Apopka, Florida

Apopka is a city in Orange County, Florida. The city's population was 41,542 at the 2010 census,[5] up from 26,969 at the 2000 U.S. Census. It is part of the Orlando–Kissimmee–Sanford Metropolitan Statistical Area. Apopka comes from Seminole word Ahapopka for "Potato eating place".[6] Apopka is often referred to as the "Indoor Foliage Capital of the World"[7] due to the extensive Greenhouse nurseries there.[8]

Apopka, Florida
City
Apopka City Hall in April 2007
Flag
Seal
Nickname(s): 
Indoor Foliage Capital of the World
Location of Apopka in Orange County, Florida.
CountryUnited States
StateFlorida
CountyOrange
Incorporated (Town)1882
Incorporated (City)1929
Government
 • TypeMayor–council
 • MayorBryan Nelson (R)
Area
 • Total35.21 sq mi (91.20 km2)
 • Land33.81 sq mi (87.56 km2)
 • Water1.40 sq mi (3.63 km2)  4.07%
Elevation131 ft (40 m)
Population
 • Total41,542
 • Estimate 
(2019)[4]
53,447
 • Density1,580.85/sq mi (610.37/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP code(s)
32703, 32704, 32712
Area codes321, 407, 689
FIPS code12-01700[3]
GNIS feature ID0294327[2]
Websitewww.apopka.net

History

The earliest known inhabitants of the Apopka area were the Acuera people, members of the Timucua confederation. They had disappeared by 1730, probably decimated by diseases brought to Florida by Spanish colonists.

The Acuera were succeeded by refugees from Alabama and Georgia, who formed the new Seminole Indian tribe. They called the area Ahapopka. Aha, meaning "Potato," and papka, meaning "eating place". By the 1830s, this settlement numbered about 200, and was the birthplace of the chief Coacoochee (known in English as "Wild Cat").

At the conclusion of the Second Seminole War, the U.S. Congress passed the Armed Occupation Act of 1842, forcing surviving natives at Ahapopka to abandon their village and seek refuge deeper in the wilderness of the Florida peninsula.

The early American settlers built a major trading center on the foundations of the earlier Indian settlement. Their population was large enough by 1857 to support the establishment of a Masonic lodge. In 1859 the lodge erected a permanent meeting place at what is now the intersection of Main Street (U.S. Highway 441) and Alabama Avenue.

This is the 1859 historic building, The Lodge, that became the central point of the 1 mile square formation of the City of Apopka.

The Lodge

The settlers in the vicinity of "The Lodge" were largely isolated during the Civil War, but the area rebounded once peace was re-established, and a population boom followed the construction of railroad lines through the region.

In 1869, The Apopka Post Office Opened.[9]

Town of Apopka City

In 1882, the one mile in each direction of "The Lodge" or "Fudge Hall" was officially incorporated under the name "Town of Apopka City".[10] In the 1890s, the town was contracted in size more than once due to difficult times.[11]

In 1905, the Apopka City Council authorized incorporation of the Apopka Water, Light, and Ice Company. Councilman A.M. Starbird was appointed its manager, but it was not until voters approved a $9,000 bond in 1914 that he was able to contract with International Harvester Corporation to construct a power plant, so electricity was not available in the city until February 10, 1915. This independent utility company was one of many that were acquired by the Florida Public Service Corporation in the 1920s. They continued to manage the city's utility needs until the 1940s, when they sold off its ice plants to the Atlantic Company, its electric service to Florida Power Corporation, and its water services to Florida Utilities.

Historic buildings

Five buildings in Apopka have been placed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places through the Apopka Historical Society housed in the Museum of the Apopkans.

Year BuiltBuilding NameAddressImage
1918Apopka Seaboard Air Line Railway Depot36 E Station St
Apopka Seaboard Air Line Railway Depot
1886Waite-Davis House5 S Central Ave
Waite-Davis House
1887Mitchell-Tibbetts House21 E Orange St
Mitchell-Tibbetts House
1920Ryan & Company Lumber Yard215 E Fifth St
Ryan & Company Lumber Yard
1932Carroll Building (Apopka, Florida)407-409 S Park Ave
Carroll Building

Present-day Apopka

Apopka is known for having one of the longest-serving mayors in the United States. John H. Land, first elected in 1949, served for 61.25 years (with a short three-year gap), making him the longest-serving mayor in Florida and longest-serving full-time mayor in the United States through 2014.[12]

This bridge was built by Orange County, FL and the City of Apopka, FL over State Road 441 connecting two sections of the Rails-to-Trails system forming the West Orange Trail for bicyclists and pedestrians. It opened in June 2007.

