PLACES TO LIVE

Look east or west, north or south, metro Orlando offers plenty of options for new residents.

* Getting Settled * Hispanic Bodegas

ORANGE COUNTY

Orange County, consisting of 907 square miles, is the region's focal point of activity. Consider that Orange, led by the city of Orlando, is forecasted to gain more jobs than any other county in the Florida through at least 2010. Not coincidentally, there are thousands of business startups annually throughout the county in a myriad of industries, from high technology and banking to construction and tourism. Much of the growth comes in the high-tech sector. Orange County is home to the sixth-largest research university in the nation, one of the top 10 research parks in the country, one of only two National Entrepreneur Centers, a world-class international airport and an all-new UCF College of Medicine. And tourism—well, ever heard of Disney or Universal?

At the same time,Orange County is an ideal place to raise a family, highlighted by a landscape filled with picturesque lakes and parks plus communities boasting abundant recreational amenities.

Cities: Apopka, Bay Lake, Belle Isle, Eatonville, Edgewood,Maitland, Oakland, Ocoee, Orlando, Windermere, Winter Garden,Winter Park.

SEMINOLE COUNTY

Seminole County is the quintessential Central Florida bedroom community. Seminole, led by Altamonte Springs, boasts a wealth of cozy, well-structured neighborhoods, and 70 percent of residents work outside of the county line. As a testament to its strong nature as a bedroom enclave for the region, new communities continue to rise, particularly in the Casselberry/ Winter Springs/Oviedo and Sanford/Lake Mary/Heathrow corridors.

While Seminole is marked by streams of cars heading to and from residences, however, much commercial progress is evident, too. Business, in fact, is strong throughout the county, with thousands of business start-ups recorded in 2006.Most notable is the establishment of corporate headquarters, such as American Automobile Association, Mitsubishi Power Systems, Scholastic Book Fairs and Sears Home Improvement Products, as well as the emergence of many high-tech companies, including CuraScript, Kinetics, Faro Technologies, Team Information Systems and Convergys. Also, there is ongoing expansion at Orlando Sanford International Airport and Seminole Community College.

In addition, Seminole officials have focused efforts on attracting tourism to places such as Wekiva Springs Park and the Central Florida Zoo.

Cities: Altamonte Springs, Casselberry, Lake Mary, Longwood, Oviedo, Sanford, Winter Springs.

OSCEOLA COUNTY

Osceola County is the region's largest county in area and smallest in population. In fact, until only a few years ago, cattle outnumbered people.

The economic picture is changing, however. The county, along with Kissimmee and St. Cloud, now consider economic development as a prime initiative and have already attracted companies such as Quaker Oats, Lowe’s Distribution, Mercury Marine and Nursery Supplies. Aside from willing government officials, Osceola offers prospective corporations easy access to major highways, as well as efficient rail services. Notably, future development will center around the 12.5-mile Osceola Parkway, which connects Orlando International Airport with local attractions and numerous major thoroughfares.

Meanwhile, the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes is one of the most beautiful in Florida and features superb fishing and boating. Boaters also can traverse the Kissimmee Waterway, a 50-mile-long waterway connecting Lake Tohopekaliga all the way to Lake Okeechobee.

Additionally, there are leading-edge commercial/residential developments, such as Celebration, Reunion Resort, Champions Gate and Harmony. And, of course, there is Disney, which drives much of the county’s economy and activity.

Cities: Kissimmee, St. Cloud.

For More Information: www.ahoraorlando.com
www.orangecountyfl.net
www.seminolecountyfl.gov
www.osceola.org

GETTING SETTLED	Top

Where to call for help about establishing your household? Use the following numbers for the county in which you live.

Orange County

General Information: 407-836-3111

Automobile Registration: 407-836-4145

Voter Registration: 407-836-2070

Electric Service:

Telephone Service:

Cable TV Service:

Bright House Networks: 407-291-2500

Osceola County

General Information: 407-343-2200

Automobile Registration: 407-343-4000

Voter Registration: 407-343-3900

Electric Service:

Telephone Service:

Cable TV Service:

Seminole County

General Information: 407-665-0411

Automobile Registration: 407-665-1000

Voter Registration: 407-665-7700

Electric Service:

Telephone Service:

Cable TV Service:

• Bright House Networks: 407-291-2500

HISPANIC BODEGAS	Top

BODEGAS ABOUND

Look around. There are more than 25 bodegas in metro Orlando. With Orlando’s Hispanic population steadily growing, so has the presence of these quaint neighborhood stores. Even the big traditional supermarkets, such as Publix, Winn-Dixie, SaveRite and Albertson’s, in addition to Bravo Supermarket and El Aguila, are catering to Hispanics. The most recent entry into the market is Aldi Food Market. And, all of the competition is great news for shoppers. Here is a listing of many of the area’s bodegas:

ALTAMONTE SPRINGS
La Placita Market: 407-788-8814

APOPKA
Bravo Supermarket: 407-886-5334
Compare Supermarket: 407-886-5384
La Taxqueña: 407-886-4826
Mi México: 407-884-7062
Supermercado Mexico: 407-884-7062
Tortilleria La Mexicana: 407-884-0049

KISSIMMEE
Bravo Food Market: 407-943-7556
El Águila: 407-931-4805
La Placita Latina: 407-846-1277
Tomato Express: 407-931-0772

LONGWOOD
Las Americas Grocery & Deli: 407-830-8599

ORLANDO
Fogarate Dominican and Spanish Cuisine: 407-482-9030
La Marketa Supermarket: 407-859-4059
La Primera Grocery: 407-658-9136
Las Americas Supermarket: 407-207-1845
Medina’s Grocery & Restaurant: 407-894-9294
Pão Gostoso Bakery: 407-447-8946
Bravo Supermarkets (Colonial): 407-277-7688
Plaza Gigante (Orange Blossom Trail): 407-851-2386
Supermercado Brasileiro (International Drive): 407-351-1550
Tortilleria La Mexicana: 407-888-3531

SANFORD
Contreras Bakery and Grocery: 407-324-9196

WINTER PARK
La Hacienda: (407) 673-7720