Kissimmee, Florida facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kissimmee, Florida
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Kissimmee City Hall in 2017
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| Motto(s):
"A community of neighborhoods for families!"
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 Kissimmee, Florida
Location in Florida
Kissimmee, Florida
Location in the United States
Kissimmee, Florida
Location in North America
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| Country |  United States |
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| State |  Florida |
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| County |  Osceola |
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| Incorporated | 1883 | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Commission-Manager | |
| Area | ||
| • City | 22.20 sq mi (57.50 km2) | |
| • Land | 21.50 sq mi (55.69 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.70 sq mi (1.81 km2) 3.7% | |
| Elevation | 72 ft (22 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • City | 79,226 | |
| • Density | 3,684.76/sq mi (1,422.67/km2) | |
| • Urban | 418,404 (US: 100th) | |
| • Urban density | 2,589.4/sq mi (999.8/km2) | |
| • Metro | 2,673,376 (US: 23rd) | |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) | |
| ZIP codes |
34741-34747, 34758-34759
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| Area code(s) | 321, 407, 689 | |
| FIPS code | 12-36950 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 2404839 | |
Kissimmee (pronounced kih-SIM-ee) is the biggest city and county seat of Osceola County, Florida, in the United States. In 2020, about 79,226 people lived there.
Kissimmee is a main city in the larger Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, Florida, Metropolitan Statistical Area. This whole area had over 2.6 million people in 2020. The Census Bureau also sees Kissimmee as a key city in its own "urban area." This urban area, which includes St. Cloud, had 418,404 people in 2020. This makes it the 100th largest urban area in the United States.
Contents
History of Kissimmee
The area was first called Allendale. It was named after Major J. H. Allen. He ran the first cargo steamboat on the Kissimmee River. The town was renamed Kissimmee when it became a city in 1883.
The modern town was started before the Civil War. The Bass, Johnson, and Overstreet families founded it. People still debate where the name Kissimmee comes from. But most agree it is from a Native American language.
Its growth was helped by Hamilton Disston from Philadelphia. He started a huge project to drain four million acres (about 8,000 square kilometers) of land. Disston made a deal with Florida to drain its southern lands. For this, he would own half of all the land he successfully drained. This made Disston the biggest single landowner in the United States.
Disston's draining work and land sales needed small steamboats. These boats moved people and goods along the new waterways. The Kissimmee shipyard built most of these large steamships. Kissimmee was the starting point for many journeys into new areas.
At the same time, the South Florida Railroad was growing. It extended its tracks from Sanford to Kissimmee. This made the town on Lake Tohopekaliga an important transport center for Central Florida. In 1885, the Florida Legislature officially created the Kissimmee City Street Railway.
However, Kissimmee's best times did not last long. Railroads started to take over from steamships for carrying goods and people. By 1884, the South Florida Railroad had tracks reaching Tampa.
The Panic of 1893 was a very bad economic downturn in the U.S. It stopped land sales and caused money problems. Disston closed his land operations in Kissimmee. Then, very cold weather in 1894 and 1895 destroyed the citrus industry.
These problems, along with growth in South Florida and steamboat operations moving to Lake Okeechobee, made Kissimmee rely on open range cattle ranching. In 1950, Kissimmee had 4,310 people. At that time, there was some citrus packing along with ranching.
Ranching stayed important until Walt Disney World Resort opened nearby in 1971. After that, tourism and building new homes became much more important. Even though Disney took over many cattle lands, cattle ranches still operate nearby. Especially in southern Osceola County.
In 1998, a series of tornadoes hit the area. They caused many deaths. On August 13, 2004, Hurricane Charley passed through Kissimmee. It had winds over 100 miles per hour. The hurricane damaged homes and buildings, knocked down trees, and cut off electricity. Power was slowly brought back to the city over several weeks. Three weeks after Hurricane Charley, Hurricane Frances hit. Then Hurricane Jeanne followed three weeks later.
Geography of Kissimmee
Kissimmee is about 17.32 square miles (44.86 square kilometers) in size. About 16.7 square miles (43.25 square kilometers) is land, and 0.6 square miles (1.55 square kilometers) is water. This means 3.7% of the city is water. Kissimmee and St. Cloud are the only two official cities in Osceola County. They are close to each other along U.S. Highways 192 and 441.
A large area of Osceola County that is not part of any city is also called Kissimmee. This includes areas west of the city to Highway 27. It also includes areas north to Hunters Creek and south to Poinciana. The city is mostly built on deep sand. This sand does not drain water well naturally. The most common soil type is Myakka.
