Winter Garden, Florida | |
|---|---|
 Downtown Winter Garden on theWest Orange Trail, withPlant Street | |
| Mottoes: | |
 Location inOrange County and the state ofFlorida | |
| Coordinates:28°33′37″N81°35′3″W / 28.56028°N 81.58417°W /28.56028; -81.58417 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Florida |
| County | Orange |
| Settled | c. 1850s[3] |
| Incorporated (city) | 1908[4] |
| Government | |
| • Type | Commission–Manager |
| • Mayor | John Rees |
| • Mayor Pro Tem | Lisa L. Bennett |
| • Commissioners | Iliana R. Jones, Chloe Johnson, and Colin Sharman |
| • City Manager | Jon C. Williams |
| • City Clerk | Angee Grimmage |
| Area | |
• Total | 17.98 sq mi (46.56 km2) |
| • Land | 16.33 sq mi (42.29 km2) |
| • Water | 1.65 sq mi (4.27 km2) |
| Elevation | 125 ft (38 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 46,964 |
| • Density | 2,876/sq mi (1,110.6/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−05:00 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−04:00 (EDT) |
| ZIP codes | 34777, 34778, 34787 |
| Area codes | 407, 689 |
| Sales Tax | 6.5%[6] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0293423[7] |
| Website | www |
Winter Garden is a city in westernOrange County, Florida, United States. Located 14 miles (23 km) west ofDowntown Orlando, it is part of theOrlando metropolitan area. The population was 46,964 as of the 2020 census.
The pre-European history of the modern Winter Garden area is ambiguous. Due to a lack of evidence, historians hesitate to conclude if the natives that once occupied the area were of theTimucua, Jororo, orMayaca tribes.[9] Regardless of their tribal identity, these natives were either wiped out or subsumed into larger cultures by the end of the eighteenth century.[9]
Following the eradication of the original Floridian cultures, natives from farther north migrated into Florida. These natives had various cultures that over time coalesced into theSeminole Tribe. By the early 19th century, some Seminole lived on the south shore ofLake Apopka.[10] The settlement possibly produced the significant Seminole leaderWild Cat.[11][12] In 1835,the Second Seminole War began, threatening the Seminole presence. On January 23, 1837, a small battle was fought near the village.Thomas S. Jesup, at that time in command of all American forces in Florida, sent a detachment to Lake Apopka to seek a Seminole chief known as Osuchee or "Copper". During the attack, the army successfully killed Osuchee and three other Seminoles, while taking 17 prisoners.[10][13] The Second and Third Seminole wars both pushed the Seminole tribe south, likely eliminating their presence in the boundaries of modern Winter Garden.
The first American settlers came to what is now Winter Garden in the 1850s.[3] The Roper, Reams, Dunaway, Speer, and Starke families were among the first to settle the area. As with most American pioneers, they engaged in agriculture as a primary economic activity. These farms mainly grew sugar cane and vegetables, and early on a small number utilized slave labor. DuringThe Civil War steamboat traffic stopped along theSt. Johns River, forcing Winter Garden families to subsist off their own crops.[3]
The arrival of theOrange Belt Railroad and the growing production of citrus,turpentine, and lumber drove the town's growth over the remaining decades of the 19th century and into the 20th.[13] Stores and businesses cropped up alongPlant Street, originatingDowntown Winter Garden. A settler from Mississippi namedA. B. Newton contributed to the town's early economy. He opened one of the first stores, served as the first postmaster, founded the first newspaper, and functioned as the first mayor. These endeavors earned him the title "The Godfather of Winter Garden".[14]
Between the 1920s and 1960s, the fishing prospects of Lake Apopka drew many fishermen to Winter Garden.[15] The Edgewater Hotel in Downtown Winter Garden opened to service fishermen during the fishing boom. However, by the end of the 1960s, heavy pollution of Lake Apopka resulted in the collapse of the industry.[16]
Citrus agriculture saw rapid growth in the state of Florida in the last few decades of the 19th century, including in Winter Garden. As with the rest of the state, theGreat Freeze of 1894–1895 severely damaged the citrus industry in Winter Garden.[17] Many settlers left following this disaster, leaving a smaller population to recover the area's farms.[18] Despite this setback, the industry recovered and saw many decades of growth. Through the middle stretch of the 20th century citrus defined Winter Garden's economy and culture.
In the 1980s, back-to-back freezes reduced the profitability of citrus farming in the county. Citrus production in Winter Garden and Orange County never recovered. Since then, the center of citrus production in Florida has shifted south from Orange County.[19] The increasing development of the Orlando–Kissimmee–Sanford Metropolitan Area made it more profitable to sell grove lands to developers rather than attempt to restart them. Today, little citrus activity occurs in the city limits of Winter Garden. Yet, the town is proud of its citrus history; oranges and grapefruits continue to be symbols of the town.
Since 2000, Winter Garden has seen growth despite the decline of citrus and the economic stagnation in the 1980s and 1990s.[20] Developers, entrepreneurs, and city government made efforts to rejuvenate the downtown district, attracting locals and tourists with a mix of small-town atmosphere and trendy businesses. This population and development growth endured through theGreat Recession and continues today.[21]
The exact coordinates for the City of Winter Garden is located at28°33′37″N81°35′3″W / 28.56028°N 81.58417°W /28.56028; -81.58417 (28.560328, –81.584069).[22]
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 15.6 square miles (40.4 km2), of which 15.4 square miles (39.9 km2) is land and 0.19 square miles (0.5 km2) (1.28%) is water.[23]
Winter Garden is bordered on the south by the town ofWindermere and the census-designated placeHorizon West, on the east by the city ofOcoee, on the west by the town ofOakland and the census-designated placeTildenville and on the north byLake Apopka.
