Interesting Facts About Orlando
Orlando, best known as the home of the Walt Disney World Resort, has more to offer than just theme parks. The growing Hispanic population brings a Spanish flair to the city, extending to restaurants, clubs and radio stations. You'll find plenty of interesting facts about Orlando, including its beginning as a 19th-century cattle ranch.
History
Orlando's history can be traced back to 1838, when the United States Army built Fort Gatlin in an effort to prevent Indian attacks on area settlers. Around that time, more settlers gradually drifted into the area--many of them cattle farmers like Aaron Jernigan. He and his brother established the first trading post in the 1840s. The area was known as "Jernigan" until 1856, when it was changed to "Orlando."
There are conflicting accounts about how the town came to be called Orlando. According to one story, the town was named for Orlando Reeves, a soldier at Fort Gatlin who was killed in an Indian raid. Another account claims that the man's name was Orlando Rees, not Reeves, and he was a wealthy plantation owner killed in the raid. One of the Orlandos carved his name in a tree and later settlers assumed that the tree was a grave marker. The area near the tree was known as "Orlando's Grave" and later, "Orlando."
Orlando was incorporated as a city in 1885, a time when the city's orange industry was flourishing. Orlando benefited from the Florida Land Boom in the 1920s, with many homes being built in the city. In 1956, Walt Disney announced his plans to build a theme park in the area because of its inland location and relative safety from hurricanes. Today, Walt Disney World is the business most associated with Orlando.
Geography
Orlando is located 106 miles above sea level and is mostly flat with a few sand hills that formed during an early geological period when sea level was higher. Underground limestone caverns are located throughout the area and are often responsible for the formation of sinkholes. The Orlando area measures slightly over 100 square miles, with 93.5 of those miles being land. Orlando is 75 miles from Florida's Golf Coast, 50 miles from the Atlantic Ocean and 375 miles from the southernmost point of the state, the Florida Keys.
Features
In addition to being the home of Walt Disney World, the area also offers two other major theme parks--Universal Orlando Resort and Sea World. Although neither of these parks are as large as Walt Disney World, they contribute to the area's popularity with tourists seeking rides and attractions in a warm climate.
Cypress Gardens, built in 1936, was the area's first theme park. Known for its water-skiing shows and botanical gardens, Cypress Gardens was featured in several movies in the 1940s and 50s, including "Easy to Love" and "Moon over Miami." Today, it includes over 40 rides and a water park, in addition to the original gardens and water skiing shows.
Orlando hosts the annual Orlando International Fringe Theater Festival, a 12-day event offering uncensored music, plays, art and dance. All of the proceeds from the event go back to the artists.
A number of large companies have offices in Orlando, including General Dynamics, Lockheed Martin, Westinghouse, Siemens and Northrop Grumman. The area is home to several military facilities, such as the Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division and the Air Force Agency for Modeling and Simulation.
Benefits
Because of its popularity with tourists, Orlando businesses that cater to tourists have done well in the area. The Orange County Convention Center offers over two million square feet of exhibition space, and while it is the largest convention venue in the area, it competes with area hotels with their own convention facilities.
Potential
Orlando's financial outlook depends on the health of the economy, both domestic and worldwide. In times of prosperity, the area has thrived, drawing tourists to its various attractions. A troubled economy brings a slowdown, prompting hotels, restaurants and parks to reduce hours and lay off employees.
Tags: Walt Disney, Disney World, Walt Disney World, miles from, About Orlando, Cypress Gardens
