Pine Hills, Florida
Encyclopedia
Pine Hills is a census-designated place
and an unincorporated area
of Orange County
, Florida
, United States
. It is part of the Greater Orlando metropolitan statistical area. The population was 41,764 at the 2000 census. In 2007, the population was estimated to be 49,222. The boundaries of Pine Hills are Apopka-Vineland Road
to the west, the city limits of Orlando to the east, Clarcona-Ocoee Road to the north, and State Road 408 to the south.
s of Martin Marietta
(now Lockheed Martin
). At the time, it was an upper-middle class suburb with a country club named "Silver Pines".
During the 1960s and into the 1970s, Pine Hills grew north from the original subdivisions around Pine Hills Rd and Colonial Drive to include new neighborhoods off of Silver Star Rd in the north and to the east around Pine Hills and Indian Hill Roads. The community built their own fire department, a Post Office
branch, and schools. In the 1970s, the Orange County government seized Pine Hills' fire engine in an effort to consolidate county-wide fire services. Nevertheless, Pine Hills continued to grow and community leaders began an initiative to incorporate Pine Hills into a city. However, this initiative was eventually abandoned.
During the 1980s, the City of Orlando began annexing sections of Pine Hills. Some areas annexed during this time include North Lane east of Pine Hills Road (where the "Rosemont" neighborhood would eventually be located), Clarion Drive south of Clarcona-Ocoee Road, and areas of the Signal Hill subdivision (south of Rosemont). Residents rejected further annexation, fearing larger taxes and little representation from Orlando. Eventually, as Orlando's growth absorbed Pine Hills, many of the original families moved into newer neighborhoods in nearby Ocoee
, Winter Garden
and MetroWest.
Also during the 1980s, Pine Hills fell into a state of decline. "Silver Pines Country Club" was closed and apartment complexes were built on the property. The Pine Hills Shopping Center lost its long-time tenants and was eventually converted into a strip-mall with discount stores named "The Pine Hills Marketplace". Much of the housing became low rent and government subsidized, resulting in higher crime and little representation from Orange County Commissioners; a continuing trend to this day. Many property owners now embrace the idea of Orlando annexing the remainder of Pine Hills. They argue that the potential benefits are better police protection and city beautification services. However, given the area's bad reputation, future annexation by the City of Orlando appears unlikely.
As of 2010, Pine Hills is perceived to be a high-crime area despite community-wide initiatives to solve the problem. Many schools and churches offer after-school programs and to some extent, free daycare. The Orlando Police Department has collaborated with the Orange County Sheriff's Office
to prevent crime by increasing patrols through the neighborhoods. The government of Orange County is also increasing code enforcement and issuing citations to property owners who neglect to maintain their home's appearance.
On a positive note, future development in Pine Hills includes the re-construction of Maynard Evans High School
's main campus on Silver Star Rd. When completed in 2012, it is expected the immediate area's appearance will improve. Recent expansion and upgrades were completed on Meadowbrook and Robinswood Middle School's. Pine Hills and Mollie E. Ray Elementary schools were also remodeled and equipped with improved technological resources. Additional development includes Orlando's newest "Chinatown
", located along west Colonial Drive across from the Pine Hills Marketplace. West Colonial Drive, one of the main highways in Pine Hills, is currently undergoing reconstruction and promises to bring better traffic management and improved landscaping to Pine Hills. Other traffic improvement initiatives in Pine Hills include repaving and redesign of the intersection of Pine Hills and Silver Star Roads and expansion of Pine Hills Rd south to LB Macleod Rd.
In 2004, the group commissioned "The Pine Hills Land Analysis and Strategic Plan"; which outlined a vision for revitalization and economic growth supported by residents. Since this study was released, the neighborhood has continued to focus on revitalization initiatives by holding community forums, establishing partnerships with private developers and public agencies. It also engages property owners and renters in protecting the area's quality of life. As a result of the community partnerships and focus on crime prevention, the sheriff's office has reported downward crime trends in this area. Additionally, in October 2009, Mayor Richard Crotty established the Pine Hills Business Redevelopment Task Force. This 13-member advisory committee was created to assist with economic revitalization of the area.
populations of Haiti
ans, Jamaica
ns, and Puerto Ricans
. There is also a large Asian
population of Vietnamese
, Koreans, and Cambodians
. This diversity is evident along Pine Hills Road where many immigration offices, Caribbean & Asian restaurants, and West Indian grocery stores abound.
