Orange County, Florida facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Orange County
County
Left to right from top down: Downtown Orlando skyline as seen from Lake Eola; Cinderella Castle at the center of the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World; Orange County Courthouse in Downtown Orlando; The entrance gate to Universal Studios Florida at Universal Orlando; Boardwalk behind the student union on the campus of the University of Central Florida; Terminal C at Orlando International Airport; Shoppes on Park Avenue in Downtown Winter Park
Flag Seal
Orange County Location in the United States
Country	United States
Founded	December 29, 1824 (renamed January 30, 1845)
Named for	For the citrus orange fruit that once thrived in the area
County seat	Orlando
Largest city	Orlando
Area
• Total	1,003 sq mi (2,600 km2)
• Land	903 sq mi (2,340 km2)
• Water	100 sq mi (300 km2)
Population  (2020)
• Total	1,429,908
• Estimate  (2022)	1,452,726
• Rank	28th in the United States 5th in Florida
• Density	1,608.78/sq mi (621.09/km2)
Gross Domestic Product
• Total	US5.013 billion (2022)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern Time Zone)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (Eastern Daylight Time)
ZIP Codes	32828, 32703, 32712, 32820, 32709, 34734, 34786, 32810, 32751, 32824, 34760, 34761, 32835, 32836, 32837, 32839, 32825, 32821, 32822, 32829, 32830, 32831, 32832, 32801, 32803, 32804, 32805, 32806, 32807, 32811, 32812, 32814, 32817, 32819, 32827, 32809, 32818, 32808, 32826, 32833, 34787, 32789, 32792, 32798
Area codes	407, 689, 321
FIPS code	12095
GNIS feature ID	295750
Primary Airport	Orlando International Airport (MCO)
Secondary Airport	Orlando Apopka Airport Orlando Executive Airport (ORL) Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB) (X51)
Interstates
U.S. Routes	, , ,
State Routes	, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Rapid Transit	Lynx
Commuter Rail	Amtrak (Silver Meteor/Silver Star), Brightline, SunRail

Orange County is a county located in the central part of the U.S. state of Florida. As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 1,429,908, making it the fifth-most populous county in Florida and the 28th-most populous county in the United States. Its county seat is Orlando, which, along with it being the county's largest city, is the core of the Orlando metropolitan area, which had a population of 2.67 million in 2020.

As of 2022, Orange County has a gross domestic product of $115 billion, the third-largest GDP of Florida's 67 counties and the 27th-largest for the nation's 3,033 counties. The county is a tourist, economic, and cultural hub for the Central Florida region. Popular destinations within the county include Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, SeaWorld Orlando, Icon Park, Kia Center, Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, Orlando Museum of Art, and many other attractions. It is the home to the University of Central Florida (UCF), which as of Fall 2023 had a student population of 69,320, making it the fourth-largest on-campus student body of any public university in the United States. The county is home to other notable colleges, including Rollins College and Valencia College. Despite rapid development countywide, swaths of nature still do exist. There are many lakes within the county, most notable of such being Lake Apopka. Wekiwa Springs is a 7,000-acre (28 km²) state park, that features natural springs, trails, and campsites.

History

The land that is Orange County was part of the first land to emerge from below the Early Oligocene sea 33.9–28.4 million years ago and is known as Orange Island. Orange County's Rock Spring location is a Pleistocene fossil bearing area and has yielded a vast variety of birds and mammals including giant sloth, mammoth, camel, and the dire wolf dating around 1.1 million years ago.

In 1821, two counties formed Florida: Escambia to the west and St. Johns to the east. In 1824, the area to the south of St. Johns County became Mosquito County, and Enterprise was named the county seat. This massive county took up much of central Florida. Mosquito County was renamed Orange County in 1845 when Florida became a state. Several counties, such as Osceola, Seminole, Lake, and Volusia were carved out of Orange County.

Orange County was renamed from Mosquito County for the fruit that constituted the county's main product. At its peak in the early 1970s, some 80,000 acres (320 km²) were planted in citrus in Orange County.

