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Content derived from Wikipedia article on Orlando

Orlando, Florida

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Orlando, Florida

Flag Seal

Nickname: "The City Beautiful, O-Town"

Location in Orange County and the state of Florida.

Coordinates: 28°32′01″N, 81°22′6.72″W

Country United States

State Florida

Counties Orange

Mayor Buddy Dyer (D)

Area

- City 100.9 mi² - 261.5 km²

- Land 93.5 mi² - 242.2 km²

- Water 7.5 mi² - 19.3 km²

Elevation 34 m

Population

- City (2005) 213,233

- Density 767.9/km²

- Metro 1.8 million

Time zone EST (UTC-5)

- Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)

Website: http://www.cityoforlando.net/

The city of Orlando is the county seat of Orange County, Florida. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 185,951 (metropolitan area 1,644,561). A 2005 U.S. Census Estimates population count gave the city population was 213,233 (metropolitan area over 1.8 million). It is the sixth-largest city in Florida, and its largest inland city. It is also at the head of the Orlando-Kissimmee, Florida, Metropolitan Statistical Area. The Orlando-Kissimmee MSA is Florida's third-largest metropolitan area, behind Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach and Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater. Additionally, Orlando is home to the second largest university in Florida, the University of Central Florida.

The city is best known for the many tourist attractions in the area, particularly the nearby Walt Disney World Resort, which is in the Reedy Creek Improvement District . Other area attractions include SeaWorld and Universal Orlando Resort. Despite being far from the main tourist attractions, downtown Orlando has recently seen much redevelopment, with many more projects currently under construction or planned. Orlando sees an estimated 52 million tourists a year. Orlando is the 2nd largest city in the country for number of hotel rooms. It is a leader in medical care and research with two major health systems Florida Hospital and Orlando Regional Healthcare System. Florida Hospital, a faith-based not-for-profit hospital system, is the largest healthcare system in Central Florida and one of the largest hospitals in the United States. Florida Hospital has been recognized by U.S. News and World Report as one of America's top hospitals for eight consecutive years. Orlando Regional Healthcare System’s main campus Orlando Regional Medical Center is one of the busiest Level I Trauma Centers in the country, and also is home to the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center Orlando. ORMC is the only statutory teaching hospital in Central Florida.

The city's nickname is "The City Beautiful", though plans are underway to change this title through a local contest. Its symbol is the fountain of Lake Eola. The current mayor is Buddy Dyer.

International DriveContents

1 History

2 Geography

2.1 Neighborhoods

2.2 Metropolitan area

3 Climate

4 Economy

5 Transportation

5.1 Air

5.2 Roads

5.3 Rail

5.4 Buses

5.5 Light rail

6 Education

6.1 Area institutions of higher education

7 Demographics

8 Culture

9 Arts and entertainment

10 Area attractions

11 Sports

12 Media

12.1 Radio

12.1.1 AM

12.1.2 FM

12.1.3 Internet Radio

12.2 Television

13 Sister cities

14 Foreign Consulates

15 See also

16 References

17 External links

History

Some historians date Orlando's name to around 1836 when a soldier named Orlando Reeves allegedly died in the area, during the war against the Seminole Indian tribe. It seems, however, that Orlando Reeves (sometimes Rees) operated a sugar mill and plantation about 30 miles (50 km) to the north at Spring Garden in Volusia County, and pioneer settlers simply found his name carved into a tree and assumed it was a marker for a grave site. They thus referred to the area as "Orlando's grave" and later simply "Orlando."

During the Second Seminole War, the U.S. Army established an outpost at Fort Gatlin, a few miles south of the modern downtown, in 1838. But it was quickly abandoned when the war came to an end.

Prior to being known as its current name, Orlando was known as Jernigan, after the first permanent settler, cattleman Aaron Jernigan, who acquired land along Lake Holden by the terms of the Armed Occupation Act of 1842. But most pioneers did not arrive until after the Third Seminole War in the 1850s. Most of the early residents made their living by cattle ranching.

Orlando remained a rural backwater during the American Civil War, and suffered greatly during the Federal Blockade. The Reconstruction Era brought a population explosion, which led to the city's incorporation in 1875.

The period from 1875 to 1895 is remembered as Orlando's "Gilded Era," when it became the hub of Florida's citrus industry. But a great freeze in 1894-1895 forced many owners to give up their independent groves, thus consolidating holdings in the hands of a few "citrus barons" which shifted operations south, primarily around Lake Wales in Polk County.

There are a couple of notable homesteaders in the area. First is the Curry family. On their property in east Orlando there was the Econlockahatchee River and every time it had to be crossed the settlers would "ford the river". This leads its name to one of Orlando's roads, Curry-Ford Rd. Also, just south of the airport in the Boggy Creek area was 150 acres of property homesteaded in the late 1800's by the Ward family. This property is still owned by the Ward family and can be seen from flights out of MCO southbound immediately on the south side of SR-417.

Orlando, as Florida's largest inland city, became a popular resort during the years between the Spanish-American War and World War I.

During World War II, a number of Army personnel were stationed at the Pine Castle AAF. Some of these servicemen stayed in Orlando to settle and raise families. In 1956 the aerospace/defense company Martin Marietta (now Lockheed Martin) established a plant in Orlando. In 1958, Pine Castle AAF was renamed McCoy Air Force Base after Colonel Michael N.W. McCoy.

