17th Fastest Growing County In the Nation
Osceola County, Florida
Seat: Kissimmee
In spite of having suffered three hurricanes in six weeks in
2004, Osceola County is the 17th fastest growing county in
America based on growth rate between January 2000 and
July 2006 for all counties that began the period with more than ten thousand residents, according to U.S. Census Bureau
estimates
Three Hurricanes in six weeksOn August 13, 2004,
Hurricane Charley stormed through Kissimmee bringing damaging
winds in excess of 100 miles per hour. The hurricane rolled
through bringing damage to homes and buildings, fallen trees
and 100 percent of the residents without power. Kissimmee
Utility Authority restored power to 54 percent of the
inhabitants in the first 72 hours; 85 percent were restored
within one week. Service was restored to all customers on
August 28. Three weeks after Hurricane Charley struck, the
area was ravaged by Hurricane Frances; and three weeks after
Frances, Hurricane Jeanne
Osceola County which was established in 1887, had already
grown in population to 172,493 by the year 2000. But in the
six years that marked the beginning of the 21 Century, the
county increased the number of residents by 41.5 percent
bringing the estimated total population in July 2006 to
24,4045.
The astounding growth of the last six years has made Osceola
County the second fastest growing county in the Sunshine
State of Florida and the 17th fastest in the nation.
Although accurate statistics are not available to determine
how the growth may have affected the price of homes in the
area, in the year 2000 the median cost for a home within the
1,322 square mile jurisdiction was $99,300.
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