Lake Mary, FL

Located in Seminole County, Lake Mary covers 8.61 square miles of central Florida. The town took root in the late 1800s as a farming community but was not incorporated officially until 1973. Today, it is home to a population of about 15,000 residents with a median age of 38.3 years. Primarily built around planned, self-contained residential communities, Lake Mary provides residents with both upscale and affordable housing options and was ranked fourth on Money magazine's 2007 "Best Places to Live" list.

EVENTS

Lake Mary is less than an hour's drive from the cities of Orlando and Daytona Beach, both of which provide ample cultural and recreational offerings, but it also has a number of local options, including the following:

• Holiday in the Park, held at Lake Mary City Hall, celebrates the season with live entertainment, refreshments, games and rides for the kids. Participants are encouraged to bring canned goods, nonperishable items or unwrapped toys for those in need.
• Central Park Movie Night offers residents and visitors free family-oriented movies one evening every month.
• Shred-a-Thon is a unique event that helps residents get rid of old or unwanted documents and papers. Residents can bring up to three boxes of papers to the Lake Mary Senior Center to be shredded free of charge. Donations are accepted, however, and additional boxes cost $5.
• Lake Mary Museum, operated by the Lake Mary Historical Society, houses artifacts, photographs and documents pertaining to the region's history. It offers rotating exhibits and showcases the work of local artists. The museum also regularly holds family-friendly events geared toward the community's youth.
• Golfing options abound in Lake Mary and the surrounding region. The Magnolia Plantation Golf Club and the Timacuan Golf Club both provide championship-level golfing within the town limits. Much of Lake Mary's housing stock is built around golfing communities.
• The Ruth's Chris Steakhouse national headquarters, which includes a restaurant, is one of many upscale dining options that have made Lake Mary a popular destination.
• The Central Park Farmers Market is held every Saturday at the Lake Mary City Hall. There, dozens of vendors sell locally grown organic produce, prepared foods and household accessories.

EDUCATION

ITT Technical Institute offers associate's and bachelor's degrees in technical and communications fields. In addition to on-campus courses, students have access to online courses to fit their educational needs.

FAMILY FUN

• Central Park, in the heart of Lake Mary, features picnic areas, walking trails, a gazebo and a pond.
• Liberty Park is located on East Crystal Lake and offers picnic areas, trails, playgrounds, a boardwalk and restroom facilities.
• Lake Mary Bike/Skate Park is the first bike/skate park in Seminole County. In addition to athletic facilities, this park also boasts a large pavilion and picnic areas. The park is well lit at night, making it an attraction even after dark. Visitors can purchase daily, 10-visit, or six-month passes.
• Splash Park, a playground operated by the city's Parks and Recreation Department, is a great place on any hot day and is open year round, depending on the weather.
• Trailhead Park is the home of Lake Mary's signature water fountain. It also includes picnic areas, restroom facilities, and a nature-walking trail dotted with convenient rest stations.
• Sports Complex offers everything any athlete could want, complete with baseball and softball fields, basketball and tennis courts, a multipurpose field, batting cages and even a fishing bridge. Players and spectators can relax at the complex's picnic areas and grab a snack at its concession stand.

ECONOMY AND INDUSTRIES

The city of Lake Mary is one of the fastest-growing areas in Central Florida. The most common industries are educational services, health care, professional, scientific and technical services, construction, and finance and insurance.

Lake Mary has expanded economically as a result of its location alongside Heathrow International Business Center, which is an office park that houses a number of high-tech companies. The city is a major attraction for United States communication and energy companies, which doubles the number of commuters to the city from the surrounding areas. Major employers based in Lake Mary include Strang Communications, Siemens Information and Communications Network, Progress Energy, Fiserv Lending Solutions, Crescent Resources, H.T.E. Inc., WOFL-TV Channel 35, and WKCF-TV Channel 18.

AAA National Headquarters is close by, as well as Dixon Ticonderoga, Bellsouth Mobility, Convergys, Mitsubishi Power Supply, and Colonial Town Center.

NEIGHBORHOODS AND DISTRICTS

The city has a population of about 15,000, which is mostly urban. There are about 4,300 houses, of which more than half are owner-occupied. The city is sparsely populated as almost 500 houses are placed per square mile. Both the median household income and the median house value are higher than the state's. The median house value is about is twice as much as that of the state.

The city is primarily a suburban single-family residential community, and Lake Mary is a sought-after location for young families and professionals.

Lake Mary has the largest collection of golf course communities in Seminole County. As a result, residential housing can also be found on several exclusive country club properties.

LOCAL MEDIA

Local radio stations include:

• WORL 660 AM (sports)
• WONQ 1030 AM (Spanish)
• WDYZ 990 AM (children's)
• WFLF 540 AM (news/talk)
• WTLN 950 AM (religious)
• WCFB 94.5 FM (urban contemporary)
• WOMX 105.1 FM (Hot AC)
• WJRR 101.1 FM (alternative)
• WTKS 104.1 FM (talk)
• WPOZ 88.3 FM (Christian contemporary)
• WXXL 106.7 FM (Top 40)
• WHTQ 96.5 FM (classic rock)
• WWKA 92.3 FM (country)
• WUCF 89.9 FM (jazz)
• WMFE 90.7 FM (classical)
• WMMO 98.9 FM (adult contemporary)