Fort Gatlin, as the Orlando area was once known, was established at what is now just south of the city limits by the4th U.S. Artillery under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Alexander C. W. Fanning on November 9, 1838, during the construction of a series of fortified encampments across Florida during theSecond Seminole War.[9] The fort and surrounding area were named for John S. Gatlin, an Army physician who was killed inDade's Massacre on December 28, 1835. The site of construction for Fort Gatlin, a defensible position with fresh water between three small lakes, was likely chosen because the location was on a main trail and is less than 250 yards from a nearby Council Oak tree, whereNative Americans had traditionally met.King Phillip andCoacoochee frequented this area and the tree was alleged to be the place where the previous1835 ambush that had killed over 100 soldiers had been planned.[10] When theU.S. military abandoned the fort in 1839, the surrounding community was built up by settlers.[9]
Prior to being known by its current name, Orlando was once known as Jernigan. This name originates from the first European permanent settlers, Isaac andAaron Jernigan, cattlemen who moved from the state of Georgia and acquired land 2 miles (3.2 km) northwest of Fort Gatlin along the west end of Lake Holden in July 1843 by the terms of theArmed Occupation Act.[11][12] Aaron Jernigan became Orange County's firststate representative in 1845, but his pleas for additional military protection went unanswered.[13]
Fort Gatlin was briefly reoccupied by the military for a few weeks during October and November 1849, and subsequently a volunteer militia was left to defend the settlement.[12] A historical marker indicates that by 1850, the Jernigan homestead (or Fort Gatlin in some sources)[14] served as the nucleus of a village named Jernigan.[15] According to an account written years later by his daughter, at that time, about 80 settlers were forced to shelter for about a year in "astockade that Aaron Jernigan built on the north side of Lake Conway". One of the county's first records, agrand jury's report, mentions a stockade where it states homesteaders were "driven from their homes and forced to huddle together in hasty defences [sic]." In 1852, Aaron Jernigan led a local volunteer militia beginning in advance of theThird Seminole War.[12]
A post office opened at Jernigan in 1850. Jernigan appears on an 1855 map of Florida, and by 1856, the area had become thecounty seat of Orange County.[16][9] In 1857, the post office was removed from Jernigan, and opened under the name of Orlando at a new location in present-day downtown Orlando.[12] The move is believed to have been sparked, in part, by Aaron Jernigan's fall from grace after he was relieved of his militia command by military officials in 1856. His behavior was so notorious thatUnited States Secretary of WarJefferson Davis wrote, "It is said they [Jernigan's militia] are more dreadful than the Indians."[17] In 1859, Jernigan and his sons were accused of committing a murder at the town's post office. They were then transported toOcala, but escaped.[15] During theAmerican Civil War, the post office closed, but reopened in 1866.
At a meeting in 1857, debate had grown concerning the name of the town. Pioneer William B. Hull recalled how James Speer (a local resident, and prominent figure in the stories behind the naming of Orlando) rose in the heat of the argument and said, "This place is often spoken of as 'Orlando's Grave.' Let's drop the word 'grave' and let the county seat be Orlando."[14][17]
The origin of the name is unknown but at least five stories relate how Orlando got its name. The most common stories are that the name Orlando originated from the tale of a man who died in 1835 during an attack by Native Americans in the area during theSecond Seminole War. Several of the stories relay an oral history of the marker for a person named Orlando, and thedouble entendre, "Here lies Orlando." One variant includes a man named Orlando who was passing by on his way toTampa with a herd ofoxen, died, and was buried in a marked grave.[18]
Through a retelling of history, a marker of some sort was believed to have been found by one of the original pioneers, but Speer's family has since claimed that Speer simply used the Orlando Reeves legend to help push his plan for naming the settlement after the Shakespearean character fromAs You Like It, his favorite play.[14] This has become the most common accepted version of how Orlando got its name.
Historians agree that likely no soldier was named Orlando Reeves.[19]Folklore is that Reeves was acting as asentinel for a company of soldiers that had set up camp for the night on the banks ofSandy Beach Lake.[20] Several different lakes are mentioned in the various versions, as no soldiers were in what is now downtown during 1835.[21]
The legend grew throughout the early 1900s, particularly with local historian Olive Brumbaugh (or Kena Fries[20][verification needed]) retelling in various writings and on local radio stationWDBO in 1929.[14] Another historian, Eldon H. Gore, promoted the Reeves legend inHistory of Orlando published in 1949.[14] A memorial besideLake Eola – originally placed by students of Orlando's Cherokee Junior School in 1939 and updated in 1990 – designates the spot where the city's supposed namesake fell.[19][20]
Conflicting legends exist. One legend has Reeves killed during an extended battle with the Seminoles after being field promoted after his platoon commander fell.[14] An in-depth review of military records in the 1970s and 1980s, though, turned up no record of Orlando Reeves ever existing.[14][19][20] Some versions attempt to account for Reeves having no military records by using the name of other people named Orlando that exist in some written records – Orlando Acosta; however, not much is known about Acosta or whether he even existed. Another version of the story has Orlando Reed, supposedly an Englishman and mail carrier between Fort Gatlin andFort Mellon, allegedly killed while camping with his friends near Fort Gatlin.[14]
A second variation also places the story in 1835 during the Second Seminole War. This name is taken from aSouth Caroliniancattle rancher named Orlando Savage Rees. Rees owned aVolusia Countysugar mill andplantation, as well as several large estates in Florida andMississippi.[14] Rees' sugar farms in the area were burned out in the Seminole attacks of 1835 (the year Orlando Reeves supposedly died). Subsequently, Rees led an expedition to recover stolen slaves and cattle. In 1837, Rees also attempted to stop a peace treaty with the Seminoles because it did not reimburse him for the loss of slaves and crops.[17]
Rees could have left a pine-bough marker with his name next to the trail; later residents misread "Rees" as "Reeves" and also mistook it as a grave maker.[17] In subsequent years, this story has merged with the Orlando Reeves story (which may have originally incorporated part of Dr. Gatlin's story).[14]
On two separate occasions, relatives of Rees claimed their ancestor was the namesake of the city. F. K. Bull of South Carolina (Rees' great-grandson) told an Orlando reporter of a story in 1955; years later, Charles M. Bull Jr., of Orlando (Rees' great-great-grandson) offered local historians similar information.[17] Unlike Orlando Reeves, who cannot be traced to any historical record, the record is considerable that Orlando Rees did exist and was in Florida during that time. For example, in 1832,John James Audubon met with Rees in his large estate at Spring Garden, about 45 minutes from Orlando.[17]
In 1975, Judge Donald A. Cheney put forth a new version of the story in anOrlando Sentinel article.[17] Cheney (a local historian and then chairman of the county historical commission[22]) recounted a story told to him by his father, JudgeJohn Moses Cheney (a major figure in Orlando's history, who arrived in Orlando in 1885).
