later with Charlize
Theron winning her Academy Award for Monster (2003). A Florida state
film incentive has also helped increase the amount of films being
produced in Orlando and the rest of the state.
The Orlando Metropolitan Area is also home to a substantial theatre
population. Several professional and semi-professional houses and many
community theaters 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 theater 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 theaters 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.[citation needed]
Orlando's Culture Coast consists of Ormond Beach, Daytona Beach and
New Smyrna Beach and includes many cultural attractions including the Museum of Arts and Sciences, Atlantic Center for the Arts, Southeast Museum of Photography,
Ormond Beach Art Museum, plus numerous galleries and shops located in
the quaint downtown districts of Daytona Beach, Ormond Beach and New
Smyrna Beach. This area really is like Orlando's cultural district on
the beach
Tourism
- See also: List of amusement parks in Greater Orlando and List of Orlando, Florida attractions
- For tourist information, see Wikitravel:Orlando.
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's Hollywood 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 comprising Universal Studios Florida, CityWalk, and the Islands of Adventure theme park.
Shopping malls
Orlando has 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 50,000,000 square feet (4,650,000 m²) of
shopping space in Central Florida. [20]
- The Florida Mall
is the largest mall in Orlando, one of the largest single-story malls
in the USA at over 1,849,000 sq ft (171,800 m²) with over 250 stores,
seven anchor department stores, and the Florida Mall Hotel &
Conference Center tower.
- The Mall at Millenia is a contemporary two-level upscale shopping mall, including the world-famous department stores of Bloomingdale's, Macy's, and Neiman Marcus. The mall is also home to Blue Martini, a popular trendy lounge and night club. In addition, IKEA Orlando opened adjacent to the mall on November 14, 2007.
- Orlando Fashion Square is the nearest indoor shopping mall to Downtown Orlando. The mall features 4 anchor department stores and a 14-screen Premiere Cinema theater.
- Festival Bay Mall on International Drive is home to stores, a skate park, and a theater. The Ron Jon Surf Park is currently under construction.
Museums
- The Orlando Museum of Art is Orlando's largest modern art museum. Located in Loch Haven Park, the museum has ongoing exhibitions of American portraits and landscapes, American impressionist
works, and art of the ancient Americas. In 2003, the museum hosted the
world-renowned full exhibition of the famous glass sculptor, Dale Chihuly.
- 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. In 2007 the Orlando Science Center hosted the
nationally-renowned exhibit "Our Body, The Universe Within" featuring
real human corpses.
- 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.
- 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.
- Mennello Museum of American Art features a variety of American Art exhibits, mostly from the 20th century. The museum is located in Loch Haven Park.
- Cornell Fine Arts Museum, situated on the campus of Rollins College, located in nearby Winter Park,
features significant loans, recent acquisitions, and items from the
Cornell's renowned permanent collection. Admission is free.
- 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.
- Arboretum of the University of Central Florida is an arboretum and botanical garden located in the heart of the University of Central Florida main campus in East Orlando.
- The Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center of Central Florida is a non-profit museum and education center dedictated to the Holocaust during World War II.
Sports
Orlando Magic
-
Main article: Orlando Magic
Orlando is home to the Orlando Magic, an NBA pro basketball franchise that plays at Amway Arena in downtown Orlando. Orlando's Amway Arena, opened in 1989. However, it will be replaced around 2010 by the $480-million Orlando Events Center.
Other Sports
The WNBA's Orlando Miracle played four seasons at Amway (1999-2002) before moving north to become the Connecticut Sun.
Pro baseball has been played in Orlando since 1919, primarily in the Class A Florida State League, until the Orlando Twins joined the AA Southern League in 1973. 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 the AA Southern League affiliates of the Twins, Chicago Cubs and Tampa Bay Devil Rays. In 2000, the Orlando Rays moved from Tinker Field to Cracker Jack Stadium at the Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex. Despite having a beautiful new ballpark (which also serves as spring training home of the Atlanta Braves), the Rays drew poorly at Disney and moved to Montgomery, Alabama
for the 2004 season. The stadium has been mostly empty ever since,
although it did play host to first-round (Pool D) games in the 2006 World Baseball Classic and a three-game series between the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and the Texas Rangers in 2007. Orlando is currently the largest metropolitan area in the United States without a pro baseball team.[citation needed]
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 its regular season games at the Citrus Bowl
through the 2006 season, until the construction of a new stadium on the
UCF campus, Bright House Networks Stadium. UCF plays college sports at the highest level.
Professional football in Orlando in goes back to the 1960s, when the Orlando Panthers played in the minor-league Continental Football League. The Panthers won two CPFL titles in 1967 and 1968, but folded with the league after the 1969 season. In 1974, the World Football League was formed, and a franchise originally planned for Boston, then moved to the Washington D. C. area, wound up in Orlando as the Florida Blazers.
