Pine Hills, Florida

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Pine Hills-Orlando, Fl.
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settlement_type = CDP
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mapsize = 250x200px
map_caption = Location in Orange County and the state of Florida


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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = flag|United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = flag|Florida
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = noflag|Orange
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government_type = Mayor-Commissioner Plan
leader_title = County Mayor
leader_name = Richard T. Crotty
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established_title = Incorporated
established_date = uninc.
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unit_pref = Imperial
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area_total_km2 = 20.5
area_land_km2 = 8
area_water_km2 = 0.6
area_total_sq_mi = 8
area_land_sq_mi = 8
area_water_sq_mi = 0.2
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population_as_of = 2000
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population_total = 41,770
population_density_km2 = 2099.1
population_density_sq_mi = 5436.7
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timezone = Eastern (EST)
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
latd = 28 |latm = 34 |lats = 30 |latNS = N
longd = 81 |longm = 27 |longs = 26 |longEW = W
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 35
elevation_ft = 115
postal_code_type = ZIP codes
postal_code = 32808, 32818, 32810
area_code = 407
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 12-56825GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0288851GR|3
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Pine Hills is a census-designated place, an unincorporated area in Orange County, Florida, United States, and a suburb of Orlando, Florida. The population was 41,764 at the 2000 census. Pine Hills comprises the area from the east side of Apopka-Vineland Rd. to the west side of Mercy Dr. from North Lane south to SR 408 (East-West Expressway).

The area that would become Pine Hills was established in the early 1950s with the first subdivisions built along the newly constructed Pine Hills Rd north of Colonial Dr. (SR 50) and was one of the first suburbs of Orlando. It gradually grew to serve as a bedroom community for the blue-collar employees of Martin-Marietta (now, Lockheed-Martin) and was once primarily composed of upper-middle class families. Pine Hills was complete with (at the time in the 1950s) a modern shopping mall and country club. The shopping mall still stands as the Pine Hills Marketplace, now a strip-mall with an AutoZone and discount stores. The country club was closed and apartment complexes were built on the site in the 1990s.

During the 1980s an effort was made by the City of Orlando to annex Pine Hills. The long time homeowners rejected this measure fearing larger taxes and little representation. During this time, as Orlando's growth absorbed Pine Hills, many other original families left Pine Hills and moved into newer neighborhoods in nearby Ocoee, Winter Garden and MetroWest. Pine Hills fell into a state of decline during the 1990s as much of the housing became low rent and government subsidised, resulting in higher crime and little representation from the local government. Many homeowners now embrace the idea of Orlando annexing Pine Hills, arguing the potential benefits are better police protection and city beautification services.

Pine Hills could arguably be considered the most ethnically diverse neighborhood in Orlando. Pine Hills has a sizeable Caribbean population including Haitians, Jamaicans, and Puerto Ricans; and a large Asian population of Vietnamese, Koreans, and Cambodians. Along Pine Hills Rd are located many immigration offices, Caribbean & Asian restaurants, and West Indian grocery stores. To reflect the growing ethnic diversity in Pine Hills, developers are building another "Chinatown" for Orlando along West Colonial Dr. with Asian-themed grocery stores, restaurants, and retail outlets.

The area is known locally as "Crime Hills or "Choppa City" because of frequent search helicopters over the area.

Geography

Pine Hills is located at coor dms|28|34|30|N|81|27|26|W|city (28.574876, -81.457267)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 20.5 km² (7.9 mi²). 19.9 km² (7.7 mi²) of it is land and 0.6 km² (0.2 mi²) of it (3.03%) is water.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 41,764 people, 13,358 households, and 10,031 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 2,099.6/km² (5,436.7/mi²). There were 14,125 housing units at an average density of 710.1/km² (1,838.8/mi²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 51.42% African American, 33.93% White, 14.07% Hispanic or Latino, 2.89% Asian, 0.28% Native American, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 5.86% from other races, and 5.57% from two or more races.