On April 8, 2014, Apopka City Commissioner Joe Kilsheimer won the election[13] to succeed John H. Land as mayor. Kilsheimer was sworn in on April 22, 2014.[14] The 2018 primary for mayor resulted in a landslide win for Bryan Nelson with 63.40% (4,103) of the vote to Kilsheimer's 36.6% (2,369).[15] No runoff was required.

Mayors
Apopka Mayor
First
Year
Total
Years
Total
Years		Apopka MayorMulti-Year
Terms
January 1

December 31

Years
Total
Years
J. D. Fudge18823John Jewell192619305
J. J. Combs18851E. J. Ryan193119343
Page McKinney18862Gillen McClure193519373
Horatio Brewer18885Mark V. Ryan193819403
R. C. Waters18932Leslie P. Waite194119466
E. A. Jackson18951Dr. C. H. Damsel194719493
A. J. Lovell18969*John H. Land1950196718*
Joseph D Mitchill19057*Leonard Hurst196819703
A. M. Starbird19121John H. Land19712014 March43.2561.25
A. J. Lovell1913110Joe Kilsheimer2014 April 2018 4 4
W. R. McLeod19141 Bryan Nelson 2018 April 24
Frank Davis19151
Walter Newell19162*
T. B. Tower19181
W. P. Newell191913
Joseph D Mitchill1920310
E. B. Morre19233

[16] [17] [18]

Development

Apopka is a fast-growing city and is expanding in all directions. Most notable are the new Lowes and Home Depot DIY stores to the north of the city on US 441 in the location of the previous Dunn Citrus grove (the stretch of 441 which runs through the city is named after Fred N. Dunn). Other businesses on the former Dunn Citrus site include Staples office supply and a second Chili's restaurant.

Due to the fast-paced growth of the city, a new hospital, AdventHealth Apopka, was opened in 2017.[19]

The John Land Apopka Expressway (Toll 414) opened on May 15, 2009, relieving some of US 441's traffic, taking the route from what is now the US 441 junction with SR 429, and then passing south of the city to rejoin US 441 at its junction with Maitland Boulevard South of the city.[20]

Earthmoving began in the summer of 2010 to further expand the expressway, including an extension of Toll 414, known as Wekiva Parkway, created a junction at US 441 and Plymouth Sorrento Road. Master plans take the Wekiva Parkway extension further north and then east connecting to Interstate 4 at Sanford. The expansion is scheduled to be completed in the next several years. It will then be the shortest route from I-4 to the Disney attractions.[21]

Geography

Apopka is located at 28°40′34″N 81°30′38″W.[22] It is about 16 miles northwest of Downtown Orlando.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 32.6 square miles (84.4 km2). 31.2 square miles (80.9 km2) of it is land and 1.4 square miles (3.5 km2) of it (4.15%) is water.[23]

Climate
Climate data for Plymouth 3N, 2002-2015 normals, extremes 2002-present
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 86
(30)		 88
(31)		 92
(33)		 96
(36)		 98
(37)		 100
(38)		 98
(37)		 99
(37)		 97
(36)		 96
(36)		 91
(33)		 87
(31)		 100
(38)
Average high °F (°C) 70.2
(21.2)		 72.1
(22.3)		 78.5
(25.8)		 83.4
(28.6)		 88.6
(31.4)		 90.9
(32.7)		 92.0
(33.3)		 92.2
(33.4)		 89.8
(32.1)		 84.8
(29.3)		 76.9
(24.9)		 72.0
(22.2)		 82.6
(28.1)
Average low °F (°C) 41.8
(5.4)		 44.3
(6.8)		 50.0
(10.0)		 54.8
(12.7)		 62.5
(16.9)		 69.6
(20.9)		 71.7
(22.1)		 72.3
(22.4)		 69.5
(20.8)		 60.9
(16.1)		 51.1
(10.6)		 45.4
(7.4)		 57.8
(14.3)
Record low °F (°C) 16
(−9)		 19
(−7)		 26
(−3)		 30
(−1)		 45
(7)		 57
(14)		 65
(18)		 63
(17)		 54
(12)		 32
(0)		 28
(−2)		 15
(−9)		 15
(−9)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 2.51
(64)		 2.56
(65)		 3.01
(76)		 3.02
(77)		 4.03
(102)		 7.95
(202)		 7.15
(182)		 8.36
(212)		 4.75
(121)		 2.80
(71)		 1.47
(37)		 2.71
(69)		 50.32
(1,278)
Average rainy days (≥ 0.01 in) 7.2 6.9 6.9 5.1 7.8 16.0 16.5 17.8 11.9 7.3 4.5 7.0 114.9
Source: NOAA[24]

