fbpx
Wikipedia

Central Florida

Central Florida is a region of the U.S. state of Florida. Different sources give different definitions for the region, but as its name implies it is usually said to comprise the central part of the state, including the Tampa Bay area and the Greater Orlando area, though in recent times the Tampa Bay area has often been described as its own region, with "Central Florida" becoming more synonymous with the Orlando area (most notably, this is what the local news channels in each respective metro area call their region).[1][2]

Central Florida
Central Florida, part of the Florida megaregion
Country United States
State Florida
Largest city Tampa
Population
 (2010)
8,211,912

It is one of Florida's three directional regions, along with North Florida and South Florida. Under the previously mentioned "usual" definition, it includes the following counties: Brevard, Citrus, Hardee, Hernando, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lake, Orange, Osceola, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Seminole, Sumter, and Volusia though Citrus, Hernando, Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas, are also considered to be the Tampa Bay area.

Geography

Like many vernacular regions, Central Florida's boundaries are not official or consistent, and are defined differently by different sources. A 2007 study of Florida's regions by geographers Ary Lamme and Raymond K. Oldakowski found that Floridians surveyed identified Central Florida as comprising a large swath of peninsular Florida.[3] This area encompassed the interior, including the Orlando metropolitan area, and coastal stretches from the Big Bend south to the Tampa Bay Area in the west and from Daytona Beach south to Fort Pierce in the east.

Central Florida is one of Florida's three most common directional regions, the others being North Florida and South Florida. Lamme and Oldakowski note that the directional region is more commonly used in the interior areas rather than on the coast.[4] In fact, while coastal areas often have their own regional vernacular identities such as the Space Coast and the Nature Coast, no vernacular regions were reported on the interior of the state other than Central Florida.[3]

Enterprise Florida, the state's economic development agency, identifies "Central Florida" as one of eight economic regions used by the agency and other state and outside entities, including the Florida Department of Transportation. This definition covers much of the same area as in Lamme and Oldakowski's survey, with some exceptions. It excludes the Tampa Bay Area and as well as the southern coastal counties (the Treasure Coast, which is included in "Southeast" or "South Florida"). The Central region includes the Orlando metropolitan area (Orange, Lake, Osceola, and Seminole Counties), and Sumter county in the interior, and Volusia and Brevard Counties on the coast.[5]

The central cities of both metropolitan areas (Orlando and Tampa) are in close proximity (85 miles (137 km)), and as a result, their two metropolitan areas blend together in the area of Lakeland to make up a larger contiguous population center often referred to as the I-4 corridor.[6][7] This is a population concentration that stretches from Tampa Bay on the west coast to Daytona Beach and Cape Canaveral on the east coast of the state.

With the exception of hill terrain in Mount Dora, southern Lake County, Polk County (Lake Wales Ridge) Pasco County, and Hernando County (Brooksville Ridge). Central Florida is mostly flatland with significant amounts of open space and over 1,500 lakes and ponds. There is a mixture of wetlands, Cypress, Oak, Maple and Pine forests, pastures, prairies and coastline.[8]

Major rivers include the St. Johns River, the Halifax River, the Ocklawaha River and the Econlockhatchee River. Major lakes include Lake Apopka, Lake Tohopekaliga, East Lake Tohopekaliga, Lake Louisa, Lake Monroe, Lake Jessup, and the Butler Chain of Lakes. There are over 100 miles (160 km) of coastline in Central Florida along the Atlantic Coast.[9] Major beaches include Canaveral National Seashore, New Smyrna Beach, Daytona Beach, Cocoa Beach, and Indialantic Beach near Melbourne.

Climate

Hurricanes are a threat to the coastal cities as evidenced by the 2004 hurricane season, which brought three major hurricanes to the Central Florida area: Charley, Jeanne, and Frances.

 
Historic Cypress Gardens, (Now Lego-Land) in Central Florida.

Winters are dry and temperate with the average winter high temperature in Orlando being 71 °F (22 °C) and the average winter low temperature being 49 °F (9 °C).[10][11] Summers are hot and humid with high temperatures averaging 92 °F (33 °C) and low temperatures averaging 75 °F (24 °C). Peak summer heat generally arrives in early June and continues to early October.[12][13]

The combination of high temperatures, high humidity, and opposing sea breezes from both the Gulf and Atlantic coasts, results in significant thunderstorm activity from June to September for the interior counties. Central Florida records more lightning strikes per area than any other region in Florida, and Florida records more lightning strikes than any other state in the US. As a result, Florida, and more specifically, Central Florida, is often referred to as the "Thunderstorm capital of the USA",[14][15] or "Lightning Alley".

These severe thunderstorms often make Central Florida prone to many tornadoes. However, they are usually small, short lived, and almost always rated as EF0 or EF1 size storms.

Central Florida has a subtropical climate. A climate that is typical for the majority of the state, except for South Florida, which has a true tropical climate. Unlike South Florida, where temperatures below 32 °F (0 °C) practically never occur, Central Florida can see occasional freezing temperatures in the winter. Consequently, most of Central Florida cannot accommodate the same tropical plants found in Southern Florida with the exception of coastal areas in the Tampa Bay area, Brevard county, and Indian River county due to maritime influences of the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean.[16] However, winters are still considered very mild by United States standards. Central Florida’s typical high temperatures in the winter are around 70 °F (21 °C). The low temperatures are mainly in the upper 40s °F.

