SEMINOLE COUNTY, FLORIDA

(Redirected from Seminole County, FL)

'Seminole County' is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida and part of the Orlando-Kissimmee Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). It is located in the central part of Florida between Orlando to the south and DeLand/Daytona Beach to the north. As of 2000, the population was 365,196. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates the 2006 population was 406,875[1]. Its county seat is Sanford, Florida.6

Contents
History
Government
Principal Officials
Elected
Other
Geography
Adjacent Counties
Demographics
Economics
Principal Taxpayers
Per Capita Income and Unemployment Rate
Municipalities
Incorporated
City districts and neighborhoods
Unincorporated
External links
Government links/Constitutional offices
Special districts
Judicial branch
Tourism links
Miscellaneous links

History


Seminole County was created on April 25, 1913 out of part of Orange County by the Florida Legislature. It was named for the Seminole tribe of Indians. The name "Seminole" is thought to be derived from the Spanish word ''cimarron,'' meaning "wild" or "runaway."

Government


The government currently operates under a County Charter originally adopted in 1989 and amended in November, 1994. Policymaking and the legislative authority are vested in the Board of County Commissioners, a five-member board elected to four-year terms in partisan, countywide elections and from single member districts. The Board adopts the County budget, levies property taxes and other fees, and hires the County Manager and County Attorney. In addition to the Board there are five Constitutional Officers who are elected to partisan, four-year terms in accordance with the constitution of the State of Florida.
Seminole County has adopted GASB 34 in 2002, so revenues and expenses in total only available from that time.

The Constitutional Officers, Clerk of the Circuit and County Courts, Sheriff, Tax Collector, Property Appraiser, and Supervisor of Elections, maintain separate accounting records and budgets. The Board funds a portion or, in certain instances, all of the operating budgets of the County's Constitutional Officers.
The County provides a full range of services; the construction and maintenance of the County's infrastructure, public safety, recreation, health and human services, and development and protection of the physical and economic environment.
In addition to the County Government described above, there are other political entities which are controlled by the County:

US 17-92 Community Redevelopment Agency

Seminole County Expressway Authority

Fred R. Wilson Memorial Law Library

Seminole County Port Authority
Principal Officials

Elected

Commissioner, District I - Bob Dallari
Commissioner, District II - Michael McLean
Commissioner, District III - Dick Van Der Weide
Commissioner, District IV - Carlton D. Henley
Commissioner, District V - Brenda Carey
Clerk of the Circuit Court - Maryanne Morse
Sheriff - Donald F. Eslinger
Tax Collector - Ray Valdes
Property Appraiser - David Johnson
Supervisor of Elections - Michael Ertel
Other

Administrative Services Director - Steve L. Howard CPM-CPPO (currently vacant)
Business Innovation and Technology Services Director - Colleen Rotella (resigned)
Community Information Director - Steve Olson, PIO (currently vacant)
Community Services Director - David Medley / Phil Stalvey
County Attorney - Robert A. McMillan
County Engineer - Jerry McCollum
County Manager - Cynthia A. Coto
Deputy County Manager - Don Fisher (resigned)
Economic Development Director - William McDermott
Environmental Services Director - John Cirello
Finance Director - David C. Godwin, CPA
Fire Chief - Leeanna Raw
Fiscal Services Director - Lisa Spriggs, CPA
Human Resources Director - Janet Davis
Leisure Services Director - Joe Abel
Library Services Director - Jane Peterson
Planning & Development Director - Dori DeBord
Public Safety Director - Tad Stone / K Roberts
Public Works Director - Gary Johnson

Geography


According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 893 km² (345 mi²). 798 km² (308 mi²) of it is land and 95 km² (37 mi²) of it (10.63%) is water.
Seminole County's location between Volusia County and Orange County has made it one of the fastest growing counties in Florida. The Greater Orlando Metropolitan District which includes Seminole, Osceola, and the surrounding counties of Lake and Orange counties, together with neighboring Volusia and Brevard counties create a viable, progressive and diverse setting for economic growth and residential development.
Adjacent Counties


