Kissimmee, Florida

Kissimmee, Florida
Kissimmee is the largest city and county seat of Osceola County, Florida, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 79,226. It is a Principal City of the Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, Florida, Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had a 2020 population of 2,673,376. The Census Bureau defines an urban area with Kissimmee as the principal city, which is separated from the Orlando urban area. The Kissimmee–St. Cloud, FL urban area had a 2020 population of 418,404, making it the 100th largest in the United States.
History
This area was originally named Allendale, after Confederate Major J. H. Allen who operated the first cargo steamboat along the Kissimmee River—the Mary Belle. It was renamed Kissimmee when incorporated as a city in 1883. The modern town, which is the county seat of Osceola County, was founded before the Civil War by the Bass, Johnson and Overstreet families. The etymology of the name Kissimmee is debated, apart from general agreement that it is Native American in origin. Its growth can be credited to Hamilton Disston of Philadelphia, who based his four-million acre (8,000 km2) drainage operation out of the small town. Disston had contracted with the financially wobbly state of Florida to drain its southern lands, for which he would own half of all he successfully drained. This deal made Disston the largest single landowner in the United States.
Disston's dredging and land speculation required a small steamboat industry to transport people and goods along the new waterway. The Kissimmee shipyard was responsible for building most of these large steamships, which were just one jump ahead of civilization—with Kissimmee as the jumping off point. Concurrently, the South Florida Railroad was growing and extended the end of its line from Sanford down to Kissimmee, making the town on Lake Tohopekaliga a transportation hub for Central Florida. On February 12, 1885, the Florida Legislature incorporated the Kissimmee City Street Railway.
But the heyday of Kissimmee was short-lived. Expanding railroads began to challenge the steamships for carrying freight and passengers. By 1884, the South Florida Railroad, now part of the Plant System, had extended its tracks to Tampa. The Panic of 1893 was the worst depression the U.S. had experienced up to that time, crushing land speculation and unsound debt. Hamilton Disston closed his Kissimmee land operation. Consecutive freezes in 1894 and 1895 wiped out the citrus industry. The freezes, combined with South Florida's growth and the relocation of steamship operations to Lake Okeechobee, left Kissimmee dependent on open range cattle ranching.
Kissimmee had a population of 4,310 in 1950. At that point there was some citrus packing as well as the ranching.
Ranching remained an important part of the local economy until the opening of nearby Walt Disney World in 1971. After that, tourism and development supplanted cattle ranching to a large measure. However, even though the Disney facility took over much of the open range cattle lands, cattle ranches still operate nearby, particularly in the southern part of Osceola County.
The 1998 Kissimmee tornado outbreak killed dozens of people in the area. On August 13, 2004, Hurricane Charley passed through Kissimmee with winds in excess of 100 miles per hour, damaging homes and buildings, toppling trees and cutting electrical power to the entire city. Kissimmee Utility Authority restored power to 54 percent of the residents in the first 72 hours; 85 percent were restored within one week. Service was restored to all customers on August 28. Three weeks after Hurricane Charley, the area was struck by Hurricane Frances, followed by Hurricane Jeanne three weeks after Frances.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land and is water (3.7%). Kissimmee and the city of St. Cloud are the only incorporated settlements in the county. The cities lie in proximity to each other along U.S. Highways 192 and 441.
A large geographical area of unincorporated Osceola County also refers to their area as Kissimmee. This includes most of the 192 corridor west of the city border to Highway 27, areas north of the city to Hunters Creek, and areas south of the city to Poinciana.
The city is mostly built on deep sand which is poorly drained in its natural state. The most common soil series is Myakka.
City water resources
Drained by the Kissimmee River, the city is situated on the northwest shore of Lake Tohopekaliga (locally called Lake Toho, West Lake Toho, or simply West Lake) in central Florida. Shingle Creek, largely considered the headwaters of the Everglades, also runs through the city. Shingle Creek features a popular canoe/kayak trail that runs from Steffe Landing on US 192 and ends in Lake Tohopekaliga.
Downtown
The downtown area lies near the intersection of U.S. Highway 17/92 and U.S. Highway 192. The downtown of Kissimmee does not possess any big skyscrapers; most of the buildings are two or three stories high. The biggest and the tallest building in the downtown is the Osceola County courthouse. The main thoroughfare follows along Highway 17/Highway 92 through the city's center and is a combination of three streets: Main Street, Broadway Street, and Emmett Street. The downtown area consists largely of restaurants, small shops, and historic residences. The University of Central Florida has a business incubator located in the area that is an important part of the economic engine downtown.