The elder Cheney recounted that another gentleman at that time, James Speer, proposed the name Orlando after the character inAs You Like It.[14] According to Cheney, Speer, "was a gentleman of culture and an admirer of William Shakespeare ..."[17] Quoting a letter that Speer wrote, "Orlando was a veritableForest of Arden, the locale ofAs You Like It."[23] Speer's descendants have also confirmed this version of the naming and the legend has continued to grow.[17]
This account also has some validity in that, as mentioned above, Speer was instrumental in changing the name of the settlement from Jernigan to Orlando, though he may have used the Orlando Reeves legend in lieu of his true intent to use the Shakespearean character. According to yet another version of the story, Orlando may have been the name of one of his employees.[14][18] One ofdowntown Orlando's major streets is named Rosalind Avenue;Rosalind is the heroine ofAs You Like It, but this could also be a coincidence.
In 1823, theTreaty of Moultrie Creek created aSeminole reservation encompassing much of central Florida, including the area that would become Orlando. TheIndian Removal Act of 1830 authorized relocation of the Seminole from Florida to Oklahoma, and along with the enforcement of theTreaty of Payne's Landing led to theSecond Seminole War. In 1842, white settlement in the area was encouraged by the Armed Occupation Act. The first settler,Aaron Jernigan of Camden County, Georgia, arrived the following year and settled near Lake Holden.
Mizell-Leu House (built 1888), a fine example of Florida Vernacular Style Architecture. The home is located in the Mizell-Leu House Historic District.
Mosquito County was renamed Orange County in 1845, with the county seat shortly thereafter relocated to Mellonville, a few miles west ofSanford. By 1856, settlement had begun in earnest in the interior of the county and a more centrally located Courthouse was sought. The new town of Orlando, laid out in 1857,[9] consisted of four streets surrounding a courthouse square. The fledgling village suffered greatly during theUnion blockade. TheReconstruction Era brought on a population explosion, resulting in the incorporation of the Town of Orlando on July 31, 1875, with 85 residents (22 voters). For a short time in 1879, the town revoked its charter, and was subsequently reincorporated.[24] Orlando was established as a city in 1885.[25]
The period from 1875 to 1895 is remembered as Orlando's Golden Era, when it became the hub of Florida'scitrus industry. The period ended with theGreat Freeze of 1894–95, which forced many owners to give up their independent citrusgroves, thus consolidating holdings in the hands of a few "citrus barons", who shifted operations south, primarily aroundLake Wales inPolk County.[18] The freeze caused many in Florida, including many Orlandoans, to move elsewhere, mostly tothe North,California, or theCaribbean.
The Wyoming Hotel, c. 1905
Notable homesteaders in the area included the Curry family. Through their property in east Orlando flowed theEconlockhatchee River, which travelers crossed byfording. This was commemorated by the street's name, Curry Ford Road. Also, just south of theOrlando International Airport in the Boggy Creek area are 150 acres (0.61 km2) of property homesteaded in the late 19th century by the Ward family. This property is still owned by the Ward family, and can be seen from southbound flights out of Orlando International Airport immediately on the south side of SR 417.
Orlando became a popular resort during the years between theSpanish–American War andWorld War I. In the 1920s, Orlando experienced extensive housing development during theFlorida Land Boom, causing land prices to soar. During this period, dozens of neighborhoods in the vicinity of downtown were constructed. The boom ended when severalhurricanes hit Florida in the late 1920s, along with theGreat Depression.
DuringWorld War II, a number of Army personnel were stationed at theOrlando Army Air Base and nearbyPinecastle Army Air Field. Some of these servicemen stayed in Orlando to settle and raise families. In 1956, the aerospace and defense companyMartin Marietta (nowLockheed Martin) established a plant in the city. Orlando AAB and Pinecastle AAF were transferred to theUnited 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 aB-47 Stratojet bomber north of Orlando. In the 1960s, the base subsequently became home to the 306th Bombardment Wing of theStrategic Air Command, operatingB-52 Stratofortress andKC-135 Stratotanker aircraft, in addition to detachment operations byEC-121 andU-2 aircraft.
