ORLANDO history images pictures

This close-up of the state map to the right shows Central Florida as it was around the years 1858-1860. Polk County was created (south-west of Orange County) in 1861 so we know the map represents Florida just prior to that date. Polk County was the last county created in Florida prior to the Civil War and Florida's succession from the United States in 1861, so this map also shows what Central Florida looked like during the war. Orlando was, by this time, the seat of Orange County, even thought it is shown only as Ft. Gatlin (map makers of this era rarely incorporated all the various changes that occurred concerning towns, so we cannot accept the accuracy of everything in the map).

We know that the area connected with Jernigan became the Orange County seat in 1856, and in 1857, Jernigan subsequently changed its name to Orlando (Jernigan was in actuality the name of the location of the post office in the area and was likely located in the house or an office of Aaron Jernigan who lived near Lake Conway). Ft. Gatlin had been abandoned years earlier in 1849. It is generally believed that while Jernigan and Orlando are referred to as the same place, there is actually a difference in location. Jernigan was located near Lake Conway, and Orlando was located between Lakes Eola and Lucerne, which is the site of Orlando's downtown to this day.

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Written by Thomas E. Cook.