THE CITY OF WINTER GARDEN

Winter Garden is a city located 14 miles (23 km) west of downtown Orlando in western Orange County, Florida. Winter Garden's population, currently over 30,000^[1] will continue to grow at an extremely quick rate as new housing communities are built

According to Blackman´s 1927 History of Orange County, many Winter Garden settlers were descendents of the Beulah Pioneers located two miles south of Winter Garden where Henry Harrell Farms was located in 1857.

First incorporated in 1903 through Orange County, the town´s charter was not adopted until September 25, 1908 with 25 residents present to vote on incorporating; 23 for and 3 against.  The initial incorporated limits ran one mile east and west, and one mile and a half north and south.  The name was first established as the Town of Winter Garden in 1908.  The first elected officials included; A. B. Newton as Mayor, G. T. Smith as Clerk, J. S. Merritt as Clerk, G. J Strozier, J. L. Dillard, R. R. Roper, B. T. Boyd and L.D. Jones as Aldermen.

There are several versions on the origin of Winter Garden´s name; back in the 1880´s when several sawmill workers were having lunch they spit tomato seeds onto the ground and they grew well throughout the mild winter and when a good crop was produced, they named the area around the mill Winter Garden; A. B. Newton´s doctor recommended he move to Florida for his health and after it proved to be beneficial he named the area after his doctor, Dr. Gardiner; a group of growers met for a picnic at Plant and Main Streets, built a small railroad depot and needed a name for the stop; a prominent owner on the western shores of Lake Apopka, David E. Washburn, named the town; and yet another suggests the late Mrs. Frank Davis, of Apopka (then Mrs. Waite) named the town.

It's easy to see why Winter Garden is "A Great Place to Live." On any given day a stroll down Plant Street will uncover a slice of small-town life at its best. In the heart of the downtown, one can see the successful efforts of redevelopment - quaint stores, restaurants, and the West Orange Trail all enhance the charm and quality of life of this small West Orange County community. Consisting of approximately 17 square miles and a population of 30,065, Winter Garden is well on its way to becoming a premier Florida community.

The reasons, it seems, are plentiful. Once renowned for its vast citrus industries, Winter Garden is beginning to attract other businesses, including computer and investment companies. With easy access to Highway 50, the East West Expressway, and the Florida Turnpike, Winter Garden can accommodate the needs of almost any business. The city currently boasts large manufacturers and service industries. Despite the growth and plans for diversification, the citrus industry is still important to Winter Garden. Companies such as Roper Growers Cooperative, Heller Brothers Packing, and Louis Dreyfus Citrus, Inc. employ hundreds of people in the packing and juice industries. Winter Garden offers a wonderful quality of life for its residents. On the weekend, enjoy a walk or bike ride down the West Orange Trail. This landmark project converted old railroad track beds into miles of trails for people to enjoy the natural beauty of West Orange and stay fit at the same time. The city also has two large parks, a public boat ramp on Lake Apopka, playground and picnic areas, and three recreational complexes for your children to enjoy little league baseball, football, softball, tennis and swimming. The city has been expanding rapidly and current estimates put its population at 35,000 by the year 2010. In order to keep up with the explosive growth, many new middle and high income housing projects are in progress. Health care is widely available. Winter Garden is part of the West Orange Healthcare District that boasts ultra modern Health Central Hospital, plus a 228 bed nursing home, and many area specialists to serve your needs. Nearby, one can find an emergency medical clinic and three private nursing homes.

It's no secret that West Orange County has some of the best schools in the state of Florida. Twelve elementary schools, three middle schools, and three high schools serve the West Orange communities. Winter Garden is also the home to Westside Technical Center, a state-of-the-art vocational training institute. Higher education opportunities include the University of Central Florida, Valencia Community College, Rollins College, and a host of private college satellite campuses.