Posts
A brief history
(Click to visit)
Nestled between eclectic and artsy Mt. Dora in Lake County (to the north) and bustling Ocoee to the South, the City of Apopka is part rural and part suburb. On one street you might see horses, cows, or citrus groves and on another you will see suburban developments that are an oasis from the hot Florida sun.
Taking it's name from a Seminole Village on lake "Ahapopka" during the 19th century. The Seminole Village on Lake Ahapopka was ruled by Coacoochee 'Wild Cat' (Chief of about 200 Indians) and he was one of the most famous and influential war chiefs of the time. During the Second Seminole War in the mid 1830's the area was vacated and Coacoochee and his people took refuge in the swamps of the St. Johns River.
Taking it's name from a Seminole Village on lake "Ahapopka" during the 19th century. The Seminole Village on Lake Ahapopka was ruled by Coacoochee 'Wild Cat' (Chief of about 200 Indians) and he was one of the most famous and influential war chiefs of the time. During the Second Seminole War in the mid 1830's the area was vacated and Coacoochee and his people took refuge in the swamps of the St. Johns River.
The Armed Occupation Act of 1842 brought white settlers to the Apopka area. And, in the 1850's a group of Masons' built Orange Lodge #36 and henceforth the area was known as 'The Lodge.' The Masons' lodge became the center of town, and it became an important trading center in the 1850's. You can still see The Lodge Building on it's original site at Alabama Ave. and Highway 441.
(Click to view)
Soon after incorporating as Apopka City in 1882, it was still an important hub of commerce, and became known as 'The Fern City' and later adopted 'The Indoor Foliage Capital of the World' as it's moniker.
Today it is one of the fastest growing cities in Orange County, and it's home base for more than 45,000 people.
Today it is one of the fastest growing cities in Orange County, and it's home base for more than 45,000 people.
Convenient location
Apopka has been a major hub of transportation since it was a Seminole Village of 200 warriors on the edge of Lake Ahapopka.
It still is. Apopka is located just outside the urban sprawl that is Greater Orlando (meaning it is still partially rural and agricultural), but close enough to be convenient to Downtown, Disney, Lake County, Sanford/Lake Mary, and Winter Park. That is why we located here. We get the small town atmosphere, the pretty country, nearby nature reserves and springs, yet close enough to work in Orlando or at Disney.
From my house in Emmerson Park at the junction of 429 and 414, I can get to Disney in 20 minutes, Winter Park also takes 20 minutes, Downtown takes 25 minutes, International Drive takes 25 minutes, and I can be in Mt. Dora in 10, Tavares in 20, and The Villages in 30 minutes. The Stonybrook Parkway Mall takes 15 minutes.
It still is. Apopka is located just outside the urban sprawl that is Greater Orlando (meaning it is still partially rural and agricultural), but close enough to be convenient to Downtown, Disney, Lake County, Sanford/Lake Mary, and Winter Park. That is why we located here. We get the small town atmosphere, the pretty country, nearby nature reserves and springs, yet close enough to work in Orlando or at Disney.
From my house in Emmerson Park at the junction of 429 and 414, I can get to Disney in 20 minutes, Winter Park also takes 20 minutes, Downtown takes 25 minutes, International Drive takes 25 minutes, and I can be in Mt. Dora in 10, Tavares in 20, and The Villages in 30 minutes. The Stonybrook Parkway Mall takes 15 minutes.
The entrance to the 429 toll road is literally the second road to the left from the entrance of Emmerson Park. I also can go north to Hwy 46 and be in Sanford in 20 minutes and Lake Mary will take me 25 minutes. I can also be in Clermont at the Lake Louisa nature preserve in 25 minutes.
From Apopka you are in quick striking distance to Mt. Dora, Ocoee, Winter Garden, Sanford/Lake Mary, Windermere, and Winter Park.
From Apopka you are in quick striking distance to Mt. Dora, Ocoee, Winter Garden, Sanford/Lake Mary, Windermere, and Winter Park.
That means on Saturday morning you might face the choices of Farmer's Markets in Sanford or Winter Park, or just go to the Whole Foods buffet in Dr. Phillips. It means you can attend the annual Forth of July fireworks by Lake Dora in downtown Taverese one night, and be eating an outside café on Church Street in downtown Orlando the next night. You can be to Merritt Island in one hour, and Tampa in an hour and a half.
Current Housing Market
(Click to see trulia Market Overview)
With the housing economy squarely on the rebound here, and as one of the most fastest growing cities in Orange County, Apopka is a great investment area who's value is going to go up in the foreseeable future.
In fact, in South Apopka where I live on the border of Ocoee we have new developments going up all over the place. So, Apopka has both older home buying opportunities as well as relatively new home buying possibilities. Either way, it's a good investment for the near future (5 to 10 years). My house in Emmerson Park went up $20K the first two months I was in it. Now is the time to buy in Apopka if you want a good return on your investment.
In fact, in South Apopka where I live on the border of Ocoee we have new developments going up all over the place. So, Apopka has both older home buying opportunities as well as relatively new home buying possibilities. Either way, it's a good investment for the near future (5 to 10 years). My house in Emmerson Park went up $20K the first two months I was in it. Now is the time to buy in Apopka if you want a good return on your investment.
The meridian sales price for Apopka was $185,000 or up 5.7% ($10,000) over last year. The Average price per square foot for Apopka is $90 this year which is an increase of 2.3% over last year as well.
The Average listing price for homes for sale in Apopka was $266,245 for the week ending May 13th, 2015, which represents an increase of 2.4% (or $6,270) compared to the prior week. Prices are clearly going up.
The Average listing price for homes for sale in Apopka was $266,245 for the week ending May 13th, 2015, which represents an increase of 2.4% (or $6,270) compared to the prior week. Prices are clearly going up.
Things to do with your family in Apopka
One of the great quality of life aspects of living in the Apopka area is that there are plenty of outdoor things to do real close by.
Besides skydiving, Hot Air Balloons, Paintball, or ziplining nearby, the area is saturated with interesting nature preserves, state parks, and horseback riding trails.
Besides skydiving, Hot Air Balloons, Paintball, or ziplining nearby, the area is saturated with interesting nature preserves, state parks, and horseback riding trails.
The Apopka area is home to Seminole State Forest, Kelly Park/Rock Springs, Wekiva Springs State Park, Wekiva River Preserve State Park, the newly opened Lake Apopka Restoration Area, Ferndale Reserve, and Oakland Nature Preserve.
So, there are plenty of places real close by (within 15 to 30 minutes) to get back to nature.
So, there are plenty of places real close by (within 15 to 30 minutes) to get back to nature.
In addition, one any given day you can go on an airboat ride, go ice skating, fishing, skydiving, or ride go carts.
| 
Is paintball, laser tag, or rock climbing, kayaking, archery, or mini golf more to your liking? We have all of that too.
|
However, what is unique and different about this area of Florida is the plethora of Outdoor Recreation, Nature Preserves, springs, and State Parks. We have lakes, rivers, forests, marshes, and springs to visit all within a 15 minute radius.
 | 
If you widen the search to 50 miles you would include Blue Springs, the Ocala National Forest, Lake Jesup Recreation area and many more lakes, Nature Preserves, and Springs that you could visit any time you want.
|
No comments:
Post a Comment