Climate data for Orlando (Orlando International Airport), Florida (1991-2020 normals, extremes 1952-present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 87
(31)
89
(32)
93
(34)
97
(36)
100
(38)
100
(38)
101
(38)
100
(38)
98
(37)
95
(35)
91
(33)
90
(32)
101
(38)
Mean maximum °F (°C) 83.5
(28.6)
85.5
(29.7)
88.4
(31.3)
91.1
(32.8)
94.5
(34.7)
96.1
(35.6)
96.1
(35.6)
95.4
(35.2)
93.8
(34.3)
91.0
(32.8)
86.7
(30.4)
83.7
(28.7)
97.2
(36.2)
Average high °F (°C) 71.8
(22.1)
74.9
(23.8)
78.9
(26.1)
83.6
(28.7)
88.4
(31.3)
90.8
(32.7)
92.0
(33.3)
91.6
(33.1)
89.6
(32.0)
84.7
(29.3)
78.3
(25.7)
73.8
(23.2)
83.2
(28.4)
Daily mean °F (°C) 60.6
(15.9)
63.6
(17.6)
67.3
(19.6)
72.2
(22.3)
77.3
(25.2)
81.2
(27.3)
82.6
(28.1)
82.6
(28.1)
81.0
(27.2)
75.5
(24.2)
68.2
(20.1)
63.3
(17.4)
73.0
(22.8)
Average low °F (°C) 49.5
(9.7)
52.4
(11.3)
55.8
(13.2)
60.7
(15.9)
66.3
(19.1)
71.6
(22.0)
73.2
(22.9)
73.7
(23.2)
72.4
(22.4)
66.2
(19.0)
58.2
(14.6)
52.9
(11.6)
62.7
(17.1)
Mean minimum °F (°C) 33.2
(0.7)
36.5
(2.5)
41.3
(5.2)
49.2
(9.6)
58.2
(14.6)
67.5
(19.7)
70.5
(21.4)
70.7
(21.5)
67.8
(19.9)
53.4
(11.9)
44.4
(6.9)
37.6
(3.1)
31.3
(−0.4)
Record low °F (°C) 19
(−7)
26
(−3)
25
(−4)
38
(3)
48
(9)
53
(12)
64
(18)
65
(18)
57
(14)
43
(6)
32
(0)
20
(−7)
19
(−7)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 2.48
(63)
2.04
(52)
3.03
(77)
2.58
(66)
4.02
(102)
8.05
(204)
7.46
(189)
7.69
(195)
6.37
(162)
3.46
(88)
1.79
(45)
2.48
(63)
51.45
(1,307)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 7.0 6.4 6.8 6.3 8.4 16.2 17.1 17.2 14.2 8.4 6.0 7.1 121.1
Source: NOAA[17][18]

History

 
The Yearling won Floridian Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings a Pulitzer Prize for her glimpse at life in Central Florida.

At the end of the Civil War, aside from the cattle, cotton, and coastal lands, much of Central Florida was wetlands. It took a major drainage project financed by businessman Hamilton Disston in the 1880s to make these wetland areas available for settlement.

Sanford was incorporated in 1877 as a port city at the Lake Monroe intersection and the St. Johns River. It was envisioned as a transportation center; the city's founder, Henry S. Sanford, nicknamed it "the Gate City of South Florida". It became a hub for shipping agricultural products, which earned the city another nickname, "Celery City".

Kissimmee, originally named Allendale, after Confederate Major J.H. Allen, who operated the first cargo steamboat on the Kissimmee River, boomed in the 1880s. It was the headquarters of Hamilton Disston's drainage company. The city was an important regional steamship port, owing that status to its location on Lake Tohopekaliga. Expanding the railroads into Central Florida eliminated the need for Kissimmee's steamship industry.[19]

The Great Freeze of 1894-1895 ruined citrus crops, which had a detrimental ripple effect on the economy.[20]

The hard-packed sand of Volusia County's beaches lent itself to auto races beginning in 1903 before paved roads were common, leading to the area's reputation for cars and racing. Ormond Beach was a popular spot for those who liked fast cars after the turn of the 20th century because the hard-packed beach was ideal for going fast. The same beach had led to the development of a tourist resort by Henry Flagler. It later attracted Flagler's former business partner John D. Rockefeller, who had a winter home in Ormond.

During and after World War II, the U.S. Army Air Forces (U.S. Air Force after 1947) and the U.S. Navy established several training facilities and operational bases in the region, mainly for aviation activities, followed by space exploration sites. In the late 1940s, the U.S. military established a missile testing facility on Merritt Island near Cape Canaveral. The land was largely undeveloped and the agreeable climate allowed for year-round operations. When NASA later searched for a long-term base in the 1960s to launch spacecraft, it chose the Merritt Island site next to Cape Canaveral for its access to the testing facility and nearby communities. NASA purchased over 100,000 acres (400 km2) of land for the Kennedy Space Center.

Deltona was developed in 1962 as a planned retirement community. It is now the largest city in Volusia County.

 
Yulee Sugar Mill, located in the Central Florida town of Homosassa. The Florida State Park is the site of David Levy Yulee's 5,100-acre sugar plantation. The mill operated from 1851 to 1864 and served as a supplier of sugar products for Southern troops during the Civil War.
 
Spanish Moss by Winslow Homer - Tampa bay, Florida, painting of Spanish Moss swaying from live oak limbs, a familiar scene in Central Florida

The construction of the Walt Disney World Resort was a transforming event for greater Orlando. Walt Disney wanted a location with abundant available land that was more accessible for the residents of the eastern United States to visit. Not only was there ample land in Central Florida, but it was inexpensive, and the inland location offered some protection from hurricanes. Plans were announced in 1965, and the theme park opened to the public in 1971.[19]

Culture and attributes

Lamme and Oldakowski's survey identifies several demographic, political, and cultural elements that characterize Central Florida and distinguish it from other areas of the state. While people from all parts of the state associated their area as part of the South, people in the southern part of Central Florida did not typically identify their area as part of "Dixie", while people in northern Central Florida did. People from Central Florida usually did not consider their region part of the Bible Belt.[3]

 
Jackson Rooming House in Tampa, accommodated African-Americans during the era of racial segregation in Central Florida. The hotel played host to prominent figures such as Count Basie, Cab Calloway, James Brown, Ella Fitzgerald, and Ray Charles.

Politically, while North Florida overwhelmingly was considered conservative and South Florida was considered more liberal, the majority of Central Florida residents (52%) considered their area moderate; 41% considered it conservative, and 7% liberal.[21] Lamme and Oldakowski's survey tracks with Barney Warf and Cynthia Waddell's studies of Florida's political geography during the 2000 Presidential election.[21][22] Central Florida's economy is very similar to that in South Florida. Compared to the more diversified North Florida economy, tourism is by far the most significant industry in Central and South Florida, along with a much smaller but significant agricultural industry.[23]

 
Central Florida Cowboy Culture, Silver Spurs Rodeo, Kissimmee

Lamme and Oldakowski's survey also found some cultural indicators that characterize Central Florida. In general, Central Florida was similar to North Florida and differed from South Florida in these measures. In Central and North Florida, American cuisine was the most popular food, in contrast to South Florida where ethnic foods were equally popular.[24] Additionally, while there was little geographical variation for most styles of music, there was regional variation for both country and Latin music. Country was popular in Central and North Florida, and less so in South Florida, while Latin was less popular in Central and North Florida, and more so in South Florida.[24]

Demographics

In 2009, the estimated total population of the Central Florida, including the populations of Orange, Seminole, Osceola, Brevard, Volusia, and Lake Counties region was 3.3 million people.[25] If the populations of Polk and Sumter counties were included, the estimated population would be 3.969 million people.[citation needed] Explosive growth has fueled Central Florida for the past thirty years.

