Happy 151st Birthday, Orlando

The best parts of Orlando have always been made by the people who live here. The Town of Orlando was incorporated on July 31, 1875, with just 85 residents and 22 qualified voters. Since then, citrus has come and gone, swans have come and gone, and downtown has come and gone. We know, city officials are working on it. But for those of us who live here, Orlando has never been defined by its skyline, its slogans, or the attractions everyone else associates with us. It’s the small-business owners opening weird little concepts, the chefs, bartenders, and hospitality crews giving our neighborhoods their personality, and the artists, performers, designers, musicians, and makers creating across the city. Many spend their days making magic at the theme parks, then come home and make the actual City Beautiful even more beautiful. They’re what make Orlando worth rooting for. Happy 151st birthday, Orlando. You’re complicated, but you’re ours.