Christmas, Florida
Encyclopedia
Christmas is a census-designated place
and an unincorporated area in Orange County
, Florida
, United States
. It is part of the Orlando
–Kissimmee
Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,162 at the 2000 census. Christmas is home to the world's largest alligator
shaped building, measuring at just over 200 feet (61 m). Every year, Christmas sends a large amount of mail from its Post Office
from people who mail letters from the town so they can have the "Christmas" postmark on their holiday mailings.
It is also home to many Orlando digital TV stations' transmission towers.
. The fort was one of over 200 forts built during the Second Seminole War
.
, the CDP has a total area of 9.21 km² (3.6 mi²), all land.
of 2000, there were 1,162 people, 420 households, and 304 families residing in the CDP. The population density
was 125.7/km² (325.3/mi²). There were 446 housing units at an average density of 48.2/km² (124.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 95.44% White, 0.43% African American, 0.69% Native American, 0.95% Asian, 0.60% from other races
, and 1.89% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.15% of the population.
There were 420 households out of which 30.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.5% were married couples
living together, 14.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.6% were non-families. 18.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.77 and the average family size was 3.08.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 26.5% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 29.9% from 25 to 44, 25.0% from 45 to 64, and 12.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 107.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.8 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $31,679, and the median income for a family was $30,667. Males had a median income of $32,981 versus $22,269 for females. The per capita income
for the CDP was $13,816. About 15.0% of families and 12.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.3% of those under age 18 and 12.6% of those age 65 or over.
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
and an unincorporated area in Orange County
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...
. 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. The population was 1,162 at the 2000 census. Christmas is home to the world's largest alligator
Alligator
An alligator is a crocodilian in the genus Alligator of the family Alligatoridae. There are two extant alligator species: the American alligator and the Chinese alligator ....
shaped building, measuring at just over 200 feet (61 m). Every year, Christmas sends a large amount of mail from its Post Office
Post office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
from people who mail letters from the town so they can have the "Christmas" postmark on their holiday mailings.
It is also home to many Orlando digital TV stations' transmission towers.
History
On December 25, 1837, a force of 2,000 U.S. Army Soldiers and Alabama Volunteers arrived in the area to construct a fort, which they named, Fort ChristmasFort Christmas
Fort Christmas was built near present day Christmas, Florida during the Second Seminole War. Construction began on December 25, 1837, with the arrival of 2,000 U.S. Army Soldiers and Alabama volunteers.-Fort Christmas Historical Park:...
. The fort was one of over 200 forts built during the Second Seminole War
Second Seminole War
The Second Seminole War, also known as the Florida War, was a conflict from 1835 to 1842 in Florida between various groups of Native Americans collectively known as Seminoles and the United States, part of a series of conflicts called the Seminole Wars...
.
Geography
Christmas is located at 28°32′N 81°0′W (28.5324, -80.9940). According to the United States Census BureauUnited 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 CDP has a total area of 9.21 km² (3.6 mi²), all land.
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 1,162 people, 420 households, and 304 families residing in the CDP. 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 125.7/km² (325.3/mi²). There were 446 housing units at an average density of 48.2/km² (124.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 95.44% White, 0.43% African American, 0.69% Native American, 0.95% Asian, 0.60% 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 1.89% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.15% of the population.
There were 420 households out of which 30.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.5% 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, 14.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.6% were non-families. 18.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.77 and the average family size was 3.08.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 26.5% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 29.9% from 25 to 44, 25.0% from 45 to 64, and 12.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 107.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.8 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $31,679, and the median income for a family was $30,667. Males had a median income of $32,981 versus $22,269 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 CDP was $13,816. About 15.0% of families and 12.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.3% of those under age 18 and 12.6% of those age 65 or over.