Orlando is close enough to Patrick Air Force Base, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, and Kennedy Space Center for residents to commute to work from the city's suburbs. It also allows easy access to Port Canaveral, an important cruise ship terminal. Because of its proximity to the "Space Coast" near the Kennedy Space Center, many high-tech companies have shifted to the Orlando area.

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 cities of Miami and Tampa for his park, one of the major reasons behind his decision not to locate in those cities was the threat of hurricanes. The famous 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 and Orlando is consistently ranked as one of the top vacation destinations in the world.

Another major factor in Orlando's growth occurred in 1970, when the new Orlando International Airport was built from a portion of the McCoy Air Force Base. Four airlines began providing scheduled flights in 1970. The military base officially closed in 1974, and most of it is now part of the airport. The airport still retains the former Air Force Base airport code (MCO). It is considered a world-class facility, and it is one of the most heavily travelled airports in the world.

In addition to McCoy Air Force Base, Orlando also had a naval presence with the establishment of the Orlando Naval Training Center in 1968. Providing training to recruits as well as being a base for selected post basic training programs, the base had a prominent presence in the area. In 1993, the Base Realignment and Closure Commission ordered that the base be closed. The base continued in a diminished capacity until the base closed for good with the last graduates of the base's Naval Nuclear Power School leaving in December of 1998. The former base has been developed into tracts for upscale housing called Baldwin Park.

The SunTrust Center, the tallest building in Orlando at 441 ft. (134 m), was built in 1988. The next tallest buildings are the Orange County Courthouse (1997, 416 ft./127 m), the Bank of America Center (Formerly Barnett Plaza, 1988, 409 ft./123 m), Solaire at the Plaza (2006, 359 ft./109 m) and the Orlando International Airport ATC Tower (2002, 346 ft./105 m). The VUE at Lake Eola, currently under construction, will become the second-tallest building in Orlando upon completion at 426 ft. (129.5 m) tall. ([1][2]

The SeaWorld SkyTower, at 400 ft. (122 m) tall, is the tallest tower in Orange County that's not in Orlando proper. There are also several tall transmission towers in Orange County, the tallest of which is the WFTV transmission tower in Christmas at 1,617 ft. (491.6 m) tall.

In the hurricane season of 2004, Hurricanes Charley, Frances, and Jeanne battered the Orlando area, causing widespread damage and flooding and impeding tourism to the area.

Geography

Orlando Skyline at sunset, from Interstate 4

Orlando Skyline at sunset, from Conway Rd @ SR-408Orlando is located at 28°32′1″N, 81°22′33″W (28.533513, -81.375789)GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 261.5 km² (100.9 mi²). 242.2 km² (93.5 mi²) of it is land and 19.3 km² (7.5 mi²) of it (7.39%) is water. Orlando is, on average, 106 feet above sea level.

Orlando is rivaled only by the Twin Cities in the number of natural lakes to be found in its metropolitan area. The Orlando area is home to more than 100 lakes, the largest of which are Lake Apopka, Eustis, Griffin, Harney, Harris, Jesup, Monroe, Sand Lake, Conway, and Tohopekaliga. The region Orlando occupies is generally low-lying, the only exception being minor sand hills formed by wave action in earlier geological eras when sea level was higher. These sand hills are found primarily in the western sections of the metropolitan area, especially in Lake County. The area is also very prone to sink-holes due to the large number of underground limestone caverns that are located in the area. Many of the lakes started as sink holes in recent geologic history.

Neighborhoods

The city of Orlando has 115 neighbourhoods in the city limits, some of which are:

Airport North

Avalon Park

Baldwin Park

Callahan

Central Business District

College Park

Colonialtown North

Colonialtown South

Crescent Park

Delaney Park

Downtown

Royal Manor Estates

EastWood

Lake Davis / Greenwood

Lake Eola Heights

Lake Formosa

Metro North

Metrowest

Millenia

North Orange

Park Central

Park Lake Highland

Parramore

Rosemont

Richmond Heights

Rio Pinar

Roosevelt Park

Southwest

Stoneybrook

Thornton Park

University Heights

Washington Shores

Waterford Lakes

West Colonial

Metropolitan area

In the Orlando area, like most metropolitan areas in Florida, the majority of the population lives outside the city proper. Orlando is the centre of a four-county metropolitan area that includes Orange, Osceola, Seminole and Lake counties. Oviedo, in Seminole County, has been listed as one of the fastest growing cities in the United States. Clermont (Lake) and Poinciana (Osceola) have also seen explosive growth. Although technically outside of the Orlando metropolitan area, Deltona grew so fast that it overtook Daytona Beach as the largest city in Volusia County as of the 1990 census. Melbourne, in neighbouring Brevard County, also has seen significant growth in recent years.

Climate

Orlando has a warm and humid subtropical climate, and there are two major seasons each year. One of those seasons is hot and rainy, lasting from April until October (roughly coinciding with the Atlantic hurricane season). The other is a cooler season (November through March) that brings more moderate temperatures and less frequent rainfall. The area's warm and humid climate is caused primarily by its low elevation and its position relatively close to the Tropic of Cancer, and much of its weather is affected by the movement of the Gulf Stream.

During the height of Orlando's very humid summer season, temperatures rarely fall below 70 °F (21 °C), and daytime highs average in the 90s (32-37 °C). Although the city rarely records temperatures over 100 °F (38 °C), extreme humidity often pushes the heat index to over 110 °F (43 °C). The city's highest recorded temperature is 102 °F (39 °C), set in 1998. During these months, strong afternoon thunderstorms occur almost daily. These storms are caused by air masses from the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean colliding over Central Florida, and they often bring high wind, damaging hail, heavy rainfall (sometimes several inches per hour), and violent lightning. Orlando is sometimes referred to as the lightning capital of the world, but it is actually second to parts of Central Africa in its frequency of strikes. It does have more lightning than any other city in the United States.