As of 2007 there were 70,000 Asians in Central Florida according to the U.S. Census. There were almost 1,900 Japanese persons, making up 3% of the Asians.[26]

Cities

Selected cities in Central Florida arranged by population:

City 2020 population[27] 2000 population County
Tampa 384,959 303,447 Hillsborough
Orlando 307,573 185,951 Orange
St. Petersburg 258,308 248,232 Pinellas
Palm Bay 119,760 79,413 Brevard
Clearwater 117,292 108,789 Pinellas
Lakeland 112,641 78,452 Polk
Deltona 93,692 69,543 Volusia
Palm Coast 89,258 75,180 Flagler
Largo 82,485 69,371 Pinellas
Melbourne 84,678 71,382 Brevard
Kissimmee 79,226 47,814 Osceola
Daytona Beach 72,647 64,112 Volusia
Ocala 63,591 45,943 Marion
Port Orange 62,596 45,823 Volusia
Sanford 61,051 38,291 Seminole
St. Cloud 58,964 35,183 Osceola
Ormond Beach 43,080 36,301 Volusia
Clermont 43,021 9,333 Lake
Oviedo 40,059 26,316 Seminole
Sebastian 25,054 16,181 Indian River

Economy

Agriculture has occupied a large portion of Central Florida's economy, with winter strawberries,[28] citrus, timber, vegetables,[29] and aquaculture[30] all making major contributions.

 
Orange Groves, Central Florida

Tourism is a large contributor to Central Florida's economy.

The area has economically diversified in the past decade. As a high-tech industrial hub, Metro Orlando has the seventh largest research park in the U.S., Central Florida Research Park, the engineering and business school of the University of Central Florida. It has defense companies such as Lockheed Martin and Siemens.[31]

Medical research is prominent at Tampa's University of South Florida and Orlando's University of Central Florida, as well as the Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute biomedical research facility.[32] USF in particular is a national leader in cancer and dementia research.

The Tampa Bay area has become a center of high-tech manufacturing and research,[33][34] while both Orlando and the Tampa Bay area are centers for the financial industry, especially insurers and back-end operations for large banking companies.

 
Ferris Groves Store in Floral City, one of many Old Florida style citrus stands found on the back roads of Central Florida.
 
Plant City Strawberry Festival, Congressman Putnam with wife Melissa and their daughters at the Strawberry Parade in Plant City, Florida,

Active military installations in the region include Patrick Space Force Base and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station located on the Atlantic coast; MacDill Air Force Base, Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater and Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg on the Gulf Coast; and Naval Support Activity Orlando, the Navy Pinecastle Impact (Bombing) Range, and the Avon Park Air Force Range located inland. These are augmented by major commands that are tenant activities at these installations, such as the headquarters for United States Central Command (USCENTCOM) and the headquarters for United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) at MacDill AFB, the Naval Ordnance Test Unit and Coast Guard Station Port Canaveral at Cape Canaveral SFS, and other Active, Reserve, Army National Guard, and Air National Guard activities that are located as either stand-alone facilities or as tenants on the active duty installations.

 
The Mall at Millenia, a super-regional high-end shopping mall in the Orlando metro area.

Additional former facilities that have since been closed and converted to civilian use include Hillsborough Army Air Field, a World War II training range which is now part of a neighborhood, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, and the University of South Florida; Naval Air Station Sanford, which closed in 1968 and is the present day Orlando-Sanford International Airport; McCoy Air Force Base, which closed in 1975 and is the present day Orlando International Airport; and Orlando Air Force Base, which was transferred to the Navy in 1968 and renamed Naval Training Center Orlando until its BRAC-directed closure in 1999 and conversion to the present day Baldwin Park neighborhood.

The other major U.S. Government installations in Central Florida is the Kennedy Space Center, a NASA facility located adjacent to Cape Canaveral SFS, and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Outpatient Clinic at Baldwin Park (former Orlando AFB Hospital / former Naval Hospital Orlando) and the VA Hospital at Lake Nona.

Attractions

 
Cracker Country Living History Museum, located at The Florida State Fairgrounds, Tampa. Founded by Mr. and Mrs. Doyle Carlton, Jr. to ensure future generations might better understand and appreciate Florida's rural heritage
 
Daytona International Speedway on the day of the Daytona 500 in Central Florida.

Theme parks

Zoos

Central Florida has four major zoos, the Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens in Sanford,[35] the Brevard Zoo in Melbourne, the Busch Gardens Tampa Bay animal park, and Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa. There are also two theme parks in Orlando featuring animals, albeit to a much lesser extent: Disney's Animal Kingdom and SeaWorld Orlando.

Natural areas

Central Florida also has a wide variety of natural attractions including the Bok Tower Gardens, Wekiwa Springs State Park, Blue Spring State Park, Rock Springs Run State Reserve, Canaveral National Seashore, and Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. The region also boasts an extensive network of recreational trails (jogging, biking, equestrian, etc.). While many connections are already in place, construction continues and will link all of the trails and greenways. Major trails include the Cady Way, Cross Seminole and West Orange Trails. Many of the top ranked beaches in the United States are located in Central Florida.

Transportation

Airports

Major international airports include:

Seaports

 
The Central Florida Seafood Industry is shown here with a photograph of shrimp, snapper, grouper, and stone crab fishing boats at Cortez, Florida

Port Canaveral, located in Cape Canaveral 45 minutes east of Orlando, is a cruise, cargo, and naval port. It is one of the busiest ports in Florida and is economically tied to Orlando. Locally perceived to be Orlando's seaport, Port Canaveral is the closest port for tourists and Orlando residents alike to cruise on Disney Cruise Lines and Carnival Cruises. Future plans for the port include a rail and natural gas line running directly to Orlando International Airport.

Another major seaport of the region is Port Tampa Bay, which is one of the busiest in the state and is on the verge of a huge expansion which will allow it to compete on an international level.

