Celebration, Florida

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For the Felice Brothers album, see Celebration, Florida (album).

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Celebration, Florida
CDP

Downtown Celebration

Logo

Location in Osceola County and the state of Florida

U.S. Census Map

Coordinates:

281912N 813225WCoordinates:
281912N 813225W

Country

United States

State

Florida

County

Osceola

Area
Total

10.7 sq mi (27.7 km2)

Land

10.7 sq mi (27.6 km2)

Water

0 sq mi (0.1 km2)

Elevation

82 ft (25 m)

Population (2010)
Total

7,427

Density

690/sq mi (270/km2)

Time zone

Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)

Summer (DST)

EDT (UTC-4)

ZIP code

34747

Area code(s)

321 & 407

FIPS code

12-11285[1]

GNIS feature ID

1699772[2]

Website

http://www.celebration.fl.us/

Celebration is a census-designated place (CDP) and a master-planned community in Osceola

County, Florida, United States, located near Walt Disney World Resort and originally developed
by The Walt Disney Company. As part of the OrlandoKissimmee Metropolitan Statistical Area,
Celebration's population was 7,427 at the 2010 census.[3]
Subsequent to founding Celebration, Disney followed its plans[4] to divest most of its control of the
town. Several Disney business units continue to occupy the town's office buildings, and two utility
companies, Smart City Telecom and Reedy Creek Energy Services, both operated from Walt Disney

World, provide services to the town. The town itself remains directly connected to the Walt Disney
World resorts via one of its primary streets, World Drive, which begins near the Magic Kingdom.
Downtown Celebration's post office was designed by Michael Graves, the adjacent Welcome Center
is by Philip Johnson and the Celebration Health building by Robert A. M. Stern.[5] Other nearby
buildings are designed by well known architects including: Charles Moore (Preview Center), Graham
Gund (Bohemian Hotel), Cesar Pelli(movie theatre), Robert Venturi and Denise Scott
Brown (SunTrust Bank).[6]
Response to Celebration has ranged from an early visitor who said it resembled the too-perfect town
of "The Stepford Wives,"[5] to those who see Celebration as an example of new urbanism with its
safe, walkable community.[7]
Contents
[hide]

1 History
2 Geography
3 Demographics
4 City life
o 4.1 Community
o 4.2 Downtown
o 4.3 Commerce
o 4.4 Villages
o 4.5 Transportation
o 4.6 Health
o 4.7 Events
5 Education
6 Notable People
7 Notes
8 See also
9 References
10 External links

History[edit]
In the early 1990s, the Disney Development Company (DDC) established the Celebration Company
to spearhead its development within approximately 4,900 acres (20 km2) of land in the southern
portion of the Reedy Creek Improvement District.[8] Total investment for the project is estimated at
US$2.5 billion.[9]
The master plan was developed by Cooper, Robertson & Partners and Robert A. M. Stern, and the
extensive landscape, parks, trails and pathways were designed by the San Francisco firm EDAW
(now AECOM).[10]Celebration is planned in an early 20th-century architectural style and is not zoned
for high-density residences. Celebration was named the "New Community of the Year" in 2001 by
the Urban Land Institute.[11]
The first phase of residential development occurred in the summer of 1996 with Celebration Village,
West Village and Lake Evalyn; this was followed by the North Village, South Village, East Village
and Aquila Reserve and the final Artisan Park phases.[12] Disney CEO Michael Eisner took an
especially keen interest in the development of the new town in the early days, encouraging the
executives at Disney Development Company to "make history" and develop a town worthy of the
Disney brand and legacy that extended to Walt Disney's vision of anExperimental Prototype

Community of Tomorrow (EPCOT). DDC executives collaborated extensively with leaders in

education, health and technology in addition to planners and architects to create the vision and
operating policies for the town.