The financial setbacks, not the first in the grove region's history, were too challenging for many growers. Economically destroyed, many walked away from the land and its obligations. Others awaited other opportunities. One of the region's major land owners and growers was the Tropicana company. They, however, also withdrew rather than try to come back from these seemingly endless generational decimation. With no realistic avenues for agricultural use of this rural land, and Florida's continuing strong population growth and its attendant needs (aided and supported by the success of nearby Walt Disney World and Universal Studios Florida), these areas began and continue to be swallowed up by growing housing developments. However, several packing facilities and wholesalers are still in Orange County.

Geography

2010 U.S. Census tract map of Orange County

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,003 square miles (2,600 km²), of which 903 square miles (2,340 km²) is land and 100 square miles (260 km²) (10.0%) is water.

Adjacent counties

• Seminole County - north
• Volusia County - northeast
• Brevard County - east
• Osceola County - south
• Polk County - southwest
• Lake County - west

Demographics

Ethnic origins in Orange County

Economy

Corporate

Orange County Convention Center is the primary public convention center for the Central Florida region and the second-largest convention center in the United States, after McCormick Place in Chicago.

ABC Fine Wine & Spirits, Atlantic.net, Central Florida Expressway Authority, Darden Restaurants, Miller's Ale House, Planet Hollywood, and Tijuana Flats (among others) have their corporate headquarters in the county.

Other companies with offices in the county include (but are not limited to):

• Amazon

• JetBlue

• Lockheed Martin

• Tupperware

Orange County Convention Center is a convention center located in the aforementioned county. It is the primary public convention center for the Central Florida region and the second-largest convention center in the United States, after McCormick Place in Chicago. Located on the south end of International Drive, the OCCC offers 7,000,000 sq ft (650,000 m²) of space, 2,100,000 sq ft (200,000 m²) of which is exhibit space. The OCC hosts events attracting about 1.5 million people annually, injecting $2.5 billion into the region's economy.

Healthcare

AdventHealth in Orlando is a non-profit hospital owned by AdventHealth (the largest in its hospital network). As of 2023, AdventHealth is the largest hospital in Central Florida, the second largest hospital in Florida, and the third largest hospital in the United States.

Orange County has been a growing-hub for healthcare in Central Florida. Two of the largest healthcare networks in the county are AdventHealth and Orlando Health, which were both founded in the county. Currently, the headquarters for Orlando Health is in Orange County, whereas the headquarters for AdventHealth is located in neighboring Seminole County.

Lake Nona Medical City (a master-planned community) is a 650-acre (260 ha) health and life sciences park in Lake Nona. The city is home to the University of Central Florida's Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, the College of Medicine, the College of Nursing, and the College of Dental Medicine, along with its teaching hospital. The city also includes the Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute, Nemours Children's Hospital, and the University of Florida's College of Pharmacy (ranked #5 among all pharmacy schools in the nation).

Shopping

The Florida Mall

The transient nature of Orange County, makes it a major regional commercial hub for the State of Florida. The Florida Mall is located in unincorporated Orange County, and with a gross leasable area of 1,718,000 square feet (159,600 m²) it is one of the largest single-story malls in the United States and the largest mall in Central Florida. With over 250 stores and various dining options (including 25 quick-service restaurants and 8 sit-down restaurants), The Florida Mall attracts over 20 million visitors annually, including domestic and international tourists.

Disney Springs (formerly Downtown Disney) is an outdoor shopping, dining, and entertainment complex at the Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista. The 120-acre (49 ha) complex includes four distinct areas: Marketplace, The Landing, Town Center, and West Side. Walt Disney Imagineers took inspiration from real coastal towns in Florida, such as St. Augustine and Coral Gables. Universal CityWalk in Orlando is the entertainment and retail district located adjacent to the theme parks of Universal Studios Florida and Universal Islands of Adventure at Universal Orlando.

Other regional shopping destinations in the county include Dezerland Park Orlando, Disney's Flamingo Crossings, The Mall at Millenia, Orlando Fashion Square, Orlando International Premium Outlets, Orlando Vineland Premium Outlets, Waterford Lakes Town Center, West Oaks Mall, Winter Garden Village, and Winter Park Village.

Sports

Kia Center, an indoor arena home to the Orlando Magic of the NBA, the Orlando Solar Bears of the ECHL, and the Orlando Predators of the National Arena League.

