Orlando, FL 1 of 110 Active Retirement Communities Location


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Orlando, FL 1 of 110 Active Retirement Communities Location

Ivan Gillis

Active Retirement Communities

State: Florida

City: Orlando

Orlando is a major 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 region. Orlando has a population of 230,519 (July 2008 estimate), and of the metropolitan area, 2,054,574. It is the fifth largest city in Florida by population. It was incorporated on July 31, 1875, and became a city in 1885.

Originally the center of a major citrus-growing region, Orlando is now best known as the home of amusement attractions, including the Walt Disney World Resort, the Universal Orlando Resort, and SeaWorld. These destinations helped make Orlando the third most visited American city among travelers in the year 2007. Since the establishment of destination tourism in the 1970s, the local economy has diversified, and today the region is the center of operations for companies servicing Central Florida. Orlando is also home to the University of Central Florida, the largest university campus by student enrollment in the state of Florida and among the largest in the United States.

Orlando, as Florida's largest inland city, became a popular resort during the years between the Spanish-American War and World War I. In the 1920s, Orlando experienced extensive housing development during the Florida Land Boom. Land prices soared. During this period several neighborhoods in downtown were constructed, endowing it with many bungalows. The boom ended when several hurricanes hit Florida in the late 20s, along with the Great Depression.

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 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 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. Orlando is consistently ranked as one of the top vacation destinations in the world, and now boasts more theme parks and entertainment attractions than anywhere else in the world.

Income & Housing Costs Numbers:

Estimated median household income in 2008: $43,127 (it was $35,732 in 2000)

Orlando:

$43,127

Florida:

$47,778

Estimated per capita income in 2008: $24,955

Estimated median house or condo value in 2008: $235,300 (it was $97,400 in 2000)

Orlando:

$235,300

Florida:

$218,700

Mean prices in 2008: All housing units: $279,945; Detached houses: $308,113; Townhouses or other attached units: $208,100; In 2-unit structures: $190,782; In 3-to-4-unit structures: $153,643; In 5-or-more-unit structures: $186,641

Median gross rent in 2008: $946.

Dec. 2009 cost of living index in Orlando: 91.4 (less than average, U.S. average is 100)

In-Depth Facts and Figures as listed below, plus other information:

· Climate Charts

1. Average Temperature

2. Precipitation (Rain)

3. Humidity

4. Wind Speed (MPH)

5. Snowfall

6. Sunshine

7. Cloudy Days

· Tornado Activity History

· Hospitals & Medical

· Airports