Osceola County, Florida

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Osceola County, Florida
Seal of Osceola County, Florida
Map
Map of Florida highlighting Osceola County
Location in the state of Florida
Map of the U.S. highlighting Florida
Florida's location in the U.S.
Statistics
Founded May 12, 1887
Seat Kissimmee
Area
 - Total
 - Land
 - Water
1,506 sq mi (3,901 km²)
1,322 sq mi (3,424 km²)
184 sq mi (477 km²), 12.24%
Population
 - (2000)
 - Density
172,493
129/sq mi (50/km²)
Website: www.osceola.org

Osceola County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 172,493. The U.S. Census Bureau 2006 estimate for the county is 244,045 [1], making it the 17th fastest-growing county in the United States.[2] Its county seat is Kissimmee.[1]

Contents

[edit] History

Osceola County was created in 1887. It was named for the Indian leader Osceola, whose name means "Singer of the Black Drink."

On July 21, 1821, Florida was divided into two counties, named Escambia County to the west and St. John's County to the east. In 1824, the southern part of St. John's County became Mosquito County, with Enterprise as the county seat. When Florida became a state in 1845, Mosquito County was renamed Orange County. In 1844, Brevard County was carved out from Mosquito County. On May 12, 1887, Osceola was named a county, having been created from both Orange and Brevard Counties. Osceola County reached all the way down to Lake Okeechobee until 1917 when Okeechobee County was formed.

Since the late 20th century, Osceola County has experienced a significant influx of immigrants from Puerto Rico,[3] and in the 2000 U.S. Census Puerto Rican was the largest self-reported ancestry group.[4]

[edit] Government

Osceola County is a Charter County, and an administrative subdivision of the State of Florida. Voters approved the County Charter in March 1992, and it took effect on October 1, 1992. The structure of County government under the charter does not depart dramatically from the structure of a County government outlined in the Florida Statutes.

Osceola County Government is governed by three sets of elected officials, each of which independently directs separate branches of County Government. These include: the five-member County Commission, five separate Constitutional Officers, and a number of Judicial Officers. Under State law, the County Commission is responsible for funding the budgets of all Osceola County Government, including the independently elected Constitutional Officers and Judicial Officers, as well as the Commission's own departments. Each independent officer has discretion to administer his or her own programs. The County Commission exercises oversight only over its own departments.

[edit] Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,506 square miles (3,901 km²), of which, 1,322 square miles (3,424 km²) of it is land and 184 square miles (478 km²) of it (12.24%) is water.

[edit] Adjacent Counties

[edit] Demographics

As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 172,493 people, 60,977 households, and 45,062 families residing in the county. The population density was 130 people per square mile (50/km²). There were 72,293 housing units at an average density of 55 per square mile (21/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 77.20% White, 7.36% Black or African American, 0.46% Native American, 2.20% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 9.06% from other races, and 3.63% from two or more races. 29.41% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 60,977 households out of which 36.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.10% were married couples living together, 12.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.10% were non-families. 19.10% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.79 and the average family size was 3.18.

In the county the population was spread out with 26.80% under the age of 18, 9.30% from 18 to 24, 31.00% from 25 to 44, 21.60% from 45 to 64, and 11.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 97.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $38,214, and the median income for a family was $42,061. Males had a median income of $29,034 versus $21,746 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,022. About 9.10% of families and 11.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.70% of those under age 18 and 8.60% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] 2005 estimates

As of 2005 Osceola County's population was 49.8% non-Hispanic white, 37.8% Hispanic, 10.1% African-American, 2.8% Asian, and 1.9% non-Hispanic persons reporting more than one race. [3]

[edit] Municipalities

[edit] Incorporated

  1. City of Kissimmee
  2. City of St. Cloud

[edit] Unincorporated

[edit] Schools

The School District of Osceola County, Florida serves the county.

[edit] Colleges

[edit] Libraries

  • Hart Memorial Central Library
  • Veterans Memorial Library, St. Cloud Branch
  • Buenaventura Lakes Branch Library
  • Poinciana Branch Library
  • West Osceola Branch Library
  • Kenansville Branch Library
  • Narcoossee Library Annex

[edit] References

  1. ^ Find a County. National Association of Counties. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  2. ^ American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  3. ^ Osceola County QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

[edit] Government links/Constitutional offices

[edit] Library System

[edit] Special Districts

[edit] Judicial branch

[edit] Tourism links

v • d • e
Municipalities and communities of
Osceola County, Florida
County seat: Kissimmee
Cities
CDPs
Unincorporated
communities

Ashton | Bull Creek | Deer Park | Harmony | Holopaw | Kenansville | Intercession City | Lake Marian Highlands | Narcoosee | Reedy Creek Improvement District | Yeehaw Junction
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Coordinates: 28°04′N 81°09′W / 28.06, -81.15