City Water Resources
The Kissimmee River drains the city. Kissimmee is on the northwest shore of Lake Tohopekaliga. People locally call it Lake Toho or West Lake. Shingle Creek also flows through the city. It is thought to be the start of the Everglades. There is a canoe and kayak trail on Shingle Creek. It goes from Steffe Landing on US 192 to Lake Tohopekaliga.
Downtown Area
The downtown area is where U.S. Highway 17/92 and U.S. Highway 192 meet. Downtown Kissimmee does not have tall skyscrapers. Most buildings are two or three stories high. The biggest and tallest building downtown is the Osceola County courthouse.
The main road goes through the city center. It is a mix of three streets: Main Street, Broadway Street, and Emmett Street. The downtown area has many restaurants, small shops, and old homes. The University of Central Florida has a business center here. This center helps new businesses grow downtown.
Climate in Kissimmee
The weather in Kissimmee has hot, humid summers. Winters are usually mild, dry, and sunny. Kissimmee has a humid subtropical climate. This means it has hot, rainy summers and mild, dry winters.
| Climate data for Kissimmee, Florida, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1959–present | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 90 (32) |
90 (32) |
92 (33) |
97 (36) |
100 (38) |
101 (38) |
101 (38) |
103 (39) |
98 (37) |
97 (36) |
92 (33) |
90 (32) |
103 (39) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 82.9 (28.3) |
84.9 (29.4) |
87.4 (30.8) |
90.3 (32.4) |
93.9 (34.4) |
95.5 (35.3) |
95.5 (35.3) |
95.3 (35.2) |
94.0 (34.4) |
91.2 (32.9) |
86.7 (30.4) |
83.6 (28.7) |
96.6 (35.9) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 71.8 (22.1) |
74.4 (23.6) |
77.9 (25.5) |
83.0 (28.3) |
87.4 (30.8) |
90.0 (32.2) |
91.5 (33.1) |
91.4 (33.0) |
89.5 (31.9) |
84.6 (29.2) |
78.6 (25.9) |
73.5 (23.1) |
82.8 (28.2) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 60.1 (15.6) |
62.6 (17.0) |
66.1 (18.9) |
71.4 (21.9) |
76.6 (24.8) |
80.9 (27.2) |
82.5 (28.1) |
82.7 (28.2) |
81.1 (27.3) |
75.4 (24.1) |
67.9 (19.9) |
62.5 (16.9) |
72.5 (22.5) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 48.3 (9.1) |
50.7 (10.4) |
54.4 (12.4) |
59.7 (15.4) |
65.8 (18.8) |
71.8 (22.1) |
73.5 (23.1) |
74.1 (23.4) |
72.8 (22.7) |
66.2 (19.0) |
57.3 (14.1) |
51.5 (10.8) |
62.2 (16.8) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | 32.7 (0.4) |
35.4 (1.9) |
40.0 (4.4) |
46.9 (8.3) |
55.8 (13.2) |
66.8 (19.3) |
69.9 (21.1) |
70.6 (21.4) |
67.0 (19.4) |
52.4 (11.3) |
42.9 (6.1) |
36.7 (2.6) |
30.6 (−0.8) |
| Record low °F (°C) | 19 (−7) |
27 (−3) |
25 (−4) |
38 (3) |
41 (5) |
53 (12) |
58 (14) |
60 (16) |
56 (13) |
40 (4) |
29 (−2) |
20 (−7) |
19 (−7) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 2.67 (68) |
2.37 (60) |
3.07 (78) |
2.43 (62) |
4.17 (106) |
9.18 (233) |
7.21 (183) |
8.38 (213) |
5.88 (149) |
3.07 (78) |
1.99 (51) |
2.15 (55) |
52.57 (1,335) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 7.6 | 6.5 | 6.2 | 5.7 | 7.8 | 15.8 | 16.7 | 17.7 | 14.3 | 8.7 | 5.8 | 6.5 | 119.3 |
| Source: NOAA | |||||||||||||
Population of Kissimmee
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1890 | 1,086 | — | |
| 1900 | 1,132 | 4.2% | |
| 1910 | 2,157 | 90.5% | |
| 1920 | 2,722 | 26.2% | |
| 1930 | 3,163 | 16.2% | |
| 1940 | 3,225 | 2.0% | |
| 1950 | 4,310 | 33.6% | |
| 1960 | 6,845 | 58.8% | |
| 1970 | 7,119 | 4.0% | |
| 1980 | 15,487 | 117.5% | |
| 1990 | 30,050 | 94.0% | |
| 2000 | 47,814 | 59.1% | |
| 2010 | 59,682 | 24.8% | |
| 2020 | 79,226 | 32.7% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 81,269 | 36.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Census Information
| Race | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White (NH) | 15,633 | 13,244 | 26.19% | 16.72% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 5,725 | 7,061 | 9.59% | 8.91% |
| Native American or Alaska Native (NH) | 125 | 90 | 0.21% | 0.11% |
| Asian (NH) | 1,925 | 2,803 | 3.23% | 3.54% |
| Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian (NH) | 44 | 33 | 0.07% | 0.04% |
| Some other race (NH) | 213 | 827 | 0.36% | 1.04% |
| Two or more races/Multiracial (NH) | 847 | 1,995 | 1.42% | 2.52% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 35,170 | 53,173 | 58.93% | 67.12% |
| Total | 59,682 | 79,226 | 100.00% | 100.00% |
In 2020, there were 79,226 people living in Kissimmee. There were 22,836 households and 15,732 families. In 2010, there were 59,682 people. There were 22,040 households and 15,812 families.
