History
When the second Seminole war ended in 1842, American settlers began following soldiers into Central Florida. Originally named Jernigan after Aaron Jernigan who came from Georgia and settled here in 1843, the town grew slowly around an old Army post -- Fort Gatlin -- that had been abandoned in 1849. The town's name was permanently changed to Orlando in 1857. While different versions of the origin of the name are told, the official account is credited to Orlando Reeves, a U.S. soldier who was killed in 1835 by an Indian's arrow while on sentinel duty at what is now Lake Eola Park in downtown Orlando. By a vote of 22 men from the 85 residents, the two-square-mile (5.18-square-kilometer) city was officially incorporated on July 21, 1875. According to the book Flashback - The Story of Central Florida's Past, the undeveloped expanse of land east of the Orlando International Airport still resembles what the first Orlando settlers saw 150 years ago.

Population
More than 1.4 million people now reside in the Greater Orlando area that consists of Orange, Osceola, Seminole and Lake counties.

Transportation

Train Service
Amtrak serves Orlando with four daily trains originating in New York and Miami with stops in downtown Orlando, Winter Park, Sanford and Kissimmee, as well as with a triweekly train originating from Los Angeles. Amtrak also offers its popular Auto Train that features bilevel Superliner sleepers, a diner and a lounge while transporting passengers and their vehicles. The Auto Train runs daily between Lorton, Va., and Sanford, Fla., leaving each town at 4:30 p.m. and arriving at the destination at 9 a.m. the next morning. The Florida Fun Train connects Orlando to South Florida and combines entertainment, transportation and fun for all ages.

Roadways
Major highway networks provide easy access for visitors to reach their destination and for traveling in and around the Greater Orlando area. Major highways include Interstate 4, the Florida Turnpike, Highway 528 (Bee Line Expressway), Highway 408 (East-West Expressway) and Highway 417 (Central Florida Greeneway).

About town
Besides taxi and limousine service to anywhere in the Greater Orlando area, the city's Lynx bus system provides economical public transportation around Orlando. Bus stops are marked with a "paw" print of a Lynx cat. The downtown Orlando Lymmo bus system provides free transit reaching from the Orlando Arena to city hall. The I-Ride trolleys serve popular International Drive with scheduled stops every 15 minutes.

Performing arts
The Orlando Opera Company, Southern Ballet, Shakespeare Festival, Civic Theatre of Central Florida, Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, the Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre and local colleges provide year-round entertainment that range from Beethoven's 9th and Coronation Scene to a Shakespeare Festival and Broadway productions.

Special events
From rodeo performances and celebrity concerts to ethnic festivals and specialty shows, Orlando has year-round events to please every penchant and add more vacation variety.

Arts/culture
Orlando's numerous year-round art exhibits and cultural diversity add an extra dimension to make it the perfect vacation or meeting destination. From the world's most comprehensive collection of Tiffany stained glass at the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art and 19th- and 20th-Century American art at the Orlando Museum of Art to Eatonville, the nation's oldest incorporated African-American municipality, insightful excursions await Orlando's visitors. Children of all ages can also embark on an exciting expedition into the world of science at the Orlando Science Center.

Golf
Tee off on one of more than 125 area golf courses within a 45-minute drive of downtown Orlando. Several are world-acclaimed courses sculpted by renowned golf course architects such as Joe Lee, Tom Fazio and Robert Trent Jones as well as golf greats Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player.

Tennis
Orlando serves up more than 800 tennis courts for visitors to raise a racquet. Many area tennis centers, resorts and hotels rent and sell equipment and can arrange lessons or matches for the beginner or more advanced player.

Sports
In addition to the National Basketball Association's world-renowned team, the Orlando Magic, Orlando offers professional AA League baseball (Orlando Rays); baseball spring training (Atlanta Braves and Houston Astros); International Hockey League ice hockey (Orlando Solar Bears); roller hockey (Orlando Jackals); softball (Orlando Wahoos); arena football (Orlando Predators); and Walt Disney World's Indy Car Speedway.

Shopping
With more than 39 million square feet (3.5 million square meters) of retail space and expanding, Orlando is the fastest growing retail market in the United States.