Overview - Area Information

Central Florida’s (Orlando MSA) total population is over 2 million according to the U.S. Census Bureau 2007 population estimates. Central Florida is made up of the following counties; Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Volusia and Brevard. The area is the second best market throughout the nation for top population growth through 2014. The area boasts a ranking of 4th in the country in population growth over the past 10 years. This rapid growth is expected to continue for the next 10 years.

The Central Florida Hispanic market is one of the highest in the country as more than one in five adults is of Hispanic descent.  The area is currently ranked 4th in the nation just ahead of New York City.  42% of Osceola County's population is of Hispanic descent.  Nearly 450,000 Hispanics live within the Central Florida area of Osceola, Orange and Seminole counties.  The Hispanic population is expected to surge to over 600,000 by 2013. 

Main employers in the area are in a variety of industries, such as tourism, hospitality, healthcare, finance, technology, and others. Major employers include Walt Disney Co. (62,200), Adventist Health (Florida Hospital 29,135), Publix Super Markets Inc. (17,500), Wal-Mart Stores Inc (15,170), Orlando Health (14,000) Universal Orlando (13,000), McDonald's Corp (8,550), Lockheed Martin Corp. (7,931), Marriott International Inc. (7,504) and SeaWorld (7500).

One of the area’s biggest attractions is its year-round mild weather. Mid-Florida’s subtropical climate has long been a strong drawing card for tourists and residents alike. At the heart of the “Sunshine State,” the area’s average annual temperature is a comfortable 72.4 degrees. Average annual rainfall amounts to over 50 inches per year, keeping Central Florida lush and green throughout the year. Each week an average of just over 466,000 out-of-state and foreign visitors come to Central Florida. Visitors from in-state average over 471,000 per week. The Central Florida hotel market, with over 111,700 rooms, contains the second largest inventory of hotel rooms in the nation, just behind Las Vegas, Nevada.

Central Florida is home to seven of the top ten U.S. theme parks, ranging from 5.8 million visitors at Sea World, to 17.1 million visitors to Disney’s Magic Kingdom.

Osceola County is in a convenient location that is easily accessible via numerous means of transportation. Two of the area’s main roads, Interstate 4 and U.S. 192 intersect within the County, and other major roads, such as Florida’s Turnpike, U.S. 17/92, U.S. 27 and U.S. 441, also serve the area. This will be a key to the success of Osceola Heritage Park as the facilities become operational and users begin to search our location they will discover easy access.