Orange County
Maitland Population: 12,019 In 1838 Fort Maitland was established by the US army, which is where the town got its name. In the late 1800's the citrus business started to take off. As the time past into the 1900's there were some freezes that killed a lot of citrus plants, but some farmers stayed in Maitland. By the 1960's 1792 was built, adding many new buildings like supermarkets, apartments, restaurants, and churches. In 1971 Disney World opened, attracting more people to the area. Since then, Maitland has become one of the most prestigious places to live in the Central Florida, with numerous sports stars and other famous people like Carrot Top and Horace Grant.
Orlando Population: 185,951 The Seminole people lived in the region of present-day Orlando before white settlers arrived in the late 1830s. Fort Gatlin was built near the site of today's city during the Second Seminole War, and Orlando grew up around it. First named Jernigan for a local trader, the city adopted its current name in 1857. Orlando's economy depended on cotton cultivation until the American Civil War (1861-1865), and for a time after the war the city earned a reputation as a lawless cattle town. Orlando was incorporated as a city in 1875; the railroad arrived in 1880. In the 1890s citrus production became the primary economic force, although local cultivation had begun some years earlier. For the next half century Orlando remained an obscure county seat and citrus processing center, a small city almost completely untouched by the state's boom in tourism and development that was concentrated along Florida's southern Atlantic coastline. The character of the city was dramatically transformed after 1965, when plans were announced to convert about about 27,000 acres of swampland into Walt Disney World (which opened in 1971). Today Orlando is known far and wide as one of the world's most important tourist destinations with more than 88,000 hotel rooms, 3000 restaurants and 66 attractions.
Apopka Population: 26,642 Apopka name was derived from a great lake just to the south west. The Apopkan Indians had named this lake. Apopka's original name was Apopka City but then was shortened to just Apopka. The City of Apopka is one of the fastest growing communities in Central Florida both in residential and commercial markets. Apopka shares measurably in our state's vast citrus market. Much farming also contributes greatly to the economy of the city of Apopka. Excellent outdoor recreational activities are available in abundance in the Apopka area.
Ocoee Population: 24,391 The settlement of Ocoee began when Dr. J. D. Starke led a group of slaves into the area in the mid 1850s. Many of the men, including Starke, were stricken with malaria and hoped by moving they could escape further outbreaks.
Winter Park Population: 24,090 Winter Park is a nature lover's dream destination. The Parks Division is currently in charge of over 70 parks, all home to various events, festivals and celebrations throughout the year–or just home to a place to sit in the shade and enjoy a beautiful Central Florida afternoon.