Despite playing before sparse crowds at the Citrus Bowl and not getting
paid for weeks at a time, the Blazers won their division with a 14-6
record and qualified for the first (and only) WFL championship game,
losing to the Birmingham Americans,
22-21. The franchise was relocated to San Antonio for the 1975 season,
then quietly expired with the league in October of that year.
Since then, Orlando has hosted several pro teams in short-lived leagues. In 1985, the USFL's Washington Federals shifted to the Citrus Bowl and were re-named the Orlando Renegades.
Despite a 5-13 record, the Renegades were one of the eight teams that
stayed in the USFL for its projected fall season in 1986, but the
league folded before any games were played that year. Next came the Orlando Thunder, 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 of the other the American-based teams, the franchise
was dropped in the World League reorganization of 1995. Then came the Orlando Rage, a member of the infamous XFL
who, like the other teams, played at the Citrus Bowl. The Rage had the
XFL's best record at 8-2, but were upset in the playoffs, and the XFL
folded. (The Orlando Rage name has since been revived in the semi-pro Southern States Football League). The Citrus Bowl was originally slated to host some of the games for the Florida team in the All American Football League beginning in 2008, but Team Florida will play their games in Gainesville, Tampa and Jacksonville instead.
The Citrus Bowl also hosted an NFL team -- a fictional one, the Orlando Breakers, who were 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.
In arena football, the Orlando Predators have been one of the Arena Football League's
flagship franchises since entering the league in 1991. Playing at Amway
Arena, the Predators have won seven divisional titles and two Arena Bowls, in 1998 and 2000.
In the 1990s, ice hockey became popular in Orlando, perhaps due to large influx of northerners to the city. In the 1993-94 NHL season, the Tampa Bay Lightning played four "home" games at the Orlando Arena, with a 1-2-1 record. The Orlando Solar Bears, of the now-defunct International Hockey League, were formed in 1995 and were very successful, making the playoffs in each of its six seasons and qualifying for Turner Cup
Finals twice (losing both times) before finally taking the title in
2001. Unfortunately, that was the IHL's final season, and the Solar
Bears folded. In 2002, the Atlantic Coast Hockey League was formed with Orlando hosting one of the charter franchises, the Orlando Seals,
which won their Commissioner's Cup in 2003; this made Orlando the only
Florida city with two hockey championships. The Seals 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, however, forcing them to sit out the 2004-05 season. They moved
to Kissimmee and became the Florida Seals in November 2004. The team resumed play in the 2005-2006 season, playing home games at the Silver Spurs Arena, making it to the President's Cup Finals before losing to Knoxville.
Then on January 4, 2007, the Silver Spurs Arena abruptly booted the
Seals due to unpaid rent, forcing the franchise to fold. There will be
no pro hockey in Orlando in 2007-08.
In soccer, the Citrus Bowl hosted games for the FIFA World Cup '94 and the 1996 Summer Olympics. 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, disbanding after their season in 1997.
Presently, the Premier Development League's (PDL) Central Florida Kraze
call Orlando home. The Kraze won the PDL Championship in 2004 and have
appeared in the playoffs in five of the past six years. Indoors,
Orlando gained an expansion franchise in the Major Indoor Soccer League, the Orlando Sharks, who began play in the 2007-08 season.
Orlando is also the home to the NBA Pre-Draft camp, the MLB Draft, the MLB Winter Meetings, and the NFL Annual Meeting, and since 2005, the PSP World Cup paintball tournament.
The Orlando Citrus Bowl was also home to WWE Wrestlemania XXIV in 2008.
Media
Newspapers
Radio
Television
Economy
- See also: List of Florida companies and List of notable companies in Orlando, Florida
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.[21]
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's Hollywood 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.
Orlando is the home base of Darden Restaurants, the parent company of Red Lobster and Olive Garden
and the largest operator of restaurants in the world by revenue. They
are building a new world headquarters and central distribution facility
on John Young Parkway.[citation needed]
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 Health and Florida Hospital. Orlando Health'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.[citation needed] 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. [22]
There is a very low unemployment rate in Greater Orlando, 3.1% as of March 2007.[23] The result is growth that has led to urban sprawl in the surrounding area and, in combination with the 2007 Subprime mortgage financial crisis,
to the rising cost of home 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 $211,000 in
April 2008.[24]
- Forbes.com ranks Metro Orlando fifth on their annual list of "Most Wired Cities."
- Metro Orlando ranks 5th among Milken Institute’s 2007 "Best Performing Cities."
- Metro Orlando has a rapidly growing $13.4 billion technology industry employing 70,000 people.
- BusinessWeek recently touted Orlando as one of three global “hot spots” for innovation along with Singapore and Stockholm.
