Orlando is a city in the
central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange
County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area.
City officials state the
city is named for Orlando Reeves, a soldier who supposedly served during the
Second Seminole War. Historians believe Orlando Reeves never existed. Other
local legends tie the name to a cattle rancher and Shakespeare's Orlando.
Orlando is nicknamed "The City Beautiful," and its symbol is the fountain at
Lake Eola. The current mayor is Buddy Dyer. The city is best known for the Walt
Disney World Resort (located approximately 21 miles (34 km) southwest of
Downtown Orlando in Lake Buena Vista), founded by the Walt Disney Company in
1971, and for the Universal Orlando Resort (which consists of two parks,
Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure, as well as other
attractions, including City Walk). Orlando is also home to the SeaWorld theme
park, Gatorland, as well as Wet 'n Wild Water Park. With the exception of Walt
Disney World, most major attractions are located along International Drive. The
city's famous attractions form the backbone of Orlando's tourism industry,
making the city the most visited American city in 2009.[4] The city is also one
of the busiest American cities for conferences and conventions. Like other major
cities in the Sun Belt, Orlando grew rapidly during the 1980s and well into the
first decade of the 21st century. Orlando is also home to the University of
Central Florida, which is the second largest university in the United States in
terms of enrollment (as of 2011).
Orlando attracts
approximately 47 million tourists a year (3.3 million of them are international
tourists). Its international airport, the Orlando International Airport (MCO),
is the thirteenth busiest airport in the United States, and the 29th busiest in
the world.
Perhaps the most
critical event for Orlando's economy occurred in 1965 when Walt Disney announced
plans to build Walt Disney World. Although Disney had considered the regions of
Miami and Tampa for his park, one of the major reasons behind his decision not
to locate there was due to hurricanes - Orlando's inland location, although not
free from hurricane damage, exposed it to less threat than coastal regions. The
vacation resort opened in October 1971, ushering in an explosive population and
economic growth for the Orlando metropolitan area, which now encompasses Orange,
Seminole, Osceola, and Lake counties. As a result, tourism became the
centerpiece of the area's economy. Orlando now has more theme parks and
entertainment attractions than anywhere else in the world.
Another major factor in
Orlando's growth occurred in 1962, when the new Orlando Jetport, the precursor
of the present day Orlando International Airport, was built from a portion of
the McCoy Air Force Base. By 1970, four major airlines (Delta Air Lines,
National Airlines, Eastern Airlines and Southern Airways) were providing
scheduled flights. McCoy Air Force Base officially closed in 1975, and most of
it is now part of the airport. The airport still retains the former Air Force
Base airport code (MCO).
Present day
Today, the historic core
of "Old Orlando" resides in Downtown Orlando along Church Street, between Orange
Avenue and Garland Avenue. Urban development and the Central Business District
of downtown have rapidly shaped the downtown skyline during recent history. The
present-day historic district is primarily associated with the neighborhoods
around Lake Eola where century old oaks line brick streets. These neighborhoods,
known as "Lake Eola Heights" and "Thornton Park," contain some of the oldest
homes in Orlando.
Tourism
A vital part of the
Orlando area economy is tourism. The Orlando area is home to Walt Disney World
Resort, Universal Orlando Resort, and Sea World Orlando. Over 48 million
visitors came to the Orlando region in 2004. The convention industry is also
critical to the region's economy. The Orange County Convention Center, expanded
in 2004 to over two million square feet (200,000 m²) of exhibition space, is now
the second-largest convention complex in terms of space in the United States,
trailing only McCormick Place in Chicago. The city vies with Chicago and Las
Vegas for hosting the most convention attendees in the United States.
The Walt Disney World
resort is the area's largest attraction with its many facets such as the Magic
Kingdom, Epcot, Disney's Hollywood Studios, Disney's Animal Kingdom, Typhoon
Lagoon, Blizzard Beach, and Downtown Disney. SeaWorld Orlando is a large park
that features numerous zoological displays and marine animals alongside an
amusement park with roller coasters and water park. Universal Orlando, like Walt
Disney World, is a multi-faceted resort comprising Universal Studios Florida,
CityWalk, and Islands of Adventure. The Wet 'n Wild water park is another famous
attraction. SeaWorld Orlando also comprises more than one park, alongside
Aquatica and Discovery Cove. Orlando attractions also appeal to many locals who
want to enjoy themselves close to home.
Hotels
Orlando has the most
hotels, and the second largest number of hotel rooms in the country (after Las
Vegas, Nevada), and is one of the busiest American cities for conferences and
conventions. Accommodations in Orlando historically catered to the
budget-conscious family and few luxury hotel options existed outside of Walt
Disney World property. With the expansion of the Orange County Convention Center
in 2004, luxury hotels began opening in the city. This started with the opening
of the JW Marriott Orlando and the Ritz-Carlton Orlando at Grande Lakes. As of
2010, Orlando offers several 4 Star hotels throughout the market. The newest
luxury hotel to open in Orlando is the Waldorf Astoria-Orlando, completed in
2010. It is the first Waldorf Astoria built from the ground up since the
flagship hotel opened in New York City in 1931.
Golf
Numerous golf courses
can be found in the city, with the most famous being Bay Hill Club and Lodge,
home to the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Orlando ranks as the fourth most popular
city, based on where people want to live, according to a 2009 Pew Research
Center study.
