Orlando Population 2010: 238,300, #79 in U.S., #5 in Florida 1950: 52,367, #220 in U.S. 2010
Metropolitan Area: 2,134,411, #26 in U.S. 1950 Metropolitan Area: 114,950, #135 in U.S. The Orlando area had tremendous growth after the opening in 1971 of Walt Disney World, about 20 miles southwest of town. Many other tourist attractions have opened in the area since then. Setting Orlando was incorporated as a town in 1875 in an area of central Florida that was, at the time, the most important citrus-growing region in the state. Downtown’s Lake Eola has a park and a walkway around it. Buildings Tallest building: Sun Trust Center (1988), 441 feet Stores Orlando has no downtown department stores. Trains Amtrak's Silver Star and Silver Meteor go north from Orlando to New York City and south to Miami. Amtrak uses the old Atlantic Coast Line station (1926), south of downtown.
|  Downtown Orlando and Lake Eola Museums The Orlando Museum of Art and Orlando Science Center are located north of downtown. Theaters The 12-screen Plaza Cinema Cafe opened in 2009. The Carr Performing Arts Centre (1926) hosts the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, as well as touring musicals from Broadway Across America. Sports The Orlando Magic of the NBA and the Orlando Predators of the Arena Football League play at the Amway Center (2010). |