Freeways and highways

 
Historic Egmont Key Light is located in Tampa Bay, built in 1848 and commissioned by Col. Robert E. Lee. The island is on the National Register of Historic Places, and is a National Wildlife Refuge and a state park. Early in the Civil War, Confederate blockade-runners used the island as a base.

Limited Access Freeways and Expressways:

Major Surface Arterials:

Public transportation

 
The Dixie Highway is a historic route passing through the heart of Central Florida. Before the interstate system, it connected motorists traveling to towns like Orlando, Arcadia and Bartow.

A regional commuter rail network is being developed in Central Florida. The first of these initiatives, SunRail, is a commuter rail line that will run from DeLand south to Kissimmee. The first phase should be complete by 2013 with the full system in place by 2015. Amtrak also serves Central Florida running on CSX Transportation's A line and stops at the Orlando Amtrak station. The Auto Train stops in Sanford, Florida, north of downtown Orlando.

As of 2022, a high speed rail between Orlando and Miami is currently being developed by Brightline, who plans to extend the rail to Tampa after completion.[36]

Education

Florida's public primary and secondary schools are administered by the Florida Department of Education.

Notes

  1. ^ "Spectrum News | Bay News 9". www.baynews9.com. Retrieved March 11, 2022.
  2. ^ "Spectrum News | News 13". www.mynews13.com. Retrieved March 11, 2022.
  3. ^ a b c Lamme & Oldakowski, p. 329.
  4. ^ Lamme & Oldakowski, p. 335.
  5. ^ Charting the Course, p. 2.
  6. ^ Washington, The (January 28, 2008). "As I-4 corridor goes, so goes Florida". Washington Times. Retrieved February 17, 2012.
  7. ^ "Microsoft Word - FDOT_BD548_07_rpt.doc" (PDF). Retrieved November 4, 2012.
  8. ^ [1] December 4, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^ . Flhsmv.gov. July 1, 2000. Archived from the original on October 3, 2011. Retrieved February 17, 2012.
  10. ^ "Manhattan, NY Monthly Weather Forecast - weather.com".
  11. ^ "Average Temperatures in Florida". Current Results. Retrieved February 17, 2012.
  12. ^ [2] March 25, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  13. ^ "Bill's Garden". Garden.bsewall.com. Retrieved February 17, 2012.
  14. ^ "NWS Pueblo, CO - Lightning Casualty Statistics USA Page". Crh.noaa.gov. August 31, 2010. Retrieved February 17, 2012.
  15. ^ . Lightningsafety.noaa.gov. Archived from the original on January 22, 2012. Retrieved February 17, 2012.
  16. ^ Tomlinson, Philip Barry (1980). The Biology of Trees Native to Tropical Florida. Allston, Massachusetts U.S.A.: Harvard University Printing Office. pp. 1, 8–10. C.S. Sargent designated ...major "tree regions" of [North America] ...each distinguished by a complex of tree species... [The] smallest of these ...called "Tropical Florida" ...[in which] 87.5% have an otherwise tropical distribution; in Florida they are at [their] northern limit. ...The distribution of tropical tree species within South Florida is not known in any detail although the generalized distribution of all species is well summarized by Little (1978). A single latitudinal line does not separate the foras of South and Central Florida... Since the factor limiting the distribution of tropical species in a northern direction is almost certainly minimum winter temperature, an approximate indication of the limits... is the 54-degF January isotherm for the state. Figure 5
  17. ^ "NOWData - NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
  18. ^ "Monthly Normals 1991-2020". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
  19. ^ a b "East Central Florida". Visulate.com. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
  20. ^ Type Studies from the Geography of the United States by Charles Alexander McMurry, Macmillan & Company, 1908, page 81.
  21. ^ a b Lamme & Oldakowsi, p. 336.
  22. ^ Warf & Waddell, pp. 88.
  23. ^ Lamme & Oldakowsi, pp. 336–337.
  24. ^ a b Lamme & Oldakowsi, p. 337.
  25. ^ . Slideshare.net. Archived from the original on March 20, 2008. Retrieved February 17, 2012.
  26. ^ Persaud, Babita. "Japanese residents in Central Florida strive to keep their children's legacy alive with Japanese culture and language courses at Orlando Hoshuko school" (). Orlando Sentinel. December 16, 2007. Retrieved on February 16, 2015.
  27. ^ Bureau of Economic and Business Research (2011). "Florida Population: Census Summary 2020". University of Florida. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  28. ^ . Archived from the original on October 1, 2012. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
  29. ^ . Archived from the original on January 9, 2014. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
  30. ^ . Archived from the original on January 9, 2014. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
  31. ^ "Central Florida Research Park". Cfrp.org. Retrieved February 17, 2012.
  32. ^ "Synergy city: Medical researchers head for Lake Nona - Orlando Sentinel". Articles.orlandosentinel.com. February 13, 2011. Retrieved February 17, 2012.
  33. ^ "Tampa Bay: High Tech Hotbed".
  34. ^ . Archived from the original on January 9, 2014. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
  35. ^ Welcome to the Central Florida Zoo "Central Florida Zoo.com
  36. ^ "Brightline Florida | Brightline". www.gobrightline.com. Retrieved March 11, 2022.

References

  • Lamme, Ary J.; Oldakowski, Raymond K. (November 2007). "Spinning a new geography of vernacular regional identity: Florida in the twenty-first century". Southeastern Geographer. 47 (2): 320–340. doi:10.1353/sgo.2007.0029. S2CID 129577530.
  • Warf, Barney; Waddell, Cynthia (January 2002). "Florida in the 2000 presidential election: historical precedents and contemporary landscapes". Political Geography. 21 (1): 85–90. doi:10.1016/S0962-6298(01)00063-4.
  • Anthony J. Catanese Center for Urban and Environmental Solutions at Florida Atlantic University (2006). (PDF). Florida Atlantic University. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 16, 2011. Retrieved March 30, 2012. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  • A History of Central Florida Collection on the RICHES Mosaic Interface Map

External links

  •   Central Florida travel guide from Wikivoyage
  • A History of Central Florida Podcast

