Winter Park, FL

One of the first planned communities in Florida, Winter Park was originally designed as a citrus-growing city in the late 1800s. Today, Winter Park is nationally recognized for its efforts toward preserving the town's historic buildings and character, especially along Park Avenue, the historic core of the city. Located just minutes northeast of Orlando, Winter Park offers a small-town atmosphere with access to all of the amenities of urban life.

• According to U.S. census estimates, Winter Park had a population of around 28,000 as of July, 2007.
• Median household incomes and home prices are significantly higher in Winter Park than the rest of the state, while the cost of living is on a par with the rest of the U.S.
• The median resident age is around 43 years old, somewhat higher than the state average of 39.

ECONOMY AND INDUSTRIES

• The largest employers in Winter Park include city government, Winter Park Memorial Hospital, and Rollins College.
• LaserSight Technologies, an electronic medical equipment manufacturer, is headquartered in Winter Park.

NEIGHBORHOODS AND DISTRICTS

• Downtown: Centered around Central Park on Park Avenue, downtown Winter Park is often referred to as "Little Europe" due to the brick streets, sprawling green space, and shady oaks of Central Park and the meandering canals connecting the numerous lakes within city limits. There are boutique shops, historic homes, art galleries, and exciting local eateries hidden in side streets along Park Avenue North, while Park Avenue South contains the Winter Park Welcome Center and Chamber of Commerce, as well as the Winter Park Historical Museum.
• North Winter Park: North of Cole Avenue lies Brandywine Square, featuring local shops and restaurants, and the Casa Feliz Historic Home Museum. Farther north lies the Winter Park Country Club and Lake Maitland, featuring the Kraft Azalea Park. The Northwood and Park Grove neighborhoods, Winter Park's newest developments, feature homes built in the 1960s and 1970s.
• East Winter Park: Nestled between Lake Virginia and Lake Berry are the prestigious Windsong and Water Bridge neighborhoods, featuring large homes and private docks along area lakes. Winter Park Memorial Hospital and the Aloma Shopping Center are both east of Lakemont Avenue.
• South Winter Park: South Winter Park is dominated by the campus of Rollins College and the Mead botanical gardens. The Orwin Manor neighborhood features historic homes built in the 1920s along Orange Avenue, while the Sevilla neighborhood, near Sue Lake, features homes built in the 1970s.
• West Winter Park: The Hannibal Square neighborhood, just west of Park Avenue, is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Winter Park, with homes dating back to the 1880s. The Hannibal Square shopping district features boutique shops and locally owned restaurants, and the Hannibal Square Heritage Center features hands-on and interactive exhibits covering the history of Winter Park. Farther west, Winter Park Village is an upscale apartment complex featuring an Olympic-sized pool and convenient access to Ward Park and the Cady Way Trail.

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

There are several museums in Winter Park, including:

• The Albin Polasek Museum and Sculpture Gardens, located in the home of famed sculptor Albin Polasek, features several galleries and many original sculptures by the artist scattered around a large flower garden.
• The Cornell Fine Arts Museum, located on the campus of Rollins College, features exhibits of modern and contemporary art.
• The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art, home to the largest collection of Tiffany glass art in the world.
• The Winter Park Historical Museum features local historical artifacts and exhibits devoted to the development of Winter Park.

A number of festivals in Winter Park are devoted to local art and culture:

• The Autumn Art Festival, held in Central Park in October, features the work of Florida artists, local musicians, and food and drink vendors.
• The Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival, consistently rated as one of the top art shows in the country, draws around 350,000 visitors to Park Avenue in early spring.
• The Unity Heritage Festival, held in January, honors the city's diversity with speeches and performances in Shady Park at Hannibal Square.
• The Winter Park Bach Festival, a two-week celebration held at the end of February, features musicians and lecturers from around the world.

EDUCATION

Several colleges are located in Winter Park, including the following:

• Rollins College: The oldest recognized college in Florida, Rollins offers bachelor's degrees in the College of Arts and Sciences and master's degrees in business. Rated the number one college in the South by U.S. News and World Report.
• Valencia Community College: Offers associate's degrees in over 40 areas of study, with a film department that was called "one of the best film programs anywhere" by Steven Spielberg.
• Central Florida College: Offers career training and associate's degrees in healthcare and cosmetology-related fields.

LOCAL MEDIA

• The Winter Park Maitland Observer, founded in 1988, covers local news and has a circulation of around 4,000 copies.

• WKCF TV 18 is a local affiliate of the CW television network.

• WPRK 91.5 FM is the Rollins College radio station.
• WLOQ 103.1 FM is a local smooth jazz station.
• WPRD 1440 AM is a local Spanish-language station.