WEICHERT, REALTORS® - Hallmark Properties 16 offices throughout Central Florida
Clermont
Population in July 2005: 11,617 Median resident age: 44.7 years Median household income: $39,290 (year 2000) Median house value: $113,700 (year 2000)
Clermont is a city in Lake County, Florida, United States. The Florida Citrus Tower, one of the most venerated landmarks of Central Florida, is located in Clermont. The tower will celebrate its 50th anniversary in December of 2006.
Clermont's population has soared recently as orange groves are converted into subdivisions. Clermont was founded in 1884 and incorporated in 1916. The city is located in south Lake County in rural north central Florida. About 22 miles west of the city of Orlando and 22 miles southeast of the city of Leesburg, the city is located conveniently for most of its residents.
Development has prospered in the city, notably the vast amount of new subdivisions and homes. Clermont has also surged in economic growth, attracting big box retail names like Wal-Mart, Target, K-Mart and Kohls as well as many smaller establishments. Clermont is noted also for East Ridge HS, the largest school in the county.
Edgewater
Population in July 2005: 21,132 Median resident age: 42.2 years Median household income: $35,852 (year 2000) Median house value: $77,500 (year 2000)
Edgewater is a unique Inter coastal waterfront community, located alongside a diverse eco system, the Indian River Lagoon, known as the underwater rain forest. Edgewater’s quiet, small town charm has earned the title of The Hospitality City. Some of the most breath-taking estuaries and wild life in the country are located here. This is home to 300 species of birds, 680 species of fish, playing dolphins, and the famous manatee. Several small, undeveloped islands separate the shoreline and river’s channel from the accessible backwaters and the Atlantic Ocean. To the north is the City of New Smyrna Beach. South is unincorporated Volusia County and the small city of Oak Hill. To the west is pristine hardwood hammocks, rural, agricultural areas and Interstate 95. Edgewater has 146 acres of parkland, with a variety of uses ranging from Resource Based (picnicking, fitness trails swimming and fishing), Activity Based (tennis, football, racquetball, baseball, bicycling, etc.), and Passive Based (leisure activities and open space). The River Walk along scenic Riverside Drive has become a popular facility for walkers, bicyclists and nature lovers.
Kissimmee
Population in July 2005: 59,364 Median resident age: 30.6 years Median household income: $33,949 (year 2000) Median house value: $93,900 (year 2000)
Kissimmee is located on the northwest shore of Lake Tohopekaliga (locally called "Lake Toho", "West Lake Toho" or simply "West Lake") was founded in the mid-19th Century as Allendale. The name was changed when the city was incorporated in 1883. After the opening of nearby Walt Disney World in 1971, Kissimmee and its neighboring city of Saint Cloud began to experience rapid growth which continues to this day. Cattle ranching was an important part of the local economy for a century or so before the opening of Walt Disney World. After that, tourism and development supplanted cattle ranching to a large measure; however, cattle ranches still remain nearby, particularly in the southern part of Osceola County. In 1971, Walt Disney World opened its gates. Kissimmee would become a mega vacation destination that year. Many hotels, motels and restaurants sprang up to accommodate Kissimmee's newest industry. Good year-round weather and close proximity to Florida's golden beaches has helped Kissimmee's tourism industry to thrive throughout the late-1900s and continue to be strong today.
Lake Mary
Population in July 2005: 14,638 Median resident age: 38.3 years Median household income: $69,485 (year 2000) Median house value: $180,000 (year 2000)
The City of Lake Mary takes pride in its strong sense of community and its commitment to high standards of quality living. That's part of the reason Lake Mary is one of the fastest growing areas in Central Florida! We are located near Interstate 4, along the fast growing high tech business center near Heathrow. The City offers well planned residential communities, excellent schools, prominent businesses, and a variety of shopping. It's a friendly place to live and work and few places are more attractive. The crime rate is one of the lowest in Florida thanks to our pro-active, community based police department. Our fire department is skilled in rapid response and emergency rescue. Our parks and recreation facilities are beautifully maintained. Lake Mary has all the conveniences of Orlando without the traffic!
New Smyrna Beach
Population in July 2005: 22,356 Median resident age: 53.5 years Median household income: $35,372 (year 2000) Median house value: $101,900 (year 2000)
New Smyrna Beach occupies a notable place in history as the site of the largest single attempt at colonial settlement in what is now the United States. Dr. Andrew Turnbull, a Scottish physician and entrepreneur, obtained a grant of land from the British Crown. In 1768 he established a colony of 1225 immigrants on the coastal plantations at New Smyrna, with a view toward the commercial production of such crops as corn, indigo, rice, hemp, and cotton.
