Kissimmee, Florida

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Kissimmee
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settlement_type = City
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image_blank_emblem = Logo_kissimmee.gif
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mapsize = 250x200px
map_caption = Location in Osceola County and the state of Florida

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mapsize1 = 250px
map_caption1 = U.S. Census Map
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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = flag|United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = flag|Florida
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = noflag|Osceola
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government_type = Council-Manager
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Jim Swan
leader_title1 = City Manager
leader_name1 = Mark Durbin
leader_title2 =
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established_title2 = Incorporated
established_date2 = 1883
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unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes = cite web |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/GCTTable?_bm=y&-geo_id=04000US12&-_box_head_nbr=GCT-PH1&-ds_name=DEC_2000_SF1_U&-format=ST-7 |title=Florida by place Population, Housing Units, Area and Density:2000 |publisher=US Census Bureau |accessdate=2007-07-24] 1
area_total_km2 = 44.8
area_land_km2 = 43.2
area_water_km2 = 1.6
area_total_sq_mi = 17.32
area_land_sq_mi = 16.68
area_water_sq_mi = .64
area_water_percent = 3.7
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population_as_of = 1 July 2006
population_footnotes = cite web |url=http://www.census.gov/popest/cities/tables/SUB-EST2005-04-12.xls |title=Annual Estimates of the population for the Incorporated Places of Florida |publisher=US Census Bureau |accessdate=2007-07-23 |format=XLS] 2
population_note = 2006 estimates
population_total = 60894
population_density_km2 = 1106.8
population_density_sq_mi = 2866.6
population_metro = 1984855
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timezone = Eastern (EST)
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
latd = 28 |latm = 18 |lats = 14 |latNS = N
longd = 81 |longm = 24 |longs = 46 |longEW = W
elevation_footnotes = [cite web |url=http://www.fallingrain.com/world/US/12/Kissimmee.html |title=Kissimmee, United States Page |publisher=Falling Rain Genomics |accessdate=2007-08-09] 3
elevation_m = 20
elevation_ft = 49
postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 34741-34747, 34758-34759
area_code = 321,407
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 12-36950GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0285145GR|3
website = http://www.kissimmee.org
footnotes =

Kissimmee (pronEng|kɪˈsɪmi, with the accent on the second syllable) is a city in Osceola County, Florida, United States. As of 2006, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 60,894. It is the county seat of Osceola County.GR|6 Kissimmee is a Principal City of the Orlando-Kissimmee, Florida, Metropolitan Statistical Area, which the census bureau estimated had a 2007 population of 2,032,496.cite web |url=http://www.census.gov/population/www/estimates/metro_general/2006/CBSA-EST2006-01.xls |title=Annual Estimates of the Population of Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2007 |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |accessdate=2007-07-24|format=XLS]

History

Founded in the mid-19th century as Allendale, it was renamed Kissimmee when incorporated as a city in 1883. Its growth can be credited to Hamilton Disston of Philadelphia, who based his two-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 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 1885, the South Florida Railroad had extended its tracks again to Tampa. The Panic of 1893 was the worst depression the U.S. had experienced, crushing land speculation and unsound debt. Hamilton Disston closed his Kissimmee land operation. Back to back 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 cattle raising.

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, cattle ranches still operate nearby, particularly in the southern part of Osceola County.

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.

Notable residents

* Buddy Dyer, politician; Mayor of the City of Orlando, Florida
* Tonga Fifita, professional wrestler; actor
* Brent Fullwood, football player
* George Frederic Kribbs, congressman
* Ray Lloyd, professional wrestler; martial artist
* James Mitchell, professional wrestling manager
* Bobby Sippio, football player
* Tito Paul, football player
* John Quinones, politician
* William J. Sears, congressman
* Kissy Simmons, actor
* John Milton Bryan Simpson, judge
* Jonathan Summerton, race car driver
* Colt Terry, army special forces
* Brett Williams, football player
* A. J. McLean, singer from the Backstreet Boys

Geography

Kissimmee is located at coor dms|28|18|14|N|81|24|46|W|city (28.303988, -81.412867).GR|1 According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 17.32 mi² (44.9 km²), of which convert|16.7|sqmi|km2|0 is land and convert|0.6|sqmi|km2|0 is water (3.7%). Drained by the Kissimmee River, the city is situated on the on the northwest shore of Lake Tohopekaliga (locally called Lake Toho, West Lake Toho, or simply West Lake) in Central Florida.

