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Lake Nona, Orlando, Florida facts for kids

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Lake Nona, Florida
Lake Nona Town Center, looking northeast
Lake Nona Town Center, looking northeast
Country  United States
State  Florida
County Orange
Area
 • Total 17 sq mi (44 km2)
Population
 (2018)
 • Total 64,000
 • Density 3,760/sq mi (1,455/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP codes
32827 & 32824
Area code(s) 321 & 407 & 689
Major State Routes link = Florida State Road 417
Website http://www.lakenona.com/

Lake Nona is a special community in Orlando. It's a large area, about 17 square miles, that was carefully planned and built. It's located southeast of the Orlando International Airport. A company called Lake Nona Property Holdings, which is part of the Tavistock Group, is developing this area. Lake Nona is named after a big lake found in its northern part.

Growing Population

Lake Nona has grown a lot over the years. In 2000, only about 1,500 people lived there. By 2015, the population had jumped to over 50,000 people! This growth happened for many reasons, including people moving from Puerto Rico.

Learning and Health

Lake Nona is home to a special area called Lake Nona Medical City. This place is important for both learning and health research.

Medical City Highlights

  • The University of Central Florida College of Medicine is located here.
  • The University of Central Florida College of Nursing also moved its main campus here.
  • The University of Central Florida College of Dental Medicine is another important addition.
  • The University of Florida College of Pharmacy, which is one of the top pharmacy schools in the country, has a campus in Lake Nona.

Many other private and government medical centers are also found in this area. They all work together to improve health and education.

Lake Nona Neighborhoods

The city of Orlando has divided Lake Nona into different neighborhoods. Each one has its own unique features.

Main Neighborhoods

  • Lake Nona Central: This area includes places like VillageWalk at Lake Nona and the USTA National Campus, which is a huge tennis facility.
  • Lake Nona Estates: This is where you'll find the Lake Nona Golf & Country Club.
  • Lake Nona South: This part is home to the Medical City and a living area called Laureate Park.
  • Northlake Park at Lake Nona: This neighborhood includes smaller communities like Morningside at Lake Nona and Waters Edge at Lake Nona.

There's also a fifth neighborhood called Education Village. It's a bit outside the original Lake Nona area. This is where Lake Nona High School and the Valencia College Lake Nona Campus are located.

Future of Travel

Lake Nona is looking towards the future of transportation. A German aviation company called Lilium is planning to open a "vertiport" here.

What is a Vertiport?

A vertiport is like a small airport for special aircraft that can take off and land straight up and down, just like a helicopter. Lilium is building electric air taxis that can carry six people. This vertiport in Lake Nona is planned to be the first of its kind in the USA. It was expected to be finished in 2025.

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