Roads and Streets of Orange County and the City of Orlando Florida

Welcome to Orlando, “The City Beautiful”

This uncommon Depression-era map of Orlando, Florida, was distributed courtesy of the Fidelity Title and Guarantee Company – likely hoping to encourage new residents or investors in the local real estate market (then in quite the slump). The image was drawn by A. Clague (signed, lower right) and copyrighted/published locally in 1935 by Tyn Cobb’s Florida Press, Inc.

An easy-to-read street plan notes the city’s numerous lakes, parks, playgrounds, schools, and hospitals; all attractive features for prospective homeowners. A view of the business district, upper center, hints at the economic opportunity available. Labeled locations of interest include the Solarium on Lake Estelle, the grounds of the Florida Sanitarium, and the downtown Exposition Grounds and Auditorium. Surprisingly, no reference is made to the Orlando Municipal Airport, which began operating in 1928.

The verso of the sheet presents a half-page road map of Orange County, Florida, plus persuasive text and photographs. An open letter from the President of the Fidelity Title & Trust Company, William Beardall, reads that this example was the third year the firm had been issuing road maps. This possibly indicates a printed date of 1937, which is supported by the estimated population at the top of the page.