| Kissimmee,
Florida is one of the fastest growing
communities in the booming Central Florida region.
Located just minutes away from Walt
Disney World and the glittering excitement of Orlando's
theme parks, Kissimmee offers world class
entertainment and recreation. Kissimmee began as a
small trading post on the shore of Lake
Tohopekaliga in the late 1800's. The
area was drained and the Kissimmee
River had deep channels cut into it so
steamboats could navigate the extensive chain of lakes
that stretch from Kissimmee to the Gulf of Mexico.
This allowed shipments of cypress lumber and sugar
cane to be transported. In the 1940’s, the Kissimmee
Gateway Airport was built and the population
doubled. In the 1970's, with the opening of the
Walt Disney World resort and the beginning of the
buildup of Orlando's many attractions, the population
boomed. By the 2000 census count, almost 48,000
people lived in Kissimmee, while approximately 140,000
live throughout Osceola
County itself.
Today's Kissimmee is
seeing rapid growth in business and industry, as well
as from tourism. Retirees, along with relocating
businessmen, enjoy the mild year-round climate.
Golf and tennis courts abound, and the many area lakes
and marinas attract water sports enthusiasts and boast
some of the finest fishing in
the area. The Osceola
County Stadium is the spring training
ground of baseball's Houston Astros.
Shopping,
from discount outlet malls to hundreds of quality
retail stores, is a wonderful experience in
Kissimmee. Kissimmee also boasts two historic
districts that are chock full of antique
stores as well as fine
dining establishments.
Osceola County has
always served as a transportation crossroads for
Florida. Three railroad lines cut through it, as
well as Interstate Highway 4 and the Florida Turnpike.
The population is concentrated in the Kissimmee - St
Cloud region, while the remainder of Osceola stretches
out into cowboy country and the huge cattle
ranches of Central Florida. Wildlife
Management Areas are preserved, retaining
Florida's haunting, rugged beauty. Bull Creek,
Prairie Lakes and Three
Lakes are all untouched wilderness, while
Osceola serves as the headwaters of the South
Florida Water Management District and the
mysterious Lake
Okeechobee Everglades ecosystem.
Kissimmee, Florida is
a unique mix of old and new - historical treasures
along with a bright promising future. |