Orange County hosts two major league professional sports teams: the Orlando Magic of the National Basketball Association (NBA), and Orlando City SC of Major League Soccer (MLS). There are also minor league professional teams, such as the Orlando Solar Bears of the ECHL, the Orlando Predators of the National Arena League (NAL), and the Orlando Anarchy of the Women's Football Alliance. The UCF Knights, the athletics teams of the University of Central Florida, compete in NCAA Division I.

The ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex is a 220-acre (89 ha) multi-purpose sports complex located at Walt Disney World in Bay Lake. The complex includes nine venues, hosting professional and amateur sporting events throughout the year. Most notable of events hosted at the venues include the 2020 NBA Bubble (due to the Covid-19 pandemic), the MLS is Back Tournament, the 2016 Invictus Games, the Pro Bowl skills competition from 2017 to 2020, the 1997 U.S. Men's Clay Court Championships, and the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games. The Atlanta Braves utilized the facilities for spring training from 1997 to 2019, along with the Tampa Bay Rays utilizing the complex in 2023 spring training, due to Charlotte Sports Park being heavily damaged by Hurricane Ian in the previous year.

The Arnold Palmer Invitational on the PGA Tour is played each March at the Bay Hill Club and Lodge, a private golf resort owned since 1974 by Arnold Palmer in the community of Bay Hill. Other notable golf clubs in the county are the Eagle Creek Golf Club, the Lake Nona Golf & Country Club, and the Rio Pinar Country Club. The Golf Channel was formerly headquartered in Orange County. However in February 2020, it was reported that the Golf Channel would consolidate its television operations with the remainder of NBC Sports at its facilities in Stamford, Connecticut. GolfNow and GolfPass services continue to primarily operate out of the greater Orlando area.

Tourism and hospitality

Central Florida Tourism Oversight District Office in Lake Buena Vista. It is the governing jurisdiction and special taxing district for the land of Walt Disney World Resort.

Tourism remains at the core of Orange County's economy. Nicknamed the 'Theme Park Capital of the World', the county is home to Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, and SeaWorld Orlando, among many other theme parks. As of 2022, with over 2.9 million visitors, Orlando was the third-most visited city in the U.S. after New York City and Miami. Orlando International Airport is the 13th-busiest airport in the United States and the 29th-busiest in the world. The county features 7 of the 10 most visited theme parks in North America (5 of the top 10 in the world), as well as the 4 most visited water parks in the U.S. The Walt Disney World resort is the area's largest attraction. The resort is home to, the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney's Hollywood Studios, Disney's Animal Kingdom, Disney's Typhoon Lagoon, Disney's Blizzard Beach and Disney Springs. Universal Orlando encompasses Universal Studios Florida, Universal Islands of Adventure, Universal Volcano Bay and Universal CityWalk. SeaWorld Orlando is an animal theme park, featuring numerous marine wildlife displays, alongside with an amusement park, Aquatica water park, and Discovery Cove. Other theme parks include Fun Spot Orlando, Icon Park, Madame Tussauds, and Sealife Aquarium.

Along with these tourists offerings, the county is also home to the corporate headquarters for these theme parks' operations. One of the two corporate headquarters for Disney Experiences is located in Lake Buena Vista (the other headquarters is located in Glendale, California). There were reportedly plans from Disney, that they were to expand more of their corporate presence in Orange County, with the transferring of DPEP positions over the next couple of years to a new 60-acre corporate campus in the Lake Nona area of the county, with as many as 90% of the transferred positions being Imagineering positions. However, the planned relocation was cancelled in May 2023 amidst the feud between Disney and Florida's governor Ron DeSantis. United Parks & Resorts (formerly SeaWorld Entertainment Inc. or SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment) is an American theme park and entertainment company, with corporate headquarters located in Orange County. Along with SeaWorld, United Parks & Resorts is the parent company for the theme parks Adventure Island, Aquatica, Busch Gardens, Discovery Cove, Sesame Place, Water Country USA, and Worlds of Discovery.