While locals perceive Pine Hills to be a lower class community, several areas exist where the median family income exceeds the area average. Subdivisions with expensive single-family homes are found in Rosemont. Expensive homes are also located along north Hiawassee Rd, off of Balboa Dr near Good Homes Rd in the "Rose Hill" subdivision, and along north Powers Dr. A replica of the Graceland
Mansion is located off of North Hiawassee Rd.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the CDP has a total area of 20.5 km² (7.9 mi²). 19.9 km² (7.7 mi²) of it is land and 0.6 km² (0.2 mi²) of it (3.03%) is water.
was 5,256.9/mi². There were 14,656 housing units at an average density of 1,832/mi². The racial makeup of the CDP was 63.3% African American, 18.4% White, 15.4% Hispanic or Latino, 3.6% Asian, 0.3% Native American, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 0.2% from other races
, and 1.3% from two or more races.
There were 13,368 households out of which 38.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.5% were married couples
living together, 28.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.5% were non-families. 21.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.11 and the average family size was 3.53.
In the CDP, the population was spread out with 32.9% under the age of 18, 10.2% from 18 to 24, 30.6% from 25 to 44, 18.4% from 45 to 64, and 7.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 92.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.2 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $37,790 and the median income for a family was $41,063. Males had a median income of $29,676 versus $27,435 for females. The per capita income
for the CDP was $16,137. About 12.5% of families and 14.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.4% of those under age 18 and 14.8% of those age 65 or over.
. Major companies with a presence in Pine Hills are Target
, The Home Depot
, Lowe's
, Sam's Club
, Darden Restaurants
, CVS/pharmacy, and Winn-Dixie
.
The industrial sector is located along east Silver Star Road in Orlando's city limits
and includes a Frito-Lay
manufacturing & distribution facility.
Due to its central location, Pine Hills is close to Orlando's business and tourism centers. Many residents commute to downtown Orlando
, less than 5 miles (8 km) east, the northern suburb of Maitland
, or to the International Drive
, Universal Orlando Resort
, and Walt Disney World Resort
tourist districts.
There are several private schools in Pine Hills offering Pre K-Grade 12 curriculum.
is the public bus transportation system serving Greater Orlando; it has many stops throughout Pine Hills.
, Wes Fif, and Jon Young are from Pine Hills. While the music produced from Pine Hills artists is primarily Gangsta Rap
, it is an accurate representation of life inside some of Pine Hills' worst areas.
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
and an unincorporated area
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
of Orange County
Orange County, Florida
Orange County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida and is part of the Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford Metropolitan Statistical Area . As of 2010 U.S. Census, the county had a population of 1,145,956....
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is part of the Greater Orlando metropolitan statistical area. The population was 41,764 at the 2000 census. In 2007, the population was estimated to be 49,222. The boundaries of Pine Hills are Apopka-Vineland Road
Apopka-Vineland Road
Apopka-Vineland Road is the name of several roads in Orange County, Florida, roughly forming a line from Apopka south to Vineland. As of now, there is one gap, from Old Winter Garden Road to State Road 50 , which will probably never be filled because of existing residential neighborhoods.The whole...
to the west, the city limits of Orlando to the east, Clarcona-Ocoee Road to the north, and State Road 408 to the south.
History
The area that would become Pine Hills began in 1953 with the first subdivisions – Robinswood and Pine Ridge Estates – constructed along the newly completed Pine Hills Road north of Colonial Drive (SR 50). It was one of the first suburbs of Orlando and grew as a bedroom community for the blue-collar workerBlue-collar worker
A blue-collar worker is a member of the working class who performs manual labor. Blue-collar work may involve skilled or unskilled, manufacturing, mining, construction, mechanical, maintenance, technical installation and many other types of physical work...
s of Martin Marietta
Martin Marietta
Martin Marietta Corporation was an American company founded in 1961 through the merger of The Martin Company and American-Marietta Corporation. The combined company became a leader in chemicals, aerospace, and electronics. In 1995, it merged with Lockheed Corporation to form Lockheed Martin. The...
