Need To Sell Your House In Orlando?

Orlando, a city rich with history and lore, has roots stretching back to the 19th century. Initially, it was a military hub named Fort Gatlin, located just south of today’s city boundary. The fortification, established on November 9, 1838, by Lieutenant Colonel Alexander C. W. Fanning and the 4th U.S. Artillery, played a significant role during the Second Seminole War. It was named to honor John S. Gatlin, an Army physician who tragically lost his life in Dade’s Massacre.

The strategic position of Fort Gatlin, coupled with its fresh water supply sourced from neighboring lakes, rendered it ideal for settlement. This site wasn’t chosen at random; it was near a significant trail and within view of a historic Council Oak tree, under which Native American leaders like King Phillip and Coacoochee would meet—also rumored to be the planning ground for an 1835 attack on over 100 soldiers.

When the need for a military presence at the fort subsided in 1839, the area blossomed as settlers arrived, with some of the earliest being the Jernigan family. Issac and Aaron Jernigan, who hailed from Georgia, acquired land in the vicinity and established a home by Lake Holden, partaking in the Armed Occupation Act of July 1843.

The area that Fort Gatlin once guarded evolved into a burgeoning center named for these pioneering cattlemen, initially called Jernigan. Aaron Jernigan left his mark, not just on the land but as Orange County’s inaugural state representative in 1845. His plea for military support during his tenure went unanswered, yet the settlement remained fortified by both military and civilian efforts for years.

Throughout the 1850s, Jernigan gained prominence, housing a post office and eventually becoming the county seat of Orange County. However, upheaval followed, and following Aaron Jernigan’s fall from favor and subsequent infamous actions, the town’s name—and post office—transferred to the name of Orlando around 1857, adopting its current moniker, which blossomed into downtown Orlando as we know it.

Orlando’s naming history is textured with rumors and speculation; tales of individuals like Orlando Reeves are interwoven with accounts of marked graves bearing the name ‘Orlando.’ Yet, local pioneer James Speer is attributed with casting the decisive vote, striking the word ‘grave’ from ‘Orlando’s Grave’ to reshape the town’s destiny.

Today, the vibrant city of Orlando is recognized not for its contentious historical naming or its former military stance but as a thriving metropolis, a hotbed of tourism, entertainment, and culture. The tales of Orlando’s past now underpin the city’s intriguing charm and contribute to its unique identity—a city built on the tales of pioneers, soldiers, and settlers, swathed in the beauty of Seminole history and modern innovation.