In-turn, hospitality is incredibly vital to the county's economy. Westgate Resorts, an American timeshare resort company, was founded and is currently headquartered in the county. As of July 2021, Westgate Resorts has 22 locations across the United States. Other major hospitality companies with a significant economic presence (both corporate and in its resort properties) within the county include:

• Ryman Hospitality Properties

• Wyndham Destinations (formerly part of Wyndham Worldwide, formerly part of Cendant)

• Marriott Vacation Club International

• Hilton Grand Vacations Club

Education

Ronald Blocker Educational Leadership Center, the headquarters for Orange County Public Schools.

Public education

The Orange County Public Schools deliver public education to students countywide. Its functions and expenditures are overseen by an elected school board composed of a chairman, elected at-large; and seven members, elected from single-member districts. Each member is elected to a four-year term: the chairman and three other members are elected in gubernatorial election years, while the other four are elected in presidential election years. As of the 2021–2022 school year, the school system operated 205 schools (127 elementary, 9 K-8, 39 middle, 22 high, and 8 exceptional learning), with 206,246 students. As of 2023, it is the 4th largest district statewide and eighth largest in the nation.

Colleges and universities

Rollins College

The University of Central Florida is the sole 4-year public university. As of the Fall 2020 semester, a total of 71,948 students attended the university, making it the largest university in the nation by enrollment. The university's 1,415 acre main campus is situated in northeast Orange County.

Nearby Winter Park is home to Rollins College, a private college situated only a few miles from Downtown Orlando. In 2012, it was ranked #1 by U.S. News & World Report amongst regional universities in the South.

With six campuses spread throughout the county, Valencia College offers two-year degree programs, as well three baccalaureate programs.

The law schools for Barry University and Florida A&M are also conveniently located in Downtown Orlando.

Full Sail University is a for-profit university in Winter Park, Florida. Full Sail is not regionally accredited, but is nationally accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC) to award associate's, bachelor's degrees, and master's degrees in audio, film, design, computer animation, business, and other fields.[10] The school offers 35 degree programs and 2 graduate certificates and has a student population of more than 16,800.

Films

Walt Before Mickey, a feature film about Walt Disney creating Mickey Mouse, was shot locally.

Libraries

Orange County is served by the Orange County Library System, which was established in 1923. Before the opening of the Albertson Public Library in 1923, a circulating library maintained by the Sorosis Club of Orlando offered book lending services to patrons on a subscription basis. The Albertson Public Library was established with the collection of Captain Charles L. Albertson and the library was named in his honor. In 1924, the Booker T. Washington Branch of the Albertson Library was established to service the African American community of Orlando. In 1966, the current Orlando Public Library building was completed on the grounds of the Albertson Public Library. Currently there are 16 libraries within the Orange County Library system. The library systems offers a diverse selection of materials, free programs and free access to various databases. In addition, the library offers free delivery of most items through its MAYL service.

One exception exists in the cities of Maitland and Winter Park which are each part of a separate library taxing districts and as a result residents of these cities are not entitled to receive resident borrowing privileges at OCLS branches even though they are technically and legally residents of Orange County, instead an agreement was reached between Maitland, Winter Park and the OCLS whereas a resident of those cities can go to any OCLS branch and request a "Reciprocal borrower card" which is provided free of charge. The Reciprocal borrower cards is valid for one year and can be used at any OCLS branch with the exception of the Melrose Center at the Orlando Public Library which requires a separate Melrose Center specific card which is issued after the user applies for the card and goes through a mandatory orientation class. Access to the OCLS Internet on library owned PCs requires a Reciprocal borrower to pay small session access fee. The OCLS Wi-Fi network which is available at all branches remains free of charge to all users including Reciprocal borrowers and visitors who use their own iPad, Mac, PC, Smartphone or tablet devices. Maitland and Winter Park Library do not provide reciprocal privileges to OCLS patrons and charge non-residents a yearly user fee.

Sites of interest

Orlando Museum of Art is located in the community of Mills 50.

Annie Russell Theatre is an historic theater located in Winter Park on the campus of Rollins College.