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

central, florida, this, article, about, region, united, states, other, uses, disambiguation, region, state, florida, different, sources, give, different, definitions, region, name, implies, usually, said, comprise, central, part, state, including, tampa, area,. This article is about a region in the United States For other uses see Central Florida disambiguation Central Florida is a region of the U S state of Florida Different sources give different definitions for the region but as its name implies it is usually said to comprise the central part of the state including the Tampa Bay area and the Greater Orlando area though in recent times the Tampa Bay area has often been described as its own region with Central Florida becoming more synonymous with the Orlando area most notably this is what the local news channels in each respective metro area call their region 1 2 Central FloridaRegionCentral Florida Images top from bottom left to right Orlando Skyline Daytona International Speedway Walt Disney World Kennedy Space Center Tampa SkylineCentral Florida part of the Florida megaregionCountry United StatesState FloridaLargest cityTampaPopulation 2010 8 211 912It is one of Florida s three directional regions along with North Florida and South Florida Under the previously mentioned usual definition it includes the following counties Brevard Citrus Hardee Hernando Hillsborough Indian River Lake Orange Osceola Pasco Pinellas Polk Seminole Sumter and Volusia though Citrus Hernando Hillsborough Pasco Pinellas are also considered to be the Tampa Bay area Contents 1 Geography 1 1 Climate 2 History 3 Culture and attributes 4 Demographics 5 Cities 6 Economy 6 1 Attractions 6 1 1 Theme parks 6 1 2 Zoos 6 1 3 Natural areas 7 Transportation 7 1 Airports 7 2 Seaports 7 3 Freeways and highways 7 4 Public transportation 8 Education 9 Notes 10 References 11 External linksGeography EditLike many vernacular regions Central Florida s boundaries are not official or consistent and are defined differently by different sources A 2007 study of Florida s regions by geographers Ary Lamme and Raymond K Oldakowski found that Floridians surveyed identified Central Florida as comprising a large swath of peninsular Florida 3 This area encompassed the interior including the Orlando metropolitan area and coastal stretches from the Big Bend south to the Tampa Bay Area in the west and from Daytona Beach south to Fort Pierce in the east Central Florida is one of Florida s three most common directional regions the others being North Florida and South Florida Lamme and Oldakowski note that the directional region is more commonly used in the interior areas rather than on the coast 4 In fact while coastal areas often have their own regional vernacular identities such as the Space Coast and the Nature Coast no vernacular regions were reported on the interior of the state other than Central Florida 3 Enterprise Florida the state s economic development agency identifies Central Florida as one of eight economic regions used by the agency and other state and outside entities including the Florida Department of Transportation This definition covers much of the same area as in Lamme and Oldakowski s survey with some exceptions It excludes the Tampa Bay Area and as well as the southern coastal counties the Treasure Coast which is included in Southeast or South Florida The Central region includes the Orlando metropolitan area Orange Lake Osceola and Seminole Counties and Sumter county in the interior and Volusia and Brevard Counties on the coast 5 The central cities of both metropolitan areas Orlando and Tampa are in close proximity 85 miles 137 km and as a result their two metropolitan areas blend together in the area of Lakeland to make up a larger contiguous population center often referred to as the I 4 corridor 6 7 This is a population concentration that stretches from Tampa Bay on the west coast to Daytona Beach and Cape Canaveral on the east coast of the state With the exception of hill terrain in Mount Dora southern Lake County Polk County Lake Wales Ridge Pasco County and Hernando County Brooksville Ridge Central Florida is mostly flatland with significant amounts of open space and over 1 500 lakes and ponds There is a mixture of wetlands Cypress Oak Maple and Pine forests pastures prairies and coastline 8 Major rivers include the St Johns River the Halifax River the Ocklawaha River and the Econlockhatchee River Major lakes include Lake Apopka Lake Tohopekaliga East Lake Tohopekaliga Lake Louisa Lake Monroe Lake Jessup and the Butler Chain of Lakes There are over 100 miles 160 km of coastline in Central Florida along the Atlantic Coast 9 Major beaches include Canaveral National Seashore New Smyrna Beach Daytona Beach Cocoa Beach and Indialantic Beach near Melbourne Climate Edit Hurricanes are a threat to the coastal cities as evidenced by the 2004 hurricane season which brought three major hurricanes to the Central Florida area Charley Jeanne and Frances Historic Cypress Gardens Now Lego Land in Central Florida Winters are dry and temperate with the average winter high temperature in Orlando being 71 F 22 C and the average winter low temperature being 49 F 9 C 10 11 Summers are hot and humid with high temperatures averaging 92 F 33 C and low temperatures averaging 75 F 24 C Peak summer heat generally arrives in early June and continues to early October 12 13 The combination of high temperatures high humidity and opposing sea breezes from both the Gulf and Atlantic coasts results in significant thunderstorm activity from June to September for the interior counties Central Florida records more lightning strikes per area than any other region in Florida and Florida records more lightning strikes than any other state in the US As a result Florida and more specifically Central Florida is often referred to as the Thunderstorm capital of the USA 14 15 or Lightning Alley These severe thunderstorms often make Central Florida prone to many tornadoes However they are usually small short lived and almost always rated as EF0 or EF1 size storms Central Florida has a subtropical climate A climate that is typical for the majority of the state except for South Florida which has a true tropical climate Unlike South Florida where temperatures below 32 F 0 C practically never occur Central Florida can see occasional freezing temperatures in the winter Consequently most of Central Florida cannot accommodate the same tropical plants found in Southern Florida with the exception of coastal areas in the Tampa Bay area Brevard county and Indian River county due to maritime influences of the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean 16 However winters are still considered very mild by United States standards Central Florida s typical high temperatures in the winter are around 70 F 21 C The low temperatures are mainly in the upper 40s F Climate data for Orlando Orlando International Airport Florida 1991 2020 normals extremes 1952 present Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec YearRecord high F C 87 31 89 32 93 34 97 36 100 38 100 38 101 38 100 38 98 37 95 35 91 33 90 32 101 38 Mean maximum F C 83 5 28 6 85 5 29 7 88 4 31 3 