Ocala
Population in July 2005: 49,745 Median resident age: 39.0 years Median household income: $30,888 (year 2000) Median house value: $77,600 (year 2000)
In Florida there is a saying, "The North's in the South and the South's in the North". Because of this Ocala is considered by many Floridians to be where the "South" starts. While there are many smaller towns south of Ocala that are southern culturally, Ocala is the first "Southern" city of any significance reached when traveling north from Central Florida. Ocala was established in 1846 near the site of Fort King, a military outpost of the Seminole Wars. Ocala is a Timucua word of unknown meaning. Hernando de Soto (explorer) passed through a Timucua village or province named Ocali or Ocale near the present site of Ocala during his famous expedition through what is today the southeastern United States in 1539. Greater Ocala and Marion County are known as the "Kingdom of the Sun." In the last decades of the twentieth century, the greater Ocala area experienced one of the highest growth rates in the country. The population of Marion County in 2000 was over 250,000, up from under 100,000 in 1975. Much of the county's growth is attributable to the area's growing popularity as a retirement destination.
Ormond Beach
Population in July 2005: 38,613 Median resident age: 47.5 years Median household income: $43,364 (year 2000) Median house value: $110,400 (year 2000)
Originally named New Britain after the Connecticut home of early settlers, the name was changed in 1880 to honor an early plantation owner. John and Charles Bostrom built a modest home and rented rooms to travelers and potential settlers. This appeared to be Ormond Beach's destiny. With the first bridge across the Halifax River and the impending arrival of the St. Johns and Halifax Railroad, the time was right for development. George Penfield (age 14) won the competition for the design of the 75 room Ormond Hotel and golf course. As the railroad was making its way down from the North, John Anderson and Joseph D. Price set about building the Ormond Hotel. A great success, it drew giants of American industry from the cold, Northern winters and their wealth made anything possible. Ransom Olds and Alexander Winton were two of the first racers on the hard packed sand - dead heating down the beach at 57 MPH. Forerunners in the community, Anderson and Price then organized the first auto races on the beach. By 1904, the Florida East Coast Automobile Association boasted 200 members with names like Vanderbilt, Flagler, Astor, and Gould among them. John D. Rockefeller, a long time visitor to the hotel and devotee of it's golf course bought the nearby Huntington property called "Casements." Having survived vandalism and a couple of fires, Casements is today "Ormond Beach Community Enrichment Center." Ormond Beach is still a thriving seaside mecca for the gentle lifestyle.
Oviedo
Population in July 2005: 29,848 Median resident age: 32.8 years Median household income: $64,119 (year 2000) Median house value: $131,300 (year 2000)
Oviedo is located in eastern Seminole County and is approximately 15 square miles in size. In 2006 the population stands at approximately 30,800, 75 % are white non-Hispanic, 12% are Hispanic, eight percent are black, non-Hispanic and the remaining six percent of the population are various races. The average household income is $78,000 and the median home price is $282,250 for a 2100 square-foot home. Major employers include Publix supermarkets, A. Duda and Sons, Inc. major growers of sod, the Oviedo Marketplace shopping mall, Seminole Community College, which sits just outside the City’s corporate limits and the City of Oviedo itself with over 300 full-time, part-time and seasonal staff members. The median age of Oviedo’s residents is 32. Forty-one percent of the citizens are college graduates. The City is home to four elementary schools, two middle schools and one high school. Oviedo is currently in a growth spurt. On the north side of Mitchell Hammock Road, east of State Road 434 and bordered by the Kingsbridge West subdivision to the east, the City of Oviedo will expand its downtown on approximately 50 acres. Street and utility systems for Oviedo in the Park are currently under construction. The new mixed use development will feature a residential component of single-family houses, town homes and apartments, a commercial business district and retail establishments. Oviedo in the Park has an expected completion date between 2012 and 2015. Other developments are under construction around the City offering residents new places to dine and partake of consumer services.