Geography[edit]
Celebration is located at 281912N 813225W (28.320059, 81.540149).[13]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 10.7 square miles
(28 km2), of which 0.04 square miles (0.10 km2), or 0.28%, is water.
Celebration is under USPS ZIP code 34747, sometimes known as Kissimmee, Florida. This is due to
the city's being unincorporated, as Celebration is not a subdivision and is still considered an
unincorporated town.

Demographics[edit]

Bank of America building, downtown Celebration

As of the census[1] of 2010, there were 7,427 people, 3,063 households, and 716 families residing in
the CDP. The population density was 704.9 people per square mile (99.0/km). There were 4,566
housing units at an average density of 102.4/sq mi (39.6/km). The racial makeup of the CDP was
91.0% white (with 81.9% of the population non-Hispanic white), 1.5% black, 3.2% Asian, 2.2%
from two or more races and 0.26% Native American. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 11.2% of
the population.
There were 3,063 households, out of which 32.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them,
57.0% were married couples living together, 4.5% had a female householder with no husband
present, and 35.0% were non-families. 24.3% of all households were made up of individuals and
3.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was
2.44 and the average family size was 2.96.
The age distribution was 25.6% under the age of 18, and 9.2% who were 65 years of age or older.
The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 94.7 males. For every 100
females age 18 and over, there were 93.5 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $74,231, and the median income for a family
was $92,334. Males had a median income of $51,250 versus $46,650 for females. The per-capita
income for the CDP was $39,521, and 4.1% of the population lived below the poverty line.

City life[edit]
Community[edit]
Celebration has a variety of community organizations that maintain the town; "each play a role in the
governance of Celebration."[14] There are also seven registered Christian churches, one Hospital
Ministry, and one Jewish congregation.[15]
There are parks throughout the town as well as a fire department, post office, schools, a hospital,
and a golf course.

Downtown[edit]

A view of downtown Market Street.

Celebration Town Center contains shops, restaurants, and other commercial establishments.[16]
The Celebration Hotel hosted the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during training camp until the 2009
season when the team moved training camp back to Tampa Bay. In autumn, leaf-shaped confetti
shoots out of the lamp posts on Market Street to simulate falling leaves. During the holiday season,
suds pour out of the lamp posts to replicate snow while Christmas music streams from the
sidewalks.
There is a water fountain that comes out from the ground for children to play in located next to the
lake, surrounded by palm trees and benches.

Commerce[edit]
The community started with a small number of merchants that the Disney Company selected. There
are now more than five hundred registered companies[17] listed as doing business in the shopping
plazas, small office complexes, and the Disney World office building park. This community does hold
the only Class A office buildings in Osceola County. There is a high number of home businesses.

Villages[edit]

Low-density housing located in a primarily residential village.

Celebration is separated into areas referred to as "villages." The main village, closest to downtown,
is where the first homes were constructed. North Village, closest to U.S. 192, houses the
Georgetown Condos as well as Acadia Estate Homes. East Village includes Roseville Corner and
Aquila Loop. Lake Evalyn, generally considered its own area of Celebration but not quite its own
village, includes a small lake where one can find a multitude of ducks, alligators, and the occasional
river otter. South Village houses the Spring Park Loop estate homes and Heritage Hall. Additionally,
Siena Condos complete the outer edge of South Village by Celebration Blvd. Mirasol includes
condos with concierge service and a day spa. Artisan Park is at the end of Celebration Ave and
houses condos, town homes, single-family residences as well as a clubhouse consisting of a pool,
gym, and restaurant.
Homes and condominiums are constructed along streets, with garages and garbage pickup done in
narrow but paved alleyways behind the homes, keeping the look of home fronts and sidewalks
pristine. Utility service is underground.

