Counties

Osceola County

County SeatKissimmee
Population422,545 (2022)

Osceola County, established in 1887, is named after the revered Seminole leader Osceola. Originally encompassing a larger area including parts of Lake Okeechobee, the county served as a transportation hub in the late 19th century due to its rivers and railroads. This fueled an economy based on cattle ranching, sugar production, and lumber.

Today, Osceola County is known for its tourism industry, particularly due to its proximity to Orlando and Walt Disney World. However, the county still retains its rich history, with cities like Kissimmee boasting a strong connection to Florida’s cattle ranching past.

Mayaca-Jororo, the native people of Orlando

If you ask most residents who lived in Central Florida when the Spanish arrived, they’d probably tell you the Seminoles. However, the Seminoles didn't even exist when the Spanish arrived. Instead, they were bands of refugees fleeing to Florida long...

Kenansville is a tiny town with a rich history

You have to REALLY want to visit Kenansville. It's not the kind of place you stumble upon. I have wanted to visit for years, so I took the lonely stretch of 441 north from Yeehaw (instead of the Turnpike) to...