Altamonte Springs, Florida
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| Altamonte Springs, Florida | |
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| Coordinates: | |
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Florida |
| County | Seminole |
| Area | |
| - Total | 9.5 sq mi (24.4 km²) |
| - Land | 8.9 sq mi (23 km²) |
| - Water | 0.6 sq mi (1.4 km²) |
| Elevation | 85 ft (26 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| - Total | 41,200 |
| - Density | 4,336.8/sq mi (1,688.5/km²) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| - Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| Area code(s) | 407 |
| FIPS code | 12-00950[1] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0277821[2] |
Altamonte Springs is a city in Seminole County, Florida, United States. A northern suburb of Orlando, the city's name is Spanish for "high hill."[1] The population was 41,200 at the 2000 census. According to the 2006 U.S. Census Bureau's estimates, the city had a population of 40,613. The city is part of the Orlando-Kissimmee, Florida, Metropolitan Statistical Area, which the census bureau estimated had a 2007 population of 2,032,496.[2]
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[edit] Geography
Altamonte Springs is located at (28.661463, -81.392016).[3]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 9.4 mi² (24.5 km²). 8.9 mi² (23.1 km²) of it is land and 0.6 mi² (1.5 km²) of it (5.93%) is water.
[edit] History
Visitors flock to Central Florida for its mild winters, pristine waterways, and proximity to Atlantic and Gulf beaches, and in the heart of Central Florida lies Altamonte Springs, the second largest city in Seminole County. Taking its name from the many spring-fed lakes and sand hills that make up the area, Altamonte Springs is now home to more than 40,000 residents. Developed into a winter resort town in the late 1800s during the area's first tourism boom, Altamonte Springs became a sunny playground for the wealthy and an oasis for those requiring a "healing" environment in which to recuperate from various ailments. Times were good, but this was just the beginning of the once tiny village's growth and prosperity.
From the era when rolling pineland along the lakes drew the first settlers to the area that would become Altamonte Springs, this community has attracted visitors and new residents from far and wide. The early railroad transported winter tourists who sought the medicinal qualities of local springs, and this influx of people led to the development of many businesses, including Fuller's Store, the grand Altamonte Hotel, and the Jasmine Theater. After surviving the challenges brought about by the Great Freeze of 1894-1895, the city continued to grow, and its citizens, with an unyielding spirit, continued to work, worship, socialized, and raise families in the community they called home. Today, Altamonte Springs is the bustling retail center of Seminole County, Florida. Excellent shopping is available, including one of the largest regional malls in Central Florida. One of the finest hospital facilities (Florida Hospital Altamonte) in the Central Florida area is also located within the city. It is a residential community which is strong in both young families and senior citizens working together to maintain an ideal environment for community stability.
[edit] Government
Altamonte Springs has a City Manager, City Commissioner form of government, consisting of four commission districts and the Mayor serving City-wide. The Mayor, Commissioners, City Manager, and City staff are available for any assistance you might need.
[edit] Demographics
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 41,200 people, 18,821 households, and 10,012 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,787.3/km² (4,631.1/mi²). There were 19,992 housing units at an average density of 867.3/km² (2,247.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 79.23% White, 9.72% African American, 0.33% Native American, 2.94% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 4.79% from other races, and 2.94% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 15.93% of the population.
As of 2007, The City of Altamonte Springs has 65 residential subdivisions and 89 residential multi family complexes. Altamonte Springs is physically divided into four groups of neighborhoods. There are two traffic barriers with divide the four neighborhood groups, the barriers are S.R. 436 and Interstate Highway I-4. The City identifies the four groups as follows: The northeast section, northwest section, southeast section and southwest section. Each section divided by the two barriers, S.R. 436 and Interstate Highway I-4.
There were 18,821 households out of which 24.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.1% were married couples living together, 12.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 46.8% were non-families. 36.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.17 and the average family size was 2.86.
In the city the population was spread out with 20.4% under the age of 18, 10.8% from 18 to 24, 37.1% from 25 to 44, 21.0% from 45 to 64, and 10.7% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 34 years. For every 100 females there were 92.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $41,578, and the median income for a family was $49,082. Males had a median income of $34,413 versus $28,897 for females. The per capita income for the city was $23,216. About 5.6% of families and 7.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.5% of those under age 18 and 6.4% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] The largest retail centers
- The Altamonte Mall
- The Marketplace @ Altamonte
- West Town Corners
- Renaissance Center
- Oak Grove Shoppes
- Altamonte Crossing
- Uptowne Altamonte
- The Gateway Crossing
[edit] The largest office projects
- A.T. & T. Wireless Building
- EMBARQ Building
- Metavante
- Altamonte Lakeside
- Cranes Roost Park
- Plaza North
- The Westmonte Building
- Northlake Business Park
- Sanlando Office Park
- Florida Hospital Altamonte
- Spring Centre South
- Office Building @ Centerpointe
- Uptown Altamonte.