There were 13,358 households out of which 41.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.9% were married couples living together, 23.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.9% were non-families. 18.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.11 and the average family size was 3.53.

In the CDP the population was spread out with 32.9% under the age of 18, 10.2% from 18 to 24, 30.6% from 25 to 44, 18.4% from 45 to 64, and 7.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 92.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.2 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $33,455, and the median income for a family was $34,997. Males had a median income of $25,613 versus $21,099 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $13,257. About 14.8% of families and 18.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.4% of those under age 18 and 14.8% of those age 65 or over.

There is a true discrepancy when it comes to the income, on average the income would be much higher. Because of Pine Hills' roots as an upper-middle class suburb there were and still are larger homes in the area that measure out to over 5000 square feet. The style and architecture of those homes show that there is some type of wealth still in Pine Hills. An approximate MacMansion that measured 4817 square feet recently sold for $488,000. Also on White Heron Drive, a large home built in 2005; not measured but is "eyed out" to be a tad bit larger than 5000 square feet and in today's market is most likely to be sold over $500,000.

Pine Hills' Population History from the U.S. Census Bureau

*1970....13,882
*1980....35,771
*1990....35,322
*2000....41,764
*2005....45,000(not official)
*2010....50,000(a stratigraphic guess)an independent reporting agency suggests that the 2010 census will bring about the population being 50,000; stating that the developments that have happened continue to grow even faster and the economy is starting to strive in "Dowtown"- the stretch of Pine Hills Road between SR-50Colonial Drive and Silver Star Road that has an affluence of homes converted into offices, and other types of commerce. The 2005 estimated population was 45,000.

Economy

The primary industry in Pine Hills is retail. Major companies with a presence in Pine Hills are Target, Wal-Mart, The Home Depot, Lowes, Circuit City, Publix Supermarkets, and Winn-Dixie.

Light industry is located along east Silver Star Rd.

Due to its relatively central location, Pine Hills enjoys close proximity to Orlando's burgeoning business and tourism centers. Many residents commute to Downtown Orlando, less than 5 miles east, the northern suburb of Maitland, or to the International Dr Universal Orlando, and Walt Disney World tourist districts filling one of the many service jobs.

Education

The Elementary Schools in Pine Hills are: Pine Hills, Hiawassee, Mollie E. Ray, Rolling Hills, Lake Gem Elementary, and Ridgewood Park.

The Middle Schools in Pine Hills are: Robinswood and Meadowbrook.

Maynard Evans High School is located in Pine Hills with a separate 9th Grade Center 4 miles away from the main campus along West Silver Star Road.

There are also several private schools located within the many community churches.

Pine Hills is located less than 3 miles north of Valencia Community College West Campus.

Transportation

West Colonial Dr. or SR 50 and SR 408 are the major thoroughfares in Pine Hills. The secondary highways are Pine Hills Rd which runs north and south and is paralleled by Hiawassee Rd to the west. Silver Star Rd is the secondary east-west connector to Hwy 441 or Orange Blossom Trail.

Lynx, the public transportation system serving Metropolitan Orlando has many stops in Pine Hills.

Notable Alumni

Notables from Pine Hills-Orlando, Fl. area:

Chucky Atkins - NBA Basketball Player, Kenard Lang - NFL Denver Broncos, Brandon Siler - NFL San Diego Chargers, Alex Haynes - NFL Baltimore Ravens , Chris Johnson (running back) - NFL Tennessee Titans

Bears

On many occasions, the local television news has reported bears wandering into Pine Hills from the woods outside of town. Once, a bear was chased up a tree in Pine Hills by a Persian cat. Pine Hills is jokingly considered, by many residents, to be full of bears. Since 2004, bear-watching has been gaining popularity as a local past-time.

References

External links

* [http://www.pinehillscommunity.com Pine Hills Offical Community Page]