Brevard County, Florida - southeast

Volusia County, Florida - north/east

Orange County, Florida - west/south

Lake County, Florida - west

Demographics


As of the census² of 2000, there were 365,196 people, 139,572 households, and 97,281 families residing in the county. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that the population of the County has grown to 394,878 by 2003. The population density was 458/km² (1,185/mi²). There were 147,079 housing units at an average density of 184/km² (477/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 82.41% White, 9.52% Black or African American, 0.30% Native American, 2.50% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 3.06% from other races, and 2.18% from two or more races. 11.15% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 139,572 households out of which 33.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.30% were married couples living together, 11.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.30% were non-families. 22.90% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.07. The Department of Education states that in 2003, school enrollment was approximately 72,630.
2003 population is 394,878
2003 school enrollment is 72,630.

In the county the population was spread out with 25.40% under the age of 18, 8.40% from 18 to 24, 32.00% from 25 to 44, 23.60% from 45 to 64, and 10.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 95.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.90 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $49,326, and the median income for a family was $56,895. Males had a median income of $40,001 versus $28,217 for females. The per capita income for the county was $24,591. About 5.10% of families and 7.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.60% of those under age 18 and 6.60% of those age 65 or over.
Because of the massive urban sprawl in the area and outdated and unplanned transit infrastructure, traffic congestion is a growing concern. Fundamentally, the lack of east-west mobility in the area creates severe traffic issues every weekday. Many residents of Seminole County work in Orange County, and those in northern Volusia County commute through Seminole County daily to Orange County.

Economics


Principal Taxpayers

Taxpayer Type of Business Assessed Valuation Percent of Total Taxable Valuation
Colonial Realty LP Property Management / Development $ 217,597,511 1.18%
Progress Energy Florida, Inc. Electric Utility 162,934,377 .88%
BellSouth Telecommunications Communications 91,591,862 .50%
Seminole Towne Centre LP Shopping Mall 87,867,747 .48%
Altamonte Mall A Jt. Venture Shopping Mall 86,903,276 .47%
Sprint Nextel Corp. Communications 83,090,520 .45%
Convergys Call Center Outsourcing 68,774,402 .37%
United Dominion Realty Tr Property Management / Development 61,467,400 .33%
Rouse-Orlando Inc. Shopping Mall 60,318,083 .33%

Per Capita Income and Unemployment Rate

2001 per capita income is $31,897
2003 unemployment rate is 5.4% (national is 6.0%

Municipalities


Incorporated

# City of Altamonte Springs
# City of Casselberry
# City of Lake Mary
# City of Longwood
# City of Oviedo
# City of Sanford
# City of Winter Springs
City districts and neighborhoods


Forest City (partly within the City of Altamonte Springs)

Heathrow (partly within the City of Lake Mary)

Tuskawilla (partly within the City of Winter Springs)
Unincorporated


Chuluota

Fern Park

Geneva

Midway

Wekiva Springs

Winter Park ''(incorporated in Orange County however the county line divides some addresses that use "Winter Park" although the city limits are wholly within Orange County)''

External links


Government links/Constitutional offices


Seminole County Government / Board of County Commissioners official website

Seminole County Supervisor of Elections

Seminole County Property Appraiser

Seminole County Public Schools

Seminole County Tax Collector

Seminole County Sheriff's Office

Seminole County Clerk of Courts - ''also Judicial branch''
Special districts


Seminole County Public Schools

St. Johns River Water Management District
Judicial branch


Seminole County Clerk of Courts - ''also a Constitutional Officer''

Public Defender, 18th Judicial Circuit of Florida serving Brevard and Seminole counties

Office of the State Attorney, 18th Judicial Circuit of Florida

Circuit and County Court, 18th Judicial Circuit of Florida
Tourism links


Seminole County Convention and Visitors Bureau
Miscellaneous links


Seminole County Professional Firefighters

Sanford Middle School

Seminole County Info

Photographs From the State Library & Archives of Florida.

Central Florida Memory is a unique digital collection where visitors can discover the history of Seminole County and surrounding areas of Central Florida.

Flickr Photos]

This article provided by Wikipedia. To edit the contents of this article, click here for original source.

psst.. try this: add to faves