Ocoee's Centennial Story: 100 Years of History, Heritage, and Community
From a citrus-scented pioneer settlement to a thriving Orlando suburb — how one West Orange County city grew into something extraordinary
Ocoee, Florida officially became a city on May 13, 1925, and is celebrating its 100th anniversary of incorporation in 2025. The city was first settled in the mid-1850s near Starke Lake and platted as the Town of Ocoee in 1886, with the name derived from the Cherokee word for "apricot vine." From a population of 820 settlers at incorporation, Ocoee has grown to approximately 51,186 residents today, covering 15.7 square miles in Orange County. The city's centennial events in 2025 include a Centennial Celebration at Bill Breeze Park on May 9 and a Time Capsule Ceremony at the historic Withers-Maguire House on May 13.
Here's something that surprises a lot of people moving to the Orlando area: that busy, growing city just west of the city — the one with the great schools, the lakefront parks, and the easy access to SR 429 — has been quietly building itself for 170 years. We're talking about Ocoee, and in 2025, it's celebrating a major milestone: 100 years as an incorporated city.
Whether you're already a resident, considering a move to West Orange County, or just a history buff who loves Central Florida's stories, Ocoee's centennial is worth knowing about. This is a city that went from 820 settlers surrounded by citrus groves to over 51,000 residents with a 20,000-square-foot skate park — and that's a journey worth celebrating.
How It All Began: Pioneers, Citrus, and a Cherokee Name
Long before anyone drew city limits on a map, Ocoee's story began in the mid-1850s when Dr. J.D. Starke arrived at the north shore of a clear, pine-fringed lake that now bears his name. Clean water was a draw in an era when malaria was a real concern, and a small camp gradually grew into a village.
After the Civil War, more settlers arrived — including Captain Bluford Sims and Civil War General William Temple Withers — and in 1886, the community was officially platted and renamed. Ocoee comes from the Cherokee word uwagahi, meaning "apricot vine place," a nod to the passion flower native to the region. Captain Sims also established the first commercial citrus nursery in the United States right here in Ocoee, shipping young trees across Florida and to California. By the 1880s, the Florida Midland Railroad had arrived, and the sweet fragrance of orange blossoms would define Ocoee's identity for decades to come.
May 13, 1925: A City Is Born
Ocoee officially became a municipality in 1923 and was incorporated as a full city on May 13, 1925 — the date the centennial commemorates. At the time, it was a small agricultural township of just 820 settlers, with citrus packinghouses dotting the landscape and Ocoee High School opening that very same year. The city's first graduating class came out in 1926, and by then, the community already had a volunteer fire department, social clubs, and a recognizable downtown centered on Bluford Avenue.
One of Ocoee's oldest landmarks, the Withers-Maguire House on North Bluford Avenue, was built in 1888 by General William Temple Withers in the Stick Victorian style using Florida heart pine milled on the property. Purchased in 1910 by David Oscar Maguire — whose son Fred became the city's first mayor — the house has been city-owned since 1983 and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1987. It's also the site of the 2025 Time Capsule Ceremony on May 13.
The Shadow in the Story: The 1920 Election Day Massacre
No honest telling of Ocoee's history skips 1920. On November 2 of that year — five years before the city was even incorporated — members of Ocoee's Black community attempted to vote on Election Day and were met with deadly violence by white supremacists intent on suppressing that right. The Ocoee Massacre, as it is now known, resulted in dozens of Black residents being killed or forced to flee. In the 1920 census, Ocoee was home to 255 Black residents; the 1930 census recorded just two.
For decades, the city never officially acknowledged this chapter. That changed in 2020, exactly 100 years later, when Mayor Rusty Johnson delivered a formal public apology on behalf of the city. In 2024, Ocoee unveiled a memorial at Unity Park honoring the 263 Black residents who were victimized. A centennial mural by local artist Christian Stanley in downtown Ocoee also incorporates the memorial as a reminder that a full history requires honest reckoning. The city has chosen to lead its centennial year with both celebration and accountability — and that makes this milestone more meaningful, not less.
From Citrus Groves to Suburban Growth
For much of the 20th century, Ocoee was defined by its groves. By the mid-1940s, Florida had surpassed California in citrus production, and Ocoee was squarely in the middle of that boom. In the 1930s, the St. Louis Cardinals' farm team held spring training nearby, and when they donated old uniforms to Ocoee High School, the Cardinals became the school mascot with red and white as team colors.
Winter freezes in 1962, 1981, 1983, and 1989 gradually ended the citrus era. But Ocoee was already transforming. SR 50 arrived in 1959, Florida's Turnpike in 1964, SR 408 in 1990. The completion of SR 429 in 2000 linked Ocoee to Walt Disney World and supercharged growth across the region. For more on the area's key artery, visit our guide to the Highway 50 corridor.
Ocoee Today: A Centennial Worth Celebrating
From 820 settlers to more than 51,000 residents across 15.7 square miles — that's the Ocoee story in a number. The city sits in the heart of West Orange County, bordered by Winter Garden to the west, Gotha to the south, and Horizon West further southwest. It's part of the broader Orange County community, with access to top-rated schools, a growing downtown scene, and lakefront recreation at Starke Lake.
Modern Ocoee boasts a 20,000-square-foot Action Sports Park, a beloved annual Ocoee Music Festival, and Unity Park as a gathering space for community events. The West Orange Trail runs right through the region, connecting Ocoee to neighboring communities along a 22-mile multi-use path. And Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive is just minutes north — one of Central Florida's best nature escapes.
For anyone thinking about making Ocoee home, the city's schools fall under Ocoee's highly regarded schools guide, and Ocoee High School — reopened in 2005 under the new "Knights" banner — continues the Cardinals legacy with a mascot that features a soaring cardinal on its uniform. For shopping and dining, nearby Winter Garden Village is just minutes away, offering a full range of retail and restaurant options.
What the Locals Know
Ocoee doesn't always top the "best places in Orlando" listicles — and that's part of its charm. Its centennial year reflects genuine community character: Valentine's Day events at Bill Breeze Park, a 1,200-square-foot centennial mural on McKey Street, community markets with local vendors, and that Time Capsule Ceremony at one of Orange County's oldest homes. The hashtag is #100YearsOcoee, and the spirit is real.
If you're relocating to the Orlando metro and want a community with deep roots and strong infrastructure, Ocoee belongs on your list. It's earned its centennial by doing the hard work of growing, healing, and building something worth passing down. 🌿
For the full centennial timeline, events calendar, and historical photos, visit the official 100 Years Ocoee website.
Thinking about making West Orange County your home? Explore our Ocoee homes for sale or browse our Ocoee parks and recreation guide to get a feel for everyday life in this century-old community. Have questions? Contact us — we know this area well.