91 1 32 8 94 5 34 7 96 1 35 6 96 1 35 6 95 4 35 2 93 8 34 3 91 0 32 8 86 7 30 4 83 7 28 7 97 2 36 2 Average high F C 71 8 22 1 74 9 23 8 78 9 26 1 83 6 28 7 88 4 31 3 90 8 32 7 92 0 33 3 91 6 33 1 89 6 32 0 84 7 29 3 78 3 25 7 73 8 23 2 83 2 28 4 Daily mean F C 60 6 15 9 63 6 17 6 67 3 19 6 72 2 22 3 77 3 25 2 81 2 27 3 82 6 28 1 82 6 28 1 81 0 27 2 75 5 24 2 68 2 20 1 63 3 17 4 73 0 22 8 Average low F C 49 5 9 7 52 4 11 3 55 8 13 2 60 7 15 9 66 3 19 1 71 6 22 0 73 2 22 9 73 7 23 2 72 4 22 4 66 2 19 0 58 2 14 6 52 9 11 6 62 7 17 1 Mean minimum F C 33 2 0 7 36 5 2 5 41 3 5 2 49 2 9 6 58 2 14 6 67 5 19 7 70 5 21 4 70 7 21 5 67 8 19 9 53 4 11 9 44 4 6 9 37 6 3 1 31 3 0 4 Record low F C 19 7 26 3 25 4 38 3 48 9 53 12 64 18 65 18 57 14 43 6 32 0 20 7 19 7 Average precipitation inches mm 2 48 63 2 04 52 3 03 77 2 58 66 4 02 102 8 05 204 7 46 189 7 69 195 6 37 162 3 46 88 1 79 45 2 48 63 51 45 1 307 Average precipitation days 0 01 in 7 0 6 4 6 8 6 3 8 4 16 2 17 1 17 2 14 2 8 4 6 0 7 1 121 1Source NOAA 17 18 History Edit The Yearling won Floridian Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings a Pulitzer Prize for her glimpse at life in Central Florida At the end of the Civil War aside from the cattle cotton and coastal lands much of Central Florida was wetlands It took a major drainage project financed by businessman Hamilton Disston in the 1880s to make these wetland areas available for settlement Sanford was incorporated in 1877 as a port city at the Lake Monroe intersection and the St Johns River It was envisioned as a transportation center the city s founder Henry S Sanford nicknamed it the Gate City of South Florida It became a hub for shipping agricultural products which earned the city another nickname Celery City Kissimmee originally named Allendale after Confederate Major J H Allen who operated the first cargo steamboat on the Kissimmee River boomed in the 1880s It was the headquarters of Hamilton Disston s drainage company The city was an important regional steamship port owing that status to its location on Lake Tohopekaliga Expanding the railroads into Central Florida eliminated the need for Kissimmee s steamship industry 19 The Great Freeze of 1894 1895 ruined citrus crops which had a detrimental ripple effect on the economy 20 The hard packed sand of Volusia County s beaches lent itself to auto races beginning in 1903 before paved roads were common leading to the area s reputation for cars and racing Ormond Beach was a popular spot for those who liked fast cars after the turn of the 20th century because the hard packed beach was ideal for going fast The same beach had led to the development of a tourist resort by Henry Flagler It later attracted Flagler s former business partner John D Rockefeller who had a winter home in Ormond During and after World War II the U S Army Air Forces U S Air Force after 1947 and the U S Navy established several training facilities and operational bases in the region mainly for aviation activities followed by space exploration sites In the late 1940s the U S military established a missile testing facility on Merritt Island near Cape Canaveral The land was largely undeveloped and the agreeable climate allowed for year round operations When NASA later searched for a long term base in the 1960s to launch spacecraft it chose the Merritt Island site next to Cape Canaveral for its access to the testing facility and nearby communities NASA purchased over 100 000 acres 400 km2 of land for the Kennedy Space Center Deltona was developed in 1962 as a planned retirement community It is now the largest city in Volusia County Yulee Sugar Mill located in the Central Florida town of Homosassa The Florida State Park is the site of David Levy Yulee s 5 100 acre sugar plantation The mill operated from 1851 to 1864 and served as a supplier of sugar products for Southern troops during the Civil War Spanish Moss by Winslow Homer Tampa bay Florida painting of Spanish Moss swaying from live oak limbs a familiar scene in Central Florida The construction of the Walt Disney World Resort was a transforming event for greater Orlando Walt Disney wanted a location with abundant available land that was more accessible for the residents of the eastern United States to visit Not only was there ample land in Central Florida but it was inexpensive and the inland location offered some protection from hurricanes Plans were announced in 1965 and the theme park opened to the public in 1971 19 Culture and attributes EditLamme and Oldakowski s survey identifies several demographic political and cultural elements that characterize Central Florida and distinguish it from other areas of the state While people from all parts of the state associated their area as part of the South people in the southern part of Central Florida did not typically identify their area as part of Dixie while people in northern Central Florida did People from Central Florida usually did not consider their region part of the Bible Belt 3 Jackson Rooming House in Tampa accommodated African Americans during the era of racial segregation in Central Florida The hotel played host to prominent figures such as Count Basie Cab Calloway James Brown Ella Fitzgerald and Ray Charles Politically while North Florida overwhelmingly was considered conservative and South Florida was considered more liberal the majority of Central Florida residents 52 considered their area moderate 41 considered it conservative and 7 liberal 21 Lamme and Oldakowski s survey tracks with Barney Warf and Cynthia Waddell s studies of Florida s political geography during the 2000 Presidential election 21 22 Central Florida s economy is very similar to that in South Florida Compared to the more diversified North Florida economy tourism is by far the most significant industry in Central and South Florida along with a much smaller but significant agricultural industry 23 Central Florida Cowboy Culture Silver Spurs Rodeo Kissimmee Lamme and Oldakowski s survey also found some cultural indicators that characterize Central Florida In general Central Florida was similar to North Florida and differed from South Florida in these measures In Central and North Florida American cuisine was the most popular food in contrast to South Florida where ethnic foods were equally popular 24 Additionally while there was little geographical variation for most styles of music there was regional variation for both country and Latin music Country was popular in Central and North Florida and less so in South Florida while Latin was less popular in Central and North Florida and more so in South Florida 24 Demographics EditIn 2009 the estimated total population of the Central Florida including the populations of Orange Seminole Osceola Brevard Volusia and Lake Counties region was 3 3 million people 25 If the populations of Polk and Sumter counties were included the estimated population would be 3 969 million people citation needed Explosive growth has fueled Central Florida for the past thirty years As of 2007 there were 70 000 Asians in Central Florida according to the U S Census There were almost 1 900 Japanese persons making up 3 of the Asians 26 Cities EditSelected cities in Central Florida arranged by population City 