The History of St. Cloud

St. Cloud is a family-friendly town located in the suburbs of South Orlando. The nearly 52,000 residents appreciate the city’s suburban-rural feel with its lakefront space and numerous parks as well as the charming St. Cloud Main Street, which is described as a step back in time. Read on to learn more about the city’s history as well as its present-day vibe and predicted future growth.

St. Cloud’s Past

One of two incorporated cities in Osceola County (with Kissimmee being the other), St. Cloud was founded in 1909 on East Lake Tohopekaliga. In the late 1800s, the largest sugar mill in the country operated there. Some people believe that the name has French origins, while others say it came from the great white clouds above the mill during the refining process.

Originally, it was home to the biggest group of Union Army veterans in the South, luring them with inexpensive city lots, available farmland, and an even-keeled climate and earning the nickname “Soldier City.” Evidence of this past can be found at Mount Peace Cemetery, which opened in 1910. It’s one of the most sizable Union cemeteries in the South with over 400 Union soldier graves. Additionally, many streets are named after states in the Union, as they were given the name of the state from which its first settlers came.

What’s Next for St. Cloud

Osceola County, including St. Cloud, has seen a surge of growth in recent years. In 2017, the city passed a master planning project titled Envision St. Cloud, which answers the question, “What will St. Cloud look like in 2042?” “As we change as a community, we all play an important role,” Growth Management Administrator Veronica Miller explained at the time. “When we talk to others about St. Cloud, we all want to talk about it with pride and admiration. That is our ultimate goal because it will mean that we have a great city that provides a great quality of life to those who live in, work in, and visit St. Cloud.”

If you’re looking to move to Central Florida, St. Cloud is a wonderful location choice to consider! With its above-average public schools, low crime, and an easy 30-minute commute to downtown Orlando, it may be the ideal spot for your next home. Niche.com also ranks the city high for diversity and low-cost living. If you’re interested in learning more about available properties, check our website for active listings.

Be sure to check back next month for the third installment of our The History Of series, with a focus on New Smyrna Beach! You can see our first post here: The History of Kissimmee.

Let The Urban Dog Group help you with your real estate needs in Kissimmee and other areas of Central Florida. Contact Christine Elias at caerealestate@gmail.com.