Museums

• Albin Polasek House and Studio
• Casa Feliz
• Central Florida Railroad Museum
• Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art
• Corporal Larry E. Smedley National Vietnam War Museum
• Crealdé School of Art
• Maitland Historical Museum
• Maitland Telephone Museum
• Mennello Museum of American Art
• Museum of the Apopkans
• Orange County Regional History Center
• Orlando Museum of Art
• Orlando Science Center
• Pulse Memorial and Museum (still in development, as of 2024)
• Randall Made Knives
• Ripley's Believe It or Not!
• Rollins Museum of Art
• Well'sbuilt Hotel
• William H. Waterhouse House
• Winter Garden Heritage Foundation
• Winter Park Historical Museum
• Withers-Maguire House
• WonderWorks
• Zora Neale Hurston Museum of Fine Arts

Culture and wildlife

Harry P. Leu Gardens, with 50 acres (200,000 m²) of semi-tropical and tropical gardens, is designated as an historic district, containing landscaped grounds, three historic buildings, lakes, and nature trails.

Spaceship Earth at the center of Epcot at Walt Disney World.

Live Orca performance at SeaWorld Orlando.

Universal Volcano Bay is a tropical-themed water park at Universal Orlando Resort.

• Annie Russell Theatre
• Beacham Theatre
• Bob Carr Theater
• Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts
• Dr. Phillips House
• Enzian Theater
• Garden Theatre
• Gatorland
• Harry P. Leu Gardens
• Hollywood Hills Amphitheater
• Kraft Azalea Park
• Palm Cottage Gardens
• The Plaza Live
• Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant
• Universal Music Plaza Stage

Themed attractions

Parks

Camping World Stadium is an outdoor stadium located west of downtown. It is the current home venue of the Citrus Bowl and the Pop-Tarts Bowl. It is also the regular host of other college football games including the Florida Classic between Florida A&M and Bethune-Cookman, the MEAC/SWAC Challenge, and the Camping World Kickoff.

ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex is a 220-acre (89 ha) sports complex located at Walt Disney World in Bay Lake.

Sports venues

Lake Nona Golf & Country Club

• Addition Financial Arena - Located on the main campus of UCF, it is the home to the UCF Knights men's and women's basketball teams
• Camping World Stadium - The current home venue of the Citrus Bowl and the Pop-Tarts Bowl
• FBC Mortgage Stadium - Located on the main campus of UCF, it is the home field of the UCF Knights football team of NCAA Division I FBS college football
• Inter&Co Stadium - The home stadium for the Orlando City SC (MLS) and Orlando Pride (NWSL) soccer teams
• Kia Center – The home venue for the Orlando Magic (NBA basketball), Orlando Solar Bears (ECHL ice hockey), and the Orlando Predators (AFL indoor American football
• The Stadium at the ESPN Wide World of Sports
• The Venue at UCF - Located on the main campus of UCF, it is home to UCF's volleyball team

Golf courses

• Bay Hill Club and Lodge
• Eagle Creek Golf Club
• Lake Nona Golf & Country Club
• Rio Pinar Country Club
• Winter Park Country Club and Golf Course

Transportation

Orlando International Airport

International Drive north to Interstate 4

Florida's Turnpike

SunRail at the Sand Lake Road station

Airports

• Orlando Apopka Airport, a privately owned uncontrolled, public-use airport in the City of Apopka which serves small private aircraft, there is no commercial service.
• Orlando Executive Airport, a public airport owned by GOAA which serves private jets and small aircraft. It is a reliever airport for Orlando International Airport.
• Orlando International Airport, the busiest airport in Florida by passenger traffic, is a public international airport owned by GOAA serving both commercial and private aircraft.

Major highways

Public transportation

• Amtrak a nationwide rail service with two stations in Orange County, Orlando and Winter Park
• Brightline, a high-speed rail line which operates service from Orlando International Airport to West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale and Miami which started on September 22, 2023
• Greyhound a U.S. Intercity common carrier bus company providing nationwide service from Orlando.
• Lynx a public bus authority providing service in Orange County and five additional Central Florida counties including Lake, Osceola, Polk, Seminole and Volusia.
• SunRail a commuter rail service with eight stations serving Orange County and eight additional stations in three adjacent counties (Osceola, Volusia and Seminole).

Communities

Cities

Towns

• Eatonville
• Oakland
• Windermere

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

• Chinatown
• Fairvilla
• Killarney
• Plymouth
• Reedy Creek Improvement District
• Vineland

See also

In Spanish: Condado de Orange (Florida) para niños