In 1968, Orlando AFB was transferred to theUnited States Navy and became Naval Training Center Orlando. In addition to boot camp facilities, the NTC Orlando was home of one of two Navy Nuclear Power Schools, and home of theNaval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division. When McCoy AFB closed in 1976, its runways and territory to its south and east were imparted to the city to becomeOrlando International Airport, while a small portion to the northwest was transferred to the Navy as McCoy NTC Annex. That closed in 1995, and became a housing, though the former McCoy AFB still hosts a Navy Exchange, as well as national guard and reserve units for several branches of service. NTC Orlando was completely closed by the end of 1999 by theBase Realignment and Closure Commission, and converted into the Baldwin Park neighborhood. The Naval Air Warfare Center had moved to Central Florida Research Park near UCF in 1989.
A 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, andSouthern 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).
Perhaps the most critical event for Orlando's economy, though, occurred in 1965 whenWalt Disney announced plans to buildWalt Disney World. Although Disney had considered the regions of Miami andTampa for his park, one of the major reasons behind his decision not to locate there was due tohurricanes – Orlando's inland location, although not free from hurricane damage, exposed it to less threat than coastal regions. The 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, andLake Counties. As a result, tourism became the centerpiece of the area's economy. Orlando now has moretheme parks and entertainment attractions than anywhere else in the world.[26]
View of downtown Orlando (center) and periphery toLake Apopka (upper-right); January 2011
Today, the historic core of "Old Orlando" resides indowntown Orlando along Church Street, between Orange Avenue and Garland Avenue.The urban development and the central business district of downtown have rapidly shaped the downtown skyline during recent history. The present-dayhistoric district is primarily associated with the neighborhoods aroundLake Eola but stretches west across the city to Lake Lorna Doone and north into the College Park Neighborhood where you can find century-old oaks line brick streets. These neighborhoods include the "Downtown Business District," "North Quarter," "Parramore," "Callahan," "South Eola Heights, "Lake Eola Heights,"Thornton Park" and "College Park", and contain some of the oldest homes in Orlando.
On June 12, 2016, more than 100 people were shot atPulse, agay nightclub in Orlando. Fifty (including the gunman) were killed and 60 were wounded. The gunman, whom the policeSWAT team shot to death, was identified as 29-year-oldOmar Mir Seddique Mateen, an American security guard. The act of terrorism was both the deadliestmass shooting in modern United States history at the time and one of the deadliest mass shootings perpetrated by a single person in recorded world history. Mateen pledged allegiance to the Islamic State during his unsuccessful negotiations with police.[27] After the shooting, the city held numerous vigils. In November 2016, Orlando mayor Buddy Dyer announced the city's intention to acquire the Pulse Nightclub to build a permanent memorial for the 49 victims of the shooting. The city offered to buy it for $2.25 million, but the club's owner declined to sell.[28]
The geography of Orlando is mostlywetlands, consisting of many lakes and swamps. The terrain is generally flat, making the land fairly low and wet.[29] The area is dotted with hundreds of lakes, the largest of which isLake Apopka. Central Florida'sbedrock is mostlylimestone and very porous; the Orlando area is susceptible tosinkholes. Probably the most famous incident involving a sinkhole happened in 1981 in Winter Park, a city immediately north of downtown Orlando, dubbed"The Winter Park Sinkhole".
There are 115 neighborhoods within the city limits and manyunincorporated communities. 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" the city limits with Orlando annexing portions of land already bordering the city limits.[30][failed verification]
At the center of the Greater Orlando region isDowntown Orlando, the historic core andcentral business district of the city. It is bordered by Marks Street in the north, Mills Avenue (SR 15) in the east,Orange Blossom Trail (US 441) in the west, and Kaley Avenue in the south. It is home to many of the region's major banks, skyscrapers, government buildings, and cultural and tourist attractions, along with a large residential population. It is mostly composed of high-rise residential towers and office towers. Among the 79 of the high-rises in theGreater Orlando region, 46 are located in downtown.[31] It is also the home to many of the city's cultural venues, such asDr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts,Kia Center, andOrlando Museum of Art.
In the southwestern side of Orlando, is the maintourist strip for the city, along with some residential neighborhoods.International Drive, commonly known asI-Drive, is a major 11.1-mile (17.9 km)thoroughfare in the southwestern section of Orlando, serving a similar purpose to that of theLas Vegas Strip inLas Vegas, as the core of the tourism area. The northern part of the strip extends into the city limits of and the remainder of the central and southern portions are all located in unincorporatedOrange County. An additional extension is known asInternational Drive South, partly located in the northern portion ofOsceola County, but is not connected to the main stem of this route. Surrounding cross-roads include Sand Lake Road, Kirkman Road,SR 536, andUniversal Boulevard, which runs parallel to the midsection of International Drive. At its northern end, International Drive is home toOrlando International Premium Outlets andUniversal Orlando resort, along with being in close proximity to the brand newEpic Universe theme park (opened recently, c. 1 week before memorial day 2025).[34][35][36] Further south on International Drive, it features theMadame Tussauds wax museum, theOrange County Convention Center,Pointe Orlando entertainment complex,SeaWorld Orlando (along withAquatica, SeaWorld's water park),Fun Spot America,ICON Park (featuring its famous ferris wheel,Orlando Eye), theWorld's Largest Entertainment McDonald's, and other tourist ventures.[37] TheMillennia neighborhood is a residential neighborhood that is also the home ofThe Mall at Millenia, an upscale super-regional mall.[38] The mall's Macy's store was the first inCentral Florida, and it was also one of only seven Macy's stores in Florida that predated the company's merger withBurdines.[39][40] Bloomingdale's and Neiman Marcus are also regional firsts and these remain their only locations in the Greater Orlando region.
