Florida's History (1850-1900)
Orlando remained a rural country town throughout the American Civil War, and suffered with the rest of the south during the Federal Blockade of Lincoln’s Anaconda plan. The Reconstruction Era was a different story, and Orlando experienced an population boom during this time period. The city was incorporated in 1875.
The remainder of the 1800s are commonly referred to as Orlando’s Gilded Era. It became the hub of Florida’s citrus Industry. There were several groves all owned independently and by small farmers. This led to a relatively equal community with a good distribution of wealth.
Unfortunately, citrus doesn’t hold up well in the cold. A freeze during the winter of 1894 forced many of the small farmers to give up their independent groves. These small groves were bought up by a few individuals who became known as “Citrus Barons.” These Barons shifted operations