During the winter season, humidity is lower and temperatures are more moderate. Average lows in January are around 50 °F (10 °C), and the highs average near 70 °F (21 °C). Temperatures rarely reach below 32 °F (0 °C), although the coldest temperature ever recorded was 16 °F (-9 °C) in 1985. Because the winter season is dry and most freezing temperatures occur after cold fronts (and their accompanying precipitation) have passed, Orlando experiences no real snowfall. Although no measurable amount of snow has ever fallen (though areas just west recorded up to 2" in 1977), trace amounts were officially observed on December 23, 1989, and trace flurries of ocean effect snow were also reported in nearby coastal Brevard County on January 24, 2003. [3] When flurries do occur, most are isolated incidents that are never officially recorded.

The average annual rainfall in Orlando is 50.1 in. (128 cm), most of it occurring in the period from June to September. The months of December through May are Orlando's driest season. During this period (especially in its later months), there is often a wildfire hazard. During some years, fires have been severe. In 1998, an El Niño condition caused an usually wet January and February, followed by drought throughout the spring and early summer, causing a record wildfire season that created Greater Orlando's first instances of unhealthy air quality alerts.

Orlando has a considerable hurricane risk, although it is not as high as it is in South Florida's urban corridor or other coastal regions. Since the city is located 40 miles (64 km) inland from the Atlantic and 60 miles (97 km) inland from the Gulf of Mexico, hurricanes usually weaken before arriving. Storm surges are not a concern since the region is 100 ft (30 m) above sea level. Despite its relatively safe location, the city does see strong hurricanes. During the notorious 2004 hurricane season, Orlando was hit by three hurricanes that caused significant damage, with Hurricane Charley the worst of these. The city also experienced widespread damage during Hurricane Donna in 1960.

Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year

Avg high °F (°C) 72

(22) 73

(22) 77

(25) 83

(28) 88

(31) 91

(32) 92

(33) 92

(33) 89

(31) 84

(28) 77

(25) 73

(22) 83

(28)

Avg low temperature °F (°C) 50

(10) 51

(10) 55

(12) 61

(16) 67

(19) 71

(21) 73

(22) 73

(22) 72

(22) 65

(18) 56

(13) 51

(10) 62

(16)

Rainfall in. (cm) 2.1

(5) 3.1

(7) 3.5

(8) 2.6

(6) 3.0

(7) 6.5

(16) 8.1

(20) 7.2

(18) 6.8

(17) 3.9

(9) 1.7

(4) 2.1

(5) 50.1

(128)

Source: Weatherbase

NOTE: The record high of 102 °F (39 °C) was recorded at Orlando International Airport, and is available from AccuWeather.com. (historical data from July is only visible in July and August unless you buy into their premium services) WeatherBase only uses historical data recorded at Orlando Executive Airport. Both airports have official National Weather Service recording stations.

Economy

A large part of the Orlando area economy is involved in the tourist industry. 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.[1]

The area's economy includes other industries besides tourism, such as manufacturing. Lockheed-Martin has a large manufacturing facility for missile systems, aeronautical craft and related high tech research due to Orlando's proximity to the NASA Kennedy Space Center.[citation needed] Since the 1970s, the area also has offices for many computer software and hardware firms, such as IBM and Oracle.[citation needed] Other notable engineering firms have offices or labs in the Central Florida area: KDF, General Dynamics, Harris, Westinghouse, Siemens, Veritas/Seagate, multiple USAF facilities, Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division (NAWCTSD), Delta Connection Academy, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, GE, Air Force Agency for Modeling and Simulation (AFAMS), Army Simulation Training and Instrumentation Command (STRICOM), AT&T, Boeing, CAE Systems Flight & Simulation Training, HP, Institute for Simulation and Training, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon Systems. The Naval Training Center until a few years ago was one of the two places where nuclear engineers were trained for the US Navy. Now the land has been converted into the Baldwin Park development.

Another developing sector is the film, television, and electronic gaming industries, aided by the presence of Universal Studios, Disney-MGM Studios, Full Sail School, and other entertainment companies and schools. Numerous office complexes for large corporations have popped up along the Interstate 4 corridor north of Orlando, especially in Maitland, Lake Mary and Heathrow. The U.S. modeling, simulation, and training (MS&T) industry is centered around the Orlando region as well, with a particularly strong presence in the Central Florida Research Park adjacent to UCF.

Nearby Maitland is the home of Tiburon, a division of the video game company Electronic Arts. Originally Tiburon Entertainment, it was acquired by EA in 1998 after years of partnership, particularly in the famous Madden NFL series and NCAA Football series of video games. Due to this, there were rumors in 2005 that EA may move its corporate HQ to Orlando.[citation needed]

There is a very low unemployment rate in Greater Orlando of 3.1% as of July 2006.[2] The result is explosive growth that has led to urban sprawl in the surrounding area and skyrocketing housing prices. Housing prices in Greater Orlando went up 34% in one year, from an average of $182,000 in August 2004 to $245,000 in August 2005. House prices continue to rise, reaching a record $252,900 in July 2006.[3] Many apartments have been turned into condos since 2003.[citation needed]

Due to this, many young adults and those in the lower class are having a difficult time finding housing within Orange County. A spring 2006 Orlando Sentinel article stated that in order to afford rent for a single bedroom apartment in Orange County one would be forced to earn at least a $20 per hour wage.[citation needed]

Companies and organizations that have their corporate headquarters or a major presence in the area:

AAA

AirTran

Campus Crusade for Christ

Cendant Timeshare Resort Group

Central Florida Property Managers Association

Darden Restaurants, Inc.

