1956 Map of Orlando West

About this map

The expanding Orlando metropolitan area is captured here during a period of mid-century suburbanization and transit development. The western fringes of the city reveal a landscape defined by its many lakes, from the large Lake Fairview to smaller bodies like Lake Sparling and Lake Wekiva. This 1956 survey, updated with 1980 revisions, shows the emergence of significant transportation corridors, most notably the Sunshine State Parkway (Toll Road) cutting through the western terrain. Local history is anchored by the historic town of Eatonville in the northeast and smaller communities like Lockhart and Clarcona. The map reveals a high concentration of educational and civic institutions, such as Edgewater High School and Jones High School, alongside specialized facilities including the Central Florida Hospital and a Prison Farm. This document illustrates the shift from citrus groves and claypits toward the integrated residential and commercial hub of modern Central Florida.