Orlando
Population in July 2005: 213,223 Median resident age: 32.9 years Median household income: $35,732 (year 2000) Median house value: $103,200 (year 2000)
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 Sea World 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, especially at Orlando Regional Medical Center, the only statutory teaching hospital in Central Florida. ORMC, as the locals call it, is one of the busiest Level I Trauma Centers in the country, and also is home to the MD Anderson Cancer Center Orlando. These two programs are responsible for much of the ground-breaking research efforts coming out of Central Florida. As as result of these studies and numerous Residency programs for young physicians, ORMC is seen as a likely main campus for the new University of Central Florida Medical School. In the clinical arena, Florida Hospital is another hospital system in the area. Its community hospital setting has been recognized by US News and World Report as one of America's top hospitals. 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 neighboring Brevard County, also has seen significant growth in recent years. The Orlando area is home to a wide variety of tourist attractions, including the Walt Disney World resort, Universal Orlando Resort, and Sea World 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. Sea World 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, City Walk, and the Islands of Adventure theme park.
Downtown Orlando
Downtown Orlando contains a number of high rises that dot the downtown area. They include Bank of America Tower at 408 feet tall and 29 stories, Orange County Courthouse at 417 feet and 24 stories, and SunTrust Center Tower at 441 feet and 32 stories. The main route through downtown is Orange Avenue, a one-way street on which traffic flows to the south. It is known by locals for its nightlife and for the tall office buildings that dot the roadway. Other main roads include Magnolia Avenue, Central Boulevard, Hughey Avenue, and Colonial Drive (SR 50). Two main highways that run through downtown are Interstate 4 and the East-West Expressway (Toll SR 408). Downtown is home to many urban amenities such as an 18,000 seat arena known as the TD Waterhouse Centre which hosts the Orlando Magic NBA team and the Orlando Predators Arena Football League team. Downtown Orlando has many parks. Lake Eola, known for its fountain, also has swan boats for rent. Uptown is very similar to the Central Business District but is still developing a character. It has much open space left for an area of downtown, yet has high aspirations too. With, among other things, the significant planned retail space, Uptown is expected to drastically change it's skyline from the current three under 300' buildings. Lake Ivanhoe at the North has a significant gay community with several nightclubs and a number of antique shops which is increasing every year.
Saint Cloud
Population in July 2005: 22,508 Median resident age: 36.8 years Median household income: $36,467 (year 2000) Median house value: $89,800 (year 2000)
St. Cloud is closely associated with its Osceola County neighbor, the city of Kissimmee; and its proximity to the Orlando area theme parks. In recent years, St. Cloud has tried to separate itself from its neighbors by promoting an image of small town life, as well as attempting to make itself economically less dependent on Kissimmee. On March 6, 2006 , St. Cloud introduced "CyberSpot", a program which gives all residents free high-speed wireless Internet access. The city is serviced by the Osceola library system.
Vero Beach
Population in July 2005: 17,078 Median resident age: 47.7 years Median household income: $38,427 (year 2000) Median house value: $144,800 (year 2000)
Vero Beach is a city in Indian River County, Florida, USA. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2004 estimates, the city had a population of 17,209. It is the county seat of Indian River CountyGR6. Vero Beach is the location of Dodgertown, where the Los Angeles Dodgers have held their spring training camp since 1948. (The minor league Los Angeles Dodgers play there during the regular season.) The New Piper Aircraft Inc. builds aircraft here. Major industries include citrus fruit packing and tourism.
Vero Beach is known for its outstanding beaches. Part of Florida's Treasure Coast, it is situated north of South Florida's Gold Coast and just south of Sebastian Inlet, the Surf Capital of the East Coast. Vero's beaches combine excellent sand quality with significant surf and tidal action, appealing to beach strollers, surfers, and boogie-boarders alike. Vero's main public beach is known as South Beach, accessible at the Eastern End of Causeway Boulevard. Vero also features Humiston Park and Jaycee Beach as its other primary public beaches.
Winter Park
Population (year 2000): 24,090 Median resident age: 42.8 years Median household income: $48,884 (year 2000) Median house value: $203,700 (year 2000)
Winter Park was founded as a resort destination by wealthy New England Industrialists before the turn of the 20th century. It is well known for being the first centrally planned community in Florida; its main street includes not only public civic buildings and retail, but also art galleries, a liberal arts college, museums, a park, a train station, a golf course country club, a historic cemetery, and a beach and boat launch. Winter Park is celebrated for its sense of place and history, rare in Central Florida. Many structures are more than 100 years old. In addition to the scenic beauty of its lakes, brick avenues, and oak and camphor canopy, Winter Park draws thousands of visitors to annual festivals including the Bach Festival, the nationally ranked Sidewalk Art Festival, and the Winter Park Concours d'Elegance.