Electronic Arts

Gaylord Entertainment

Hard Rock Cafe

Hewitt Associates LLC

Hilton Grand Vacations Club

Hughes Supply Incorporated

Kessler Collection

Harcourt Trade Publishers

Intrawest

Lockheed-Martin

Loews Hotels

Luctor International

Marriott Vacation Club International

NBC Universal

Planet Hollywood

Reed Elsevier

Ruth's Chris Steakhouse

Scholastic Book Fairs

Siemens AG Power Generation

Starwood Vacation Ownership

SunTrust Bank

Symantec

T.G. Lee Dairy

The Golf Channel

Tupperware Corp.

The Walt Disney Company

Westgate Resorts

Wycliffe Bible Translators

Transportation

A LYNX bus stop on North Orange Avenue in downtown Orlando.

Air

Orlando is served primarily by Orlando International Airport, though nearby Orlando Sanford International Airport also serves the area. Orlando Executive Airport is used for charter flights and General Aviation.

Roads

Its major freeway is Interstate 4, which crosses Florida's Turnpike southwest of Downtown Orlando. It is also served by the toll roads of the Orlando-Orange County Expressway Authority, particularly the East-West Expressway (SR 408), which crosses I-4 downtown.

The East West Expressway (SR 408) is undergoing major construction with the addition of lanes, concrete barrier walls, sound walls, and a better scenic view. This project began in 2005 and is not yet complete.

Because of the massive urban sprawl in the area and outdated and unplanned transit infrastructure, traffic congestion is a growing concern. Fundamentally, the lack of east-west mobility in the area creates severe traffic issues every weekday.

Rail

The Orlando area is served by one through railroad, CSX Transportation's A line (formerly the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad's main line), and some spurs, mostly operated by the Florida Central Railroad. Amtrak passenger service runs along the CSX A line. See also a map of these railroads. In 2005 Federal and state funding was granted for the establishment of the Central Florida Commuter Rail service to operate on the CSX A line tracks between Deltona and Poinciana, passing through the downtown area and surrounding urban neighborhoods along the way. The service is expected to substantially reduce traffic congestion along the I-4 corridor, especially between downtown Orlando and the suburban communities in Seminole and Volusia Counties. The Federal and state funds would cover approximately 80% of the estimated $400 million cost for track modifications and construction of stations along the route. Pending approval by the county governments (Volusia, Seminole, Orange and Osceola) involved and the set aside of matching funds, the line is projected to begin operations in 2009.

The following major railroad stations have existed in Orlando:

Amtrak Orlando station (originally built by ACL to replace Church Street Station, the only one still in use)

Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Orlando station (now Church Street Station, a tourist attraction)

Seaboard Air Line Railroad Orlando station (Central Avenue Station)

Buses

Orlando is served by LYNX, which runs bus service in the tri-county area (Osceola-Orange-Seminole).

Light rail

Several attempts have been made to bring a light rail system to Orlando, but each one has met with failure due to a perceived lack of public interest and various conflicts over a potential route. Walt Disney World officials have been particularly adamant that a light rail line run from Orlando International Airport to the resort, drawing opposition from other vacation destinations who fear loss of business. Local residents also oppose the idea of funding what is essentially a private beeline to Disney that will do little to alleviate the growing traffic problems in the area. This is in addition to the statewide debate over high speed rail, the various plans of which all center around Orlando. Another attempted route was a rail going between Tampa, Orlando, and Miami.

Education

Public education is handled by Orange County Public Schools. Some of the larger private schools include Trinity Preparatory School, Lake Highland Preparatory School, Bishop Moore High School, New School of Orlando, Orlando Christian Academy, and Forest Lake Academy.

Area institutions of higher education

Asbury Theological Se, Orlando (Dunnam) Campus

Barry University's law school

Brevard Community College (in nearby Brevard County)

DeVry University, Orlando campus

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Florida A&M University's law school

Florida Institute of Technology, Orlando campus

Florida Hospital College of Health Sciences

Florida Metropolitan University, Orlando campus

Full Sail Real World Education (in Winter Park)

Hindu University of America

International Academy of Design and Technology

Nova Southeastern University, Orlando campus

Keiser College, Orlando Campus

Orlando Culinary Academy, (a Le Cordon Bleu school)

Paul Mitchell the School Orlando [Casselberry, Florida]

Polytechnic University, Orlando Campus

Reformed Theological Seminary, Orlando campus

Rollins College (in Winter Park)

Seminole Community College (in Sanford)

Stetson University (in Deland)

Troy University, in Winter Park providing convenient education to adult learners

University of Central Florida

University of Florida's College of Pharmacy (in Apopka, Florida)

University of Phoenix, Orlando campus

Valencia Community College

Demographics

As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 185,951 people, 80,883 households, and 42,382 families residing in the city. The population density was 767.9/km² (1,988.9/mi²). There were 88,486 housing units at an average density of 365.4/km² (946.4/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 61.10% White, 26.70% African American, 1.43% Asian, 0.34% Native American, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 5.41% from other races, and 2.54% from two or more races. 17.79% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. [Total is greater than 100% because Hispanics may be of any race.] The city has large Puerto Rican, Colombian, Venezuelan, Haitian, Vietnamese communities (among others), and a growing number of Russian and British (mostly English) residents.

