Kissimmee
Kissimmee (pronounced Kih-sih-me) is a city in Osceola County, in the south Orlando metro area. It’s right in the middle of central Florida, adjacent to a couple of big lakes called Tohokepaliga (really).  It enjoys a great location for exploring Disney (right next door), the Orlando area (10 miles north), or the chain of lakes region of central Florida (everywhere).  Melbourne’s excelent beaches are now less than an hour away, with the nearly complete modernizing of US 192.  From a commercial perspective, Kissimmee is at Florida’s crossroads – literally, since the big “X” where the I-4 corridor crosses the Florida Turnpike is just up the road.

For driving distances throughout Florida from Kissimmee go to :http://www.ersys.com/usa/12/1236950/distance.htm

Real Estate opportunities in the area are as diverse as you’d expect in a big city, or, close by, as rural as all the books about Florida’s “Best Backroads” and small towns. You can buy classic little historic places in the adjacent old town of St. Cloud, or you can find pricier river and lakefront properties both southeast and southwest of Kissimmee.  Just east of St. Cloud there is also the major new planned community of Harmony.

So Kissimmee is much more than just the gateway city to Disney World and other world famous attractions that it once was. It still is the inexpensive version of that.  But you should look past the congested and unattractive parts of US 192 that define too many people’s first impressions (City Fathers are doing something about this, and the city and county are belatedly working on creating the infrastructure to support the area’s rapid growth).  Instead, see it in context.  And if you are relocating to Florida, check it out.

A few facts

• The estimated population, in 2003, was 54,598 and the median age is 33.
• Kissimmee is adjacent to Lake Tohopekaliga and the Kissimmee chain of lakes. These destinations have always been some of the best destinations for trophy bass fishing in the country.
• The area to the south and through the lake district all the way to Lake Okeechobee is one of the prettiest in Florida.
• In general, recreation options are extensive, and include everything you can do in Florida
• The city of Kissimmee is located in the fourth fastest growing county in the United States.
• The growth has been in the areas of business, industry, tourism, and residential relocation.
• Due to the rapid growth there is a constant need for quality employees and new business.
• Kissimmee’s historic downtown historic districts feature unique shops, art galleries, antique shops, restaurant and sightseeing.
• The area goes from a modern feel to a Western feel. (The Kissimmee silver spurs rodeo is a major event and draws competitors from around the country).

Major types of employment in the area.

1. Arts, Entertainment, Recreation,
2. Accommodation, & Food Services
3. Trade (Retail/Wholesale)
4. Education, Health,& Social Services
5. Construction
6. Professional, Management, Administrative, & Waste Management Services
7. Transportation, Warehousing, & Utilities
8. Finance, Insurance, Real Estate, & Rental/Leasing

Transportation
Kissimmee sits astride the surface transportation commercial crossroads of peninsular Florida, and it’s also just minutes from the south airport entrance to Orlando International.

All the same highways, railways etc, that are on the Orlando transportation link apply here with a few additions.

• US 192
  A major tourist strip in the area around the Walt Disney World Resort, including “mile markers” (with a variable distance between each) to help tourists locate businesses.
• Osceola parkway
  In the late 1990s, the Osceola Parkway was built as a bypass of 192 around Kissimmee
• 192 Intersections with other U.S. and Interstate Highways
• US 27 west of the Walt Disney World Resort
• I-4 at the Walt Disney World Resort
• US 17/US 92 (John Young Parkway) in Kissimmee begin US 17/US 92 concurrency
• US 17/US 92/US 441 (Main Street) in Kissimmee end US 17/US 92 concurrency; begin US 441 concurrency
• US 441 at Holopaw end US 441 concurrency
• I-95 west of Melbourne.  As noted, 192 has been 4-laned from about Holopaw to 95, continuing on a commercial but fast urban parkway all the way to the beaches.  4-laning west of Holopaw is under construction.
• For more local information go to: http://www.floridakiss.com/
  In conclusion
  Kissimmee has both rural and brand new neighborhoods, and some Old Florida small town neighborhoods. You can have a home close to commercial streets in the city, in the country on a lake, or live in a rural neighborhood.  Prices are very affordable.
  And if you’re looking for commercial opportunity, there’s plenty of that here too.  The selection here is diverse, and yet you have everything a big city (Orlando) has to offer, and ready access to all the transportation links.

For more specifics go to the Orlando general information area links.

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