Metro Orlando has a total of 19 completed skyscrapers. The majority are located in downtown Orlando and the rest are located in the tourist district southwest of downtown.[43] Skyscrapers built in downtown Orlando have not exceeded 441 ft (134 m), since 1988, when theSunTrust Center was completed.[citation needed] The main reason for this is theOrlando Executive Airport, just under 2 miles (3.2 km) from the city center, which does not allow buildings to exceed a certain height without approval from the FAA.[44]
Like much of the deep Southern United States, Orlando has ahumid subtropical climate (Köppen:Cfa,Trewartha:Cfhl). The two basic seasons in Orlando are a very hot and rainy season, lasting from May until late October (roughly coinciding with theAtlantic hurricane season), and a mild and dry season from November through April.[46] The area's warm and humid climate is caused primarily by its low elevation, its position relatively close to theTropic of Cancer, and its location in the center of apeninsula. Many characteristics of its climate are a result of its proximity to theGulf Stream, which flows around the peninsula of Florida.
During the height of Orlando's humid summer season, high temperatures are typically in the low 90s °F (32–34 °C), while low temperatures rarely fall below the low 70s °F (22–24 °C). The average window for 90 °F (32 °C) temperatures is April 9 to October 14. The area's humidity acts as a buffer, usually preventing actual temperatures from exceeding 100 °F (38 °C), but also pushing theheat index to over 110 °F (43 °C). The city's highest recorded temperature is 103 °F (39 °C), set on September 8, 1921. During these months, strong afternoon thunderstorms occur almost daily. These storms are caused by air masses from theGulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean colliding over Central Florida. They are highlighted by spectacularlightning and can also bring heavy rain (sometimes several inches per hour) and powerful winds as well as rare damaginghail.[47]
During the winter, humidity is much lower and temperatures are more moderate, and can fluctuate more readily. The monthly daily average temperature in January is 60.6 °F (15.9 °C). Temperatures dip below the freezing mark on an average of only 1.6 nights per year and the lowest recorded temperature is 18 °F (−8 °C), set onDecember 28, 1894. The annual mean minimum is just above 30 °F (−1 °C) putting Orlando inhardiness zone 10a. Because the winter season is dry and freezing temperatures usually occur only after cold fronts (and their accompanying precipitation) have passed, snow is exceptionally rare. The only accumulation ever to occur in the city proper since record keeping began was in 1948, although some accumulation occurred in surrounding areas in a snow event in January 1977 that reached Miami. Flurries have also been observedin 1989, 2006,[48] and 2010.[49]
The average annual rainfall in Orlando is 51.45 inches (1,307 mm), a majority of which occurs in the period from June to September. October through May are Orlando's dry season. During this period (especially in its later months), often awildfire hazard exists. During some years, fires have been severe. In 1998, a strongEl Niño caused an unusually 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 and severely affected normal daily life, including the postponement of that year'sPepsi 400NASCAR race in nearbyDaytona Beach.[50]
Orlando is a major population center and has a considerablehurricane risk, although it is not as high as inSouth 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,[a] hurricanes usually weaken before arriving. Storm surges are not a concern since the region is 100 feet (30 m)above mean sea level. Despite its location, the city does see strong hurricanes. During the notorious2004 hurricane season, Orlando was hit by three hurricanes that caused significant damage, withHurricane Charley the worst of these. The city also experienced widespread damage duringHurricane Donna in 1960.[51] In recent years, hurricanesIrma (2017),Ian (2022), andMilton (2024) brought some notable damages to the city.
Tornadoes are not usually connected with the strong thunderstorms of the humid summer. They are more common on warmer days of winter, as well as in passing hurricanes. The two worst major outbreaks in the area's history, a1998 outbreak that killed 42 people and a2007 outbreak that killed 21, both happened in February.
Orlando, Florida – Racial and ethnic composition Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
As of the2020 United States census, there were 307,573 people, 113,238 households, and 61,667 families residing in the city.[61]
As of the2010 United States census, there were 238,300 people, 97,661 households, and 51,716 families residing in the city.[62]
Map of racial distribution in Orlando, 2010 U.S. Census. Each dot is 25 people:⬤ White⬤ Black⬤ Asian⬤ Hispanic⬤ Other
In 2014, 12.0% of city residents were under the age of 18, 5.7% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 18.6% from 45 to 64, and 36.3% were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.3 males.[63]
Orlando not only has the largest population ofPuerto Ricans in Florida, but it is also home to the fastest-growing Puerto Rican community on the mainland US.[64] Between 1980 and 2010,[65] the overall Latino/Hispanic population in Orlando increased from 4.1 to 25.4%. In addition to Puerto Ricans,Cubans,Dominicans, andColombians also have a large presence in the city.[66] Orlando also has a large and growingBrazilian population, and is a popular travel destination for many Brazilians.[67][68] There are Brazilian restaurants and shops located on International Drive and, in addition toSpanish andEnglish,Portuguese-language signs and information can be found throughoutOrlando International Airport.
