Kissimmee Living
 Kissimmee, formerly known as Allendale, began as a small trading post on the northern bank of Lake Tohopekaliga. In 1881, Hamilton Disston of the Disston Saw Company contracted to deepen the Kissimmee River so that products could be shipped into the Gulf of Mexico. Citizens voted to incorporate the city in 1883 and formally changed the name from Allendale to Kissimmee. Throughout the late 1800s, cattle and sugar cane supported the local economy. During the late 1950s, city leaders encouraged growth by attracting retirees to the area. The city grew again in the 1970s when Walt Disney World came to Orlando.
Kissimmee-St. Cloud hosts the Silver Spurs Rodeo, one of the nation’s top rodeos that attracts top cowboys who compete in bull and bronco-riding, steer wrestling, barrel racing and other events. Other annual events include the St. Cloud Spring Fling and Bluegrass Festival. Old Town features shopping, dining and entertainment in a complex of specialty retail shops, restaurants and rides in a historical setting. The Osceola County Courthouse is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was dedicated on May 6, 1890 and is one of the state’s oldest courthouses. Kissimmee’s largest antique and collectible mall are located in Lanier’s Historic Downtown Marketplace. Kissimmee is about an hour’s drive from the beach and about 20 minutes from Orlando International Airport. Many roads link the city to the rest of central Florida. An Amtrak station is located in downtown, offering another travel option. Osceola County schools are well respected. When comparing the mean score averages from 2001 to 2002, most Osceola schools have maintained or improved on the Florida Comprehensive Achievement Tests. Seven Osceola schools showed improvement at every grade level in reading. Nine Osceola schools showed improvement at every grade level in mathematics. Eleven Osceola schools showed improvement at every grade level in writing. |
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