O range County is located in beautiful, tropical central Florida. The greatest population concentration in Orange County is the Orlando area. Seminole, Brevard, Osceola, and Lake counties border Orange County. This community has year round beautiful weather and is a popular destination for families and individuals looking to escape the cold weather of the north. The average January temperature is 60.7 degrees F, and the average August temperature is 82.0 degrees F.

Population throughout Orange County reached an all time high in 2004 with 964,865 residents. The county is one of the fastest growing areas in the entire state. Florida has no state income tax and as a whole ranks low in terms of the tax burden placed on residents. The Tax Foundation Research Organization ranks Florida among the lowest tax states (Florida ranks #45 among the 50 states in 2004; only five states have a lower tax burden). Orange County residents enjoy a strong economy and have a median household income of $41,311. The median cost of a home is refreshingly affordable at $202,000. With such low tax burdens, access to high earnings, and affordable housing, the option of relocating to Orange County is very appealing.

Being a trusted steward of their environment is a role that the community takes very seriously. Orange County Parks and Recreation oversees 93 parks, facilities and trails and ensures that they will be enjoyed for generations. OCPR hosts many programs throughout the year for the entire family including cheerleading, football, little league baseball, fishing, dancing, gymnastics, hiking, hay rides, yoga and T'ai Chi. The OCPR team is an integral part of what makes the community work so successfully.

From Walt Disney World to Daytona Beach, Central Florida is a fun and exciting place to live, work and raise a family. Some attractions and events that locals enjoy are the Florida Citrus Bowl, Bach Festival, Apopka Art and Foliage Festival, Shakespeare Festival, Orlando Film Festival, Sweetcorn Festival, Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art, Church Street Station, Elvis Presley Museum, Gatorland, Leu Botanical Gardens, Orlando Museum of Art, Orlando Science Center, Sea World, and Wet 'n' Wild.

Orlando is a place that has an exceptional nightlife and music scene. The Social on North Orange Avenue has been Orlando's premiere entertainment location for over 10 years. In fact, many local bands define their careers in terms of pre- and post-Social performance. The atmosphere is pure alternative in this cozy enclave that offers up-close interaction with up-and-coming acts. Not to be outdone, Back Booth on West Pine Street attracts a great line-up of local talent with the occasional surprise headliner. Take advantage of those balmy Florida breezes at the Wall Street Plaza, an open-air area perfect for street parties. Bordered by six nightclubs and restaurants, the Plaza is host to regular street parties as well as nightly entertainment right in the heart of downtown.

Dining, shopping and entertainment come together in Orange County. Pointe Orlando, an entertainment complex located on International Drive, offers an sensational combination of attractions, nighttime venues, themed restaurants, outdoor entertainment, a 21-screen movie complex including an I-MAX 3-D theater, as well as more than 60 specialty retailers. Taste, touch, see and hear great entertainment with a distinct attitude at Universal Orlando's CityWalk. The 30-acre (12-hectare) entertainment complex offers an eclectic mix of live entertainment, dining, specialty shops, state-of-the-art cinemas and dance options from reggae and Motown to Latin rhythms. CityWalk also features the world's largest Hard Rock Cafe and Hard Rock Live Orlando, a live performance venue with regular performances by top-name national and international artists.

Orange County has a very strong and rigorous education system. The Orange County School District administers 152 schools with 166,818 students and is ranked the 14th largest district in the nation. There are 105 elementary, 27 middle and 16 high schools in the district. Ninety-two percent of graduating seniors go on to a college or university and fifty-three percent of them received scholarships totaling $14 million in 2003. Colleges and universities in the area include: ITT Technical Institute, Maitland; Webster Univ. Graduate Center, Altamonte Springs; Columbia College-Orlando Naval Training Center, Florida Hospital College of Health Sciences, Florida Technical College, Heritage College, Loma Linda University Center, Orlando College, Southern College, Southern College of Seventh-Day Adventists-Orlando Center, University of Central Florida, Valencia Community College, Orlando; Rollins College, Winter Park.