Downtown Orlando



City of Orlando's History


Orlando´s history dates back to 1838 and the height of the Seminole Wars. The U.S. Army built Fort Gatlin south of the present day Orlando City limits to protect settlers from attacks by Indians.

 By 1840, a small community had grown up around the Fort. It was known as Jernigan, named after the Jernigan family, who had established the first permanent settlement in the area. Jernigan had a post office, established May 30th, 1850.

Six years later with the settlement expanding northward, the community officially changed its name to Orlando. In 1857, the U.S. Post Office adopted the name change. The Town of Orlando was incorporated in 1875 with 85 inhabitants, 22 of whom were qualified voters.

History is not as clear on where the name Orlando originated. There are four stories that are told. One involves Judge James Speer, who worked hard in getting Orlando as the county seat, naming Orlando after a man who once worked for him. Another is that Speer named it after a character from Shakespeare´s, "As You Like It".

A third version has Mr. Orlando on his way to Tampa with a caravan of ox. It is said that he got ill, died and was buried, and that folks would come by and say, "There lies Orlando"The most common story is about a company of soldiers on duty during the height of the Seminole Wars. After battling Indians back into the swamps on the east side of Lake Minnie (now Cherokee), the military troop settled there for the night. Sentinel Orlando Reeves was guarding the camp when he spotted a log floating toward him.  Recognizing the Indian disguise and wanting to warn his fellow soldiers, he fired his gun. Arrows felled the poor fellow as the Indians came out to ambush the camp. The Indians were chased back again, and the south side of Lake Eola was chosen to bury Orlando Reeves



Downtown

Headquarters for government operations, including the City of Orlando and Orange County, as well as federal and state regional offices

Proximity to the region's top business leadership, government leadership, consulates, international trade organizations and professional associations

There are 17,000 residents within a 1,620 acres radius of the downtown district

 

Nearly 55,000 employees working in Downtown Orlando in 2001

Largest concentration of office space in Metro Orlando: 9.4 million square feet (2001)

Educational resources include the University of Central Florida Downtown Academic Center, Valencia Community College Downtown Center, Orlando Tech, Florida A & M University College of Law, Lake Eola Charter School, Lake Highland Preparatory School, Nap Ford Community School, Howard Middle School, St. James Cathedral School, and Trinity Lutheran School


Sources of information about the Orlando area:

City Operated Attractions
Leu Gardens has nearly fifty acres of peaceful grounds that let you enjoy "Old Florida" at a leisurely pace.



The Mennello Museum of American Folk Art features traveling exhibits along with its permanent collection of art work.


The Orlando Centroplex includes the TD Waterhouse Centre, the Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre, the Expo Centre and the Florida Citrus Bowl.

Convention & Meeting Planning
Orlando/Orange County CVB convention site

Travel information
For direct links to Orlando area theme parks, tourist attractions and lodging, please do a keyword search for "Orlando Travel" on any major search engine.

Orlando International Airport
Lynx (Mass transit system)
Orlando bikeway system (routes and maps)
National Weather Service Forcast

Maps - Getting Around Orlando
Downtown Parking
Orlando area expressway system maps
Interstate 4 Lane Closures
City of Orlando GIS Map Room



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