Orlando has a largeLGBTQ+ population and is historically recognized as one of the most accepting and tolerant cities in the Southeast. As of 2015[update], around 4.1% of Orlando's population identify as LGBTQ+,[73] making Orlando the city with the 20th-highest percentage of LGBTQ+ residents in the country.[74] The city is host toGay Days every June (aPride Month event atWalt Disney World),[75] holds a hugePride festival and parade every October (since 2005), and is home to Florida's first openly gayCity Commissioner, Patty Sheehan.[76]
According to theNational Immigration Forum, the majority of Orlando's foreign-born population are from Latin America (64.1%): Mexico (35,357), Colombia (30,967), Haiti (29,464); Asia (17.3%): Philippines (13,267), India (12,610), Vietnam (11,407); Europe (12.4%): United Kingdom (14,395), Germany (8,358), Italy (3,302) and Africa (3.0%): Morocco (2,846), Egypt (1,306), South Africa (1,295).[77]
As of 2000, 75% of all residents spoke English as their sole home language, while 16.60% spoke Spanish, 1.9%Haitian Creole, 1.3%French, 0.99% Portuguese, and 0.5% of the population spokeArabic. In total, 24% of the population 5 years and older spoke a language other than English at home.[78]
According to the American Community Survey of 2006–2008, 69% of Orlando's residents over the age of five spoke only English at home. Spanish-speakers represented 19.2% of Orlando's population. Speakers of otherIndo-European languages made up 9% of the city's population. Those who spoke anAsian language made up 1% of the population, and speakers of other languages made up the remaining 0.6% of the populace.[79]
WhenCombined Statistical Areas (CSA) were instituted in 2000, Orlando was initially joined withThe Villages, Florida, Micropolitan Statistical Area, to form the "Orlando-The Villages, Florida, Combined Statistical Area". In 2006, the metropolitan areas ofDeltona (Volusia County) andPalm Coast (Flagler County) were added to create the "Orlando-Deltona-Daytona Beach, Florida, Combined Statistical Area".[80] As of 2020, the CSA has been renamed theOrlando–Lakeland–Deltona, Florida Combined Statistical Area and had the15th highest population in the US, with a total of 4,197,095 people.
Orlando is a major industrial andhi-tech center. The metro area has a $13.4 billion technology industry employing 53,000 people;[citation needed] and is a nationally recognized cluster of innovation in digital media, agricultural technology, aviation, aerospace, and software design. More than 150 international companies, representing approximately 20 countries, have facilities in Metro Orlando.
Orlando has the 7th-largest research park in the country,Central Florida Research Park, with over 1,025 acres (4.15 km2). It is home to over 120 companies, employs more than 8,500 people, and is the hub of the nation's military simulation and training programs. Near the end of each year, theOrange County Convention Center hosts the world's largest modeling and simulation conference:Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation and Education Conference (I/ITSEC). Metro Orlando is home to the simulation procurement commands for the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard.
Orlando is the home base ofDarden Restaurants, the parent company ofOlive Garden andLongHorn Steakhouse, and the largest operator of casual dining restaurants in the world by revenue. In September 2009 it moved to a new headquarters and central distribution facility.[81]
Historically, the unemployment rate in Greater Orlando was low, which resulted in growth that led tourban sprawl in the surrounding area and, in combination with theUnited States housing bubble, to a large increase in home prices. Metro Orlando's unemployment rate in June 2010 was 11.1 percent, was 11.4 percent in April 2010, and was about 10 percent in about the same time of year in 2009.[84] As of August 2013, the area's jobless rate was 6.6 percent.[85] Housing prices in Greater Orlando went up 37.08% in one year, from a median of $182,300 in November 2004 to $249,900 in November 2005, and eventually peaked at $264,436 in July 2007. From there, with the economic meltdown, prices plummeted, with the median falling below $200,000 in September 2008, at one point falling at an annual rate of 39.27%. The median dipped below $100,000 in 2010 before stabilizing around $110,000 in 2011. As of April 2012, the median home price is $116,000.[86]
One of the main driving forces in Orlando's economy is its tourism industry and the city is one of the leading tourism destinations in the world. Nicknamed the 'Theme Park Capital of the World', the Orlando area is home toWalt Disney World,Universal Orlando,SeaWorld Orlando,Legoland Florida andFun Spot America Theme Parks. A record 75 million visitors came to the Orlando region in 2018, making it the top tourist destination in the United States.[87]
The convention industry is also critical to the region's economy. TheOrange County Convention Center, expanded in 2004 to over two million square feet (190,000 m2) of exhibition space, is now the second-largest convention complex in terms of space in the United States, trailing onlyMcCormick Place in Chicago. The city vies with Chicago andLas Vegas for hosting the most convention attendees in the United States.[89] Major events at the venue include the annualIAAPA theme park trade show and the large multigenre fan convention,MegaCon.
In the mid-to-late 1990s, Orlando was known as "Hollywood East" because of numerous film production studios in the area, although such activity has slowed down considerably into the 2000s. Perhaps the most famous film-making moment in the city's history occurred with the implosion of Orlando's previous City Hall for the movieLethal Weapon 3. The same year, Orlando nativeWesley Snipes starred in the filmPassenger 57, which was shot predominantly in his hometown. For the next decade, Orlando was production center for television shows, direct-to-video productions, and commercial production.[91] In 1997, Walt Disney Feature Animation operated a studio inDisney's Hollywood Studios inWalt Disney World. The feature animation studio produced the filmsMulan,Lilo & Stitch, and the early stages ofBrother Bear, but shutdown in 2004 due to the company's newfound focus oncomputer animation.[92]Universal Studios Florida'sSoundstage 21 is home toTNA Wrestling's flagship showTNA Impact!. Nickelodeon Studios, which through the 1990s produced hundreds of hours of GAK-filled game shows targeted at children,[citation needed] no longer operates out of Universal Studios Florida. In the 2000s–2020s,entertainment related operations have predominantly consolidated the city's tourism-related businesses — namely events, concerts, hotels, andtrade shows.[93]
TheFlorida Film Festival, which takes place in venues throughout the area, is one of the most respected regional film festivals in the country and attracts budding filmmakers from around the world. Orlando'sindie film scene has been active since Haxan Film'sThe Blair Witch Project (1999) and a few years later withCharlize Theron winning herAcademy Award forMonster (2003). A Florida state film incentive has also helped increase the number of films being produced in Orlando and the rest of the state.