- Metro Orlando has the 7th largest research park in the country that
is home to over 120 companies and is the hub of the nation’s military
simulation and training programs.
- Orlando has nationally recognized clusters of innovation in digital media, agritechnology, aviation and aerospace, and software.
- For the fourth consecutive year, the Metro Orlando economy ranks
among the strongest economies in the U.S. and the strongest in the
state of Florida according to the annual POLICOM Economic Strength
Rankings.
- According to a newly released book, Today’s Hot Job Targets, Metro Orlando ranks second in the nation for job opportunities.
- Orlando is the “No. 1 Hottest Job Market” according to Business2.0.
- Inc. magazine names Orlando as the fourth “Best City for Business” in the large cities category.
- fDi magazine recognizes Orlando as one of the “North American
Cities of the Future”; No. 3 in “Most Business Friendly;” and No. 4 in
“Quality of Life.”
- According to Forbes magazine, Orlando is the fourth “Best City in the Country for creating jobs.”
- BusinessWeek magazine featured Metro Orlando among its picks of
“global hot spots" in its issue titled What Makes a Winner: The
Competition Issue. Orlando is one of three communities in the world to
be featured.
- Metro Orlando was named one of ten "Blooming U.S. Cities for Tech" according to eWEEK.com.
- Forbes magazine lists Metro Orlando among the "Best Places for Business and Careers."
- Southern Business & Development magazine names Metro Orlando “Major Market of the Year,” twice in three years.
- Metro Orlando is ranked as one of the top five “Cities for Moviemakers” by MovieMaker Magazine.
- The Central Florida Research Park, totaling more than 1,025 acres
(4.15 km²) and home to 85 companies employing more than 8,500 people,
is one of the top 10 research parks in the nation.
- More than 150 international companies, representing approximately 20 countries, have facilities in Metro Orlando.
Education
Public primary and secondary education is handled by Orange County Public Schools. Some of the larger private schools include The First Academy, Trinity Preparatory School, Lake Highland Preparatory School, and Bishop Moore High School.
Area institutions of higher education
State University
Community Colleges
Private Universities, Colleges, and Others
Infrastructure
Airports
- The Orlando International Airport (MCO)
is Orlando's primary airport, currently ranked as the busiest airport
in the State of Florida. The airport was ranked by passengers as the #1
airport in the nation according to J.D. Power & Associates.
The airport features 2 terminals with radiating air-side terminals,
flyers are transported via elevated trams. The airport also houses an
on-site Hyatt Regency hotel.
- The Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB) located in Sanford, FL (far northern suburb) serves as a secondary airport, mainly for European discount carriers.
- The Orlando Executive Airport located near Downtown Orlando serves primarily executive jets, flight training schools, and general small-aircraft aviation.
Roads
Major Highways
Interstate 4 is Orlando's primary major interstate highway, the interstate begins in Daytona Beach and travels across the mid-section of the state directly through Orlando ending in Tampa.
As a key connector to Orlando's suburbs, downtown, area attractions,
and both coasts; I-4 commonly experiences heavy traffic and congestion.
East-West Expressway (Toll 408) is a major highway managed by the Orlando-Orange County Expressway Authority. The highway intersects with I-4 in Downtown Orlando providing a key artery for residents commuting from eastern and western suburbs including the University of Central Florida area. The highway also intersects with the Central Florida Greeneway (Toll 417) and the Florida's Turnpike.
The I-4/408 interchange is currently undergoing a major construction
project that will create multiple fly-over bridges and connectors to
ease heavy traffic flows. In addition, lane expansions, new toll
plazas, and sound barriers are being added throughout the highway.
Beachline Expressway (Toll 528) provides key access to the Orlando International Airport and serves as a gateway to the Atlantic coast, specifically Cocoa Beach and Cape Canaveral.
Central Florida Greeneway (Toll 417) is a key highway for East Orlando, the highway is also managed by the Orlando-Orange County Expressway Authority and serves as Orlando's eastern beltway. The highway intersects with the East-West Expressway (Toll 408), the Beachline Expressway
(Toll 528), and begins and ends on Interstate 4. The highway is often
praised for its green scenery and generally light traffic, however,
recently the highway has seen a rapid rise in drivers during rush hours.
Florida's Turnpike is a major highway that connects northern Florida with Orlando and Miami. It is the gateway to Miami.
Daniel Webster Western Beltway
(Toll 429) serves as Orlando's western beltway. The highway serves as a
new "back entrance" to Walt Disney World from Orlando's northwestern
suburbs including Apopka.