In 2010, many people in Kissimmee were of Hispanic or Latino background (58.93%). This included people from Puerto Rico (33.1%), Dominican Republic (5.1%), Colombia (4.0%), Mexico (3.9%), and Cuba (2.6%). There were also people from Venezuela, Ecuador, El Salvador, Peru, Honduras, and Nicaragua.
Also in 2010, 9.59% of people were non-Hispanic African American or Black. An additional 2.8% were Afro-Latino or Black Hispanic. Of the 3.23% Asian residents, 1.1% were Indian and 0.8% were Filipino.
Economy of Kissimmee
Tupperware Brands, a big company that sells household products, has its main office in Kissimmee.
Top Employers
Here are the top employers in Kissimmee, based on a 2023 report:
| # | Employer | # of Employees |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | School District of Osceola County, Florida | 7,300 |
| 2 | Adventist Health System | 3,565 |
| 3 | Disney Destinations | 3,419 |
| 4 | Publix Supermarkets | 1,795 |
| 5 | Osceola County Government | 1,700 |
| 6 | HCA Healthcare | 1,593 |
| 7 | Buena Vista Construction | 1,296 |
| 8 | McLane/Suneast | 1,270 |
| 9 | Lowe's Distribution Center | 1,035 |
| 10 | Jr. Davis Construction Company | 928 |
Arts and Culture
Places to Visit
Kissimmee has many interesting places to visit, such as:
- Colonial Estate
- First United Methodist Church
- Grass Island
- Kissimmee Historic District
- The Loop (a shopping center)
- Monument of States (a unique monument made from rocks from all U.S. states)
- Old Holy Redeemer Catholic Church
- Old Osceola Courthouse – the oldest courthouse in Florida that is still used
- Old Town (an amusement park)
- Orange World – World's Largest Orange (a building shaped like an orange)
- Osceola Arts (a local arts center)
- Osceola County Courthouse
- Osceola County Welcome Center and History Museum
- Makinson Island
- Margaritaville Resort Orlando
- Pine Island
- Plaza del Sol (a shopping mall)
- Wat Florida Dhammaram (a Buddhist temple)
Past Attractions
Some places that used to be popular but are now closed include:
- Jungleland
- Splendid China (closed in 2003)
- Water Mania
- Xanadu – House of the Future Xanadu Houses (torn down in 2005)
Sports in Kissimmee
From 1985 to 2016, the Houston Astros baseball team held their spring training in Kissimmee. They trained at Osceola County Stadium. This stadium also hosts many amateur baseball games throughout the year. These events are often with groups like USSSA and Triple Crown Sports. The Jim Evans Academy of Professional Umpiring has been at Osceola County Stadium since 1994.
Austin-Tindall Regional Park is a sports facility in the area. It hosts many events each year. The city also hosts the yearly NCCAA men's soccer National Championship Tournament.
Parks and Recreation
Osceola Heritage Park is a large event place. It has a concert arena called Silver Spurs Arena. It also has a sports stadium called Osceola County Stadium. The Silver Spurs Arena has hosted many famous performers and an annual rodeo. Jehovah's Witnesses use Silver Spurs Arena for their yearly meetings. In 2008, many English and Spanish meetings were held there. These events brought thousands of people to Kissimmee.
