Orlando is a major city located in central Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, Florida. According to the 2020 US Census, the population of Orlando is 315,495 making it the 73rd largest city in the United States. Orlando is known for its theme parks, particularly Walt Disney World Resort, which is the city's largest employer.
The Orlando area was originally inhabited by the Seminole Native Americans. In 1838, the US Army established Fort Gatlin southeast of downtown Orlando to help control the Seminole population during the Second Seminole War. By 1850, settlers moved into the area and a small settlement called Jernigan arose. In 1856, the town was renamed Orlando after a soldier named Orlando Reeves who died in 1835 during a battle with the Seminoles.
Orlando was incorporated as a town in 1875 with 85 residents. In 1885, it became incorporated as a city. The arrival of the railroad in 1880 spurred Orlando's early growth. By 1930, Orlando had grown to over 27,000 residents. Major growth came in the 1970s with the opening of the Walt Disney World resort. Tourism drove rapid population growth through the end of the 20th century. Today, Orlando continues to be a hub for entertainment, technology and medical research.
To learn more about Orlando's history, visit the Orlando Wikipedia page or the History Center in downtown Orlando.
Orlando is located at 28°32′N 81°22′W in central Florida. It has a total area of 302.6 square miles. As of the 2020 census, the population was 315,495. Orlando has a humid subtropical climate with hot, humid summers and mild, dry winters. From 1981 to 2010, Orlando averaged 50.6 inches of rain per year.
The racial makeup of the city is 57.6% White, 28.0% African American, 0.9% Native American, 4.8% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 5.0% from other races, and 3.7% from two or more races. 24.9% of the population is Hispanic or Latino.
Major sectors of Orlando's economy include tourism, technology, defense, education, and health care. Top employers include:
To learn more about economic development in Orlando, visit the Orlando Economic Development Commission website.
As one of America's top tourist destinations, Orlando is home to numerous major theme parks and attractions including:
Here is an embedded Google Map showing some of Orlando's top landmarks and attractions:
Public transportation in Orlando is provided by the Lynx bus system operated by the Central Florida Regional Transportation Authority. Lynx operates over 60 bus routes in the metro Orlando area providing access to popular destinations like downtown Orlando, theme parks, shopping centers, hospitals and more. The main transit hub is located at the Lynx Central Station in downtown Orlando.
In addition to regular bus routes, the LYMMO is a free circulator bus running through downtown Orlando. There is also the FastLink rapid bus line running along State Road 50. For route planning, schedules and fare info, visit the Lynx website.
Public education in Orlando is provided by the Orange County Public School District, the 9th largest school district in the US. There are over 200 public schools located within Orlando including standout high schools like Dr. Phillips High and Olympia High. There are also over 100 private schools in the metro Orlando area.
Higher education options include:
Here are some other helpful local resources for Orlando:
This map shows the location of Orlando in central Florida. Major highways, neighborhoods, landmarks and surrounding cities are visible on the map.