Ocoee, Florida facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ocoee, Florida
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The Withers-Maguire House
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| Motto(s):
"The Center of Good Living"
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Location in Orange County and the state of Florida
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Florida |
| County | Orange |
| Settled (Starke Lake) |
c. Mid-1850s |
| Platted (Ocoee) | October 5, 1883-1886 |
| Incorporated (town) | November 22, 1923 |
| Incorporated (city) | 1925 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Commission-Manager |
| Area | |
| • Total | 16.67 sq mi (43.17 km2) |
| • Land | 15.61 sq mi (40.43 km2) |
| • Water | 1.06 sq mi (2.74 km2) |
| Elevation | 157 ft (48 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 47,295 |
| • Density | 3,029.79/sq mi (1,169.81/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
34761
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| Area code(s) | 407, 689 |
| FIPS code | 12-51075 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2404418 |
Ocoee (/əˈkoʊ.i/) is a city located in Orange County, Florida, in the United States. It is part of the larger Orlando–Kissimmee–Sanford area. In 2020, the city had a population of 47,295 people.
Contents
History of Ocoee
Early Settlement and Naming
In the mid-1850s, a doctor named J.D. Starke brought a group of people to a clear lake surrounded by pine trees. They were looking for clean water to stay healthy. This camp grew into a village and was named Starke Lake, which is still the name of the lake today.
After the American Civil War, more people moved to the area. This included soldiers and their families. Captain Bluford Sims received land near Starke Lake in 1883. In 1886, Captain Sims and other early settlers officially planned the town. They changed its name to Ocoee. The name Ocoee comes from a Cherokee word, uwagahi, which means "apricot vine place." This is why the city's official flower is inspired by apricot vines.
Captain Bluford Sims also started the first commercial citrus nursery in the United States in Ocoee. He grew young orange trees and sent them to other groves in Florida and even to California. The building of the Florida Midland Railroad in the 1880s helped the town grow even more.
Growth and Modern Development
Ocoee officially became a town in 1923 and then a city in 1925.
The construction of new highways helped Ocoee grow a lot in the 20th century.
- In 1959, State Road 50 (SR 50) was built south of downtown Ocoee. This road connected the city directly to Orlando.
- Florida's Turnpike opened near Ocoee in 1964.
- In the 1990s, Florida State Road 408 (the East-West Expressway) was extended to connect Ocoee with Orlando.
- By 2000, Florida State Road 429 (the Western Expressway) was completed. This road linked Ocoee to Walt Disney World further south. These roads made it easier for people to live in Ocoee and travel to nearby cities.
Geography and Climate
Location and Size
Ocoee is located at 28°34′27″N 81°31′50″W / 28.574050°N 81.530596°W.
The city covers a total area of about 15.7 square miles (40.6 km2). Most of this area, about 14.7 square miles (38.1 km2), is land. The rest, about 0.97 square miles (2.5 km2), is water.
Weather in Ocoee
The climate in Ocoee has hot and humid summers. The winters are generally mild. The city has a humid subtropical climate, which means it gets a lot of rain and has warm temperatures for most of the year.
