The History of Orlando, Florida

Orlando’s history goes all the way back to 1838 and the height of the Seminole Wars. The U.S. Army built Fort Gatlin south of the present day Orlando city limits to guard settlers from attacks by the Indians. By 1840, a small community developed around the fort and was named Jernigan, after the Jernigan family who established the first permanent settlement in the area. Several years later the settlement lengthened northward and soon renamed its town, Orlando which was incorporated in 1875 with a population of 85 residents, only 22 who could vote.

The origination of the name Orlando is not clear. One story involves Judge James Speer, who worked hard in getting Orlando as the county seat, naming Orlando after a man he worked with. Another story states that Mr. Orlando was on his way to Tampa with a caravan of Oxen, became ill and died. From then on, people would come by and say “there lay Orlando” and it stuck. And still another version states that during the Seminole Wars, Sentinel Orlando Reeves was guarding his camp and warned his fellow soldiers of approaching enemies with a gunshot and was killed then and there. Sentinel Orlando Reeves was then buried on the south side of Lake Eola in downtown Orlando. Whichever version one chooses, Orlando has an interesting History.

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