Seminole County, Florida

Infobox U.S. County
county = Seminole County
state = Florida




founded = April 25 1913
seat = Sanford | area_total_sq_mi =345
area_land_sq_mi =308 | area_water_sq_mi =37
area percentage = 10.63%
census yr = 2000
pop = 365196
density_km2 =458
web = www.seminolecountyfl.gov
|

Seminole County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida and part of the Orlando-Kissimmee Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). It is located in the central part of Florida between Orlando to the south and DeLand/Daytona Beach to the north. As of 2000, the population was 365,196. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates the 2006 population was 406,875 [http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/GCTTable?_bm=y&-geo_id=04000US12&-_box_head_nbr=GCT-T1-R&-ds_name=PEP_2005_EST&-_lang=en&-format=ST-2S&-_sse=on}] . Its county seat is Sanford, Florida.GR|6

History

On July 21, 1821, there were two counties that formed Florida: Escambia to the west and St. Johns to the east. In 1824, the area to the south of St. Johns County became Mosquito County, and Enterprise was named the County Seat. This large county was renamed Orange County in 1845 when Florida became a state. For the next 70 years, Orange County would split into numerous other counties. Seminole County was one of the last counties to emerge from Orange County.

Seminole County was created on April 25, 1913 out of part of the northern portion of Orange County by the Florida Legislature. It was named for the Seminole tribe of Indians. The name "Seminole" is thought to be derived from the Spanish word "cimarron," meaning "wild" or "runaway."

Government

The government currently operates under a County Charter originally adopted in 1989 and amended in November, 1994. Policymaking and the legislative authority are vested in the Board of County Commissioners, a five-member board elected to four-year terms in partisan, countywide elections and from single member districts. The Board adopts the County budget, levies property taxes and other fees, and hires the County Manager and County Attorney. In addition to the Board there are five Constitutional Officers who are elected to partisan, four-year terms in accordance with the constitution of the State of Florida.

The Constitutional Officers, Clerk of the Circuit and County Courts, Sheriff, Tax Collector, Property Appraiser, and Supervisor of Elections, maintain separate accounting records and budgets. The Board funds a portion or, in certain instances, all of the operating budgets of the County's Constitutional Officers.

The County provides a full range of services; the construction and maintenance of the County's infrastructure, public safety, recreation, health and human services, and development and protection of the physical and economic environment.

In addition to the County Government described above, there are other political entities which are controlled by the County:
*US 17-92 Community Redevelopment Agency
*Seminole County Expressway Authority
*Fred R. Wilson Memorial Law Library
*Seminole County Port Authority

Principal Officials

Elected

Commissioner, District I - Bob Dallari

Commissioner, District II - Michael McLean

Commissioner, District III - Dick Van Der Weide

Commissioner, District IV - Carlton D. Henley

Commissioner, District V - Brenda Carey

Clerk of the Circuit Court - Maryanne Morse

Sheriff - Donald F. Eslinger

Tax Collector - Ray Valdes

Property Appraiser - David Johnson

Supervisor of Elections - Michael Ertel

Other

Administrative Services Director - Frank Raymond

Assistant County Manager - Sabrina O'Bryan

Community Information Director - Susan Vernon-Devlin

Community Services Director - David Medley

County Attorney - Robert A. McMillan

County Engineer - Jerry McCollum

County Manager - Cynthia A. Coto

Deputy County Manager - Joe Forte

Economic Development Director - William McDermott

Environmental Services Director - John Cirello

Finance Director - David C. Godwin, CPA

Fire Chief - Leeanna Raw

Fiscal Services Director - Lisa Spriggs, CPA

Human Resources Director - Janet Davis

Information Technology Services Director - Robert Beach

Leisure Services Director - Joe Abel

Library Services Director - Jane Peterson

Planning & Development Director - Dori DeBord

Public Safety Director - Tad Stone

Public Works Director - Gary Johnson

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 345 square miles (893 km²), of which, 308 square miles (798 km²) of it is land and 37 square miles (95 km²) of it (10.63%) is water.

Seminole County's location between Volusia County and Orange County has made it one of the fastest growing counties in Florida. The Greater Orlando Metropolitan District which includes Seminole, Osceola, and the surrounding counties of Lake and Orange counties, together with neighboring Volusia and Brevard counties create a viable, progressive and diverse setting for economic growth and residential development.

Adjacent counties

*Brevard County, Florida - southeast
*Volusia County, Florida - north/east
*Orange County, Florida - west/south
*Lake County, Florida - west

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 365,196 people, 139,572 households, and 97,281 families residing in the county. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that the population of the County has grown to 394,878 by 2003. Current 2008 estimates put the population at more than 407,000. The population density was 1,185 people per square mile (458/km²). There were 147,079 housing units at an average density of 477 per square mile (184/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 82.41% White, 9.52% Black or African American, 0.30% Native American, 2.50% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 3.06% from other races, and 2.18% from two or more races. 11.15% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 139,572 households out of which 33.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.30% were married couples living together, 11.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.30% were non-families. 22.90% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.07. The Department of Education states that in 2003, school enrollment was approximately 72,630. As of 2006, the Seminole County School District was the 52nd largest in the nation. [cite web|url=http://nces.ed.gov//pubs2008/revexpdist06/tables/table_07.asp?referrer=report|title=National Center for Educations Statistics - 100 Largest School Districts in the United States|accessdate=2008-07-31]

In the county the population was spread out with 25.40% under the age of 18, 8.40% from 18 to 24, 32.00% from 25 to 44, 23.60% from 45 to 64, and 10.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 95.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $49,326, and the median income for a family was $56,895. Males had a median income of $40,001 versus $28,217 for females. The per capita income for the county was $24,591. About 5.10% of families and 7.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.60% of those under age 18 and 6.60% of those age 65 or over.

Because of the massive urban sprawl in the area and outdated and unplanned transit infrastructure, traffic congestion is a growing concern. Fundamentally, the lack of east-west mobility in the area creates severe traffic issues every weekday. Many residents of Seminole County work in Orange County, and those in northern Volusia County commute through Seminole County daily to Orange County.

Economics

Principal Taxpayers

Per Capita Income and Unemployment Rate

Municipalities

Incorporated

# City of Altamonte Springs
# City of Casselberry
# City of Lake Mary
# City of Longwood
# City of Oviedo
# City of Sanford
# City of Winter Springs

City districts and neighborhoods

*Forest City (partly within the City of Altamonte Springs)
*Heathrow (partly within the City of Lake Mary)
*Tuskawilla (partly within the City of Winter Springs)

Unincorporated

*Chuluota
*Fern Park
*Geneva
*Midway
*Wekiva Springs
*Winter Park "(incorporated in Orange County however the county line divides some addresses that use "Winter Park" although the city limits are wholly within Orange County)"

References

External links

*
* [http://www.seminolecountyfl.gov/ Seminole County Government / Board of County Commissioners]
* [http://www.seminolecountyfl.gov/pw/mosquito/ Seminole County Government / Mosquito Control Program]
* [http://www.seminolebusinessdirectory.com Seminole County Business Directory]
* [http://ibistro.dos.state.fl.us/uhtbin/cgisirsi.exe/mJa8sal3fj/STA-FLA/138785558/18/X651/XSUBJECT/Seminole+County+(Fla.) Photographs] from the State Library & Archives of Florida.
* [http://www.visitseminole.com Visit Seminole County Florida]