| Climate data for Orlando (Orlando Int'l), 1981–2010 normals, extremes 1892–present | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 88 (31) |
90 (32) |
97 (36) |
99 (37) |
102 (39) |
101 (38) |
101 (38) |
101 (38) |
103 (39) |
98 (37) |
93 (34) |
95 (35) |
103 (39) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 83.1 (28.4) |
85.0 (29.4) |
87.8 (31.0) |
90.5 (32.5) |
94.3 (34.6) |
96.0 (35.6) |
96.1 (35.6) |
95.5 (35.3) |
94.0 (34.4) |
91.1 (32.8) |
86.6 (30.3) |
83.2 (28.4) |
97.2 (36.2) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 71.2 (21.8) |
73.9 (23.3) |
78.0 (25.6) |
82.5 (28.1) |
88.1 (31.2) |
90.7 (32.6) |
91.8 (33.2) |
91.6 (33.1) |
89.5 (31.9) |
84.6 (29.2) |
78.4 (25.8) |
72.8 (22.7) |
82.8 (28.2) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 60.2 (15.7) |
63.0 (17.2) |
66.9 (19.4) |
71.2 (21.8) |
77.3 (25.2) |
81.4 (27.4) |
82.7 (28.2) |
82.8 (28.2) |
81.1 (27.3) |
75.5 (24.2) |
68.5 (20.3) |
62.6 (17.0) |
72.8 (22.7) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 49.2 (9.6) |
52.1 (11.2) |
55.8 (13.2) |
60.0 (15.6) |
66.4 (19.1) |
72.0 (22.2) |
73.6 (23.1) |
74.1 (23.4) |
72.7 (22.6) |
66.4 (19.1) |
58.6 (14.8) |
52.4 (11.3) |
62.8 (17.1) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | 31.9 (−0.1) |
35.7 (2.1) |
41.1 (5.1) |
47.5 (8.6) |
58.1 (14.5) |
66.7 (19.3) |
69.8 (21.0) |
70.3 (21.3) |
67.2 (19.6) |
53.0 (11.7) |
44.2 (6.8) |
35.2 (1.8) |
29.4 (−1.4) |
| Record low °F (°C) | 19 (−7) |
19 (−7) |
25 (−4) |
37 (3) |
47 (8) |
53 (12) |
64 (18) |
63 (17) |
50 (10) |
38 (3) |
28 (−2) |
18 (−8) |
18 (−8) |
| Average rainfall inches (mm) | 2.35 (60) |
2.38 (60) |
3.77 (96) |
2.68 (68) |
3.45 (88) |
7.58 (193) |
7.27 (185) |
7.13 (181) |
6.06 (154) |
3.31 (84) |
2.17 (55) |
2.58 (66) |
50.73 (1,289) |
| Average rainy days (≥ 0.01 in) | 6.6 | 6.8 | 7.4 | 6.2 | 7.5 | 15.6 | 16.3 | 16.6 | 13.2 | 8.0 | 6.3 | 6.6 | 117.1 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 73.1 | 71.0 | 70.3 | 67.2 | 70.5 | 76.4 | 77.9 | 79.4 | 79.1 | 74.9 | 74.8 | 74.5 | 74.1 |
| Source: NOAA (relative humidity 1961–1990) | |||||||||||||
Population Information
Ocoee has grown quite a bit over the years. Here's how its population has changed:
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1930 | 794 | — | |
| 1940 | 702 | −11.6% | |
| 1950 | 1,370 | 95.2% | |
| 1960 | 2,628 | 91.8% | |
| 1970 | 3,937 | 49.8% | |
| 1980 | 7,803 | 98.2% | |
| 1990 | 12,778 | 63.8% | |
| 2000 | 24,391 | 90.9% | |
| 2010 | 35,579 | 45.9% | |
| 2020 | 47,295 | 32.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Recent Census Data
In 2020, there were 47,295 people living in Ocoee. There were 14,428 households and 11,474 families.
Here is a look at the different groups of people living in Ocoee based on the 2010 and 2020 censuses:
| Race | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White | 19,086 | 18,029 | 53.64% | 38.12% |
| Black or African American | 5,968 | 10,869 | 16.77% | 22.98% |
| Native American or Alaska Native | 91 | 115 | 0.26% | 0.24% |
| Asian | 1,945 | 3,051 | 5.47% | 6.45% |
| Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian | 19 | 40 | 0.05% | 0.09% |
| Some other race | 277 | 857 | 0.78% | 1.81% |
| Two or more races/Multiracial | 799 | 2,372 | 2.25% | 5.02% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 7,394 | 11,962 | 20.78% | 25.29% |
| Total | 35,579 | 47,295 | 100.00% | 100.00% |
Transportation in Ocoee
In the past, Ocoee was served by different railroads. The Atlantic Coast Line Railroad had a station in Ocoee, but it burned down in 1928. The Tavares and Gulf Railroad also ended in Ocoee. Its old station building is still standing and is now used by the Ocoee Lions Club.
Education in Ocoee
Students in Ocoee attend schools that are part of Orange County Public Schools.
Some of the high schools that serve students from Ocoee include:
- Ocoee High School
- West Orange High School
- Olympia High School
Notable People from Ocoee
Here are some well-known people who have connections to Ocoee:
- Brian Barber, a former MLB player. He is now a scouting director for the Philadelphia Phillies.
- Bart Bryant, a professional golfer.
- Aubrey Perry, a soccer player.
- Grant Riller, a professional basketball player.
See also
In Spanish: Ocoee (Florida) para niños