Demographics
Historical population
YearPop.±%
1890490—    
1900218−55.5%
1905440+101.8%
1910410−6.8%
1915598+45.9%
1920798+33.4%
19251,005+25.9%
19301,134+12.8%
19351,450+27.9%
19401,312−9.5%
19451,252−4.6%
19502,254+80.0%
19603,578+58.7%
19704,045+13.1%
19806,019+48.8%
199013,512+124.5%
200026,642+97.2%
201041,542+55.9%
201953,447+28.7%
Source:
U.S. Decennial Census[25]

[26] [27] [28]

As of the census of 2000, there were 26,642 people, 9,562 households, and 7,171 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,108.1 inhabitants per square mile (427.9/km2). There were 10,091 housing units at an average density of 419.7 per square mile (162.1/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 73.85% White, 15.56% African American, 0.42% Native American, 1.89% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 5.36% from other races, and 2.83% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 18.08% of the population.

There were 9,562 households, out of which 38.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.8% were married couples living together, 14.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.0% were non-families. 18.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.76 and the average family size was 3.13.

In the city the population was spread out, with 28.2% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 33.6% from 25 to 44, 19.5% from 45 to 64, and 10.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $43,651, and the median income for a family was $49,380. Males had a median income of $32,177 versus $26,553 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,189. About 7.1% of families and 9.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.6% of those under age 18 and 9.7% of those age 65 or over.

In 2010 Apopka had a population of 41,542. The racial and ethnic composition of the population was 49.5% non-Hispanic white, 20.7% African American, 0.3% Native American, 3.2% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.4% non-Hispanic reporting some other race, 3.3% reporting two or more races, and 25.4% Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Education

Notable people
  • Agriculture[29]
    • Robert Grover Pitman, Jr.[30]
  • Automobile Racing[31][29]
  • Baseball[31][29]
    • George "Jug" A. Anderson, Jacksonville tars, Rollins College, Apopka Packers-traveled by horse and wagon (father of John Anderson (musician))
    • Rodney Brewer, UF, St Louis Cardinals Minors
    • Brandon Brewer, UWF, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
    • Chris DeClue, Flagler College
    • Jonathan DeClue, Florida Southern College, California Angels Minors, Houston Astros Minors
    • Jonathan Dwight Edge, University of Tampa, Arizona Diamondbacks, Pittsburgh Pirates, Oakland Athletes Minors[34]
    • Keith E. Fisher, Bristol Tigers, Detroit Tigers Macon Peaches Minors
    • Louis Nick Garvin Shaw University in North Carolina and NBL shortstop St Louis Cardinals late 1950s
    • Ray Goolsby (war veteran) Washington Senators in Chattanooga, TN
    • Zack Greinke, Kansas City Royals (2004–2010), Milwaukee Brewers (2011–2012), Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (2012), Los Angeles Dodgers (2013–present), 2 time Baseball All-Star (2009, 2014), MLB ERA leader (2009), Gold Glove Award (2014), Silver Slugger Award (2013) pitcher for Arizona Diamondbacks and 2009 AL Cy Young Award winner[35]
    • Brett King USF, San Francisco Giants Minors
