For second homebuyers, there's much more to Orlando than Walt Disney World and Sea World. The central Florida area is a natural paradise, with an exquisite subtropical climate, a growing city and lots of small town feeling. Most important, Orlando has extremely affordable housing, with older homes as well as new developments, and a diverse population in both age and ethnicity.
Senior citizens, college students and families all find just what they want as permanent residents or vacation homeowners in Orlando. For families with children, having a yearly pass to the theme parks makes it possible to take spontaneous park outings.
Orlando is the face of Florida that most people recognize, with more than 20 theme parks, movie studios, water parks and entertainment facilities and more than 25 million annual visitors.
Orlando residents also enjoy culture and nightlife, which has grown significantly in the past 10 years. This large city has a very friendly community feel. While many people migrate to Orlando from other parts of the country and overseas, they quickly adopt a southern hospitality.
And with more than 82 lakes and about 4,000 acres of park in the city itself, nature is never far away. From alligators to ospreys, all kinds of resident wildlife are visible.
Originally settled by Paleo-Indians over 12,000 years ago, the Spaniards were the first western visitors to Orange County. By the 1800's, settlers began to make their way here, bringing the cattle industry and starting citrus groves. The citrus industry was a major economic force even while the railroad and the car began the serious drift of tourists to the area.
By WWII, the aviation industry was firmly ensconced as a training ground for pilots, with Martin Marietta leading the way in 1950 as an employer. Everything changed when Walt Disney World arrived in 1971, establishing Orlando as a major tourist destination.
The growth of industry and tourism is reflected in the amazing population expansion from 143,000 in 1984 to 1,473,271 in Metro Orlando in 1997.