[edit] Inventory of Hotel/Motels
- Altamonte Springs Hilton
- Best Western
- Candlewood Hotel
- Days Inn
- Embassy Suites
- Hampton Inn
- Holiday Inn
- Homestead Village
- La Quinta Inn
- Residence Inn
- Springhill Suites
[edit] Education
Altamonte Springs boasts 10 percent more college graduates per capita than the Florida average. These residents demand and receive quality education for the city's children from elementary through the middle and high school levels. For higher learning, the city has its own graduate school of business - Webster University - and is just 30 minutes away from the University of Central Florida and 15 minutes away from Crummer Graduate School of Business at Rollins College. In addition Seminole Community College offers custom-designed courses to fit the individual training needs of local companies. The city of Altamonte Springs' public schools are a part of Seminole County Public Schools. Altamonte Springs contains 9 public elementary schools (K-5), 3 public middle schools (6-8), and 2 public high schools (9-12). The city of Altamonte Springs is also home to a branch of Seminole Community College.
[edit] Elementary Schools (Public)
- Altamonte Elementary
- Bear Lake Elementary
- Casselberry Elementary
- Forest City Elementary
- Lake Orienta Elementary
- Sabal Point Elementary
- Spring Lake Elementary
- Sterling Park Elementary
- Wekiva Elementary
- Woodlands Elementary
[edit] Middle Schools (Public)
- Rock Lake Middle
- South Seminole Middle
- Teague Middle[3]
- Millwee Middle
[edit] High Schools (Public)
[edit] Private Schools
[edit] Community Colleges
[edit] Cranes Roost Park & Uptown Altamonte
Cranes Roost Park, Cranes Roost Lake, and the general area on State Road 436 east of Interstate 4 is known as the central area of the city. This is the area that borders Interstate 4 which is the main interstate highway for Central Florida connecting Daytona Beach, Orlando, and Tampa. An outdoor town center was recently opened named 'Uptown Altamonte' which marks the central business district of the city. Cranes Roost at Uptown Altamonte features a cheorographed water fountain show that will entertain people of all ages. The spectacular music, light and water show features classical, swing and contemporary music in a 20 minute performance.
This bona fide city center incorporates large scale apartment buildings and planned high rise condominiums. The construction also includes surface street shops and retailers with a distinct urban feel. The new park area includes a people friendly-square for weddings, festivals, and city holidays. The spot has become popular with Altamonte Springs residents, and attracts residents from nearby Longwood, Casselberry, and Maitland. Construction is still ongoing, but future plans include two new high rise residential structures (in excess of 10 stories) and a series of parking garages to facilitate visitors.
Tuesdays jumpstart the week with Karaoke Madness featuring DJ Gregg, where the entire family can perform their favorite tunes and enjoy some time together.
Thursdays mean Streetmosphere, Uptown Altamonte's version of the circus, as performers stage two shows of mime, juggling, balancing and magic in the Eddie Rose Amphitheater at 7:30pm and 8:30pm.
Friday Night Live presents bands such as Running with Scissors, The Trans AM's, Silvertones, Bird Dog Bobby Blues Band and Cornucopia.
Monthly events include a Car Cruise with live 50's and 60's music as well as beautiful and classic cars and Cranes Comedy, on the fourth Tuesday of every month, with the best local and national comedy acts at the Eddie Rose Amphitheater.
The area includes the Altamonte Mall, a 4-anchor indoor shopping mall which includes an 18-screen AMC theater.
[edit] Special Events
During recent years Altamonte Springs has been a host city to several local special events in the Orlando area including Red, Hot, & Boom, a major annual firework festival that takes place every July 3rd in celebration of Independence Day. The Red, Hot, & Boom event draws over 100,000 local residents and visitors annually from the entire Central Florida area.
[edit] Parks & Recreation
[edit] Parks & Events
- Hermits Trail & Turnbull Ave
- Earth Day Event
- Bird Watchers Wanted
- Jr. Rangers Program
- Sunshine Park
- Cranes Roost
- Lake Lotus Nature Park
- Lake Orienta Public Boat Ramp
- Red, Hot, and Boom (Fourth of July Event)
The Park Rangers at Lake Lotus Park are very excited about 2006.We are getting ready for another year of great programming and community involvement.
The Jr. Ranger Program will be starting the first Wednesday in March. This is a 10 week program for kids 9 to 12 years of age. Come out and explore, learn about and help protect the natural environment that surrounds us. Upon completion the kids receive a certificate, an official Jr. Ranger badge and the inspiration to preserve the beauty Mother Nature has given us. Please contact a Ranger to find out about the program.
