Named after the renowned Spanish city recognized for its architecture, Oviedo, in Florida, initially thrived on the production of citrus, cotton, sugar, and celery. Beginning as a lakeside settlement post-Civil War, it achieved formal incorporation in 1925 when the population stood at 800.
Despite now housing more than 34,000 residents, Oviedo maintains its original small-town charm. Originally inhabited by the Timucua, a Native American group within the Seminole tribe, the Jesup Community formed along Lake Jesup as former slaves and European immigrants established homesteads, predominantly from Sweden. They cultivated crops, contributing to Orlando and Sanford markets.
While Oviedo's mass crop production has ceased, some households continue to grow celery and citrus privately. Present-day Oviedo encompasses modern housing developments, interstate roads, shopping centers, recreational facilities, parks, and conservation areas.
Spanning over 10,000 acres with a 28-mile circumference, Lake Jesup harbors the second-largest concentration of alligators in the region, totaling almost 10,000 reptiles. The area surrounding the lake teems with wild boars, bobcats, and diverse bird species, including the bald eagle. Notably, Oviedo's downtown area is also home to a substantial population of free-roaming wild chickens.