Transportation[edit]
91% of residents who work outside their homes drive to work.[18]
Most residents do not often drive long distances and there are a high amount of smart cars or lowspeed vehicles to travel around the town.
Contrary to its design as a quintessential American town, Celebration does not have any road
named Main Street. This is because there was already a Main Street in Osceola County, and street
names cannot be duplicated in the county. The two main roads going through the center of the
downtown area are named Market Street and Front Street. Other streets in Celebration include:
Celebration Avenue
This is considered the main road in the town. The road stretches from U.S. 192 to Artisan Park
where it ends in a traffic circle. Starting from U.S. 192 near the Disney Parks and the Celebration
water tower, you can find a small shopping plaza. From there, Celebration Avenue passes the North
Village, splits the Celebration golf course, winds through a few down-town shops and schools, and
then proceeds into the parks and homes in the newer sections of Celebration.
Celebration Boulevard
Celebration Boulevard has two sections. The most public section is an avenue parallel to I-4 that
includes many commercial businesses and Celebration High School. The architecture on the street
is mostly Celebration Modern style. This style reflects art Streamline Moderne and Art
Deco influences with its sleek lines, sparse but effective ornamentation, and ample opportunities for
individually expressive special features. The entire street is lined with two rows of Washington
Palms. The buildings on the street include sitting areas under the shade of trees and trellises along
their frontage. The other section of Celebration Boulevard lies on the other side of the golf course,
closer to the Celebration Water Tower in the North Village. Here, Celebration Boulevard is almost
completely residential. In addition to the homes perched behind white picket fences, this section of
Celebration Boulevard flows past the Georgetown condominiums, the community pool, and soccer
fields.
Celebration Place
Celebration Place nearly spans the gap between the two sections of Celebration Boulevard, except
that its eastern end terminates at the Water Tower Plaza instead of at the entrance to North Village
on the other side of State Road 417. Celebration Place is a commercial road.

Health[edit]

The community is home to a 174-bed hospital operated by Florida Hospital that resembles a resortstyle facility. Celebration Health has been recently expanded, and also houses a gym, the Fitness
Centre. College Gameday host Lee Corso's brother Ralph Corso is a trainer at the fitness centre.

Events[edit]

A gathering in Celebration onIndependence Day

Celebration hosts many events every year, including community-wide yard sales, an art show, an
exotic car festival, an annual Radio Disney Holiday concert, an Oktoberfest Celebration, the "Great
American Pie Festival" (televised on The Food Network) ,[19] a "Posh Pooch" festival, and downtown
events for the Fall and Christmas seasons when autumn leaves and "snow" (small-scale soap
flakes) are released into the Town Center. The community also hosts a large Independence
Dayfireworks celebration. The town events are organized on the Internet by the Community
Calendar.[20] Chris Fowler performed the star spangled banner during Fourth of July celebrations in
Celebration in 2006.

Education[edit]
The School District of Osceola County, Florida operates public schools in Celebration.[21] Celebration
is zoned to the Celebration School for K-8.[22] Celebration High School, located in the city, serves
Celebration for grades 912.[23] There are private education options provided by the Montessori
School of Celebration (K-8).[24] Private graduate education is available at Stetson University
Celebration Campus.[25] There are free classes offered at the community center by clubs for cooking,
gardening, art, writing, and technology.
The Osceola Library System operates the West Osceola Branch Library in Celebration.[26]

Notable People[edit]
2 Cold Scorpio professional wrestler for many promotions, including WWE [

Notes[edit]
1. ^ Jump up to:a b "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved2008-01-31.
2. Jump up^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25.
Retrieved 2008-01-31.
3. Jump up^ "Race, Hispanic or Latino, Age, and Housing Occupancy: 2010 Census Redistricting
Data (Public Law 94-171) Summary File (QT-PL), Celebration CDP, Florida". U.S. Census
Bureau, American FactFinder 2. Retrieved August 5,2011.
4. Jump up^ "Disney Is Selling a Town It Built to Reflect the Past". The New York Times, Abby
Goodnough, January 16, 2004. January 16, 2004.
5. ^ Jump up to:a b "At Celebration, Some Reasons to Celebrate". The New York Times, Lyn Riddle,
March 7, 1999. March 7, 1999.
6. Jump up^ Architectural walking tour description, Celebration web site