(now Lockheed Martin
Lockheed Martin
Lockheed Martin is an American global aerospace, defense, security, and advanced technology company with worldwide interests. It was formed by the merger of Lockheed Corporation with Martin Marietta in March 1995. It is headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, in the Washington Metropolitan Area....
). At the time, it was an upper-middle class suburb with a country club named "Silver Pines".
During the 1960s and into the 1970s, Pine Hills grew north from the original subdivisions around Pine Hills Rd and Colonial Drive to include new neighborhoods off of Silver Star Rd in the north and to the east around Pine Hills and Indian Hill Roads. The community built their own fire department, a Post Office
Post office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
branch, and schools. In the 1970s, the Orange County government seized Pine Hills' fire engine in an effort to consolidate county-wide fire services. Nevertheless, Pine Hills continued to grow and community leaders began an initiative to incorporate Pine Hills into a city. However, this initiative was eventually abandoned.
During the 1980s, the City of Orlando began annexing sections of Pine Hills. Some areas annexed during this time include North Lane east of Pine Hills Road (where the "Rosemont" neighborhood would eventually be located), Clarion Drive south of Clarcona-Ocoee Road, and areas of the Signal Hill subdivision (south of Rosemont). Residents rejected further annexation, fearing larger taxes and little representation from Orlando. Eventually, as Orlando's growth absorbed Pine Hills, many of the original families moved into newer neighborhoods in nearby Ocoee
Ocoee, Florida
Ocoee is a city in Orange County, Florida, United States. According to the 2000 census, the city proper had a population of 24,391. As of 2006, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 30,654. It is part of the Orlando–Kissimmee Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Ocoee is...
, Winter Garden
Winter Garden, Florida
Winter Garden is a city located west of downtown Orlando in western Orange County, Florida. It is part of the Orlando–Kissimmee Metropolitan Statistical Area. Winter Garden's population is currently over 30,000.-Geography:...
and MetroWest.
Also during the 1980s, Pine Hills fell into a state of decline. "Silver Pines Country Club" was closed and apartment complexes were built on the property. The Pine Hills Shopping Center lost its long-time tenants and was eventually converted into a strip-mall with discount stores named "The Pine Hills Marketplace". Much of the housing became low rent and government subsidized, resulting in higher crime and little representation from Orange County Commissioners; a continuing trend to this day. Many property owners now embrace the idea of Orlando annexing the remainder of Pine Hills. They argue that the potential benefits are better police protection and city beautification services. However, given the area's bad reputation, future annexation by the City of Orlando appears unlikely.
As of 2010, Pine Hills is perceived to be a high-crime area despite community-wide initiatives to solve the problem. Many schools and churches offer after-school programs and to some extent, free daycare. The Orlando Police Department has collaborated with the Orange County Sheriff's Office
Orange County Sheriff's Office
Orange County Sheriff's Office may refer to:*Orange County Sheriff's Office *Orange County Sheriff's Office...
to prevent crime by increasing patrols through the neighborhoods. The government of Orange County is also increasing code enforcement and issuing citations to property owners who neglect to maintain their home's appearance.
On a positive note, future development in Pine Hills includes the re-construction of Maynard Evans High School
Maynard Evans High School
Maynard Evans High School is a high school located in Orlando, Florida, United States served by Orange County Public Schools. The school's name is often shortened to "Evans High School" and the mascot for the school are the Trojans....
