Lake Buena Vista, Florida

Lake Buena Vista is a city in Orange County, Florida, United States.It is mostly known to being home to the Walt Disney World Resort. The population was 16 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 15. ^* It is one of two Florida municipalities controlled by The Walt Disney Company.

History

Chapter 67-1965 of the Laws of Florida, incorporating the City of Reedy Creek, was signed into law by Governor Claude R. Kirk, Jr. on May 12, 1967, the same day he also signed chapters 67-764 (creating the Reedy Creek Improvement District) and 67-1104 (incorporating the City of Bay Lake). It was located fully inside the Reedy Creek Improvement District. The city was controlled by The Walt Disney Company and allowed it powers that other area attractions have not had.

Chapter 69-1527, which became a law on July 3, 1969 without the Governor's approval, redefined the city boundaries. The city was completely moved, taking over some land that had been part of the City of Bay Lake (and was given up by Chapter 69-836, which became a law the same day) and including some other land that had formerly been unincorporated. Soon after, the City of Reedy Creek was renamed to the City of Lake Buena Vista to better reflect its new location, through which Reedy Creek did not flow. "Buena Vista" comes from the name of the street in Burbank, California where The Walt Disney Company is located.

The Reedy Creek Improvement District had all the powers of the City and more, so there seems to be no reason for a city. However, Walt Disney's original plans for the site included at least one futuristic living area. This was never built, but some of the ideas were incorporated into Epcot and later Celebration, Florida. The only residents of the city are Disney employees that live in a small community on Royal Oak Court, north of Downtown Disney. The only landowners are fully-owned subsidiaries of Disney, and right-of-way for state and county roads.

The lake

The body of water named Lake Buena Vista is a very small (L < 100 m) body of water located entirely inside the Buena Vista Golf Course, north of the crossing of the 535 and the I-4. The lake, named Black Lake before Disney came, was most probably named for Buena Vista Street in Burbank, California where Disney's corporate offices and main studios are located. Several entertainment business entities within the WDC structure have names containing "Buena Vista", a Spanish phrase that roughly corresponds to "fair view".

Geography

Lake Buena Vista is located at (28.377362, -81.521728).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 12.7 km² (4.9 mi²). 12.5 km² (4.8 mi²) of it is land and 0.2 km² (0.1 mi²) of it (1.84%) is water.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 16 people, 9 households, and 5 families residing in the city. The population density was 1.3/km² (3.3/mi²). There were 11 housing units at an average density of 0.9/km² (2.3/mi²). Everyone in the city is White, and nobody is Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 9 households out of which one had children under the age of 18 living with them, four are married couples living together, none have a female householder with no husband present, and four are non-families. Four of all households are made up of individuals and one consists of someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.78 and the average family size was 2.40.

In the city the population was spread out with two under the age of 18, nobody between 18 and 24, three from 25 to 44, six from 45 to 64, and five who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 53 years. For every 100 females there were 100.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $39,375, and the median income for a family was $62,500. Males had a median income of $60,000 versus $38,750 for females. The per capita income for the city was $25,769. No one in the city is below the poverty line.

Population history

1970......12
1980......98
1990...1,776 (Z)
2000......16

(Z):Includes the Vista Way apartments, which began operation in 1988 and were de-annexed in the 1990s

Source: Lake Buena Vista's 1990 Census Profile

External links

Terraserver image of the community where all residents live

Cities in Florida | Company towns | Orange County, Florida | Walt Disney Company subsidiaries | Walt Disney World Resort