    • Harold McCormick played 1937 in the Florida State League Orlando Gulls
    • Raymond Neil, Negro Baseball League, 1940s 15 years Indianapolis Clowns
    • Lee Neil, Jr.
    • Robert Grover Pitman, Jr. University of Florida (All American 1933) .400 batting average and Boston Braves
    • Jeremi Rudolph, Kansas City Royals farm team recruited, Toronto Blue Jays, Medicine Hats, Minors
    • Charles E. Williams Baltimore Orioles Minors
  • Basketball[31]
  • Coaching, Refereeing, Umpiring[31]
    • Melvin Jones-Referee, co-owner of Higher Level Skills Camp Inc with John Hightower,[38] college and high school referee Central Florida Officials Association[39]
    • Harold Mitchell-Referee
    • Prince Pollard-Referee
    • Greg Thompson-FSU, Coach Southern A&M,
  • Economy, Finance, Government
    • Eddie Brown, Wallstreet CEO and founder of Brown Capital Management.[40]
    • Glenn Hubbard, dean, Columbia University Graduate School of Business[41]
    • John H. Land longest serving full-time city mayor[31]
  • Film, Literature
    • Brad Linaweaver, science fiction writer, film producer and screenwriter, magazine publisher
    • Autumn Rae Shannon, performer on film and stage, singer, musician, songwriter, she co-starred with David Arquette in 'Tortoise'.[42]
  • Fast Pitch Softball 4 A
    • Harvey Caldwell, Youngest (16)
  • Football[31]
    • Aaron Jones played for NFL Pittsburgh Steelers, New England Patriots
    • Brent Robert Bartholomew NFL Ohio State, Miami Dolphins, Chicago Bears, Washington Redskins
    • Steve Baylark, NFL running back[43]
    • Rogers Beckett Jr., Marshall University, NFL safety San Diego Chargers, Cincinnati Bengals[44]
    • Dimitrius Breedlove NFL Evangel College, Cleveland Browns
    • Joe Calloway
    • Derrick Lee Clark NFL Evangel College, Denver Broncos
    • Kris Comstock University of Kentucky, [Cleveland Browns]
    • Jonathan Dwight Edge, University of Tampa, (went pro baseball)
    • Alan Gendreau, football placekicker at Middle Tennessee State[45]
    • Robert Drummond Syracuse, Philadelphia Eagles Rodney Brewer, UF, (went pro baseball)
    • Kent Elmore University of Tennessee, Los Angeles Rams
    • Tyrone Henry
    • John Hightower co-owner Higher Level Skills Camp Inc.[38]
    • Jaye Howard UF, Seattle Seahawks
    • Willie Hughley Florida International University (FIU), Cincinnati Bengals
    • Melvin Jones Livingston University, Denver Broncos draft
    • Doug Lee Kellom CFL University of Florida (UF), Canadian League
    • Mike Lowman Coffeyville Community College, Dallas Cowboys draft
    • Larry Lumpkin Alabama A&M/Carson-Newman, Indianapolis Colts
    • James Edward McKnight Liberty University, Seattle Seahawks, Miami Dolphins, Dallas Cowboys
    • David McMillian, Jr., University of Kansas, Cleveland Browns
    • Brandon Meriweather, University of Miami All-American defensive back[46]
    • Mark Murray NFL University of Florida, Denver Broncos
    • Jeremi Rudolph, University of Las Vegas, (went pro baseball)
    • Warren Sapp, All-Pro NFL defensive lineman[47]
    • Mark Selig University of Miami
    • Chris Shepherd, Florida Atlantic University (FAU), Atlanta Falcons
    • Sammie Smith, NFL running back for Miami Dolphins and Denver Broncos[48]
    • Kyle Wilber Wake Forest, Dallas Cowboys
    • Eddie Williams NFL University of Miami, New York Giants
    • Jacquian Williams University of South Florida (USF), New York Giants
  • Gaming
  • Infamous
  • Inventor
  • Music[29]
  • Boxing, Weightlifting, Wrestling