There were 80,883 households out of which 24.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 32.4% were married couples living together, 15.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 47.6% were non-families. 35.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the city the population was spread out with 22.0% under the age of 18, 10.7% from 18 to 24, 37.3% from 25 to 44, 18.6% from 45 to 64, and 11.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 94.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $35,732, and the median income for a family was $40,648. Males had a median income of $30,866 versus $25,267 for females. The per capita income for the city was $21,216. About 13.3% of families and 15.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.0% of those under age 18 and 12.6% of those age 65 or over.

Culture

Like fellow Florida cities Miami and Tampa, Orlando has a large and increasing number of Hispanic residents living in the city. Orlando is home to one of the nation's largest and rapidly-growing Puerto Rican communities (particularly its metropolitan area). This is reflected by the abundance of Hispanic-themed restaurants and radio stations. Spanish-language music, such as reggaeton, is common on Orlando radio stations. The Orlando Magic basketball team is the only team in the NBA to have a Latin Night, which is geared towards the Hispanic population in the area. Throughout the city, many Puerto Rican flags can be found on or near buildings, including car dealerships. The city's local newspaper, The Orlando Sentinel, publishes a weekly all-Spanish newspaper called El Sentinel.

Not all Hispanics in Central Florida are Puerto Rican, however. A large portion of these Latinos are also of Cuban descent, largely refugees or their children from the Cuban Revolution.

Orlando has an equally large African-American population. The city is located within six miles of Eatonville, Florida, the first all-black town to be incorporated in the United States.

Orlando is also becoming popular with Russian immigrants seeking careers or relocating their families to warmer climates. The growth rate of Russians in Central Florida is second only to the rising Hispanic population. The Russian community, made up of several countries of the former Soviet Union, has the Russian language as their common bond. Community and cultural groups are growing in popularity as is the number of Russian-American marriages.

Orlando is also home to a large Vietnamese population, as well as its very own "Little Vietnam" on East Colonial Drive.[citation needed]

Arts and entertainment

Orlando has been the home and capital of pop music and mainstream music in the mid 1990s, including Britney Spears, Mandy Moore, NSYNC and the Backstreet Boys, as well as Creed, Trivium, From First to Last, matchbox twenty, Seven Mary Three, DJ Icey, DJ Baby Anne, DJ Jimmy Joslin and DJ Scotty B. Sister Hazel and Less Than Jake are from near by Gainesville, as is superstar Tom Petty.

The hip hop music scene, metal scene, rock music scene, Latino scene, are all active within the city and is largely home to the Florida Breakbeat movement.

Comedian Wayne Brady is also from Orlando, as is actor Wesley Snipes. Other comedians with ties to the area include Darrell Hammond, Carrot Top, and Larry the Cable Guy.

Orlando has also been called Hollywood East because of numerous cinematic enterprises in the area.[4] Until recently, Walt Disney Feature Animation operated a studio out of Disney/MGM Studios at the Walt Disney World Resort. Feature Animation-Florida was primarily responsible for the films Mulan, Lilo & Stitch, and the early stages of Brother Bear and contributed on various other projects. Nickelodeon Studios, which through the 90s produced hundreds of hours of GAK-filled game shows targeted at children, operates out of Universal Studios Florida. It now functions primarily as a tourist attraction. The Orlando Film Festival is one of the largest in the country located outside of California and attracts budding filmmakers from around the world.

The Orlando Metropolitan Area is home to a substantial theatre population, as well. Several professional and semi-professional houses and many community theatres dot the area including Orlando-UCF Shakespeare Festival, Orlando Repertory Theatre (Central Florida's only Professional Theatre for Young Audiences), Orlando Theatre Project, Starlight Dinner Theatre, Mad Cow Theatre, Theatre Downtown, The Osceola Center for the Arts, Winter Park Playhouse, Theatre Winter Haven, and Seaside Music Theatre. In addition, the Bob Carr Performing Arts Center brings national tours through town on a regular basis. Each spring, local theatres and downtown venues play host to the Orlando International Fringe Festival, which draws touring companies from all around the world as well as readings and fully staged productions of new and unknown plays by local artists. Also in the spring, Darden Restaurants sponsors a Festival of New Plays, hosted by Orlando-UCF Shakespeare Festival.

Area attractions

For tourist information, see Wikitravel:Orlando.

Disney WorldThe Orlando area is home to a wide variety of tourist attractions, including the Walt Disney World resort, Universal Orlando Resort, and SeaWorld Orlando. The Walt Disney World resort is the area's largest attraction with its many facets such as the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney Studios, Disney's Animal Kingdom, Typhoon Lagoon, Blizzard Beach, and Downtown Disney. SeaWorld Orlando is a large adventure 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 comprised of Universal Studios, CityWalk, and the Islands of Adventure theme park.

Other attractions in the Orlando area include:

Arboretum of the University of Central Florida

Blue Spring State Park, which is the winter home of large numbers of Florida manatees that come upstream from the St. Johns River to bask in the warm 72 °F (22 °C) waters of the springs. Canoeing, swimming and fishing are popular activities at Blue Springs.

