Belle Isle, Florida
Encyclopedia
Belle Isle is a city in Orange County
, Florida
, United States
. The population was 5,531 at the 2000 census. According to the U.S Census estimates of 2006, the city had a population of 6,457. It is part of the Orlando
–Kissimmee
Metropolitan Statistical Area.
around the 9th century. The first organized government of Belle Isle was established in 1924, with C. H. Hoffner as the community's first mayor. This government lasted until 1938, when it was deactivated. Belle Isle was re-established in 1954, and has been running continuously since.
Since 2003, Belle Isle has run under a council-manager government
, with the mayor being a strictly ceremonial position. Seven commissioners are elected to represent their respective districts on the city council. All elected officials serve three year terms without compensation.
In 2009, the City of Belle Isle established its own police
department, which would take over the area's jurisdiction from the Orange County Sheriff
. The incorporation of the department has almost doubled the total number of city employees, increasing the number from 11 to 20.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 4.6 square miles (11.9 km²). 1.9 square miles (4.9 km²) of it is land and 2.7 square miles (7 km²) of it (58.53%) is water.
The city of Belle Isle is particularly close to Orlando International Airport
, being only three miles northwest of it; Orlando
itself is only five miles north. Belle Isle is known in Central Florida as the location of Lake Conway, one of Greater Orlando's largest lakes. The southern portion of Little Lake Conway, another large lake, is also in Belle Isle.
of 2000, there were 5,531 people, 2,199 households, and 1,618 families residing in the city. The population density
was 2,873.2 inhabitants per square mile (1,106.5/km²). There were 2,299 housing units at an average density of 1,194.3 per square mile (459.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.36% White, 1.88% African American, 0.13% Native American, 1.25% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.32% from other races
, and 1.05% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.98% of the population.
There were 2,199 households out of which 29.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.9% were married couples
living together, 7.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.4% were non-families. 20.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 2.89.
In the city the population was spread out with 22.7% under the age of 18, 4.7% from 18 to 24, 28.9% from 25 to 44, 27.0% from 45 to 64, and 16.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 100.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $65,155, and the median income for a family was $68,571. Males had a median income of $47,394 versus $32,150 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $29,087. About 1.9% of families and 2.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.2% of those under age 18 and 4.2% of those age 65 or over.
Orange County, Florida
Orange County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida and is part of the Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford Metropolitan Statistical Area . As of 2010 U.S. Census, the county had a population of 1,145,956....
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 5,531 at the 2000 census. According to the U.S Census estimates of 2006, the city had a population of 6,457. It is part of the Orlando
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
–Kissimmee
Kissimmee, Florida
Kissimmee is a city in Osceola County, Florida, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 59,682. It is the county seat of Osceola County...
Metropolitan Statistical Area.
History
The area now known as Belle Isle was first inhabited by the TimucuaTimucua
The Timucua were a Native American people who lived in Northeast and North Central Florida and southeast Georgia. They were the largest indigenous group in that area and consisted of about 35 chiefdoms, many leading thousands of people. The various groups of Timucua spoke several dialects of the...
around the 9th century. The first organized government of Belle Isle was established in 1924, with C. H. Hoffner as the community's first mayor. This government lasted until 1938, when it was deactivated. Belle Isle was re-established in 1954, and has been running continuously since.
Since 2003, Belle Isle has run under a council-manager government
Council-manager government
The council–manager government form is one of two predominant forms of municipal government in the United States; the other common form of local government is the mayor-council government form, which characteristically occurs in large cities...
, with the mayor being a strictly ceremonial position. Seven commissioners are elected to represent their respective districts on the city council. All elected officials serve three year terms without compensation.
In 2009, the City of Belle Isle established its own police
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
department, which would take over the area's jurisdiction from the Orange County Sheriff
Orange County Sheriff's Office (Florida)
The Orange County Sheriff's Office is the chief law enforcement agency for Orange County, Florida, USA. The office is one of the largest law enforcement agencies in the southeastern United States with a budget of more than $180 million dollars and over 2,400 sworn and civilian employees...
. The incorporation of the department has almost doubled the total number of city employees, increasing the number from 11 to 20.
Geography
Belle Isle is located at 28.464582°N 81.350391°W.According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 4.6 square miles (11.9 km²). 1.9 square miles (4.9 km²) of it is land and 2.7 square miles (7 km²) of it (58.53%) is water.
The city of Belle Isle is particularly close to Orlando International Airport
Orlando International Airport
Orlando International Airport is a major international airport located southeast of the central business district of Orlando. It is the second busiest airport in Florida, after Miami International Airport...
, being only three miles northwest of it; Orlando
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
itself is only five miles north. Belle Isle is known in Central Florida as the location of Lake Conway, one of Greater Orlando's largest lakes. The southern portion of Little Lake Conway, another large lake, is also in Belle Isle.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 5,531 people, 2,199 households, and 1,618 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 2,873.2 inhabitants per square mile (1,106.5/km²). There were 2,299 housing units at an average density of 1,194.3 per square mile (459.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.36% White, 1.88% African American, 0.13% Native American, 1.25% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.32% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.05% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.98% of the population.
There were 2,199 households out of which 29.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.9% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 7.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.4% were non-families. 20.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 2.89.
In the city the population was spread out with 22.7% under the age of 18, 4.7% from 18 to 24, 28.9% from 25 to 44, 27.0% from 45 to 64, and 16.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 100.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $65,155, and the median income for a family was $68,571. Males had a median income of $47,394 versus $32,150 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $29,087. About 1.9% of families and 2.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.2% of those under age 18 and 4.2% of those age 65 or over.