Whether you’re a Florida resident or otherwise ready to travel, it’s time to head off to Orlando for the best staycation ever! The board consists of an elected mayor and six commissioners. A fall 2012 enrollment of 59,767, currently places it second in the nation amongst public colleges and universities for student enrollment. The county is also served by a clerk of courts, sheriff, property appraiser, tax collector, supervisor of elections, state attorney, and public defender. If voters approve an amendment, it is then inserted into the charter. Many close elections are won or lost depending on the voting outcome along the corridor. Whether you’re a Florida resident or otherwise ready to travel, it’s time to head off to Orlando for the best staycation ever! Minor party voters also had modest growth, increasing from 2.17% to 2.37%. And get trusted, complimentary trip-planning advice before and after your arrival. The land that is Orange County was part of the first land to come up from below the Early Oligocene sea 33.9–28.4 million years ago and is known as Orange Island. [18][21], In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.6% under the age of 18, 12.8% from 18 to 24, 29.8% from 25 to 44, 24.1% from 45 to 64, and 9.7% who were 65 years of age or older. This was a factor in Al Gore becoming the first Democratic presidential candidate to carry the county since 1948. Others awaited other opportunities. Each member is elected to a four-year term: the chairman and three other members are elected in gubernatorial election years, while the other four are elected in presidential election years. As a result of such independence, voters are inundated with non-stop television and radio ads months preceding a general election. Orange County is located along the pivotal Interstate 4 corridor, a powerful swing region in one of the country's most critical swing states. The law schools for Barry University and Florida A&M are also conveniently located in Downtown Orlando. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.9 males. This website requires JavaScript to function properly. The University of Central Florida is the sole public university. Commissioners from Districts 1, 3, and 5 are elected in presidential election years, while the mayor and commissioners from Districts 2, 4, and 6 are elected in alternate years. However, the Republican edge narrowed considerably in the 1990s. With six campuses spread throughout the county, Valencia College offers two-year degree programs, as well three baccalaureate programs. Orange County is located in the central portion of the U.S. state of Florida. Immediately following the transfer of Florida to the United States in 1821, Governor Andrew Jackson created two counties: Escambia to the west of the Suwannee River and St. Johns to the east. George H. W. Bush fell from 67 percent of the vote in 1988 to only 45.9 percent in 1992. [6] After population increased in the region, the legislature organized several counties, such as Osceola, Seminole, Lake, and Volusia, from its territory. A Charter Review Commission has the power to consider and place amendments on the ballot. Perry, a prosperous farmer, was suspected of sheltering Mose Norman, an African-American man who had tried to vote. [32] Currently there are 16 libraries within the Orange County Library system. Orange County is served by a board of commissioners. In October 2012, the district had 183,562 students, making it the fourth-largest school district statewide and eleventh in the nation.[29]. Orange County residents are represented in Tallahassee with 9 House seats. The Albertson Public Library was established with the collection of Captain Charles L. Albertson and the library was named in his honor. The county functions under a charter form of government. 24.85% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.08% (1.71% male and 4.37% female) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. All positions are four-year terms, requiring direct election by voters in presidential election years. It swung from a 15-point victory for Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1944 to a seven-point victory for Thomas E. Dewey in 1948. Orange County's Rock Spring location is a Pleistocene fossil-bearing area and has yielded a vast variety of birds and mammals including giant sloth, mammoth, camel, and the dire wolf dating around 1.1 million years ago.[4]. From 1948 to 1988, Democrats only cracked the 40 percent barrier twice, in 1964 and 1976. In 1924, the Booker T. Washington Branch of the Albertson Library was established to service the African American community of Orlando. African Americans had organized for a year to increase voter turnout for the 1920 presidential election, with organizations helping prepare residents for voter registration, paying for poll taxes, and similar actions. Connect with our knowledgable Vacation Guides via phone or chat for the latest information from Orlando. Orange County is the central county of the Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.19. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,145,956, making it Florida's fifth most populous county. Males had a median income of $40,619 versus $31,919 for females. It all adds up to the getaway you deserve — be sure to share your favorite experiences on social media with #LoveOrlando!