Central Florida Zoological Park, located in Sanford on Lake Monroe. This 100 acre (400,000 m²) zoo is home to a butterfly garden, herpetarium, and numerous tropical animals. The zoo originally started as a collection in the Sanford Fire Department, but grew into a regional zoo in 1975. It is currently in the planning stages of expansion and renaming the facility to "Zoo Orlando at Sanford".

Church Street Station, a multi-level shopping mall and entertainment center that once featured an abundance of specialty shops, restaurants, nightclubs, and bars. Purchased in the late 1990s by TransContinental Talent owner Lou Pearlman, it is now virtually defunct, as the area suffered in post-9/11 tourist-industry slump. The area is being redeveloped with residential condominiums.

Cirque du Soleil: La Nouba, in Downtown Disney West Side, features its renowned blend of acrobatics and special effects with more than 70 artists from around the globe performing in a custom-designed, 1,671-seat theater.

Cornell Fine Arts Museum, situated on the campus of Rollins College, features significant loans, recent acquisitions, and items from the Cornell's renowned permanent collection. Admission is free.

Cypress Gardens Adventure Park, an amusement park opened in 1936. This park features beautiful botanical gardens, 40 rides, 5 roller coasters and a water park. But it is most famous for it lovely southern belles and world-reknown Ski Shows.

Discovery Cove, a resort that is part of the SeaWorld Adventure Park complex. Some attraction features are tropical fish in a coral reef, snorkeling with stingrays, and interacting with birds in an aviary, as well as swimming and playing with dolphins during a half-hour session.

Gatorland houses thousands of alligators and crocodiles. A few of Gatorland's residents have made wrangling appearances in movies, television shows and commercial spots. The 54 year old park combines a petting zoo, bird sanctuary, mini-water park, eco-tour and outdoor entertainment, including daily alligator wrestling.

Hard Rock Café is the Orlando location of the famed restaurant chain with the typical HRC music memorabilia. There is also Hard Rock Live, a 3,000-capacity live music venue, and the Hard Rock Hotel, a resort hotel with a California-style restaurant called "The Kitchen". It is one of eight worldwide, and one of three in Florida. (Miami and Tampa are the other two.)

International Trolley and Train Museum features 14 model railroad trains with sound and lighting traveling through an indoor garden with 12 foot (4 m) high mountains, waterfalls, and more than 30 trestles and tunnels. Also on display are toy trains from the 1920s to the present. Visitors can catch a ride in a California Victorian-style half open/half closed trolley or the 5/8 replica of an 1880 locomotive (a Mason Bogey) with its passenger cars.

Kennedy Space Center is 45 minutes from Orlando and south of Daytona Beach. Visitors can tour launch areas, see giant rockets, "train" in spaceflight simulators, and much more. Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is open every day except Christmas Day and certain launch days. Apart from the Astronaut Hall of Fame, Space Center bus tours run every 15 minutes with stops at an observation gantry and the Apollo / Saturn V Center. Other guided tours include NASA Up Close, Cape Canaveral: Then and Now, and Lunch With An Astronaut. Combo tickets offer maximum access admission, plus one guided tour.

The Kerouac House, in the College Park neighborhood or Orlando, is where writer Jack Kerouac lived during the time his novel On the Road was published and released, making him a national sensation and Beat Generation icon. He lived in the house with his mother Gabrielle from July 1957 to the spring of 1958, and wrote his three-act play, The Beat Generation, a 51-chorus poem called Orlanda Blues, and the novel The Dharma Bums during his time there. In 1997, the Kerouac Project of Orlando formed, and restored the Kerouac house. It is now a haven for aspiring writers who can live in the house as they create their own work.

Harry P. Leu Gardens, which is an inner city oasis covering 50 acres (20,000 m²) and features colorful annuals, palms, an orchid house, a floral clock and a butterfly garden.

The World's Largest McDonald's PlayPlace, located on the corner of Sand Lake Road and International Drive, looks like a fry box from the exterior. The interior features an arcade with 60+ games with prize redemption, a 1950s room, a waterfall and a gift shop. The Bistro Gourmet at McDonald's features chef-prepared food, such as panini and deli sandwiches, pasta, soup, desserts, and hand-dipped ice cream, plus the standard McDonald's menu.

Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament, in Kissimmee. Six brave knights on horseback compete in tournament games, jousting, and sword fighting while guests dine on a medieval-style banquet.

The Morse Museum of American Art, located at Rollins College, houses a permanent Tiffany & Co. exhibit featuring the world's "most comprehensive" collection of the works of Louis Comfort Tiffany. It includes Tiffany art glass, jewelry, pottery, and the chapel interior designed for the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago. There is also an exhibit on the Tiffany home, and American paintings from the 19th century. The museum was founded in 1942.

Old Town, in Kissimmee, features eight restaurants, fifteen amusement park rides and 75 shops along its brick-lined streets. Classic car shows every Friday and Saturday feature hundreds of vintage automobiles. Admission and parking are free.

The Orange County Regional History Center Features exhibits and artifacts from the earliest days of the region to the modern day. Includes information on everything from the time of the Seminole Indians to the founding of the city to the Civil Rights era to the Disney period to today.

The Orlando Museum of Art, which has ongoing exhibitions of American portraits and landscapes, American impressionist works, and art of the ancient Americas.

The Orlando Science Center, is a 207,000 square foot (19,000 m²) hands-on learning center with hundreds of interactive exhibits for visitors of all ages. Images surround visitors on the giant screen of the Dr. Phillips CineDome. Other attractions include the Body Zone, teaching health and fitness, as well as an observatory. The center has the largest refracting telescope in Florida.

