Central Florida Information & Central Florida Links at HealthHaven.com

For the university in Orlando, see University of Central Florida.

Central Florida (also known as "Greater Orlando" and "CenFla") is the central region of the United States state of Florida, on the East Coast. The region enjoys a hot and stormy climate; thunderstorms and hurricanes are a constant threat in the Summer months.

Although the exact boundaries can be disputed, Central Florida is the area around metropolitan Orlando, including Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Lake, Brevard, and Volusia counties. Polk, Flagler, and Sumter counties are often included in Central Florida demographics and are primarily served by Orlando media outlets. This area is part of the I-4 corridor.

The west central coast, including Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, and Hernando counties, is the Tampa Bay Area or the Suncoast. These counties are not considered a part of Central Florida.

[edit] Population

In 2009, the estimated total population of the Central Florida region was just over 4 million people. This includes the populations of Orange, Seminole, Osceola, Brevard, Volusia, and Lake Counties. Explosive growth has fueled Central Florida for the past thirty years, but 2009 actually saw a decrease in population by about 2%. This decline is perceived to be a result of the real estate bust, but it is estimated that growth in Central Florida will rebound by 2010.

The largest cities in Central Florida are Orlando, Palm Bay, Lakeland, Melbourne, Deltona, Daytona Beach, Kissimmee, Altamonte Springs and Sanford.

[edit] Transportation

Central Florida is the hub of Florida's transportation network with three major state highways, I-4, Florida's Turnpike, and SR 528, all intersecting in Orlando. As a result, a large number of distribution companies serving Florida are located in Orlando.

Central Florida has one interstate, Interstate 4, and a 100 plus mile network of tolled expressways. The region's reliance on toll roads is the result of local leaders failing to anticipate massive growth the arrival of Disney World brought in 1971. When the time came to build bypass and connecting freeways to I-4, federal funding depleted and Central Florida was forced to build toll roads in an effort to ease traffic congestion. The first of these toll roads, SR 408, opened in 1975. Expansion of the toll network began in the mid-1980's and continues to this day. Future plans include a toll road north to Daytona Beach running parallel to I-4, south from Orlando International Airport to Florida's Turnpike near St. Cloud, and east to Titusville running parallel to SR 50.

Urban sprawl has long plagued Central Florida and has made Orlando the 8th worst city in the United States for traffic congestion. Local governments have continuously disagreed with each other, but have now started taking a more regional approach and several transportation initiatives are taking shape. A local citizens planning board, MyRegion.org, is an active voice in regional planning and communication.

Central Florida hopes to become the first region in the US to build a high-speed rail network. The first phase of this initiative, SunRail, is a commuter rail line that will run from Deland, north of Sanford, south to Kissimmee. The second phase is a high speed rail line that will run from the Orlando International Airport to Tampa. The final phase of the project, still in the planning stages, is a high-speed rail line running from Orlando south to Miami. Environmental studies have yet to begin for that initiative. If awarded funds from the US Government, Florida will begin construction on the Orlando-Tampa high-speed rail line in early 2010.

[edit] Attractions

The area's biggest attractions include Walt Disney World, SeaWorld, Universal Studios Florida, Kennedy Space Center, Cypress Gardens, Bok Tower Gardens, Daytona International Speedway and Gatorland. Central Florida also has a wide variety of natural attractions including the St. Johns River, the Ocklawaha River, the Econlockhatchee River, Canaveral National Seashore, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge and over 1,500 lakes and ponds. The region also boasts an extensive network of recreational trails (jogging, biking, equestrian, etc). While many connections are already in place construction continues on eventually linking all of the hundreds of miles of trails and greenways being developed by each county. Major trails include the Cady Way, Cross Seminole and West Orange Trails, and the Central Florida Zoo, The Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens is located in the city of Sanford, north of Orlando.^[1]

[edit] Culture

Central Florida is a culturally unique region. The traditional Southern feel found in states such as Georgia, South Carolina, and Alabama is found primarily in the northern, rural sections of Central Florida; namely northern Volusia and Lake counties, and pockets of Orange County. The perceived "typical Florida" culture dominated by cosmopolitan living and national and international migration is primarily in Orlando. Visitors often notice a stark contrast between parts of Central Florida and North Florida and many Floridians often joke that you leave the South when you pass Orlando.

Cultural attractions in Central Florida include The Orlando Museum of Art, Orlando Science Center, Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre and Orange County Regional History Center; all of which are located in downtown Orlando. The Cornell Fine Arts Museum and Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art are located in Winter Park. The Museum of Arts and Sciences and the Daytona International Speedway, home to NASCAR is located in Daytona Beach. Because of the large number of tourists and increasing local wealth, the area is home to several major upscale retailers, hotels and restaurants. As a result, several major designers from Chanel to Louis Vuitton have shops in Orlando, most of which are located at the The Mall at Millenia.

[edit] Economy

Tourism is a large contributor to Central Florida's economy. However, the area has made great strides to economically diversify. As a high-tech industrial hub, Metro Orlando consists of the seventh largest research park in the U.S., Central Florida Research Park, the prominent engineering and business school of the University of Central Florida, and numerous major companies such as Lockheed Martin and Siemens. Orlando will become a major medical research center with the University of Central Florida building a medical school, the Burnham Institute building a major biomedical research facility and a new Veterans Administration hospital all set to open by 2010. All of the aforementioned facilities will be located in the Lake Nona area and will collectively be referred to as Medical City. See the article Orlando, Florida for more detailed information regarding the local economy.

[edit] See also

Florida portal

[edit] References

^ Welcome to the Central Florida Zoo "Central Florida Zoo.com

[edit] External links

Template:Greater Orlando

Coordinates: 28°55′37″N 81°43′17″W / 28.92694°N 81.72139°W / 28.92694; -81.72139

[0] Welcome to the Central Florida Zoo "Central Florida Zoo.com

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