Kissimmee, Florida
Kissimmee is a city in Osceola County, Florida, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 59,682. It is the county seat of Osceola County. Kissimmee is a Principal City of the Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, Florida, Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had a 2010 population of 2,134,411.
History
Founded in the mid-19th century as Allendale, it was renamed Kissimmee when incorporated as a city in 1883. Its growth can be credited to Hamilton Disston of Philadelphia, who based his two-million acre (8,000 km2) drainage operation out of the small town. Disston had contracted with the financially wobbly state of Florida to drain its southern lands, for which he would own half of all he successfully drained. This deal made Disston the largest single landowner in the United States.
Disston's dredging and land speculation required a small steamboat industry to transport people and goods along the new waterway. The Kissimmee shipyard was responsible for building most of these large steamships, which were just one jump ahead of civilization—with Kissimmee as the jumping off point. Concurrently, the South Florida Railroad was growing and extended the end of its line from Sanford down to Kissimmee, making the town on Lake Tohopekaliga a transportation hub for Central Florida. On February 12, 1885, the Florida Legislature incorporated the Kissimmee City Street Railway.
But the heyday of Kissimmee was short-lived. Expanding railroads began to challenge the steamships for carrying freight and passengers. By 1885, the South Florida Railroad had extended its tracks again to Miami. The Panic of 1893 was the worst depression or economic slump the U.S. had experienced, crushing land speculation and unsound debt. Hamilton Disston closed his Kissimmee land operation. Back-to-back freezes in 1894 and 1895 wiped out the citrus industry. The freezes, combined with South Florida's growth and the relocation of steamship operations to Lake Okeechobee, left Kissimmee dependent on cattle raising.
Kissimmee had a population of 4,310 in 1950. At that point there was some citrus packing as well as the ranching.
Ranching remained an important part of the local economy until the opening of nearby Walt Disney World in 1971. After that, tourism and development supplanted cattle ranching to a large measure; however, cattle ranches still operate nearby, particularly in the southern part of Osceola County.
On August 13, 2004, Hurricane Charley passed through Kissimmee with winds in excess of 100 miles per hour, damaging homes and buildings, toppling trees and cutting electrical power to the entire city. Kissimmee Utility Authority restored power to 54 percent of the residents in the first 72 hours; 85 percent were restored within one week. Service was restored to all customers on August 28. Three weeks after Hurricane Charley, the area was struck by Hurricane Frances, followed by Hurricane Jeanne three weeks after Frances. Kissimmee once sought for its rural heritage and country way has seen a boom in Spanish Americans. Aqua Pool Dealer has developed key relationships with commercial properties and resorts throughout the area. Aqua Pool Dealer offers affordable Weekly Pool Service in this area.
Notable residents
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Vassar Clements, bluegrass musician
Vassar Clements, bluegrass musician•Buddy Dyer, politician; mayor of Orlando
Buddy Dyer, politician; mayor of Orlando•Brent Fullwood, football player
Brent Fullwood, football player•George Frederic Kribbs, congressman
George Frederic Kribbs, congressman•Ray Lloyd, professional wrestler; martial artist
Ray Lloyd, professional wrestler; martial artist•James Mitchell, professional wrestling manager
James Mitchell, professional wrestling manager•Tito Paul, football player
Tito Paul, football player•John Quinones, attorney and former politician
John Quinones, attorney and former politician•Kissy Simmons, actor
Kissy Simmons, actor•John Milton Bryan Simpson, judge
John Milton Bryan Simpson, judge•Bobby Sippio, football player
Bobby Sippio, football player•Justin Smith, professional poker player
Justin Smith, professional poker player•Jonathan Summerton, race car driver
Jonathan Summerton, race car driver•Colt Terry, army special forces
Colt Terry, army special forces•Brett Williams, football player
Brett Williams, football playerThe Houston Astros conduct spring training in Kissimmee, at Osceola County Stadium. The stadium also hosts numerous amateur baseball events throughout the remainder of the year in conjunction with; USSSA, Triple Crown Sports, World Baseball Federation and Promotion Sports. The Jim Evan's Academy of Professional Umpiring has also called Osceola County Stadium home since 1994.
Osceola County Softball Complex
The Osceola County Softball Complex is a facility of five softball fields which are host to a variety of amateur sports events. It is the home of the USSSA 2005 Complex of the Year Award, the Rebel Spring Games, and numerous other fast-pitch softball, slow-pitch softball, and youth baseball events.
Austin-Tindall Regional Park is an athletic facility in the area that is host to a variety of annual events.
The city is also home to the annual NCCAA men's soccer National Championship Tournament.
Recreation
Osceola Heritage Park is an event facility featuring a concert arena (Silver Spurs Arena) and professional sports stadium (Osceola County Stadium). The Silver Spurs Arena has been host to many acts, ranging from Hilary Duff and Bob Dylan to an annual rodeo event. Jehovah's Witnesses also use The Silver Spurs Arena for their annual District Conventions. In 2008, a number of English and Spanish conventions will be held by the Witnesses, bringing thousands of delegates to the Kissimmee area for the three-day events.
Kissimmee is home to a 650-person capacity outdoor water park, in addition to multiple golf courses.
Kissimmee is also home to the Loop, a large outdoor shopping mall at John Young and Osceola Parkways on the Orange/Osceola County line. It features stores such as American Eagle, Kohls, and Best Buy. There is also a multi-plex theater.
Kissimmee is near Orlando, home to Disney World, Universal Orlando Resort and SeaWorld, allowing tourists to access the parks through the city. Aqua Pool Dealer | Kissimmee Zip codes include 34741 | Kissimmee Pool Service 34742 | Kissimmee Pool Service 34743 | Kissimmee Pool Service 34644 | Kissimmee Pool Service 34745 |
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Other Area's Served in Osceola County
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