The Ripley's Believe It or Not! Orlando Odditorium is located in a building artfully constructed to appear as if it were collapsing to one side, which may be a sly reference to central Florida's infamous sinkholes. Visitors can explore bizarre artifacts, strange collections, weird art/hobbies and interactive exhibits in sixteen odd galleries. It is one of 27 Ripley museums in ten countries.

Wonder Works A funhouse located on International Drive. Can be easily identified as an upside down white building.

Wekiwa Springs State Park, which comprises around 7,000 acres (28.3 km²) of wild Florida. The springs pump out 42 million gallons of crystal clear water a day. Popular activities at the park include canoeing, swimming, picnicking and fishing.

World of Orchids, featuring thousands of blooms in an enclosed tropical rainforest. World of Orchids is a working greenhouse shipping orchids and other plants nationwide. A greenhouse covers nearly an acre (4,000 m²), and in this controlled climate of warm, humid air some 1,000 orchids are displayed in a natural jungle setting, with streams, waterfalls, and squawking parrots. World of Orchids also has a 1,000 foot (300 m) long boardwalk meandering off into nearby wetlands. Admission is free.

Wet n' Wild A large waterpark located just minutes from Universal Studios on International Drive

Sports

Orlando is home to the Orlando Magic, an NBA pro basketball franchise that plays at the TD Waterhouse Centre in downtown Orlando. The team made it to the NBA Finals in 1995. The TD Waterhouse Centre, originally known as the O-Rena, has become a topic of local political debate. Opened in 1989, the TD Waterhouse Centre is one of the oldest arenas in the NBA. It will be replaced by 2010 by the $480-million New Orlando Magic Arena.

The Orlando Predators of the Arena Football League also play at the TD Waterhouse Centre. Since joining the league in 1991, they have become one of the legendary franchises in the young league, having an infamous rivalry with the Tampa Bay Storm, two ArenaBowl titles (1998 and 2000), and several historic moments including the league's only shutout to date and a procession called the Miracle Minute where they scored two touchdowns with two-point conversions and forced a safety to come from behind in the final minute of a game to win.

Orlando was a stronghold of minor-league ice hockey throughout the 1990s, being home of the Orlando Solar Bears of the now-defunct International Hockey League. Historically successful, they won the Turner Cup championship in 2001 to end the IHL's final season. In 2002, the Atlantic Coast Hockey League formed with Orlando forming one of the charter franchises, the Orlando Seals, which won their Commissioner's Cup in 2003. They moved to the World Hockey Association 2 in 2003, then the Southern Professional Hockey League in 2004. The City of Orlando revoked their lease for the TD Waterhouse Centre, forcing them to sit out the 2004-05 season. They moved to Kissimmee and became the Florida Seals in November 2004.

The Citrus Bowl is the home of the Capital One Bowl (formerly the Florida Citrus Bowl) and the Champs Sports Bowl (formerly the Tangerine Bowl). It also hosts regular-season football games for the University of Central Florida (NCAA Division I-A) and Jones High School, as well as the annual Florida Classic played between the NCAA Division I-AA Football teams from Florida A&M University and Bethune-Cookman College. It hosted soccer games for the FIFA World Cup '94 and the 1996 Summer Olympics when each were hosted by the United States.

The Orlando Renegades were a USFL team playing at the Citrus Bowl in 1985. They folded with the league in 1986. The Orlando Thunder were a charter team in the World League of American Football in 1991 and 1992. They lost the World Bowl to the Sacramento Surge in 1992. Like all other American teams, it was dropped in the World League reorganization of 1995. The Orlando Rage were a member of the XFL that played at the Citrus Bowl, and only played in 2001. That team has since been revived in the minor-league Southern States Football League (SSFL).

The Citrus Bowl was also the home of the fictional NFL team, the Orlando Breakers, which was featured in the last two seasons of the television sitcom Coach. The team was a plot device to reflect the 1995 addition of the Jacksonville Jaguars to the real-life NFL.

Orlando will gain an expansion franchise in the Major Indoor Soccer League for the 2007 - 2008 season. Orlando also will receive an expansion franchise in the American Basketball Association for the 2006-07 season. The team has been named the Orlando Aces. The Orlando Lions were a member of the third incarnation of the American Soccer League in the late 1980s/early 1990s. The Orlando Sundogs were a minor-league soccer team in the A-League that played in the Citrus Bowl. They were disbanded in 1997 after only playing one year. Presently, two lower-division association football(soccer) teams call Orlando home: the Premier Development League's (PDL) Central Florida Kraze, and Ajax Orlando. The Kraze won the PDL Championship in 2004, while Ajax (pronounced EYE-acks) is the only American subsidiary of global soccer power Ajax Amsterdam of the Dutch Eredivisie (professional soccer league).

Tinker Field, named for baseball hall-of-famer Joe Tinker, is a historic baseball stadium next to the Citrus Bowl, currently out of use. It was formerly the spring training home of the Minnesota Twins (and the Washington Nationals/Senators before them) and AA Southern League affiliates of the Twins, Chicago Cubs and Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

The Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex has the Ballpark at Disney's Wide World of Sports (Cracker Jack Stadium) situated in it, it is the baseball stadium that is currently used in Orlando. The spring training home of the Atlanta Braves, it played host to the games of the Pool D teams in the 2006 World Baseball Classic.

