Area description continued:
Orlando or the settlements around what is now Orlando dates back to 1838 at the height of the Seminole Wars. The U.S. Army built Fort Gatlin south of the present day Orlando to protect settlers from attacking Indians. By 1840, the small community of Jernigan had grown up around the fort. It was named after the Jernigan family, who had established the first permanent settlement in the area. Jernigan also set up a post office in 1850. Six years later with the settlement expanding northward, the community officially changed its name to Orlando. In 1857, the US Post Office adopted the name change. The Town of Orlando was incorporated in 1875 with 85 inhabitants, 22 of whom were qualified voters.Today Orlando is one of the world's premier travel destinations. More than 35-million people visit our area every year, enjoying the many attractions, beaches, and events that make Central Florida a great place to visit.ÊDisney World, SeaWorld and Universal Orlando are just some sights that appeal to mainstream vacationing