Apopka is a city located 12 miles northwest of Orlando in Orange County, Florida.  The city is part of the Orlando Kissimmee Metropolitan Statistical Area and in July 2008 had a population of 37,935 according to the U.S. Census Bureau.  The city has experienced huge growth since 2000 and still continues to grow from the small agricultural town it once was. 

The area had inhabitants long before the Spanish arrived in 1730 but little is known about them.  When the Seminole Indians relocated here they called the area, “Ahapopka”.  This meant potato eating place and the name has stuck ever since but the spelling has been slightly changed.  It was not until after the conclusion of the Civil War that Apopka started growing in population.  In 1882 Apopka was officially incorporated in a one square mile grid from the Masonic Lodge built years before.  In February 1915 electricity was finished in the city and growth took off.  The Masonic Lodge is still in its original location and is the oldest lodge room in the state.  Growing ferns became a way of life in Apopka in 1912 and the city was called the “Fern City”, later this name was changed to “The Indoor Foliage Capital of the World” when other foliage was grown here in large numbers.

Apopka has many events throughout the year tailored to people of all ages.  The main events held by the city are:

• Spring Fling 5K run – First Saturday in March
• Senior’s Fun and Fitness Fair – Middle of March
• Apopka Fair – Second weekend in March
• Easter Egg Hunt at Northwest Rec. Complex – Last weekend in March
• Art and Foliage Festival – Third weekend in April
• Memorial Day Festival – Memorial Day May
• Turkey Trot 5K Run – Second Saturday in November
• Apopka Christmas Parade – First weekend in December
• Foliage Sertoma Club of Apopka Christmas Parade – Second Saturday in December
• Winter Wonderland celebration in the park – Second Saturday in December

Apopka also offers many classes and weekly events from movie nights to martial arts classes if you are looking for more ways to get out of the house. 

Another great way to get out of the town is attend one of the great colleges in or near to Apopka.  The choices include:

• Career Training Institute
• University of Phoenix – Orlando Campus
• Rollins College
• Valencia Community College
• Seminole Community College
• Lake – Sumter Community College
• Jones Business School
• Mid-Florida Technical Institute
• University of Central Florida
• Stetson College
• Embry Riddle Aeronautical University

Any of those colleges are great places to get an education while still commuting from Apopka.

Moreover Apopka has some great outdoor areas for residents.  The city is trying to brand itself with a new motto, “Where the Fun Begins”, and having the parks and lakes in the city makes the motto very true.  The parks offer nature trails to sports fields and the lakes offer places to catch huge bass and get away from stress.  The parks and lakes in Apopka are: 

• Northwest Recreation Complex
• Fran Carlton Center
• Alonzo Williams Park
• Apopka Athletic Complex
• Kit Land Nelson Park
• Doctors’ Dog Park
• Dream Lake Park
• Lake Avenue Park
• Lake Semmes
• Lake Hiawatha
• Medicine Lake
• Carp Lake
• Lake Carter
• Lake Alden
• Upper Doe Lake
• Lake McDade
• Lake Apopka

If the parks and lakes in Apopka don’t give you enough to do outdoors there is the Wekiva Spring’s State Park located just 3 miles outside the city limits.  Here 48 million gallons of spring water bubble up to the surface daily in the main springhead.  This park can be enjoyed by canoeing, swimming, or camping in this natural paradise. 

Apopka is a fast growing city in Central Florida near Orlando.  The city still celebrates it past but prepares for the future.  The schools here are one of the best in Orange County and the surroundings of the parks and lakes make living here enjoyable.  Apopka still maintains a small town fell but has all of the amenities of the bigger cities nearby.