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The terrain is characterized by a gentle to moderately sloping topography. Winter Garden has the highest elevation spot in Orange County. The highest elevation is 222 feet (68 m) in NAVD 88 (North American Vertical Datum) located in the southwest corner of the city South near the county line with Lake County. The lowest elevation in the city is 64 feet (20 m) near Lake Apopka.
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Winter Garden has a warm and humidsubtropicalclimate, and there are two major seasons each year. One of those seasons is hot and rainy, lasting from May until October (roughly coinciding with theAtlantic 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 theTropic of Cancer, and much of its weather is affected by the movement of theGulf Stream.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1910 | 351 | — | |
| 1920 | 1,021 | 190.9% | |
| 1930 | 2,023 | 98.1% | |
| 1940 | 3,060 | 51.3% | |
| 1950 | 3,503 | 14.5% | |
| 1960 | 5,513 | 57.4% | |
| 1970 | 5,153 | −6.5% | |
| 1980 | 6,789 | 31.7% | |
| 1990 | 9,745 | 43.5% | |
| 2000 | 14,351 | 47.3% | |
| 2010 | 34,568 | 140.9% | |
| 2020 | 46,964 | 35.9% | |
| Source: U.S. Decennial Census[24] Florida Department of Agriculture[25] | |||
| Race | Pop 2010[26] | Pop 2020[27] | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White (NH) | 18,762 | 24,412 | 54.28% | 51.98% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 5,274 | 5,769 | 15.26% | 12.28% |
| Native American orAlaska Native (NH) | 59 | 66 | 0.17% | 0.14% |
| Asian (NH) | 1,726 | 2,751 | 4.99% | 5.86% |
| Pacific Islander orNative Hawaiian (NH) | 33 | 26 | 0.10% | 0.06% |
| Some other race (NH) | 303 | 617 | 0.88% | 1.31% |
| Two or more races/Multiracial (NH) | 805 | 2,823 | 2.33% | 6.01% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 7,606 | 10,500 | 22.00% | 22.36% |
| Total | 34,568 | 46,964 |
As of the2020 United States census, there were 46,964 people, 15,089 households, and 11,655 families residing in the city.[28]
As of the2010 United States census, there were 34,568 people, 10,569 households, and 7,801 families residing in the city.[29]
As of the2000 United States census, there were 14,351 people, 5,380 households, and 3,663 families residing in the city.[8] The population density was 1,190.2 inhabitants per square mile (459.5/km2). There were 5,861 housing units at an average density of 486.1 per square mile (187.7/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 76.60%White, 13.25%African American, 0.36%Native American, 0.99%Asian, 0.05%Pacific Islander, 6.45% fromother races, and 2.31% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 17.50% of the population.
In 2000, there were 5,380 households, out of which 33.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.8% were married couples living together, 14.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.9% were non-families. 25.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.11.
In 2000, in the city the population was spread out, with 25.9% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 31.3% from 25 to 44, 19.5% from 45 to 64, and 14.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37.1 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.8 males.
In 2000, the median income for a household in the city was $41,858. About 10.1% of families and 12.0% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 19.7% of those under age 18 and 9.4% of those age 65 or over.
TheWinter Garden Downtown Historic District contains a collection of restaurants, shops, and cafés, as well as two museums and a performing arts venue.
To the south,Winter Garden Village provides an array of chain retail and dining establishments. The 1,100,000 square feet (100,000 m2) open-air shopping center, located along Daniels Road just north of SR 429, is anchored by a Super Target, a Best Buy, and a Lowe's.[30]
Downtown Winter Garden hosts a farmer's market every weekend. Many vendors sell fresh produce, plants, and flowers, herbs, baked goods, artisan crafts, and local food and beverages. Live music is also a feature of the market.[31]
AdventHealth Winter Garden andOrlando Health Horizon West Hospital are the only hospitals in the city.[32][33]
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State Road 50 (W. Colonial Dr) bisects the city into northern and southern sections. The portion south of State Road 50, formerly occupied by orange groves and farmland, has recently been the site of the development of numerous large-scale communities, including Johns Lake Pointe, Stoneybrook West, Stonecrest, Westfield, and Wintermere Pointe.
The toll roadWestern Beltway (SR 429) was completed in late 2006 and linksI-4 near mile marker 58 inOsceola County withFlorida's Turnpike at Winter Garden. Other major roads through Winter Garden include County Road 535 and County Road 545. CR 535 (also called Winter Garden – Vineland Road) begins at SR 50 and bisects the southern half of the city, proceeding south toWindermere,Lake Buena Vista andWalt Disney World Resort, where it becomesState Road 535. CR 545 (also called Avalon Road) begins at SR 50 and proceeds south along the western edge of Winter Garden and along the border betweenOrange andLake counties. This area remains mostly rural but is quickly developing because of the nearby toll road. CR 545 currently ends atUS 192 inKissimmee at the border to Osceola County.
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Municipalities and communities ofOrange County, Florida,United States | ||
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| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
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