A Diverse Region
Metro Orlando offers numerous styles of life in three distinct counties.
There are many words that can
be used to describe metro
Orlando. Such words include
warm and friendly, growing and
fun, sprawling and attractive.
Quite possibly no word describes
the region, however, better than
this one: diverse. Of course, our
Hispanic population is evidence
of that fact. Yet, there are many of
way in which the region is wonderfully
diverse.
Consider, for example, the
three counties that comprise metro
Orlando: Orange, Seminole
and Osceola.
Orange County, established in
1824, is the region’s most populous
county. Led by the city of Orlando, it
is also the region’s commercial focal
point.Although the geographic area
consists of more than 900 square
miles, most of the business activity
occurs in and around downtown
Orlando,with eight cities surrounding
that downtown core. By population,
the largest communities are
Winter Park, Apopka, Ocoee and
Winter Garden.
Seminole County was established
in 1913 and consists of
nearly 300 square miles. Located
north of Orlando, the county offers a
small-town ambiance but, thanks to
Interstate 4 and the Central Florida
GreeneWay, there is also big-city access.
Additionally, the county boasts a growing
high-tech corridor and enticing locales
for corporate headquarters. The county
includes seven cities, the largest of which
are Altamonte Springs, Sanford, Winter
Springs and Casselberry.
With around 1,400 square miles of
land, Osceola County sits to the southwest
of Orange and Seminole counties. It
was established in 1887 and remained
largely rural until recently. Change in the
county is afoot, led by industrial growth
in tourism, manufacturing and product
distribution. Now, Osceola is being
counted as among Florida’s fastest-growing
areas. Most of the county’s residents
live in and around two cities: Kissimmee
and St. Cloud.
By virtue of the rich diversity, metro
Orlando is growing faster that almost any
other region in the country. The region
consists of 1.68 million people and projects
to be the nation’s second-fastest-growing
population and employment market
through 2008. Each week, the region welcomes
nearly 1,524 new adult residents.
Yes, metro Orlando opens its arms to
the world.
Orlando International Airport is the busiest hub in
the Florida and the 21st busiest worldwide. In
2006, it accommodated more than 35 million
passengers. In mid 2005, the nation’s first “Private Sector
Known Traveler Program” began at the airport. The volunteer
program is intended to improve the quality of the airport
and air travel experience by expediting the screening
process for frequent travelers.
Interstate 4 runs through Orlando, stretching north
and south in the city. Statewide, I-4 extends northeast
and southwest across Florida from Daytona Beach
and Interstate 95 on the Atlantic coast to Tampa and
Interstate 75 on the Gulf of Mexico.
