Eatonville, Florida
Encyclopedia
Eatonville is a town in Orange County
, Florida
, six miles north of Orlando
. It is part of the Orlando–Kissimmee
metropolitan statistical area. The population was 2,432 at the 2000 census. As of 2006, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 2,272 http://www.census.gov/popest/cities/tables/SUB-EST2004-04-12.xls.
in 1863 and was incorporated on August 15, 1887. Zora Neale Hurston
grew up there.
Every winter, Eatonville stages its annual Zora Neale Hurston Festival of the Arts and Humanities and the Zora Neale Hurston Library opened in January 2004.http://www.townofeatonville.org/library.phphttp://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/jan07.html http://www.flausa.com/interests/article.php/articleId=22915/section=historyculture/superSection=Interests/page=5
http://www.townofeatonville.org/history_pg2.html
Eatonville was also the hometown of former professional football player David "Deacon" Jones
. Artist Jules Andre Smith
did a series of paintings depicting life in Eatonville during the 1930s and 1940s. Twelve http://www.aaregistry.com/african_american_history/2055/Eatonville_Florida_a_FUBU_Black_town of these works are at the Maitland Art Center
in the adjacent town of Maitland
.
While sources seem to disagree on the exact date and even the year of the town's incorporation, the town's own official site http://www.townofeatonville.org/history_pg2.html provides a detailed account of the process and the dates. According to that official source, the town is named after Josiah C. Eaton, one of a small group of white landowners who were willing to sell sufficient land to African American
s to create a large enough tract of land to incorporate a black town. In addition to this, Hurston's novel Their Eyes Were Watching God
presents a brief overview of the founding of the town through the eyes of Janie Crawford, the main character of the novel, and some suggest a cipher for Hurston herself. The novel also mentions several places in the state of Florida that many outsiders would have no concept of without the novel.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 1.1 square miles (2.8 km²). 1 square miles (2.6 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (9.17%) is water.
of 2000, there were 2,432 people, 761 households, and 548 families residing in the town. The population density
was 2,469.5 inhabitants per square mile (958.2/km²). There were 858 housing units at an average density of 871.2 per square mile (338.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 89.31% African American, 7.5% White, 0.49% Native American, 0.29% Asian, 1.56% from other races
, and 0.82% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.54% of the population.
There were 761 households out of which 35.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 28.0% were married couples
living together, 37.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.9% were non-families. 22.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.92 and the average family size was 3.42.
In the town the population was spread out with 33.6% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 19.6% from 45 to 64, and 10.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 88.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $29,457, and the median income for a family was $31,042. Males had a median income of $21,719 versus $21,328 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $11,257. About 21.9% of families and 25.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.3% of those under age 18 and 24.5% 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...
, six miles north of 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...
. It is part of the Orlando–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 2,432 at the 2000 census. As of 2006, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 2,272 http://www.census.gov/popest/cities/tables/SUB-EST2004-04-12.xls.
History
It was one of the first all-black towns to be formed after the Emancipation ProclamationEmancipation Proclamation
The Emancipation Proclamation is an executive order issued by United States President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863, during the American Civil War using his war powers. It proclaimed the freedom of 3.1 million of the nation's 4 million slaves, and immediately freed 50,000 of them, with nearly...
in 1863 and was incorporated on August 15, 1887. Zora Neale Hurston
Zora Neale Hurston
Zora Neale Hurston was an American folklorist, anthropologist, and author during the time of the Harlem Renaissance...
grew up there.
Every winter, Eatonville stages its annual Zora Neale Hurston Festival of the Arts and Humanities and the Zora Neale Hurston Library opened in January 2004.http://www.townofeatonville.org/library.phphttp://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/jan07.html http://www.flausa.com/interests/article.php/articleId=22915/section=historyculture/superSection=Interests/page=5
http://www.townofeatonville.org/history_pg2.html
Eatonville was also the hometown of former professional football player David "Deacon" Jones
Deacon Jones
David D. "Deacon" Jones is a former American football defensive end in the National Football League for the Los Angeles Rams, San Diego Chargers, and the Washington Redskins. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1980.Jones specialized in quarterback sacks, a term attributed to him...
. Artist Jules Andre Smith
Jules Andre Smith
Jules Andre Smith founded the Maitland Art Center in Maitland, Florida, USA.-References:...
did a series of paintings depicting life in Eatonville during the 1930s and 1940s. Twelve http://www.aaregistry.com/african_american_history/2055/Eatonville_Florida_a_FUBU_Black_town of these works are at the Maitland Art Center
Maitland Art Center
The Maitland Art Center is a historic site in Maitland, Florida. It was founded and designed by architect and artist J. Andre Smith in 1937. It is located at 231 West Packwood Avenue. On November 17, 1982, it was added to the U.S...
in the adjacent town of Maitland
Maitland, Florida
Maitland is a suburban city in Orange County, Florida, United States, part of the Greater Metro Orlando area. The population was 12,019 at the 2000 census. As of 2006, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 14,172...
.
While sources seem to disagree on the exact date and even the year of the town's incorporation, the town's own official site http://www.townofeatonville.org/history_pg2.html provides a detailed account of the process and the dates. According to that official source, the town is named after Josiah C. Eaton, one of a small group of white landowners who were willing to sell sufficient land to African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
s to create a large enough tract of land to incorporate a black town. In addition to this, Hurston's novel Their Eyes Were Watching God
Their Eyes Were Watching God
Their Eyes Were Watching God is a 1937 novel and the best-known work by African American writer Zora Neale Hurston. Set in central and southern Florida in the early 20th century, the novel garnered attention and controversy at the time of its publication, and has come to be regarded as a seminal...
presents a brief overview of the founding of the town through the eyes of Janie Crawford, the main character of the novel, and some suggest a cipher for Hurston herself. The novel also mentions several places in the state of Florida that many outsiders would have no concept of without the novel.
Geography
Eatonville is located at 28°37′7"N 81°23′0"W (28.618727, -81.383440).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 town has a total area of 1.1 square miles (2.8 km²). 1 square miles (2.6 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (9.17%) is water.
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 2,432 people, 761 households, and 548 families residing in the town. 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 2,469.5 inhabitants per square mile (958.2/km²). There were 858 housing units at an average density of 871.2 per square mile (338.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 89.31% African American, 7.5% White, 0.49% Native American, 0.29% Asian, 1.56% 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 0.82% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.54% of the population.
There were 761 households out of which 35.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 28.0% 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, 37.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.9% were non-families. 22.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.92 and the average family size was 3.42.
In the town the population was spread out with 33.6% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 19.6% from 45 to 64, and 10.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 88.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $29,457, and the median income for a family was $31,042. Males had a median income of $21,719 versus $21,328 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 town was $11,257. About 21.9% of families and 25.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.3% of those under age 18 and 24.5% of those age 65 or over.
Notable residents
- Zora Neale HurstonZora Neale HurstonZora Neale Hurston was an American folklorist, anthropologist, and author during the time of the Harlem Renaissance...
, folklorist and author - Deacon JonesDeacon JonesDavid D. "Deacon" Jones is a former American football defensive end in the National Football League for the Los Angeles Rams, San Diego Chargers, and the Washington Redskins. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1980.Jones specialized in quarterback sacks, a term attributed to him...
, football defensive end - Norm LewisNorm LewisNorm Lewis is an American actor and baritone singer. He has appeared on Broadway as well as in regional theatre.-Life:Lewis was born in Tallahassee, Florida and grew up in Eatonville, Florida...
, actor and baritone singer