The Orlando Metropolitan Area is home to a substantial theater population. Several professional and semi-professional houses and many community theaters include the Central Florida Ballet, Orlando Ballet,Orlando Shakespeare Theater, Opera Orlando,Orlando Family Stage, and IceHouse Theatre inMount Dora.Orlando Theatre Project, closed in 2009. Additionally, bothUniversity of Central Florida andRollins College (Winter Park) are home to theater departments that attract an influx of young artists to the area.
TheBob Carr Performing Arts Centre had hosted national Broadway tours on a regular basis. For many years, the Carr served as the home concert venue for theFlorida Symphony Orchestra[94] and theOrlando Opera, both of which have ceased operations. This venue was built in 1926 and underwent a major renovation in 1974.[95] The Bob Carr has since closed due to the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic and has yet to host a show since February 2020. While waiting on the completion of Phase II construction of theDr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, the newly designated Bob Carr Theater will continue to host non-Broadway events.[96]
TheOrlando International Fringe Theater Festival, which draws touring companies from around the world, is hosted in various venues over Orlando's Loch Haven Park every spring. At the festival, there are also readings and fully staged productions of new and unknown plays by local artists.[97] Also in the spring, there is The Harriett Lake Festival of New Plays, hosted by Orlando Shakespeare Theater.[98] Founded in 2002, the Orlando Cabaret Festival showcases local, national, and internationally renowned cabaret artist to Mad Cow Theatre inDowntown Orlando each spring.[99]
Classical Music and Music Theater are also represented. Orlando has two professional orchestras – the Orlando Symphony Orchestra, which was founded in 1991 when the Central Florida Friends of Music reorganized, and theOrlando Philharmonic Orchestra, founded in 1993, the second of which also serves as the orchestra for productions of Opera Orlando, which developed when the Florida Opera Theater, founded in 2009, reorganized in 2016.
The indie literary pressesBurrow Press andAutofocusArchived September 29, 2024, at theWayback Machine are based in Orlando. There is also a large concentration of slam poets and poetry events in and around the metro area which has led to the city being dubbed Litlando. This name is fitting aslegend goes that the city's name and Rosalind Avenue in downtown Orlando were taken from characters from the Shakespeare play "As You Like It" while Lake Ivanhoe was named after the namesake character from the 1820 book,Ivanhoe, by Walter Scott.
Orlando is home to numerous recording studios and producers, and as a result, contributed heavily to theboyband craze of the mid-1990s. The groupsBackstreet Boys,*NSYNC, andO-Town were each formed in Orlando prior to their mainstream commercial breakthroughs. The alternative rock groupsMatchbox Twenty,Seven Mary Three, andAlter Bridge hail from Orlando, as well as the Christian hip hop actGroup 1 Crew. Orlando also has a prominent metal scene, spawning bands such asDeath andTrivium. There are alsohip hop music,metal, rock music,reggaeton and Latino music scenes that have all been active within the city.
Gaming YouTuberDream is based in Orlando. He has accumulated 40 million combined subscribers and signed a recording deal withRepublic Records in 2023.[108]
The Mall at Millenia is a contemporary two-level upscale shopping mall, including the department stores ofBloomingdale's,Macy's, andNeiman Marcus. The mall covers an area of 1.118 million square feet (103,900 m2).IKEA Orlando opened adjacent to the mall on November 14, 2007.
Orlando Fashion Square is located on East Colonial Drive, nearDowntown Orlando. Seritage Growth Properties (NYSE: SRG) is planning a late-summer 2017 completion of a major renovation that will welcome new shops and restaurants to the East Colonial Drive area.
Universal CityWalk is an entertainment and retail district located at the entrance ofUniversal Studios Florida. CityWalk originally began as an expansion at Universal's first park inUniversal Studios Hollywood. CityWalk Orlando opened in February 1999 as one major component of the expansion that transformed Universal Studios Florida into therenowned resort it is today.
Orlando's sports teams have collectively won twoArena Bowls (1998, 2000), two titles in ice hockey, three titles inminor league baseball, three titles in soccer, and one title in volleyball.
Camping World Stadium (the former Citrus Bowl stadium) hosts two annual college footballbowl games: theCitrus Bowl and thePop-Tarts Bowl. It also hosted the1998 Major League Soccer All-Star Game. Orlando is the host city for the annualFlorida Classic, one of the largestFCS football classics in the nation. It also began hosting theNational Football League'sPro Bowl, as well as a series ofFBS kickoff games called theOrlando Kickoff, in 2016. In 2018, theOrlando Apollos with theAlliance of American Football (AAF) played at Camping World Stadium. Headed by renowned coachSteve Spurrier, the team only lasted one season before the league filed for bankruptcy in Week 8 of a 10-week projected season. They ended their only season with a record of 7–1 and 5–0 in conference play. Camping World Stadium then hosted theOrlando Guardians of theXFL in 2023 finishing their only season with a record of 1–9. At the end of the season, theUSFL and the XFL were planning on merging leagues and it was announced that the Guardians would not be part of said merger.
Inter&Co Stadium, home of the Orlando City Soccer Club and Orlando Pride, also hosts one FBS college bowl game, TheCure Bowl, and hosted the2019 MLS All-Star Game.
The annualCommunity Effort Orlando (CEO) is the second-biggestfighting game tournament of the country. Having grown since its introduction in 2010, the event got over 4,000 attendees from more than 25 countries in 2016.[114][115]
Orlando is governed via themayor-council system the mayor is a strong-mayor.[119] The mayor is elected in a citywide vote. The six members of the city council are each elected from districts.