Climate
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild, dry, and sunny winters. According to the Köppen climate classification system, Kissimmee has a humid subtropical climate (Cfa).
Demographics
2010 and 2020 census
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 79,226 people, 22,836 households, and 15,732 families residing in the city.
As of the 2010 United States census, there were 59,682 people, 22,040 households, and 15,812 families residing in the city.
Out of Kissimmee's 58.93% Hispanic or Latino residents in the 2010 US census, 33.1% were Puerto Rican, 5.1% Dominican, 4.0% Colombian, 3.9% Mexican, 2.6% Cuban, 1.4% Venezuelan, 0.9% Ecuadorian, 0.7% Salvadoran, 0.7% Peruvian, 0.6% Honduran, and 0.6% were Nicaraguan. Also in 2010, out of the 9.59% non-Hispanic African American or Black residents, there was an additional 2.8% of people who were Afro-Latino or Black Hispanic. The 2010 census also showed that from the 3.23% Asians living in Kissimmee, 1.1% were Indian and 0.8% were Filipino.
2000 census
As of the 2000 census, there were 47,814 people, 17,121 households, and 11,813 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 19,642 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 67.22% White, 9.99% African American, 0.52% Native American, 3.38% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 14.15% from other races, and 4.66% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 41.73% of the population. The majority of Hispanics residing in the city are Puerto Ricans. There are also small Colombian, Cuban and Dominican communities residing in and/or around the city.
In 2000, there were 17,121 households, out of which 37.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.2% were married couples living together, 15.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.0% were non-families. 20.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.77 and the average family size was 3.21.
In 2000, in the city, the population was spread out, with 27.0% under the age of 18, 12.0% from 18 to 24, 34.9% from 25 to 44, 18.5% from 45 to 64, and 7.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.8 males.
As of 2000, the median income for a household in the city was $33,949, and the median income for a family was $36,361. Males had a median income of $25,851 versus $21,025 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,071. About 12.3% of families and 15.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.0% of those under age 18 and 10.2% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
Multinational multi-level marketing company Tupperware Brands is based in Kissimmee.
Top employers
According to Kissimmee's 2018 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are:
Arts and culture
Sites of interest
Colonial Estate
First United Methodist Church
Grass Island
Kissimmee Historic District
The Loop
Monument of States
Old Holy Redeemer Catholic Church
Old Osceola Courthouse – oldest continually operating courthouse in the state
Old Town
Orange World – World's Largest Orange
Osceola Arts (formally Osceola Center for the Arts)
Osceola County Courthouse
Osceola County Welcome Center and History Museum
Makinson Island
Margaritaville Resort Orlando
Pine Island
Plaza del Sol
Wat Florida Dhammaram
Former sites of interest
Jungleland
Splendid China (defunct in 2003)
Water Mania
Xanadu – House of the Future Xanadu Houses (demolished in 2005)
Sports
The Houston Astros conducted spring training in Kissimmee, at Osceola County Stadium from 1985 to 2016. The stadium also hosts numerous amateur baseball events throughout the remainder of the year in conjunction with; USSSA, Triple Crown Sports, World Baseball Federation and Promotion Sports. The Jim Evans Academy of Professional Umpiring has also called Osceola County Stadium home since 1994.
Austin-Tindall Regional Park is an athletic facility in the area that is host to a variety of annual events.
The city is also home to the annual NCCAA men's soccer National Championship Tournament.
Parks and recreation
Osceola Heritage Park is an event facility featuring a concert arena (Silver Spurs Arena) and professional sports stadium (Osceola County Stadium). The Silver Spurs Arena has been host to many acts, ranging from Hilary Duff and Bob Dylan to an annual rodeo event. Jehovah's Witnesses also use The Silver Spurs Arena for their annual District Conventions. In 2008, a number of English and Spanish conventions were held by the Witnesses, bringing thousands of delegates to the Kissimmee area for the three-day events.
Kissimmee has a number of public parks, including:
Kissimmee Lakefront Park – Aa$20 million public works project
Makinson Island Park
Babb Park at Shingle Creek
Steffe Landing at Shingle Creek
Twin Oaks Conservation Area – a popular place with locals for sunset
Scotty's Landing – a canoe launch/landing featuring an educational area and exercise trail
Bob Makinson Aquatic Center
Biking
The Shingle Creek Regional Trail (SCRT) is an inter-governmental project that has been planned to connect Kissimmee to Orlando through a 32-mile bicycle trail. It runs along the environmentally sensitive Shingle Creek, and was included on President Obama's America's Great Outdoors list.