Serious talk has been made on bringing Major League Baseball to Orlando. Current mayor Buddy Dyer said he would like to see it in the future. Orlando was a finalist city in the expansion for the 1993 season. Ironically, they were mentioned as a possible destination for one of the 1993 expansion teams, the Florida Marlins, during that team's investigation of new locations should Miami fail to build them a new baseball stadium.

Meanwhile, on September 7, 2006, it was announced that a local investment group had bought the Class-AA West Tenn Diamond Jaxx. They intend to bring the team to Orlando after the last two years of the team's current lease in Jackson, Tennessee, elapse, but further details will not be broached until the sale is finalized. [4]

Media

Radio

WFLF 540 AM, CBS Radio Talk radio

WDBO 580 AM, ABC Radio Talk radio

WQTM 740 AM, Fox Sports Radio Sports radio

WEUS 810 AM, oldies

WTLN 950 AM, Christian Radio

WDYZ 990 AM, top 40 Radio Disney†

WHOO 1080 AM, ESPN Radio Sports radio

WAMT 1190 AM, Fox News Radio Talk radio

WRLZ 1270 AM, Spanish music

WWFL 1340 AM, Adult contemporary music

WPOZ, 88.3 FM, Union Park, Contemporary Christian

WMYZ, 88.7 FM, Clermont, Contemporary Christian

WKTO, 88.9 FM, Edgewater, Religious

WLAZ, 89.1 FM, Kissimmee, Spanish

WUCF, 89.9 FM, Orlando, Jazz†

WLVE, 90.3 FM, Haines City, Religious

WMFE, 90.7 FM, Orlando, Classical

WKES, 91.1 FM, Lakeland, Religious

WPRK, 91.5 FM, Winter Park, Variety

WWKA, 92.3 FM, Orlando, Country

WOGK, 93.7 FM, Ocala, Country

WCFB, 94.5 FM, Daytona Beach, Urban Adult Contemporary†

WBVD, 95.1 FM, Melbourne, Rap/Hip-Hop

WPYO, 95.3 FM, Maitland, Rhythmic Contemporary Hit Radio†

WHOG, 95.7 FM, Ormond-by-the-Sea, Classic Rock

WHTQ, 96.5 FM, Orlando, Classic Rock†

W247AK, 97.3 FM, Deland, Religious

WPCV, 97.5 FM, Winter Haven, Country

WNUE, 98.1 FM, Titusville, Spanish

WMMO, 98.9 FM, Orlando, Adult Hits†

WRUM, 100.3 FM, Maitland, Caribbean†

WJRR, 101.1 FM, Maitland, Alternative†

WJHM, 101.9 FM, Daytona Beach, Mainstream Urban†

WLOQ, 103.1 FM, Winter Park, Smooth Jazz

WTKS, 104.1 FM, Maitland, Talk†

WOMX, 105.1 FM, Orlando, Hot Adult Contemporary†

WOCL, 105.9 FM, Deland, Alternative†

WXXL, 106.7 FM, Tavares, CHR†

WMGF, 107.7 FM, Mount Dora, Adult Contemporary†

† = Available in HD Radio; all stations add a -1 (example 107.7-1) unless otherwise noted.

Internet Radio

Orlando Sky Radio, orlandoskyradio.com , Family Travel Talk

Television

WESH, analog channel 2, digital channel 11, NBC

WKMG-TV, analog channel 6, digital channel 58, CBS

WFTV, analog channel 9, digital channel 39, ABC

WTMO-LP, analog channel 15, Telemundo

WCEU, analog channel 15, digital channel 33, PBS

WKCF, analog channel 18, digital channel 17, The WB, to be The CW in September 2006

WCJB-TV, analog channel 20, digital channel 16, ABC

WMFE-TV, analog channel 24, digital channel 23, PBS

WVEN-TV, analog channel 26, digital channel 49, Univision

WRDQ, analog channel 27, digital channel 14, Independent

WOFL, analog channel 35, digital channel 22, Fox

WOTF-TV, analog channel 43, digital channel 20, Telefutura

WLCB-TV, analog channel 45, digital channel 46, Independent

WOGX, analog channel 51, digital channel 31, Fox

WTGL-TV, analog channel 52, digital channel 53, Independent

WOPX, analog channel 56, digital channel 48, i

WRBW, analog channel 65, digital channel 41, UPN, to be My Network TV in September 2006

WBCC, analog channel 68, digital channel 30, PBS

WACX, digital channel 40, TBN

Central Florida News 13 channel 13, Central Florida News 13

Sister cities

Orlando has nine sister cities:[5]

Anaheim, California, United States

Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil

Guilin, People's Republic of China

Monterrey, Mexico

Orenburg, Russia

Reykjanesbær, Iceland

Seine-et-Marne Département, France

Tainan, Taiwan

Urayasu, Japan

Valladolid, Spain

Seine-et-Marne,Anehiem, and Urayasu are connected to Orlando as homes of other Disney theme parks (Disneyland Resort Paris,Disneyland Resort, and Tokyo Disneyland, respectively). Seine-et-Marne Départment gave Orlando a 1:13 scale model of the Eiffel Tower that now sits in the France area of the World Showcase at Epcot. It is made of copper just like the original, but additionally painted in copper paint. Since the France area is supposed to represent Paris at the end of the 19th century, the paint keeps the tower at Epcot from oxidizing into the typical green color of the original Eiffel Tower and the Statue of Liberty, also copper.

Foreign Consulates

Due to its importance as a major international tourist destination and a large foreign population, many foreign governments have opened up consulates in Orlando:

France

Haiti

Mexico

Netherlands

United Kingdom