From the mid-20th century to the early 21st century, Orlando was one of the most politically conservative cities in the United States, having voted for the Republican candidate in every presidential election from 1948 to 2004. This streak was broken whenBarack Obama won it in 2008, becoming the first Democrat to carry the city in a presidential election sinceFranklin D. Roosevelt in 1944. It has since become a Democratic stronghold in statewide and local elections.
In the early 1900s, the Sorosis of Orlando Women’s Club ran a small lending library out of various homes and buildings.[121] In 1920, the city voted to develop a tax-funded public library. With book donations from the Women’s Club and retired New York City Police Captain Charles Albertson, the Albertson Public Library was opened in downtown Orlando in 1923.[121][122] One year later in 1924, Orlando's first African-American library was opened, the Booker T. Washington branch.[123]
In 1966, the main branch was moved from the Albertson Library to a new, larger building nearby, and renamed the Orlando Public Library.[122] The building was further expanded in the 1980s.[124]
Today, OCLS has 15 branches in communities throughout Orange County, serving more than four million visitors every year. The library system has more than 1.7 million items in its collections, and employs approximately 440 people. The current library director is Steve Powell.[124]
OCLS offers Orange County residents free access to a variety of resources, including books, music, computers, meeting rooms, 3D printers, passport services, and social workers.[125] The library system also provides a wide variety of classes and events for all ages, related to language learning, crafting, children’s storytime, job searching, citizenship, technology, and more.[126]
Orlando is the center of the 15th-largestmedia market in the United States according toNielsen Media Research as of the 2024–2025 TV season.[128] Four major network affiliates are licensed to the city:WKMG-TV 6 (CBS),WFTV 9 (ABC), and theFoxO&OWOFL 35, which is located in nearbyLake Mary. WFTV and WOFL operate additional stations in Orlando, with WFTV operating independent stationWRDQ 27 and WOFL operatingMyNetworkTVO&OWRBW 65. The market'sNBC affiliate,WESH 2, is licensed toDaytona Beach and also owns and operatesCW affiliateWKCF 18, licensed toClermont; both stations operate out of studios based in nearbyEatonville.
Four Spanish-language channels serve Orlando, withUniMás O&OWRCF-CD 29 andTelemundo O&OWTMO-CD 31 licensed to the city.Univision O&OWVEN-TV 43, which also owns and operates WRCF-CD, is licensed toMelbourne and based in nearbyAltamonte Springs. Several English-language stations also operate Spanish-language subchannels.
The city's cable system is run byCharter under its Spectrum branding, which absorbedBright House Networks in May 2016. Spectrum operatesNews 13, a cable-exclusive regional 24/7 news channel which covers Central Florida news, including that of Orlando.
25AM and 28FM stations transmit to the Orlando area. Some of the country's biggest radio station owners have major presences in Orlando, includingiHeartMedia,Cox Radio, andAudacy.
Orlando's primary newspaper, theOrlando Sentinel, is the second-largest newspaper in Florida by circulation. TheSentinel's Spanish language edition,El Sentinel, is the largest Spanish language newspaper in Florida.[129]
The city is also served by the following newspapers:
Orlando uses theLynx bus system as well as a downtown bus service called Lymmo. Orlando and other neighboring communities are also serviced bySunRail, a local commuter rail line that began service in 2014.
Orlando, like other major cities, experiences gridlock and traffic jams daily, especially when commuting from the northern suburbs inSeminole County south to downtown and from the eastern suburbs of Orange County to Downtown. Heavy traffic is also common in the tourist district south of downtown. Rush hours (peak traffic hours) are usually weekday mornings (after 7 am) and afternoons (after 4 pm). There are various traffic advisory resources available for commuters including downloading the Tele-Traffic App (available foriPhone andAndroid), dialing5-1-1 (a free automated traffic advisory system provided by theFlorida Department of Transportation, available by dialing 511), visiting the Florida 511 Web site, listening to traffic reports on major radio stations, and reading electronic traffic advisory displays (also calledVariable-message signs, information is also provided by theFlorida Department of Transportation) on the major highways and roadways.
I-4 is Orlando's primary interstate highway. Orlando is the second-largest city served by only one interstate, surpassed only byAustin, Texas, and is the largest metropolitan area in the US serviced by a single interstate. The interstate begins inTampa, Florida, and travels northeast across the midsection of the state directly through Orlando, ending inDaytona Beach. As a key connector to Orlando's suburbs, downtown, area attractions, and both coasts, I-4 commonly experiences heavy traffic and congestion. I-4 is also known as State Road 400.
East-West Expressway (Toll 408) is a major east–west highway managed by theCentral Florida Expressway Authority. The highway interchanges with I-4 inDowntown Orlando, providing a key artery for residents commuting from eastern and western suburbs including theUniversity of Central Florida and Waterford Lakes area. The highway also intersects with theCentral Florida Greeneway (Toll 417) andFlorida's Turnpike. By late 2006, the I-4/408 interchange had almost completed undergoing a major overhaul that creates multiple fly-over bridges and connectors to ease heavy traffic. The agency recently[when?] finished construction of lane expansions, new toll plazas, and sound barriers along the roadway, though much work remains to be done.
Daniel Webster Western Beltway (Toll 429) serves as Orlando's western beltway. It is managed jointly by the Florida Turnpike and the Central Florida Expressway Authority. The highway serves as a "back entrance" to Walt Disney World from Orlando's northwestern suburbs including Apopka viaFlorida's Turnpike.
