Orlando, Florida
On the 9th of November 1838, Lieutenant Colonel Alexander C. W. Fanning led the 4th U.S. Artillery to establish Fort Gatlin just south of what is now Orlando's city limits. The fort and surrounding area were named for John S. Gatlin, an Army physician who died in Dade's Massacre on the 28th of December 1835. This defensible position sat between three small lakes and was less than 250 yards from a Council Oak tree where Native Americans had traditionally met. King Phillip and Coacoochee frequented this area, and the tree was alleged to be the place where the previous 1835 ambush that killed over 100 soldiers had been planned. When the U.S. military abandoned the fort in 1839, settlers began building a community around it. Prior to being known by its current name, Orlando was once called Jernigan after Isaac and Aaron Jernigan, cattlemen who moved from Georgia and acquired land northwest of Fort Gatlin along Lake Holden in July 1843 under the Armed Occupation Act. Aaron Jernigan became Orange County's first state representative in 1845, but his pleas for additional military protection went unanswered. By 1850, the Jernigan homestead served as the nucleus of a village named Jernigan. In 1857, the post office was removed from Jernigan and opened under the name of Orlando at a new location in present-day downtown Orlando. The move is believed to have been sparked partly by Aaron Jernigan's fall from grace after he was relieved of his militia command by military officials in 1856. His behavior was so notorious that United States Secretary of War Jefferson Davis wrote, "It is said they [Jernigan's militia] are more dreadful than the Indians." At a meeting in 1857, debate grew concerning the town's name. Pioneer William B. Hull recalled how James Speer rose in the heat of argument and said, "This place is often spoken of as 'Orlando's Grave.' Let's drop the word 'grave' and let the county seat be Orlando." The origin of the name remains unknown, though at least five stories explain it. One legend claims a man named Orlando died during an attack by Native Americans in 1835. Another version suggests the name came from Shakespeare's play As You Like It, with James Speer proposing the name after the character Orlando. This account has some validity since Speer was instrumental in changing the settlement's name from Jernigan to Orlando.
The period from 1875 to 1895 is remembered as Orlando's Golden Era when it became the hub of Florida's citrus industry. During these years, dozens of neighborhoods were constructed around downtown, and land prices soared due to extensive housing development during the Florida Land Boom. The boom ended when several hurricanes hit Florida in the late 1920s along with the Great Depression. A major turning point occurred with the Great Freeze of 1894, 95 which forced many owners to give up their independent citrus groves. This event consolidated holdings in the hands of a few "citrus barons" who shifted operations south primarily around Lake Wales in Polk County. The freeze caused many in Florida including many Orlandoans to move elsewhere mostly to the North California or the Caribbean. Notable homesteaders in the area included the Curry family whose property flowed through the Econlockhatchee River where travelers crossed by fording. This crossing was commemorated by the street's name Curry Ford Road. Also just south of the Orlando International Airport in the Boggy Creek area are properties homesteaded in the late 19th century by the Ward family. This property is still owned by the Ward family and can be seen from southbound flights out of Orlando International Airport immediately on the south side of SR 417. Post-Industrial Revolution Orlando became a popular resort during the years between the Spanish, American War and World War I. In the 1920s, Orlando experienced extensive housing development causing land prices to soar. During this period dozens of neighborhoods were constructed in the vicinity of downtown.
During World War II, a number of Army personnel were stationed at the Orlando Army Air Base and nearby Pinecastle Army Air Field. Some of these servicemen stayed in Orlando to settle and raise families. In 1956, the aerospace and defense company Martin Marietta (now Lockheed Martin) established a plant in the city. Orlando AAB and Pinecastle AAF were transferred to the United States Air Force in 1947 when it became a separate service and were redesignated as air force bases. In 1958, Pinecastle AFB was renamed McCoy Air Force Base after Colonel Michael N. W. McCoy, a former commander of the 320th Bombardment Wing killed in the crash of a B-47 Stratojet bomber north of Orlando. In the 1960s, the base became home to the 306th Bombardment Wing of the Strategic Air Command operating B-52 Stratofortress and KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft. In 1968, Orlando AFB was transferred to the United States Navy and became Naval Training Center Orlando. The NTC Orlando was home of one of two Navy Nuclear Power Schools and home of the Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division. When McCoy AFB closed in 1976, its runways and territory to its south and east were transferred to the city to become Orlando International Airport. That portion to the northwest was transferred to the Navy as McCoy NTC Annex which closed in 1995 and became housing though the former McCoy AFB still hosts a Navy Exchange as well as national guard and reserve units for several branches of service. NTC Orlando was completely closed by the end of 1999 by the Base Realignment and Closure Commission and converted into the Baldwin Park neighborhood. The Naval Air Warfare Center had moved to Central Florida Research Park near UCF in 1989.
A 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 including 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. 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. A record 75 million visitors came to the Orlando region in 2018 making it the top tourist destination 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 Disney's Typhoon Lagoon Disney's Blizzard Beach and Disney Springs. Universal Orlando like Walt Disney World is a multi-faceted resort comprising Universal Studios Florida Universal Islands of Adventure Universal Epic Universe Universal Volcano Bay and Universal CityWalk.
