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9 facts about Winter Garden: Charming little city with a 'juicy' past

By Kelly Healey
By Kelly Healey

WINTER GARDEN, Fla. — Tucked away in west Orange County, is the quaint city of Winter Garden. Want to know more? Read our nine facts below (Source: fl-wintergarden.civicplus.com):

1. Settlers began arriving in the Winter Garden area in the 1850s. Attracted by the fertile muck land that bordered Lake Apopka, settlers engaged in citrus and vegetable farming, living in small settlements situated along the lake's south shore.  

2. By the end of the 19th century, Winter Garden's business district had grown up alongside the two railroad lines that ran through the city.
3. Winter Garden was established in 1903 and incorporated as a city in 1908.  
4. By 1920, there were more than 1,000 residents, and the city had quickly become the center of commerce and agriculture in West Orange County.  
5. The Edgewater Hotel opened in 1927 as Lake Apopka's emergence as "the large-mouth bass capital" attracted tourists.
6. Early residents either owned or worked in the groves, and as the citrus industry grew, the commercial district continued to expand.  
7. By the turn of the century, a small commercial district had emerged along Plant Street and residential neighborhoods began to appear.
8. The historic fabric of Winter Garden remains largely intact. The historic buildings in Winter Garden date between 1915 and 1940.
9. The biggest attraction in downtown Winter Garden is the Plant Street Market, where vendors feature natural, organic food, handmade products and the Crooked Can Brewing company inside one building. (More information)

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