Bithlo, Florida facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bithlo, Florida
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Location in Orange County and the state of Florida
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Florida |
| County | Orange |
| Incorporated (town) | 1922 |
| Unincorporated | 1977 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 11.08 sq mi (28.70 km2) |
| • Land | 10.89 sq mi (28.21 km2) |
| • Water | 0.19 sq mi (0.49 km2) |
| Elevation | 62 ft (19 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 9,848 |
| • Density | 903.98/sq mi (349.04/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| FIPS code | 12-06625 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0278870 |
Bithlo is a small community in Orange County, Florida, in the United States. It is known as a census-designated place (CDP) and an unincorporated community. This means it's a place recognized by the government for counting people, but it doesn't have its own local city government.
In 2010, about 8,268 people lived in Bithlo. This number grew from 4,626 people in 2000. Bithlo is part of the larger Orlando area.
The Bithlo Post Office first opened in 1922. For a while in the early 1900s, Bithlo was an official town. But by 1929, it stopped working as a town because of money problems. The town council meetings ended by 1941. In 1944, a railroad line called the Okeechobee Railroad Branch was no longer used.
After World War II, the area faced some environmental challenges. In the 1970s, people living in Bithlo asked the state to remove its town status. Bithlo officially became an unincorporated community in 1977. This change was completed in 1982 after some legal issues were sorted out.
Today, Bithlo is home to several tall towers that broadcast digital television signals for the Orlando area. It also has Bithlo Park, which is a popular place for youth baseball and softball programs.
Where is Bithlo Located?
Bithlo is found at coordinates 28.5525 degrees North and -81.1058 degrees West.
The United States Census Bureau says that Bithlo covers a total area of about 28.2 square kilometers (10.9 square miles). Most of this area is land, about 27.6 square kilometers (10.7 square miles). A small part, about 0.5 square kilometers (0.19 square miles), is water.
What Does the Name "Bithlo" Mean?
The name "Bithlo" comes from the Muskogee language. In Muskogee, the word is pilo, which means "canoe." The way the word was written in English, with "thl," was a common way to write a specific sound in the Muskogee language.
How Many People Live in Bithlo?
| Historical population | ||
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| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1930 | 128 | — |
| 1935 | 86 | −32.8% |
| 1940 | 79 | −8.1% |
| 1950 | 50 | −36.7% |
| 1960 | 168 | +236.0% |
| 1970 | 864 | +414.3% |
| 2020 | 9,848 | +1039.8% |
| U.S. Decennial Census | ||
In the year 2000, there were 4,626 people living in Bithlo. These people lived in 1,651 households, and 1,177 of those were families. The population density was about 167.4 people for every square kilometer.
Most of the people in Bithlo in 2000 were White (93.36%). There were also smaller percentages of African American, Native American, and Asian residents. About 9.32% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.
Many households (35.8%) had children under 18 living with them. About 48.5% of households were married couples. The average household had 2.80 people, and the average family had 3.16 people.
The population was quite diverse in age. About 27.9% of the people were under 18 years old. The median age was 34 years. This means half the people were younger than 34, and half were older.
In 2000, the average income for a household in Bithlo was $34,530. For families, the average income was $34,425. About 21.5% of all people in Bithlo lived below the poverty line. This included 28.6% of those under 18.