2020 population 27 2000 population CountyTampa 384 959 303 447 HillsboroughOrlando 307 573 185 951 OrangeSt Petersburg 258 308 248 232 PinellasPalm Bay 119 760 79 413 BrevardClearwater 117 292 108 789 PinellasLakeland 112 641 78 452 PolkDeltona 93 692 69 543 VolusiaPalm Coast 89 258 75 180 FlaglerLargo 82 485 69 371 PinellasMelbourne 84 678 71 382 BrevardKissimmee 79 226 47 814 OsceolaDaytona Beach 72 647 64 112 VolusiaOcala 63 591 45 943 MarionPort Orange 62 596 45 823 VolusiaSanford 61 051 38 291 SeminoleSt Cloud 58 964 35 183 OsceolaOrmond Beach 43 080 36 301 VolusiaClermont 43 021 9 333 LakeOviedo 40 059 26 316 SeminoleSebastian 25 054 16 181 Indian RiverEconomy EditAgriculture has occupied a large portion of Central Florida s economy with winter strawberries 28 citrus timber vegetables 29 and aquaculture 30 all making major contributions Orange Groves Central Florida Tourism is a large contributor to Central Florida s economy The area has economically diversified in the past decade As a high tech industrial hub Metro Orlando has the seventh largest research park in the U S Central Florida Research Park the engineering and business school of the University of Central Florida It has defense companies such as Lockheed Martin and Siemens 31 Medical research is prominent at Tampa s University of South Florida and Orlando s University of Central Florida as well as the Sanford Burnham Medical Research Institute biomedical research facility 32 USF in particular is a national leader in cancer and dementia research The Tampa Bay area has become a center of high tech manufacturing and research 33 34 while both Orlando and the Tampa Bay area are centers for the financial industry especially insurers and back end operations for large banking companies Ferris Groves Store in Floral City one of many Old Florida style citrus stands found on the back roads of Central Florida Plant City Strawberry Festival Congressman Putnam with wife Melissa and their daughters at the Strawberry Parade in Plant City Florida Active military installations in the region include Patrick Space Force Base and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station located on the Atlantic coast MacDill Air Force Base Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater and Coast Guard Sector St Petersburg on the Gulf Coast and Naval Support Activity Orlando the Navy Pinecastle Impact Bombing Range and the Avon Park Air Force Range located inland These are augmented by major commands that are tenant activities at these installations such as the headquarters for United States Central Command USCENTCOM and the headquarters for United States Special Operations Command USSOCOM at MacDill AFB the Naval Ordnance Test Unit and Coast Guard Station Port Canaveral at Cape Canaveral SFS and other Active Reserve Army National Guard and Air National Guard activities that are located as either stand alone facilities or as tenants on the active duty installations The Mall at Millenia a super regional high end shopping mall in the Orlando metro area Additional former facilities that have since been closed and converted to civilian use include Hillsborough Army Air Field a World War II training range which is now part of a neighborhood Busch Gardens Tampa Bay and the University of South Florida Naval Air Station Sanford which closed in 1968 and is the present day Orlando Sanford International Airport McCoy Air Force Base which closed in 1975 and is the present day Orlando International Airport and Orlando Air Force Base which was transferred to the Navy in 1968 and renamed Naval Training Center Orlando until its BRAC directed closure in 1999 and conversion to the present day Baldwin Park neighborhood The other major U S Government installations in Central Florida is the Kennedy Space Center a NASA facility located adjacent to Cape Canaveral SFS and the Department of Veterans Affairs VA Outpatient Clinic at Baldwin Park former Orlando AFB Hospital former Naval Hospital Orlando and the VA Hospital at Lake Nona Attractions Edit Cracker Country Living History Museum located at The Florida State Fairgrounds Tampa Founded by Mr and Mrs Doyle Carlton Jr to ensure future generations might better understand and appreciate Florida s rural heritage Daytona International Speedway on the day of the Daytona 500 in Central Florida Theme parks Edit Walt Disney World Resort which includes Magic Kingdom Epcot Disney s Hollywood Studios Disney s Animal Kingdom Disney s Typhoon Lagoon and Disney s Blizzard Beach SeaWorld Orlando Universal Orlando Resort which includes Universal Studios Florida Universal s Islands of Adventure and Universal s Volcano Bay Busch Gardens Tampa and Adventure Island Legoland Florida Kennedy Space Center Gatorland Fun Spot America Theme ParksZoos Edit Central Florida has four major zoos the Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens in Sanford 35 the Brevard Zoo in Melbourne the Busch Gardens Tampa Bay animal park and Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa There are also two theme parks in Orlando featuring animals albeit to a much lesser extent Disney s Animal Kingdom and SeaWorld Orlando Natural areas Edit Central Florida also has a wide variety of natural attractions including the Bok Tower Gardens Wekiwa Springs State Park Blue Spring State Park Rock Springs Run State Reserve Canaveral National Seashore and Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge The region also boasts an extensive network of recreational trails jogging biking equestrian etc While many connections are already in place construction continues and will link all of the trails and greenways Major trails include the Cady Way Cross Seminole and West Orange Trails Many of the top ranked beaches in the United States are located in Central Florida Transportation EditAirports Edit Major international airports include Orlando International Airport Daytona Beach International Airport Orlando Sanford International Airport Tampa International Airport St Pete Clearwater International Airport Melbourne International Airport Leesburg International Airport Lakeland Linder International Airport Winter Haven s Gilbert Airport Space Coast Regional Airport Seaports Edit The Central Florida Seafood Industry is shown here with a photograph of shrimp snapper grouper and stone crab fishing boats at Cortez Florida Port Canaveral located in Cape Canaveral 45 minutes east of Orlando is a cruise cargo and naval port It is one of the busiest ports in Florida and is economically tied to Orlando Locally perceived to be Orlando s seaport Port Canaveral is the closest port for tourists and Orlando residents alike to cruise on Disney Cruise Lines and Carnival Cruises Future plans for the port include a rail and natural gas line running directly to Orlando International Airport Another major seaport of the region is Port Tampa Bay which is one of the busiest in the state and is on the verge of a huge expansion which will allow it to compete on an international level Freeways and highways Edit Historic Egmont Key Light is located in Tampa Bay built in 1848 and commissioned by Col Robert E Lee The island is on the National Register of Historic Places and is a National Wildlife Refuge and a state park