Apopka in literature

Apopka is referenced in Zora Neale Hurston's famous novel, Their Eyes Were Watching God.

Apopka is referenced in Eddie C. Brown's autobiographical book, Beating the Odds: Eddie Brown's Investing and Life Strategies.

Detailed history of the greater Apopka and Central Florida area is detailed in Perrine Slim's book, The Pennings of Perrine Slim: Stories of Northwest Orange County Florida.[57] Included are 100 pictures of the area.

History of Apopka and Northwest Orange County, Florida by Jerrell H Shofner, (1982). Rose Printing. Apopka Historical Society.

Tales of the Big Potato by Jack Christmas (2011). New Book Publishing.[29] Reprint (2019) Olmstead Publishing.

Apopka: Images of America photos of the Apopka area, (2004). Apopka Historical Society.

References
  1. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  2. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  3. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 26, 2015.
  4. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  5. "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (DP-1): Apopka city, Florida". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 20, 2012.
  6. "Seminole Tribe of Florida - Culture, Language". Semtribe.com. Archived from the original on December 5, 2012. Retrieved December 18, 2012.
  7. "City of Apopka - Home". Apopka.net. July 1, 2006. Archived from the original on December 19, 2012. Retrieved December 18, 2012.
  8. Stephen Hudak (April 11, 2015). "World's 'foliage capital' planting different seeds of growth these days". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved June 21, 2020.
  9. "United States Postal Service Postmaster Finder". United States Postal Service. 2017. Retrieved November 30, 2017.
  10. Orange County, Misc. Book No3; Apopka, City Election Proceedings, p. 255.; History of Apopka and Northwest Orange County Florida. J. Shofner, Ed.. 1982.
  11. History of Apopka and Northwest Orange County Florida. J. Shofner, Ed.. 1982.
  12. McKay, Rich (January 1, 2010). "Land returned as mayor as election qualifying ends". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved December 18, 2012.
  13. Hudak, Stephen (April 8, 2014). "First elected in 1949, 93-year-old Apopka mayor loses historic vote". Orlando Sentinel.
  14. Hudak, Stephen (April 23, 2014). "Apopka's new mayor seeks to build around city's 'inner Mayberry'". Orlando Sentinel.
  15. "Election Results Municipal Orange County" (PDF). Orange County. April 24, 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 31, 2018. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
  16. Slim, Perrine (2015). The Pennings of Perrine Slim: Stories of Northwest Orange County Florida. USA. ISBN 978-1-934194-27-0.
  17. "The Apopka Chief".
  18. The Museum of the Apopkans, vertical files
  19. "Florida Hospital Apopka sets opening date". The Apopka Voice. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
  20. Tracy, Dan (May 15, 2009). "John Land Apopka Expressway segment opens today". Orlando Sentinel.
  21. Spear, Kevin (March 16, 2018). "Wekiva Parkway segment set to open into Lake County". Orlando Sentinel.
  23. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Apopka city, Florida". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 20, 2012.
  24. "NOWData - NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. November 2015. Retrieved November 12, 2015.
  25. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
  26. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved May 21, 2020.
  27. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
  28. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  29. Christmas, Jack R. (2011). Tales of the Big Potato. Apopka, FL: New Book Publishing. ISBN 9781936989294.
  30. "Florida Citrus Hall of Fame". Florida Citrus Hall of Fame. 2014. Retrieved December 15, 2019.
  31. Slim, P. (2015) The Pennings of Perrine Slim: Stories of Northwest Orange County Florida
  32. Hybl, Dean (July 3, 2009). "Remembering Fireball Roberts: Winner Of Daytona's First Firecracker Race". Bleacher Report.
  33. Diaz, George (January 24, 2014). "Taylor-made moment: Father and sons competing in Rolex 24". Orlando Sentinel.
  34. "Dwight Edge Minor & Independent Leagues Statistics & History".
  35. Ruiz, Stephen (July 8, 2018). "Former Apopka ace Zack Greinke makes 400th career start". Orlando Sentinel. Greinke, the former Apopka High School standout...
  36. "Joel Berry". Sports Reference. Hometown: Apopka, FL
  37. "Joseph Chealey". ESPN.
  38. Nonprofitfacts.com/FL/Higher-Level-Skills-Camp.html
  39. "Please enter password to access this page".
  40. Gara, Antoine. "The Oracle of Apopka: Meet Eddie Brown, One Of Wall Street's Greatest Untold Stories". Forbes Magazine. Forbes Magazine. Retrieved May 30, 2019.
  41. Segal, David (October 13, 2012). "Romney's Go-To Economist". The New York Times. Glenn Hubbard was raised in Apopka, Fla...
  42. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5703949/
  43. Friedell, Nick (December 15, 2006). "Former Apopka star Steve Baylark leads UMass in tonight's I-AA title game". Orlando Sentinel.
  44. "Rogers Beckett Profile". NFL. Born: 1/31/1977 Apopka, FL
  45. Branch, John (April 23, 2013). "A Potential Pioneer, Just Looking for a Job". The New York Times. Gendreau has been openly gay since high school in Apopka, Fla.
  46. Hohler, Bob; Silva, Steve (March 10, 2011). "Relative says Brandon Meriweather was trying to break up fight". Boston.com. ...the incident began at the Blue Jeans Lounge in Meriweather's hometown of Apopka, Fla.
  47. Erlendsson (July 31, 2013). "Miami recruited Sapp, won over his mother". Tampa Bay Times. Archived from the original on October 1, 2018. Retrieved October 1, 2018.
  48. Thompson, Jake (April 5, 2017). "Oxford on the Move: Sammie Smith is finding a purpose after prison". The Oxford Eagle.
  49. Fruzzetti, Ben (June 11, 2018). "Smash Invitational 2018 player rundown". Nintendo Wire. Plup, From: Apopka, Florida
  50. Crockett, Zachary (August 17, 2016). "The Man Who Got No Whammies". Priceonomics. When investigators finally tracked Larson to Apopka, Florida in 1999, he'd succumbed to throat cancer.
  51. "John Anderson Biography". John Anderson.
  52. Stokes, Liz (March 8, 2018). "Sawyer Brown". Full Access Magazine.
  53. Stallard, Dave (June 25, 2015). "Trail Mix – Jerry Lawson". Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine.
  54. https://mixingtheband.com/about/
  55. http://pattravers.com/pt/sean_can.htm.html
  56. "Billy Gunn".
  57. Inman, Jessica (April 9, 2015). "Bill Gladden Jr.: For local history buff, education was key". Orlando Sentinel.
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