Kissimmee has several public parks, including:
- Kissimmee Lakefront Park – a big public project
- Makinson Island Park
- Babb Park at Shingle Creek
- Steffe Landing at Shingle Creek
- Twin Oaks Conservation Area – a popular spot for watching sunsets
- Scotty's Landing – a place to launch canoes and kayaks, with an educational area and exercise trail
- Bob Makinson Aquatic Center (a swimming center)
Biking Trails
The Shingle Creek Regional Trail (SCRT) is a project to connect Kissimmee to Orlando. It will be a 32-mile bicycle trail. The trail runs along the important Shingle Creek. This creek was even mentioned on President Obama's America's Great Outdoors list.
Golfing
Kissimmee has many golf courses and mini-golf courses.
Nearby Attractions
Kissimmee is close to Orlando. Orlando is home to Universal Orlando Resort and SeaWorld Orlando. It's also near Lake Buena Vista/Bay Lake, where Walt Disney World Resort is located. This makes it easy for tourists to visit these theme parks from Kissimmee.
Education in Kissimmee
Public Schools
The School District of Osceola County serves Kissimmee. High schools in the area include:
- Celebration High School
- Gateway High School
- Harmony High School
- Liberty High School
- Osceola County School for the Arts (for grades 6–12)
- Osceola High School
- Poinciana High School
- Saint Cloud High School
- Technical Education Center Osceola
- Tohopekaliga High School
- Neocity Academy
Private Schools
- City of Life, started in 1994
- Freedomland Christian Academy
- Heritage Christian School
- Holy Redeemer Catholic School
- North Kissimmee Christian School, started in 1995
- Osceola Adventist Christian School
- Osceola Christian Preparatory School
- Peace Lutheran School
- Poinciana Academy
- Shady Oaks Private School, started in 1969
- Southland Christian School
- Trinity Lutheran School
- Reborn Christian Academy
Colleges and Universities
State Colleges
- University of Central Florida, Osceola Campus
- Valencia College, Osceola Campus
Private Universities and Colleges
- Johnson University Florida, formerly Florida Christian College
Infrastructure
Transportation
Kissimmee has a central transportation hub. It is located between Neptune Road and Monument Street. This hub includes the Amtrak train station. This station is also a stop on the SunRail commuter train system. There is also a Greyhound bus station. The hub also has a bus terminal for the Lynx bus network.
Kissimmee Gateway Airport offers air services 24 hours a day. It has two paved runways, one 5,000 feet long and one 6,000 feet long. There are also two flight training schools and a museum at the airport. Orlando International Airport is about 40 minutes away by car.
Major roads in the Kissimmee area include Florida's Turnpike, Interstate 4, Osceola Parkway, and US 192. Other important roads are US 17/92, which joins with US 441 to form the Orange Blossom Trail (OBT), and the John Young Parkway.
The city of Kissimmee also has a service called Freebee Kissimmee. This is a cab service that provides rides around Downtown Kissimmee, Advent Health, and Valencia College.
Public Libraries
The Osceola Library System runs the Hart Memorial Central Library in Kissimmee.
Healthcare
There are two hospitals in Kissimmee: AdventHealth Kissimmee and HCA Florida Osceola Hospital.
Notable People
- Irlo Bronson Sr., politician and rancher
- Vassar Clements, bluegrass musician
- Dewayne Douglas, professional football player
- Buddy Dyer, mayor of Orlando
- Tonga Fifita, professional wrestler and actor
- Brent Fullwood, football player
- Justin Gatlin, Olympic and world championship gold medalist sprinter
- Kristina Janolo, Miss Florida 2011
- George Frederic Kribbs, congressman
- Ray Lloyd, professional wrestler and martial artist
- AJ McLean, singer from the Grammy-nominated Backstreet Boys
- James Mitchell, professional wrestling manager
- Victor Montalvo, bboy, first American to qualify for the Olympic Games in the sport of breaking.
- Joe Nasco, professional footballer
- Tito Paul, football player
- John Quiñones, attorney and former politician
- Henry L. Reaves, Georgia politician from Kissimmee pioneer ranching family
- Edwin Rios, professional baseball player, 2020 World Series Champion
- William J. Sears, congressman
- Kissy Simmons, actor
- John Milton Bryan Simpson, judge
- Bobby Sippio, football player
- Justin Smith, professional poker player
- Charlee Soto, professional baseball pitcher
- Jonathan Summerton, race car driver
- Colt Terry, army special forces
- Momo Thomas, American football player
- Dan White, actor in vaudeville, theater, radio, film, and television
- Brett Williams, football player
- Brownie Wise, businesswoman, Tupperware
- Richard Young, actor
See Also
In Spanish: Kissimmee para niños
