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Orlando was once an insignificant farming until it underwent a development revolution in the seventies and became the home of the new US Disney. It was created based on the original plan of the first Californian Disney and it has since undergone continual expansion so that now it houses many theme parks and even a film set. More than twenty five million people pay a visit each year to the parks of Walt Disney World, Universal Studios and Sea World. Most of these visitors will not even see the town that is Orlando but for an afternoon or a non artifical evening, it is worth a visit. The history of the town of Orlando dates back to 1838 when the US army built Fort Gatlin during the Seminole Wars as a protection against the Indians. Within a couple of years a small community had built up around the Fort. They named it Jernigan after the family who had established the first settlement and opened a post office. The town had its name officially changed in 1857 and was incorporated in 1875. There are a number of versions of the origins of the name Orlando. One version says it took its name from a character in Shakespeare from guess what play? Rack your brain to remember which one. It is as you like it. Another version relates the naming of the town after a man travelling through the town who died and was buried in the area; people passing by the spot would say there lies Orlando! The most accepted version tells of a troop of soldiers on duty watch for Indians. The sentinel one night was Orlando Reeves, keeping watch for Indians on the attack. Orlando recognised a floating log, a disguise of the Indians moving in. He warned the troop by firing his gun in the air but paid the price with his life being killed by Indian arrows. He was buried on the lake and the town took his name as a tribute to him. The real origins of the name are unknown or non doubt inconsequential given that now the town is synonymous with Disney World. |