Orlando, Florida
Orlando is known as America's Fun Capital, mostly because of the innumerable attractions and things that a person can do here. A lively and vibrant place with year round sunshine is what makes this city one of the most visited places in United States. The city welcomes each and every one. For both a new comer and dwellers alike, the city promises to provide something special. The city is just as favored by romantic honeymooning couples as it is favored by children. There are several options for couples in this city.
Orlando is a city enriched with a abundance of amusement parks, beautiful mountains, shopping centers, spacious parks. One has several options such as the Disney World, Discovery Cove, the cool water parks, Sea World, Universal Studios and many more.
Orlando consists mostly of wetlands including many lakes and swamps. Its climate and geographical location have made this city a popular destination and this is the reason why people love to visit this place often. This is a place has everything that makes up a dream vacation.
Orlando is one of the major cities of the central region of the US, in the state of Florida. It is the county seat of the Orange county and is in the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan region. The metropolitan Orlando has a population of 2,082,628, and is the 27th largest metropolitan area of the United States. The city area has a population of 238,300. It was declared a city in 1885 and since then has gained the nickname of America's Funnest City.
Orlando History
Orlando is one of the major cities in the central region of the U.S state of Florida. Orlando is also the county seat of the orange country, located in the Greater Orlando metropolitan region. In 1836, before the European settlers arrived, Orlando was inhabited by a sparse population of Greeks and other Native American tribes. Most of the archeological sites of the area have perished, except for the ruins of Fort Gatlin, which is along the shores of the modern day Lake Gatlin. However, recent excavations have given way to unearthing of certain arrowheads and musket bullets.
Before the city was named Orlando, it was known as Jernigan. According to history, the city got its name from the first permanent settler Aaron Jernigan. He was a cattleman, who acquired his land and settled down along Lake Holden. According to city officials and local legends, the name Orlando originated from a soldier Orlando Reeves, who died in 1835, during the second Seminole War, when the Native Americans attacked.
In the year 1845, after the division of Mosquito County, Orlando became the county seat of Orange County in 1856. However, it greatly suffered during the Civil War and during the Union blockade. Orlando's incorporation as a town happened in 1875 and as a city in 1885, with the population explosion. The period of 1875 to 1895 is marked as the Golden era of Orlando. This is the time during which it became the hub of Florida's citrus industry. The period of 1894 to 1895, saw another setback, with the Great Freeze, many independent owners of groves had to give them away, thus consolidating the holdings in the hands of the citrus barons, who shifted their operation to Lake Wales in Polk County.
As the largest inland city, Orlando became a popular resort during the Spanish American War and World War I, in the 1920s. Orlando experienced extensive housing developments, during the Florida Land Boom. The land prices reached sky high during this period and several neighborhoods in downtown were constructed, including many bungalows. This development came to a halt with the Great Depression. Development was complicated further when a number of Hurricanes also hitting the state of Florida in the 1920s. During the World War II, a number of army personnel who were stationed at Orlando Army Air Base and in the nearby Pinecastle Army Air Field, settled down there and raised their families.
Today the city has evolved and has redefined itself to match with the current times. The historic richness of the old Orlando still remains in Downtown Orlando along Church Street, between the Orange Avenue and the Garland Avenue. The development of the urban Orlando and the Central Business District of downtown has helped in shaping the skyline of the present Orlando city. The present day historic district of Orlando is primarily associated with the neighborhoods around the Lake Eola, where there are century old oak line brick streets. These neighborhoods, known as Lake Eola Heights, contain some of the oldest houses of Orlando.
About Orlando, Florida
Orlando has slowly turned into a major hi-tech industrial center. There are $13.4 billion technology industries in the metro region, which employ around 53,000 people. It is a nationally recognized cluster of innovation in the digital media, agricultural technology, software design and aviation aerospace. There are almost 150 international companies that are operating in Metro Orlando, who are representatives of 20 different countries. About 120 countries operate in Orlando, employing around 8,500 people. It has the 7th largest research park in the country. It also forms the hub of the nation's military training program. It is also the home for the procuring command of the US Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard.
A very important part of the economy of Orlando is its tourism industry. Orlando is the home of some of the most exciting holiday locations like, Walt Disney, World Resort, Universal Orlando Resort, and Sea World Orlando. The convention region is also a major contribution to the economy. About 48 million visitors were attracted to these spots in the year 2004. Among the several attractions of Orlando, Walt Disney World is the largest of them all. Some of its most popular attractions are Magic Kingdom, Disney's Hollywood Studio, Disney Animal Kingdom and Blizzard Beach etc. The Wet n Wild water park is also a major attraction of Orlando. Apart from national and international tourists, local people also enjoy the attraction and visit in large numbers.
Orlando is known as the East Hollywood and has a rich culture of entertainment and performing arts. Some of the major motion pictures production centers were active in the late 1990s but has slowed down over the years. Apart from motion pictures and Walt Disney Animation films, it is also the home of TNA Wrestling flagship show. The metropolitan region of Orlando has a large number of theatres. Some of the theaters include Central Florida Ballet, Orlando Shakespeare Theater, Mad Cow Theater and Ice House Theater etc. The Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre has been holding national Broadway tours regularly. This avenue which was built in 1926, is soon going to be replaced by Dr. Phillips Center For Performing Arts. In 2007, Orlando hosted the World Ballet Competition, bringing together the dancing talents from the different parts of the world. It also hosts the Orlando Fringe Theater festival every year, drawing touring companies from around the world, at different venues all over Orlando.
Just like its interest in entertainment, Orlando is equally involved in sports. It is the home city of Orlando Magic NBA team, Orlando Predators Arena Football League team, etc. the city is also the host for the 2012 NBA All Star Game in the Amway Center, which opened in late 2010. It is also the home of two successful minor leagues. Some major athletes also belong to Orlando like Johnny Damon, Warren Sapp, Brandon Marshall and Kevin Smith etc.
About Orange County, Florida
Orlando, FL is one of the major cities of the United States of America. It is also one of the most popular tourist destinations in United States, because of the sheer number of entertainment destinations. Great Architecture, skyscrapers, Walt Disney, Universal Studios, and many amusements parks are some common features of the city of Orlando that stand out.
Orlando is the county seat of the Orange County. This is the 27th largest metropolitan area in the US. This is in fact the largest inland city of the Florida. The Europeans and the Native American tribes once occupied this Florida city. The city was then known as Jernigan. The city derives its present name from a soldier's name Orlando Reeves who passed away in 1835 due to the attack of a Native American. During the First World War, Orlando became a popular destination for the travelers. After this period, Orlando observed a enormous growth and urbanization. During the World War II, Orlando was a major station for army operations.
As time passed on, the city of Orlando soon developed as leading tourist destination of United States and also the world. Today, Orlando is one of those few cities that experience continuous tourist flooding throughout the year. An out of the world amusement center, The Walt Disney, located in Orlando captivates travelers from every part of the world.
In addition to the tourism activities, entertainment is a major aspect that brings people into the city from distant corners of the world. The city has a number of amusement parks, water sports activities and cultural activities. People in the city are fun loving and amicable in nature. In the last decade, the city has witnessed unobstructed growth and development. Today, this city is one of the most popular cities of the world in almost every stretch. The city of Orlando has many an aspects for which the residents feel proud about. Despite its focus on entertainment and fun, the city is advanced educationally involving a rich culture.