The downtown area lies near the intersection of US Highway 17/92 and US Highway 192.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 50,814 people, 17,121 households, and 11,813 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,866.6/mi² (1,106.8/km²). There were 19,642 housing units at an average density of 1,177.6/mi² (454.7/km²). 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 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, Dominican and Mexican communities residing in and/or around the city.

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 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.

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.

Transportation

Kissimmee has an Amtrak train station, which is projected to be a station stop on the proposed Central Florida Commuter Rail system. There is also a Greyhound bus station. Local bus service is provided by the Lynx network.

Kissimmee Gateway Airport offered nonstop service to 12 cities on DayJet, but those services ended when the company suspended all operations in September 2008..

ites of interest

* [http://www.ocfta.com/ Osceola Center for the Arts]
* [http://www.osceolahistory.org/ Osceola County Historical Society & Museum]

ports

The Houston Astros conduct spring training in Kissimmee, at Osceola County Stadium. 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 Evan's Academy of Professional Umpiring has also called Osceola County Stadium home since 1994.

The Osceola County Softball Complex is a facility of five (5) softball fields which are host to a variety of amateur sports events. It is the home of the USSSA 2005 Complex of the Year Award, the Rebel Spring Games, and numerous other fast-pitch softball, slow-pitch softball, and youth baseball events.

Austin-Tindall Regional Park is another athletic facility in the area that is host to a variety of annual events.

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 Hillary 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 will be held by the Witnesses, bringing thousands of delegates to the Kissimmee area for the three-day events.

Kissimmee is home to a 650-person capacity outdoor water park, in addition to multiple golf courses.

Kissimmee is also 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, Kohls, and Best Buy. There is also a multi-plex theater.

Kissimmee is near Orlando, home to Disney World, Universal Studios and SeaWorld, allowing tourists to access the parks through the city.

Education

The School District of Osceola County, Florida serves Kissimmee.

Public schools

The following Osceola County public schools are located in Kissimmee:

Elementary Schools
* Boggy Creek Elementary
* Central Avenue Elementary
* Chestnut Elementary School
* Cypress Elementary
* Deerwood Elementary
* Highlands Elementary
* Kissimmee Elementary
* Mill Creek Elementary
* Partin Settlement Elementary
* Pleasant Hill Elementary
* Reedy Creek Elementary
* Sunrise Elementary School
* Thacker Avenue Elementary
* Ventura Elementary
* Kissimmee Charter Academy

Middle Schools
* Denn-John Middle School
* Discovery Intermediate School
* Horizon Middle School
* Kissimmee Middle School
* Neptune Middle School
* Parkway Middle School
* Kissimmee Charter Academy

High Schools
* Gateway High School - The high school in the area that offers the International Baccalaureate Program.
* Liberty High School
* Osceola County School For The Arts
* Osceola High School
* PATHS@TECO
* Poinciana High School

Private schools

Elementary Schools
* Shady Oaks Private School, founded 1969, PK-5.

References

http://www.osceola.k12.fl.us/pages_2004/01_02SchoolDetail.asp?fac=0862http://www.osceola.k12.fl.us/pages_2004/01_02SchoolDetail.asp?fac=0601http://www.osceola.k12.fl.us/pages_2004/01_02SchoolDetail.asp?fac=0842http://www.osceola.k12.fl.us/pages_2004/01_02SchoolDetail.asp?fac=0081http://www.osceola.k12.fl.us/pages_2004/01_02SchoolDetail.asp?fac=0921

External links

* [http://www.kissimmee.org/ City of Kissimmee, Florida]
* [http://www.osceolalibrary.org/ Osceola Library System]
* [http://www.floridakiss.com/ Kissimmee Convention & Visitors Bureau]
* [http://www.kissimmeemainstreet.com/ Kissimmee Downtown District Preservation]
* [http://www.kua.com/ Kissimmee Utility Authority] Municipal utility serving Kissimmee and surrounding area since 1901