7. Jump up^ "Town-Building Is No Mickey Mouse Operation". The New York Times,Michael
Pollan, December 14, 1997. December 14, 1997.
8. Jump up^ Davis, Brandy (April 1997). "New Urbanism: Cause for Celebration?", Impact Press.
Retrieved on October 20, 2007.
9. Jump up^ Frantz, Douglas; Catherine Collins (September 9, 1999). Celebration, U.S.A.: Living
in Disney's Brave New Town. Henry Holt and Company. p. 23. ISBN 0-8050-5560-6.
10. Jump up^ "Design, Planning and Environments Worldwide". EDAW. August 18, 2009.
Retrieved October 2, 2009.
11. Jump up^ "The Urban Land Institute". Cincinnati.uli.org. Retrieved October 2, 2009.
12. Jump up^ Celebration, Florida General Information (December 2005)
13. Jump up^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-0212. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
14. Jump up^ "My Town". Celebration Front Porch. Retrieved on December 1, 2007.
15. Jump up^ "Religious Organizations in the town of Celebration". Celebration Front Porch.
Retrieved on December 1, 2007.
16. Jump up^ "Celebration Florida". Celebration Town Center. Retrieved 2012-07-05.
17. Jump up^ "Sunbiz.org" Division of Corporations Florida Department of State
18. Jump up^ Glaeser, Edward. Triumph of the City. Penguin Books, 2011, p. 215.
19. Jump up^ "Great American Pie Festival"
20. Jump up^ "Community Calendar" Celebration Desktop
21. Jump up^ "Celebration CDP, Florida." U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on December 29, 2010.
22. Jump up^ "Celebration School (K-8) Attendance Zone Boundary 2010/2011." School District of
Osceola County, Florida. Retrieved on December 29, 2010.
23. Jump up^ "Celebration High Attendance Zone Boundary 2010/2011." School District of Osceola
County, Florida. Retrieved on December 29, 2010.
24. Jump up^ "Montessori School"
25. Jump up^ "Stetson Celebration Office"
26. Jump up^ "Hours & Locations." Osceola Library System. Retrieved on December 29, 2010.
Click map link, and "6070 W Irlo Bronson Memorial Hwy Kissimmee, FL 34747" will be displayed

See also[edit]
Florida portal

Golden Oak at Walt Disney World Resort A concept high-end resort living community within the
Walt Disney World resort
Val d'Europe - located around 35 km to the east of Paris, near Disneyland Paris. Val d'Europe
was built in conjunction with The Walt Disney Company

References[edit]

Frantz, Douglas and Collins, Catherine. Celebration, U.S.A.: Living in Disney's Brave New
Town (ISBN 978-0-8050-5561-0)
Ross, Andrew (September 5, 2000). The Celebration Chronicles: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of
Property Value in Disney's New Town. Ballantine Books. ISBN 0-345-41752-6.

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has

media related
to Celebration, Florida.

Celebration Independent Online Magazine

Official town web site - includes architectural walking tour
Celebration Town Center web site
Celebration Front Porch community web site
Architecture of Celebration - photos and text
[hide]

Municipalities and communities of Osceola County, Florida, United Sta

County seat: Kissimmee

Cities

Kissimmee
St. Cloud

CDPs

Buenaventura Lakes
Campbell
Celebration
Four Corners
Poinciana
Yeehaw Junction

Unincorporated

communities

Footnotes

Ashton
Bull Creek
Deer Park
Harmony
Holopaw
Intercession City
Kenansville
Lake Marian Highlands
Narcoosee
Reedy Creek Improvement District

This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

Categories:

The Walt Disney Company

Populated places established in 1994

Planned cities in the United States

New Urbanism communities

Census-designated places in Osceola County, Florida

Greater Orlando

Celebration, Florida

Utopian communities

Visitor attractions in Osceola County, Florida

Census-designated places in Florida

Planned communities in Florida