John Land Apopka Expressway (Toll 414) A new east to west tollway serving northern Orlando. Phase I opened on February 14, 2009, and extends fromUS 441 toSR 429. Phase II opened on January 19, 2013, and links SR 429 to US 441 several miles west of the former SR 429 (now renamedState Road 451) intersection.
Florida's Turnpike is a major highway that connects northern Florida with Orlando and terminates in Miami.
The Orlando area is served by one through railroad. The line, now known as the Central Florida Rail Corridor (CFRC), was previously known as the "A" line (formerly theAtlantic Coast Line Railroad's main line). The line was purchased fromCSX Transportation by the State of Florida in 2013 and is now used bySunRail, the Central Florida commuter rail system. Some freight spurs still exist off the line, which are operated by theFlorida Central Railroad.Amtrak passenger service runs along CFRC. See alsoa map of these railroads.
Amtrak intercitypassenger rail service operates from theOrlando Amtrak Station south of downtown. TheMission Revival-style station has been in continuous use since 1927,[130] first for theAtlantic Coast Line, then theSeaboard Coast Line Railroad (signage for which is still displayed over the station's main entrance). Amtrak'sSilver Meteor andFloridian service Orlando four times daily, twice bound for points north toNew York City andChicago, respectively, and twice bound for points south toMiami. Orlando also serves as a transfer hub forAmtrak Thruway bus service. Orlando Station has the highest Amtrak ridership in the state, with the exception of theAuto Train depot located in nearbySanford.[131] Orlando was also served by the thrice-weeklySunset Limited. TheSunset Limited route was truncated atSan Antonio, Texas as a result of the track damage in the Gulf Coast area caused byHurricane Katrina on August 28, 2005. Service was restored as far east asNew Orleans by late October 2005, but Amtrak currently has service suspended betweenMobile and Orlando.
Historically, Orlando's other major railroad stations have included:
In 2005, federal and state funding was granted for the establishment ofSunRail, a localcommuter rail service, to operate on the former CSX "A" line tracks betweenDeLand andPoinciana, 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. Federal and state funds covered approximately 80% of the estimated $400 million cost for track modifications and construction of stations along the route. The counties involved approved local matching funds in 2007 and the line was originally projected to begin operations in 2011.[132] However, the project was ultimately voted down by Florida State Senate in 2008 and again in 2009 due to an amendment that would have approved a $200 million insurance policy for the system. Although there had been growing concern the system would be scrapped, a deadline extension combined with a new insurance arrangement with CSX brought new hope that SunRail will be completed after all.[133] In a special session in December 2009, the Florida Legislature approved commuter rail for Florida, which also enabled high-speed railfederal funding. SunRail began passenger service on May 1, 2014. Phase I of the rail system runs fromDeBary to Sand Lake Road in South Orlando. Phase II, connects DeBary and continues north toDeLand, as well as extending from Sand Lake Road in Orlando south toPoinciana. Attempts to establish a smallerlight rail service for the Orlando area were also considered at one time,[when?] but were also met with much resistance.
A privately funded initiative known asAll Aboard Florida, which would provideinter-city rail service from Miami to Orlando, was announced in March 2012.[134] Now known asBrightline, the train currently runs fromDowntown Miami to theOrlando International Airport Intermodal Terminal. The Orlando extension includes 40 miles (64 km) of new railway track and top speeds reach 125 mph (201 km/h), becoming one of the fastest rail services in the United States.[135] Service to Orlando began on September 22, 2023.[136] Future plans are underway to add a station nearDisney Springs.[137]
Lynx provides local transit service covering a five-county area:Orange,Seminole,Osceola, Polk, andVolusia.[138][139] Lynx bus frequency varies depending on the route and time of day.
Greyhound Lines offers intercity bus service from Orlando to multiple locations across the country. The Orlando Greyhound Station is located west of Downtown Orlando.
Having a very well-developed tourism industry and millions of visitors per year the City of Orlando has multiple options for groups arriving and touring the city and surrounding areas by local charter bus companies.
Orlando is served by a collection of independently owned taxi companies. In downtown Orlando, taxis can be hailed on a regular basis. Taxis are also available in and around the Amway Center, Orlando Convention Center, and all major attractions/theme parks. Orlando also has service from car-sharing companies like Uber and Lyft, which offer service at all airports.
Transportation between the Orlando International Airport and various locations in and around Orlando is provided by airport shuttle services. Several shuttles operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Given Orlando's status as a busy international tourist destination and growing industrial and commercial base, there are several foreign consulates and honorary consulates in Orlando including (as of April 2023): Austria, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Haiti, Iceland (Honorary), Italy (Honorary), Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, and Switzerland (Honorary).[141] In 1999, Orlando had the second-highest number of foreign consulates in Florida next to Miami.[142]
^Kelemen, Matt (September 2, 1998)."Wizards of Aahz: The Florida winter had ju..."orlandoweekly.com. The Orlando Weekly. RetrievedNovember 30, 2015.Collins could not be aware of it at the time, but those Saturday nights – eventually known as "Aahz"-- would kick-start an underground culture and spawn countless DJ careers. Orlando would never be the same...By 1991–1992, Orlando experienced its own "summer of love" through the culture that sprang up around the weekend acid-house nights at the Beacham Theatre presided over by Collins and Dave Cannalte, and nurtured by Beacham promoter StaceBass...only New York, San Francisco and L.A. had similar scenes, and they were characterized by warehouse parties. Orlando had a headquarters in the heart of its downtown district...From then on the crowds would refer to the Beacham as "Aahz" no matter what the owners called it.
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