Longwood, Florida

Longwood is a city in Seminole County, Florida, United States. The population was 15,087 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Orlando–Kissimmee–Sanford, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Longwood, Florida
City
Official seal of Longwood, Florida
Seal
Location in Seminole County and the state of Florida
Location in Seminole County and the state of Florida
Coordinates: 28°42′05″N 81°20′55″W[1]
CountryUnited States
State Florida
County Seminole
Government
 • MayorMatt Morgan, District 4
 • Deputy MayorTony Boni, District 2
 • Commissioner District 1Abby Shoemaker
 • Commissioner District 3Matt McMillan
 • Commissioner District 5Brian D. Sackett
Area
[2]
 • City5.86 sq mi (15.17 km2)
 • Land5.50 sq mi (14.26 km2)
 • Water0.35 sq mi (0.91 km2)
Elevation
[1]
75 ft (23 m)
Population
 (2020)[3]
 • City15,087
 • Density2,741.10/sq mi (1,058.26/km2)
 • Metro
2,082,421
Time zoneUTC-5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP codes
32750-32779
Area code(s)407, 689 321
FIPS code12-41250[4]
GNIS feature ID2404953[1]
Websitewww.longwoodfl.org

History
"The Senator" in 2012
Clock tower in Longwood Historic District

With the advent of World War II, growth began to impact Longwood as military personnel flowed into the new Naval Air Station Sanford to the north and Orlando Army Air Base to the south. By the 1950s, NAS Sanford was being converted into a Master Jet Base for carrier-based heavy attack aircraft and, along with the re-designated Orlando Air Force Base and nearby Pinecastle AFB (later renamed McCoy AFB), saw even more military families renting or purchasing homes in and around Longwood. In 1959, the city had slightly over 1,000 residents and a city limit boundary that measured approximately 1-mile (1.6 km) by 1-mile (1.6 km) square. In 1960, Longwood Elementary School was constructed and opened inside the city limits. During the 1950s and 1960s, the city also boasted its own airport, a single runway grass airstrip used mainly by private airplanes. Longwood Airport was located on the west side of the city and on the north side of State Road 434, until it was closed and developed into tract housing that became The Woodlands subdivision in the mid-1960s.

In 1965, the city served as a film site and backdrop, representing a fictional south Florida town adjacent to a Seminole Indian tribe reservation in the Universal Studios movie Johnny Tiger. Released in 1966, the movie starred Robert Taylor, Geraldine Brooks and Chad Everett.

New economic and development opportunities were brought to the area in the 1960s and 1970s, fueled by both the military and the space industry, as newly arriving Longwood residents were employed at Martin-Marietta's new missile plant in Orlando; Naval Air Station Sanford; Orlando Air Force Base (redesignated Naval Training Center Orlando in 1969); and McCoy Air Force Base in Orlando; as well as Cape Canaveral Air Force Station; Patrick Air Force Base; and the NASA John F. Kennedy Space Center in Brevard County. The development and opening of Walt Disney World in October 1971, along with other tourist attractions and the high technology corridor of businesses, especially those engaged in the modeling, simulation and training (MS&T) industry and associated military training systems activities near Florida Technological University (FTU), now the University of Central Florida (UCF), fueled even further growth. Short-term economic downturns caused by the closure of NAS Sanford in 1968 and McCoy AFB in 1975 were offset with other economic growth across Central Florida during the 1970s and 1980s. As a result, Longwood developed into primarily a residential community for residents working elsewhere in Seminole County or in adjacent Orange County. By 2000, the city had taken significant steps to revitalize its downtown historic district, expanded its borders through annexation and in the process gained a resident population exceeding 13,700.[5]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.6 square miles (15 km2), of which 5.3 square miles (14 km2) is land and 0.3 square miles (0.78 km2) (5.17%) is water. The city has had two of the oldest trees in America within its borders: The Senator and the remaining Lady Liberty.

Economy

Top employers

According to the city's 2020 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,[6] the top employers in the city are:

# Employer # of Employees % of Total City

Employment

1 South Seminole Hospital 1032 8.83%
2 UPS 703 6.01%
3 D&A Building Services 338 2.89%
4 Comprehensive Energy Services 272 2.33%
5 Collis Roofing 231 1.98%
6 Seminole County Schools 222 1.90%
7 S.I. Goldman 176 1.51%
8 City of Longwood 170 1.45%
9 Longwood Health and Rehabilitation Center 162 1.39%
10 Arc Delray 159 1.36%

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
189057—
1920106—
1930318200.0%
194040627.7%
195071776.6%
19601,689135.6%
19703,20389.6%
198010,029213.1%
199013,31632.8%
200013,7453.2%
201013,657−0.6%
202015,08710.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]

At the 2020 census,[4] there were 15,087 people and 5,697 households in the city. The population density was 2,747.1 inhabitants per square mile (1,060.7/km2). There were 5,680 housing units at an average density of 1,014.3 per square mile (391.6/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 78.5% White, 8.3% African American, 0.1% Native American, 2.7% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 0.3% from other races, and 6.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 19.2% of the population.

There were 5,697 households.

The median household income was $65,651.00.

Points of interest
Bradlee-McIntyre House
Longwood SunRail Station

Schools

The city of Longwood's public schools are a part of Seminole County Public Schools. Longwood contains four public elementary schools (K–5), two public middle schools (6–8), and one public high school (9–12). Two additional high schools are located outside of Longwood, but draw some students from within the city limits.

Elementary schools (public)
  • Longwood Elementary School (Closed in 2011, but reopened in the 2017–2018 school year)[8]
  • Sabal Point Elementary School
  • Wekiva Elementary School
  • Woodlands Elementary School

Middle schools (public)
  • Milwee Middle School
  • Rock Lake Middle School
  • Teague Middle School (in Altamonte Springs)
  • Greenwood Middle School (in Lake Mary)

High schools (public)

Transportation

Major Roads

A small slice of Interstate 4 runs along the western city limits and includes a single exit for State Road 434, which bisects the city to its eastern boundary at US Highway 17/92.[9]

Public Transit

Notable people

References
  1. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Longwood, Florida
  2. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 31, 2021.
  3. "Quickfacts Longwood city, Florida". U.S. Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved July 5, 2022.
  4. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  5. "A Brief History of Longwood". LongwoodFL.org. Archived from the original on March 14, 2009. Retrieved June 5, 2014.
  6. "City of Longwood CAFR" (PDF). longwoodfl.org. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 26, 2022. Retrieved May 1, 2022.
  7. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  8. Martin, Annie. "Longwood Elementary reopening as Seminole adds students". Orlandosentinel.com. Retrieved November 24, 2021.
  9. "Seminole County ArcGIS". seminolegis.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
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