Early in the Civil War Confederate blockade runners used the island as a base Limited Access Freeways and Expressways Interstate 4 Florida State Road 400 Interstate 75 SR 93 and 93A Interstate 275 SR 93 Interstate 175 SR 594 Interstate 375 Interstate 95 SR 9 Florida s Turnpike SR 91 Florida State Road 100 Moody Boulevard Florida State Road 528 Beachline Expressway Florida State Road 408 Holland East West Expressway Florida State Road 417 Central Florida Greenway Florida State Road 429 Western Expressway Florida State Road 414 Apopka Bypass Florida State Road 570 Polk Parkway Florida State Road 589 Veteran s Expressway Florida State Road 618 Selmon Expressway Major Surface Arterials U S Highway 441 U S Highway 17 92 U S Highway 27 U S Highway 192 U S Highway 1 U S Highway 98 Florida State Road 19 Florida State Road 33 Florida State Road 46 Florida State Road 415 Florida State Road 436 Florida State Road 50 Florida State Road 60 Florida State Road 520 Public transportation Edit Not to be confused with Florida Heartland The Dixie Highway is a historic route passing through the heart of Central Florida Before the interstate system it connected motorists traveling to towns like Orlando Arcadia and Bartow A regional commuter rail network is being developed in Central Florida The first of these initiatives SunRail is a commuter rail line that will run from DeLand south to Kissimmee The first phase should be complete by 2013 with the full system in place by 2015 Amtrak also serves Central Florida running on CSX Transportation s A line and stops at the Orlando Amtrak station The Auto Train stops in Sanford Florida north of downtown Orlando As of 2022 a high speed rail between Orlando and Miami is currently being developed by Brightline who plans to extend the rail to Tampa after completion 36 Education EditMain article Education in Florida Florida s public primary and secondary schools are administered by the Florida Department of Education Eckerd CollegeSt Petersburg Florida Institute of TechnologyMelbourne Saint Leo UniversitySt Leo Florida Southern CollegeLakeland Florida Polytechnic University Lakeland University of Central FloridaOrlando University of South Florida University of TampaTampaNotes Edit Spectrum News Bay News 9 www baynews9 com Retrieved March 11 2022 Spectrum News News 13 www mynews13 com Retrieved March 11 2022 a b c Lamme amp Oldakowski p 329 Lamme amp Oldakowski p 335 Charting the Course p 2 Washington The January 28 2008 As I 4 corridor goes so goes Florida Washington Times Retrieved February 17 2012 Microsoft Word FDOT BD548 07 rpt doc PDF Retrieved November 4 2012 1 Archived December 4 2010 at the Wayback Machine FHP Florida Facts Flhsmv gov July 1 2000 Archived from the original on October 3 2011 Retrieved February 17 2012 Manhattan NY Monthly Weather Forecast weather com Average Temperatures in Florida Current Results Retrieved February 17 2012 2 Archived March 25 2011 at the Wayback Machine Bill s Garden Garden bsewall com Retrieved February 17 2012 NWS Pueblo CO Lightning Casualty Statistics USA Page Crh noaa gov August 31 2010 Retrieved February 17 2012 NWS Lightning Frequency Safety Map Lightningsafety noaa gov Archived from the original on January 22 2012 Retrieved February 17 2012 Tomlinson Philip Barry 1980 The Biology of Trees Native to Tropical Florida Allston Massachusetts U S A Harvard University Printing Office pp 1 8 10 C S Sargent designated major tree regions of North America each distinguished by a complex of tree species The smallest of these called Tropical Florida in which 87 5 have an otherwise tropical distribution in Florida they are at their northern limit The distribution of tropical tree species within South Florida is not known in any detail although the generalized distribution of all species is well summarized by Little 1978 A single latitudinal line does not separate the foras of South and Central Florida Since the factor limiting the distribution of tropical species in a northern direction is almost certainly minimum winter temperature an approximate indication of the limits is the 54 degF January isotherm for the state Figure 5 NOWData NOAA Online Weather Data National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Retrieved October 24 2022 Monthly Normals 1991 2020 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Retrieved October 24 2022 a b East Central Florida Visulate com Retrieved July 2 2014 Type Studies from the Geography of the United States by Charles Alexander McMurry Macmillan amp Company 1908 page 81 a b Lamme amp Oldakowsi p 336 Warf amp Waddell pp 88 Lamme amp Oldakowsi pp 336 337 a b Lamme amp Oldakowsi p 337 Slideshow Failed Conversion Slideshare net Archived from the original on March 20 2008 Retrieved February 17 2012 Persaud Babita Japanese residents in Central Florida strive to keep their children s legacy alive with Japanese culture and language courses at Orlando Hoshuko school Archive Orlando Sentinel December 16 2007 Retrieved on February 16 2015 Bureau of Economic and Business Research 2011 Florida Population Census Summary 2020 University of Florida a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a author has generic name help Crop Profile for Strawberry in Florida Archived from the original on October 1 2012 Retrieved January 9 2014 Florida Agriculture Overview and Statistics Archived from the original on January 9 2014 Retrieved January 9 2014 Hillsborough Cover Story Archived from the original on January 9 2014 Retrieved January 9 2014 Central Florida Research Park Cfrp org Retrieved February 17 2012 Synergy city Medical researchers head for Lake Nona Orlando Sentinel Articles orlandosentinel com February 13 2011 Retrieved February 17 2012 Tampa Bay High Tech Hotbed Florida High Tech Corridor e Newsletter Archived from the original on January 9 2014 Retrieved January 9 2014 Welcome to the Central Florida Zoo Central Florida Zoo com Brightline Florida Brightline www gobrightline com Retrieved March 11 2022 References Edit Florida portalLamme Ary J Oldakowski Raymond K November 2007 Spinning a new geography of vernacular regional identity Florida in the twenty first century Southeastern Geographer 47 2 320 340 doi 10 1353 sgo 2007 0029 S2CID 129577530 Warf Barney Waddell Cynthia January 2002 Florida in the 2000 presidential election historical precedents and contemporary landscapes Political Geography 21 1 85 90 doi 10 1016 S0962 6298 01 00063 4 Anthony J Catanese Center for Urban and Environmental Solutions at Florida Atlantic University 2006 Charting the Course Where is South Florida Heading PDF Florida Atlantic University Archived from the original PDF on December 16 2011 Retrieved March 30 2012 a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a Cite journal requires journal help A History of Central Florida Collection on the RICHES Mosaic Interface MapExternal links Edit Central Florida travel guide from Wikivoyage A History of Central Florida Podcast Coordinates 28 55 37 N 81 43 17 W 28 92694 N 81 72139 W 28 92694 81 72139 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Central Florida amp oldid 1137100746, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

article

, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games.