Golfing
Kissimmee is home to a number of golf courses and mini-golf courses.
Shopping
Kissimmee is home to The Loop, a large outdoor shopping mall at John Young and Osceola Parkways on the Orange/Osceola County line. It features stores such as American Eagle Outfitters, Kohl's, and Best Buy. There is also a multi-plex theater.
Kissimmee features a unique transformation of the former Osceola Square Mall into a Spanish-style marketplace called Plaza del Sol.
Nearby
Kissimmee is near Orlando, home to Universal Orlando Resort and SeaWorld Orlando, and Lake Buena Vista/Bay Lake, home to Walt Disney World Resort, allowing tourists to access the parks through the city.
Education
Public schools
The School District of Osceola County, Florida serves Kissimmee. High schools include:
Celebration High School
Gateway High School
Harmony High School
Liberty High School
Osceola County School for the Arts (6–12)
Osceola High School
Poinciana High School
Saint Cloud High School
Technical Education Center Osceola
Tohopekaliga High School
Neocity Academy
Private schools
City of Life, founded 1994
Freedomland Christian Academy
Heritage Christian School
Holy Redeemer Catholic School
North Kissimmee Christian School, founded 1995
Osceola Adventist Christian School
Osceola Christian Preparatory School
Peace Lutheran School
Poinciana Academy
Shady Oaks Private School, founded 1969
Southland Christian School
Trinity Lutheran School
Reborn Christian Academy
Institutions of higher education
State colleges
University of Central Florida, Osceola Campus
Valencia College, Osceola Campus
Private universities, colleges, and others
Johnson University Florida, formerly Florida Christian College
Infrastructure
Transportation
Kissimmee features a multi-modal transportation hub located between Neptune Road and Monument Streets. This hub includes the Amtrak train station, which is a station stop on the SunRail commuter rail system. There is a Greyhound bus station. The hub also features a bus terminal providing service by the Lynx network.
Kissimmee Gateway Airport has four fixed-base operators that provide service to the area. Kissimmee Gateway Airport (ISM) accommodates general aviation air service 24 hours a day with two paved airport runways—respectively 5,000 and 6,000 feet. There are also two flight training schools and a museum at the airport. Orlando International Airport can be reached from Kissimmee in 15 minutes by car.
The major roads in the Kissimmee area are Florida's Turnpike, Interstate 4, Osceola Parkway, and US 192. Among other important routes are US 17/92 that join with US 441 into the Orange Blossom Trail (OBT) and the John Young Parkway.
Public libraries
Osceola Library System operates the Hart Memorial Central Library in Kissimmee.
Notable people
Irlo Bronson, Sr., politician; rancher
Vassar Clements, bluegrass musician
Dewayne Douglas, professional football player
Buddy Dyer, politician; mayor of Orlando
Tonga Fifita, professional wrestler; actor
Brent Fullwood, football player
Justin Gatlin, Olympic and world championship gold medalist sprinter
Kristina Janolo, Miss Florida 2011
George Frederic Kribbs, congressman
Ray Lloyd, professional wrestler; martial artist
A. J. McLean, singer from the Grammy-nominated Backstreet Boys
James Mitchell, professional wrestling manager
Joe Nasco, professional footballer
Tito Paul, football player
John Quiñones, attorney and former politician
Henry L. Reaves, Georgia politician from Kissimmee pioneer ranching family
Edwin Rios, professional baseball player, 2020 World Series Champion
William J. Sears, congressman
Kissy Simmons, actor
John Milton Bryan Simpson, judge
Bobby Sippio, football player
Justin Smith, professional poker player
Charlee Soto, professional baseball pitcher for Minnesota Twins
Jonathan Summerton, race car driver
Colt Terry, army special forces
Momo Thomas, American football player
Dan White (actor), American actor in vaudeville, theater, radio, film and television
Brett Williams, football player
Brownie Wise, businesswoman, Tupperware
Richard Young, actor, played Fedora in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
References
External links
Cities in Osceola County, Florida
County seats in Florida
Cities in the Greater Orlando
Populated places established in 1883
Cities in Florida
1883 establishments in Florida