Rich in history and beauty, Eatonville, Florida is the “oldest incorporated African American municipality in America.” Soon after the US Civil War, many freed slaves moved to Central Florida searching for a new beginning. These new residents worked hard at clearing the land, planting vegetables and citrus groves,...
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Rich in history and beauty, Eatonville, Florida is the “oldest incorporated African American municipality in America.” Soon after the US Civil War, many freed slaves moved to Central Florida searching for a new beginning. These new residents worked hard at clearing the land, planting vegetables and citrus groves, building new homes, and working for the railroad. In 1887, in response to a legal notice advertised in the Maitland Courier, a group of 27 African-American men, voted unanimously to incorporate the municipality of Eatonville.
Located just six miles north of Orlando, Eatonville is the hometown of many famous African-Americans including David “Deacon” Jones, a professional football player and actor, and Zora Neale Hurston, a widely acclaimed writer, folklorist, and cultural anthropologist. Zora Neale Hurston is author of the book Their Eyes Were Watching God that presents an overview of the founding of Eatonville from the prospective of the main character in the novel, Janie Starks.
Eatonville is located only minutes to all of the excitement of Orlando including the theme parks of Walt Disney World, Sea World, and Universal Studios. Established in 1990, Eatonville also boasts the Zora Neale Hurston National Museum of Fine Arts that showcases the work of artists of African descent. Eatonville is also home to the “Zora Festival.”
Located in Orange County with an estimated population of 2,272, Eatonville is a small community with two public schools, Robert Hungerford Elementary School and Robert Hungerford Preparatory High School. The University of Central Florida in Orlando is just minutes away from this quaint town. Recent home sales in Eatonville range between $150,000 for a home built in 1945 to $199,500 for a home built in 1980. Home styles vary, but many are older ranch-style homes.
Eatonville is sited about one hour and thirty minutes from Tampa and about one hour from Daytona Beach with the convenience of Interstate 4 just minutes away. For commuters in Eatonville, the Lynx bus provides an alternative to driving your own car with bus routes in Orange, Osceola, and Seminole Counties.
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