Orange County, County seat in Central Florida, United States
Orange County is an administrative district in central Florida that covers about 1000 square miles (2600 square kilometers) and has Orlando as its seat. The district includes numerous smaller towns and communities scattered among pine forests, lakes and wetlands.
The area was established as Mosquito County in 1824 and received its current name in 1845 when Florida became a state. Citrus plantations shaped the economy until the early 20th century, before tourism became the main source of income.
The Spanish names of many towns recall the early settlers and their attempts to establish roots in this swampy landscape. Many residents today still practice the tradition of outdoor activities and use the numerous lakes for fishing and boating.
The main roads mostly run north to south and connect the various towns with each other. Anyone exploring the area should watch for the frequent afternoon thunderstorms, especially in summer.
The extensive swamplands once served as natural breeding grounds for millions of mosquitoes, which justified the former name of the district. Today these wetlands provide habitat for alligators and numerous bird species that can be observed during walks.
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