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Kissimmee, Florida is one of the fastest growing communities in the booming Central Florida region. Located just minutes away from Walt Disney World and the glittering excitement of Orlando's theme parks, Kissimmee offers world class entertainment and recreation.
Kissimmee began as a small trading post on the shore of Lake Tohopekaliga in the late 1800's. The area was drained and the Kissimmee River had deep channels cut into it so steamboats could navigate the extensive chain of lakes that stretch from Kissimmee to the Gulf of Mexico. This allowed shipments of cypress lumber and sugar cane to be transported. In the 1940’s, the Kissimmee Gateway Airport was built and the population doubled. In the 1970's, with the opening of the Walt Disney World resort and the beginning of the buildup of Orlando's many attractions, the population boomed. By the 2000 census count, almost 48,000 people lived in Kissimmee, while approximately 140,000 live throughout Osceola County itself.
Today's Kissimmee is seeing rapid growth in business and industry, as well as from tourism. Retirees, along with relocating businessmen, enjoy the mild year-round climate. Golf and tennis courts abound, and the many area lakes and marinas attract water sports enthusiasts and boast some of the finest fishing in the area. The Osceola County Stadium is the spring training ground of baseball's Houston Astros.
Shopping, from discount outlet malls to hundreds of quality retail stores, is a wonderful experience in Kissimmee. Kissimmee also boasts two historic districts that are chock full of antique stores as well as fine dining establishments.
Osceola County has always served as a transportation crossroads for Florida. Three railroad lines cut through it, as well as Interstate Highway 4 and the Florida Turnpike. The population is concentrated in the Kissimmee - St Cloud region, while the remainder of Osceola stretches out into cowboy country and the huge cattle ranches of Central Florida. Wildlife Management Areas are preserved, retaining Florida's haunting, rugged beauty. Bull Creek, Prairie Lakes and Three Lakes are all untouched wilderness, while Osceola serves as the headwaters of the South Florida Water Management District and the mysterious Lake Okeechobee Everglades ecosystem.
Kissimmee, Florida is a unique mix of old and new - historical treasures along with a bright promising future.
If you're heading to court in Kissimmee, the Florida State Court system includes a two-tiered trial court system. Most jury trials in Florida involve one judge sitting as judge of the circuit court. Circuit Courts are courts of general jurisdiction. Almost all criminal and civil cases, including personal injury, originate at this level. Florida's Constitution provides that "a circuit court shall be established to serve each judicial circuit established by the Legislature," of which there are 20.
The Constitution also establishes a county court in each of Florida's 67 counties. The jurisdiction of county courts extends to civil disputes involving $15,000 or less. Most non-jury trials in Florida take place before one judge sitting as a judge of the county court.
The state's highest appellate court is the Supreme Court, but there are also five district courts of appeal, headquartered in Tallahassee, Lakeland, Miami, West Palm Beach and Daytona Beach. These courts, using three-judge panels, hear most cases appealed from the trial courts.
Florida offers Self-Help Centers and Family Law Forms as well as interpretive services to those with legal problems. A dictionary of common legal terms may also prove helpful.