Rush Hours
Orlando currently ranks 8th in the nation for traffic congestion,
surpassing Miami and other major cities. According to a recent national
study by the Texas Transportation Institute; the average Orlando
Resident spends about 54 hours per year stuck in traffic. Heavy traffic
is unpredictable, however, rush hours (peak traffic hours) are usually
weekday mornings (after 7am) and afternoons (after 4pm). There are
various traffic advisory resources available for commuters including
dialing 511 5-1-1 (a free automated traffic advisory system provided by the Florida Department of Transportation,
available by cellphone or landline by dialing 511), visiting the
Florida 511 Web site, listening to traffic reports on major radio
stations, and reading electronic traffic advisory displays (also called
Dynamic Message Signs, information is also provided by FDOT) on the
major highways and roadways.
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 DeLand 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). [25]
Additionally Greyhound Lines
offers intercity bus service from Orlando to multiple locations across
the country. The Orlando Greyhound Station is located west of Downtown
Orlando.
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. [26]
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.[27] 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 city's 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.[28]
Crime
In 2006, based on the Department of Justice's FBI Criminal Justice
Information Services Division, Orlando reported 42,300 violent crimes
including 49 murders,[29] a record number since 36 in 1982. Crime in Orlando has been up 329% since 2006. Based on the Morgan Quitno Press "Safest and Most Dangerous Cities of 2007" rankings, Orlando ranks #11 nationally.
Crime is being attacked by Orlando authorities with the installation
of security cameras in Orlando. Traffic lights are merged with cameras
cabable of detecting out of ordinary activity. Once a smart camera
detects this activity it will zoom in on people of interest in an
effort to identify them. It can also zoom in on a license plate.[citation needed]
Sister cities
- See also: List of sister cities in Florida
Orlando has thirteen sister cities:[30]
Marne La Vallée, Anaheim, and Urayasu are connected to Orlando as homes of other Disney theme parks (Disneyland Resort Paris, Disneyland Resort, and Tokyo Disneyland, respectively).
Foreign consulates
Given Orlando's status as a busy international tourist destination,
a handful of foreign governments have opened up consulates in Orlando:
See also
References
- ^ "Annual Estimates of the Population of Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas:April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2007". U.S. Census Bureau (27 March 2008). Retrieved on 2008-06-21.
- ^ "Annual Estimates of the population for the Incorporated Places of Florida" (XLS). US Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2007-08-11.
- ^ a b "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey (2007-10-25). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ About Orlando from the City of Orlando website, accessed 2008-06-17
- ^ OCLS - Fast Facts - Tallest Buildings in Orlando
- ^ Buildings of Orlando / Emporis.com
- ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990". United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ Distance measured from Orlando City Hall to nearest Atlantic coastline, near Oak Hill, Brevard County, and nearest Gulf coastline, near, Pine Island, Hernando County, using Google Earth's Ruler tool.
- ^ City of Orlando Neighborhoods, accessed 28 November 2006
- ^ "Annual Estimates of the Population of Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2007" (XLS). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-07-11.
- ^ Update of Statistical Area Definitions and Guidance on Their Uses
- ^ http://www.census.gov/popest/counties/tables/CO-EST2006-01-12.xls
- ^ http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/cb07-42tbl3.xls
- ^ MuniNetGuide.com's Orlando Demographic
- ^ Gary J. Gates Same-sex Couples and the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual Population: New Estimates from the American Community SurveyPDF (2.07 MiB). The Williams Institute on Sexual Orientation Law and Public Policy, UCLA School of Law October, 2006. Retrieved April 8, 2007.
- ^ Modern Language Association Data Center Results of Orlando, FL
- ^ Passy, Charles (April 2007). "36 Hours in Orlando, Fla." (in English). New York Times. Retrieved on 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...”
- ^ "What Happened to Hollywood East?" Southwest Orlando Bulletin, 17 July 2004
- ^ Shopping
in Orlando - Orlando Villa Guide - The Essential Guide to Florida
Vacation Rental Homes and Holiday Villas in Orlando, Florida
- ^ Bergen, Kathy. Las Vegas and Orlando Bruising Chicago's Trade Show Business. The Chicago Tribune, 11 September 2003
- ^ "Lake Nona Is Site Of New VA Hospital", Internet Broadcasting Systems/WKMG-TV (2 March 2007). Retrieved on 2008-07-15.
- ^ "Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment: March 2007." United States Department of Labor. May 2, 2007. Retrieved on May 24, 2007.
- ^ "Metropolitan Orlando Housing Trends Summary." Orlando Regional Realtor Association. May 9, 2007. Retrieved on May 24, 2007.
- ^ LYNX Central Florida Regional Transportation Authority
- ^ http://www.wesh.com/travelgetaways/4196924/detail.html
- ^ http://www.cfrail.com/newsevents.asp?type=news&id=17
- ^ Quality Time (Central Florida Commuter Rail) - CFRail.com
- ^ FBI Universal Crime Report for 2006
- ^ Sister cities from Sister Cities International, Inc. (SCI). Retrieved on June 6, 2006.
External links
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