Orlando
Orlando’s
history dates back to 1838 and the height of the Seminole Wars. The U.S. Army
built Fort Gatlin south of the present day Orlando City limits to protect settlers
from attacks by Indians.
By
1840, a small community had grown up around the Fort. It was known as Jernigan,
named after the Jernigan family, who had established the first permanent settlement
in the area. Jernigan had a post office, established May 30th, 1850.
Six
years later with the settlement expanding northward, the community officially
changed its name to Orlando. In 1857, the U.S. Post Office adopted the name change.
The Town of Orlando was incorporated in 1875 with 85 inhabitants, 22 of whom were
qualified voters.
History
is not as clear on where the name Orlando originated. There are four stories that
are told. One involves Judge James Speer, who worked hard in getting Orlando as
the county seat, naming Orlando after a man who once worked for him. Another is
that Speer named it after a character from Shakespeare’s, "As You Like
It".
A
third version has Mr. Orlando on his way to Tampa with a caravan of ox. It is
said that he got ill, died and was buried, and that folks would come by and say,
"There lies Orlando"
The
most common story is about a company of soldiers on duty during the height of
the Seminole Wars. After battling Indians back into the swamps on the east side
of Lake Minnie (now Cherokee), the military troop settled there for the night.
Sentinel Orlando Reeves was guarding the camp when he spotted a log floating toward
him. Recognizing the Indian disguise and wanting to warn his fellow soldiers,
he fired his gun. Arrows felled the poor fellow as the Indians came out to ambush
the camp. The Indians were chased back again, and the south side of Lake Eola
was chosen to bury Orlando Reeves.
Downtown
Headquarters for government operations, including the City of Orlando and Orange
County, as well as federal and state regional offices
Proximity to the region's top business leadership, government leadership, consulates,
international trade organizations and professional associations
There are 17,000 residents within a 1,620 acres radius of the downtown district
Nearly 55,000 employees working in Downtown Orlando in 2001
Largest concentration of office space in Metro Orlando: 9.4 million square feet
(2001)
Educational resources include the University of Central Florida Downtown Academic
Center, Valencia Community College Downtown Center, Orlando Tech, Florida A &
M University College of Law, Lake Eola Charter School, Lake Highland Preparatory
School, Nap Ford Community School, Howard Middle School, St. James Cathedral School,
and Trinity Lutheran School
