EATONVILLE
Founded in 1887, the town was one of the first all-black
municipalities in the U.S. With a population of about 2,360,
Eatonville was the girlhood home of noted writer Zora Neale
Hurston, who writer about her memories in such semi-autographical
books as Dust Tracks on a Road and Their Eyes Were
Watching God. The Zora Neale Hurston Museum of Fine Arts
opened in the 1990s, and each year the town stages the Zora!
Festival to honor her and the town’s heritage.
MAITLAND
Bisected by both Interstate 4 and U.S. Highway 17-92, the
city of 17,500 lies at the north Orange-south Seminole county
line. Its residents and visitors have numerous water recreation
choices on Lakes Maitland, Minnehaha and Sybelia, among
others. As with other Central Florida cities, Maitland has a station
for SunRail, the region’s commuter rail service. Cultural
events and venues abound; the annual Maitland Art Festival
sets up on the banks of Lake Lily. The city also is home to the
Maitland Art Center — a designated National Historic Landmark
— the Jewish Community Center of Greater Orlando,
the Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center of
Florida and the Enzian Theater, a beloved independent movie
house.
46 HOMEBUYER // CENTRAL FLORIDA EDITION
ORLANDO
The county seat is also a major metropolitan city of more than
280,000 residents. Its notable neighborhoods include College
Park, Metro West, Lake Nona and Baldwin Park. The Orlando
International Airport is one of the busiest in the country. Sports
lovers have the Orlando Magic NBA team, Orlando City and Orlando
Pride soccer clubs, Orlando Apollos professional football
team, Orlando Solar Bears hockey team and the Camping World
Stadium, home to the annual college football Citrus Bowl, Russell
Athletic Bowl and Cure Bowl. Lake Nona Medical City is a
650-acre health and life sciences park that includes the University
of Central Florida’s Health Sciences Campus, Nemours Children’s
Hospital, University of Florida Academic and Research
Center and the Orlando Veterans Administration Medical Center.
Performance venues include the Dr. Phillips Center for the
Performing Arts, the Amway Center and the Bob Carr Theater.
WINTER GARDEN
The historic downtown of the former citrus hub is a popular
destination for both residents and visitors. Located on the
south side of Lake Apopka and short drive west of Orlando,
Winter Garden is home to more than 43,000 people. The West
Orange Trail, popular with bicyclists and hikers, runs through
the downtown area, which is filled with shops and restaurants
Winter Garden (facing page), in
West Orange County, is considered
one of the region’s coolest small
cities, with a funky downtown
historic district filled with momand
pop eateries and intriguing
boutiques. The West Orange Trail
runs through the center of town.
At more than 31,000 acres, Lake
Apopka is the third-largest lake
in Florida. Ongoing restoration
efforts by the St. Johns River Water
Management District and Orange
and Lake counties have improved
the water quality and helped return
the lake to its longtime position
as one of Central Florida’s most
important natural resources.