Charming Winter Garden

 Winter Garden  a city in western Orange County, Florida, is located 14 miles west of Downtown Orlando. It is part of the Orlando metropolitan area but it looks nothing like Orlando.

Settlers began arriving in the Winter Garden area by the 1850s, attracted by the fertile muck land that bordered Lake Apopka.  They engaged in citrus and vegetable farming, living in small settlements situated along the lake's south shore.  By the end of the nineteenth century, Winter Garden's business district had grown up alongside the two railroad lines that ran through the city.

Winter Garden was established in 1903 and officially incorporated as a City in 1908. The population of Winter Garden grew to over 1,000 people by 1920, and the city  quickly became the center of commerce and agriculture in West Orange County. Early residents either owned or worked in the groves.  As the citrus industry grew in importance and acreage, the commercial district continued to expand.  

 Winter Garden's rapid development slowed considerably in the late 1960s.  Lake Apopka became severely polluted, and the construction of major highways in the area drew businesses away from downtown.

 Despite the challenges, Winter Garden's architectural heritage remained intact.  The establishment of the West Orange Trail attracted thousands of visitors eager to patronize the new shops and restaurants that moved into the old buildings.

In 1996, downtown Winter Garden was listed on the National Register of Historic Places after concerned citizens and community leaders rallied to rescue the commercial district. 

 

  Today, Winter Garden's Historic District serves as a successful example of historic preservation.  Infill development, redevelopment, repurposed buildings, preservation, housing and businesses all converge to create a thriving downtown that draws people from around the world. 

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