As of the 2020 United States census there were 307,573 people 113,238 households and 61,667 families residing in the city. In 2014 12.0% of city residents were under the age of 18 5.7% from 18 to 24 27.3% from 25 to 44 18.6% from 45 to 64 and 36.3% were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 95.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over there were 91.3 males. Orlando not only has the largest population of Puerto Ricans in Florida but it is also home to the fastest-growing Puerto Rican community on the mainland US. Between 1980 and 2010 the overall Latino/Hispanic population in Orlando increased from 4.1 to 25.4%. In addition to Puerto Ricans Cubans Dominicans and Colombians also have a large presence in the city. Orlando also has a large and growing Brazilian population and is a popular travel destination for many Brazilians. There are Brazilian restaurants and shops located on International Drive and in addition to Spanish and English Portuguese-language signs and information can be found throughout Orlando International Airport. A large non-hispanic Caribbean population is also present especially Haitians and Jamaicans but also Bahamians Guyanese of both Indian and African descent and Trinidadians. Orlando has a considerable Muslim population and an active Jewish community as well. Orlando has a large LGBTQ+ population and is historically recognized as one of the most accepting and tolerant cities in the Southeast. Around 4.1% of Orlando's population identify as LGBTQ+ making Orlando the city with the 20th-highest percentage of LGBTQ+ residents in the country. The city is host to Gay Days every June a Pride Month event at Walt Disney World holds a huge Pride festival and parade every October since 2005 and is home to Florida's first openly gay City Commissioner Patty Sheehan.
On the 12th of June 2016 more than 100 people were shot at Pulse a gay nightclub in Orlando. Fifty including the gunman were killed and 60 were wounded. The gunman whom the police SWAT team shot to death was identified as 29-year-old Omar Mir Seddique Mateen an American security guard. The act of terrorism was both the deadliest mass shooting in modern United States history at the time and one of the deadliest mass shootings perpetrated by a single person in recorded world history. Mateen pledged allegiance to the Islamic State during his unsuccessful negotiations with police. After the shooting the city held numerous vigils. In November 2016 Orlando mayor Buddy Dyer announced the city's intention to acquire the Pulse Nightclub to build a permanent memorial for the 49 victims of the shooting. The city offered to buy it for $2.25 million but the club's owner declined to sell. Instead the owner founded the onePULSE Foundation to develop the memorial independently. An interim memorial was unveiled by the foundation in May 2018 featuring landscaping benches and a memorial wall. However after the foundation faced financial challenges and organizational difficulties the City of Orlando purchased the property in October 2023 for $2 million and committed to developing a permanent memorial. As of 2025 the city is advancing plans for a permanent Pulse Memorial with an expected completion date of late 2027 featuring a memorial and reflection space a 49-column angel ellipse with rainbow glass panels honoring the victims and visitor facilities.
Orlando is the home city of two major league professional sports teams: the Orlando Magic of the National Basketball Association and Orlando City SC of Major League Soccer. Orlando has four minor league professional teams including the Orlando Solar Bears ECHL ice hockey team the Orlando Predators of the National Arena League the Orlando Anarchy of the Women's Football Alliance and the Orlando Valkyries of the Pro Volleyball Federation. The original Orlando Solar Bears were part of the International Hockey League winning the last Turner Cup championship in 2001 before the league folded. From 1991 to 2016 the city was also home to the Orlando Predators of the Arena Football League. The Orlando Predators revived in 2019 playing with the National Arena League from 2019, 2023 then playing in the reincarnation of the Arena Football League in 2024. They are currently in renegotiation of joining a new league for the 2026 season. Orlando was home to the Orlando Renegades of the United States Football League in 1985. The team folded along with the league in 1986. In 2016 the Orlando Pride began to play in the National Women's Soccer League. Starting in 2017 they shared Inter&Co Stadium with Orlando City SC. Orlando's sports teams have collectively won two Arena Bowls 1998 and 2000 two titles in ice hockey three titles in minor league baseball three titles in soccer and one title in volleyball. The city has hosted the NBA All-Star Game twice: in 1992 at the old Orlando Arena and in 2012 at the current Kia Center. Orlando also hosted the 2015 ECHL All-Star Game at Kia Center. Orlando also hosts the University of Central Florida Knights college athletics teams which compete in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association as a member of the Big 12 Conference. Camping World Stadium hosts two annual college football bowl games: the Citrus Bowl and the Pop-Tarts Bowl. It also hosted the 1998 Major League Soccer All-Star Game. Orlando is the host city for the annual Florida Classic one of the largest FCS football classics in the nation. It also began hosting the National Football League's Pro Bowl as well as a series of FBS kickoff games called the Orlando Kickoff in 2016.
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Common questions
When was Fort Gatlin established and who led the military expedition to build it?
Lieutenant Colonel Alexander C. W. Fanning led the 4th U.S. Artillery to establish Fort Gatlin on the 9th of November 1838. The fort was named for Army physician John S. Gatlin who died in Dade's Massacre on the 28th of December 1835.
What were the original names of Orlando before it became known as Orlando today?
Orlando was originally called Jernigan after Isaac and Aaron Jernigan acquired land northwest of Fort Gatlin along Lake Holden in July 1843 under the Armed Occupation Act. The post office moved from Jernigan to Orlando at a new location in present-day downtown Orlando in 1857 following a town meeting debate about the name.
How did the Great Freeze of 1894 affect Orlando's citrus industry and population?
The Great Freeze of 1894 forced many independent citrus grove owners to give up their holdings which consolidated operations into the hands of few citrus barons. This event caused many residents including Orlandoans to move elsewhere mostly to North California or the Caribbean while shifting operations south primarily around Lake Wales in Polk County.
When did Walt Disney World open and why was Orlando chosen over Miami and Tampa?
Walt Disney World opened in October 1971 after Walt Disney announced plans to build the resort in 1965. Orlando was selected because its inland location exposed it to less hurricane threat than coastal regions like Miami and Tampa despite not being free from hurricane damage.
What happened during the Pulse nightclub shooting on the 12th of June 2016 in Orlando?
More than 100 people were shot at Pulse a gay nightclub in Orlando with fifty including the gunman killed and sixty wounded. The gunman identified as 29-year-old Omar Mir Seddique Mateen pledged allegiance to the Islamic State before police SWAT team members shot him to death.