We are also very proud of our new Bird Walk Program. This program is on the 2nd Saturday of each month. It is for beginner and experienced bird watchers. We start promptly at 7:00 am with a guided bird walk throughout Lake Lotus Park with a Park Ranger. The walk lasts about an hour, we start before the park is open to the public to facilitate the best opportunity to see the most birds. Please call the park to reserve a spot on our bird walk. We will provide you with a bird observation checklist. Grab your binoculars and join us!
If you are a regular visitor to Lake Lotus Park you have noticed some construction in the park. This is the Lake Lotus Park Tram Road. This road when finished will connect the park to our parking lot, under Maitland Blvd. so the tram never has to go on a public road and it will be a safe walk for people that want to walk into the park and not have to cross busy Maitland Boulevard. These are just a few things that are going on at Lake Lotus Park. We invite you to come out and visit the park today!
[edit] Recreation
- Eastmonte
- Westmonte
- Lake Brantley Sports Complex
- Merrill Park
Lake Brantley Sports Complex
This twenty-four thousand square foot field house includes two full-size basketball/volleyball courts; a weight room; areas for aerobics, jazzercise and gymnastics; locker rooms; a wrestling room and concession area.
Merrill Park Recreation Center
Just off Jamestown Boulevard, the Merrill Park Recreation Center has three championship softball diamonds with state of the art field lighting and electronic scoreboards. Merrill Park is the Official USA Softball National Team Training Center - East Coast, and hosts tournaments twenty-six weekends a year. In addition, the park includes three picnic pavilions with grills; an exercise trail, three sand volleyball courts and playground.
Westmonte Park and Recreation Center
Located on Spring Oaks Boulevard, Westmonte Park and Recreation Center offers a variety of programs, including tennis, basketball, gymnastics, and bocce ball. Westmonte also includes a 25 meter pool where swim lessons and lap swimming are held. Summertime open swim accommodates the water sport patron.
Eastmonte Park and Recreation Center
Located off Ronald Reagan Blvd. on the City's east side, Eastmonte Park maintains three lighted tennis courts as well as four (4)-4 wall indoor air-conditioned handball/racquetball. Two youth courts offer basketball fans the opportunity to perfect their favorite moves, and Eastmonte is the home field for Altamonte's Babe Ruth League baseball season in the spring. This is also the location of the newly created "Jim Hovis Youth Baseball Training Facility" featuring batting cages, pitching mounds and baseball fields for our youth.
[edit] Transportation
[edit] Airports
Altamonte Springs is served primarily by Orlando International Airport (located 30 minutes away), though nearby Orlando Sanford International Airport (located 25 minutes away) also serves the area. Orlando Executive Airport (located 20 minutes away) is used for charter flights and General Aviation.
[edit] Buses
Altamonte Springs is served by LYNX, offering local transit service which covers the five-county area (Osceola-Orange-Seminole-Lake-Volusia).
[edit] Commuter Train
Traffic congestion is a growing concern for those who live, work and visit Central Florida. As our region continues to grow at a staggering pace, that congestion will only get worse. Though there is no one magic bullet to solve our traffic woes, several different modes of transportation options working together – know as "intermodal" in transportation-speak – is a proven way to ease the gridlock.
That's why the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), in cooperation with local government officials in Orange, Seminole, Volusia and Osceola counties and the federal government, is looking at a commuter rail transit project to run along a 61-mile stretch of existing rail freight tracks in the four-county area.
The 31-mile Phase 1 segment would serve 12 stations, linking DeBary to Orlando. Service could begin as soon as 2010 – just as FDOT starts a major I-4 reconstruction project through the heart of Central Florida, from State Road 434 in Longwood to Kirkman Road in southwest Orange County.
The Altamonte Springs station will be centrally located near the intersection of Altamonte Drive (S.R. 436) and Ronald Reagan Boulevard, offering commuters a brisk walk or easy bus ride to the Altamonte Mall and Florida Hospital, with a host of additional dining and shopping opportunities along the way. The station will also be within walking distance of Winwood and Eastmonte parks, several residential neighborhoods and the city’s municipal services complex. This station also provides access to Casselberry businesses and residents, including planned redevelopment opportunities along the U.S. 17-92 corridor.
[edit] References
- ^ a b American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ US Board on Geographic Names. United States Geological Survey (2007-10-25). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
[edit] External links
- Altamonte Springs Business Directory
- City of Altamonte Springs City government site
- Seminole County Business Directory
- Seminole County Convention and Visitors Bureau
- Census
- Altamonte Springs, Florida is at coordinates Coordinates:
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