's main campus on Silver Star Rd. When completed in 2012, it is expected the immediate area's appearance will improve. Recent expansion and upgrades were completed on Meadowbrook and Robinswood Middle School's. Pine Hills and Mollie E. Ray Elementary schools were also remodeled and equipped with improved technological resources. Additional development includes Orlando's newest "Chinatown
Chinatown
A Chinatown is an ethnic enclave of overseas Chinese people, although it is often generalized to include various Southeast Asian people. Chinatowns exist throughout the world, including East Asia, Southeast Asia, the Americas, Australasia, and Europe. Binondo's Chinatown located in Manila,...
", located along west Colonial Drive across from the Pine Hills Marketplace. West Colonial Drive, one of the main highways in Pine Hills, is currently undergoing reconstruction and promises to bring better traffic management and improved landscaping to Pine Hills. Other traffic improvement initiatives in Pine Hills include repaving and redesign of the intersection of Pine Hills and Silver Star Roads and expansion of Pine Hills Rd south to LB Macleod Rd.
Neighborhood revitalization
The most recent effort to revitalize Pine Hills began with the creation of the "Pine Hills Safe Neighborhood Partnership". It is a group of neighborhood residents who collaborate with Orange County Government and local law enforcement agencies in an effort to keep the area safe. The group is a 501c3 non-profit organization and has received grant funding from private and public resources. The grants fund a variety of projects designed to deter crime and enhance resident safety. Some initiatives include hiring off-duty law enforcement officers to make extra patrols, offering summer youth programs to keep youth engaged, and helping neighborhoods make infrastructure improvements to traffic patterns, community lighting and more. Regular community meetings are held at the Pine Hills Community Center.In 2004, the group commissioned "The Pine Hills Land Analysis and Strategic Plan"; which outlined a vision for revitalization and economic growth supported by residents. Since this study was released, the neighborhood has continued to focus on revitalization initiatives by holding community forums, establishing partnerships with private developers and public agencies. It also engages property owners and renters in protecting the area's quality of life. As a result of the community partnerships and focus on crime prevention, the sheriff's office has reported downward crime trends in this area. Additionally, in October 2009, Mayor Richard Crotty established the Pine Hills Business Redevelopment Task Force. This 13-member advisory committee was created to assist with economic revitalization of the area.
Diversity
Pine Hills is one of the most ethnically diverse neighborhoods in Orlando and is a minority majority community. The populations of African-Americans and Hispanics is reported being significantly above the state of Florida's average. In addition, the foreign-born population is also above the state average. There are large CaribbeanCaribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
populations of Haiti
Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
ans, Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
ns, and Puerto Ricans
Puerto Ricans in the United States
Stateside Puerto Ricans are American citizens of Puerto Rican origin, including those who migrated from Puerto Rico to the United States and those who were born outside of Puerto Rico in the United States...
. There is also a large Asian
Asian people
Asian people or Asiatic people is a term with multiple meanings that refers to people who descend from a portion of Asia's population.- Central Asia :...
population of Vietnamese
Vietnamese people
The Vietnamese people are an ethnic group originating from present-day northern Vietnam and southern China. They are the majority ethnic group of Vietnam, comprising 86% of the population as of the 1999 census, and are officially known as Kinh to distinguish them from other ethnic groups in Vietnam...
, Koreans, and Cambodians
Khmer people
Khmer people are the predominant ethnic group in Cambodia, accounting for approximately 90% of the 14.8 million people in the country. They speak the Khmer language, which is part of the larger Mon–Khmer language family found throughout Southeast Asia...
. This diversity is evident along Pine Hills Road where many immigration offices, Caribbean & Asian restaurants, and West Indian grocery stores abound.
While locals perceive Pine Hills to be a lower class community, several areas exist where the median family income exceeds the area average. Subdivisions with expensive single-family homes are found in Rosemont. Expensive homes are also located along north Hiawassee Rd, off of Balboa Dr near Good Homes Rd in the "Rose Hill" subdivision, and along north Powers Dr. A replica of the Graceland
Graceland
Graceland is a large white-columned mansion and estate that was home to Elvis Presley in Memphis, Tennessee. It is located at 3764 Elvis Presley Boulevard in the vast Whitehaven community about 9 miles from Downtown and less than four miles north of the Mississippi border. It currently serves as...
Mansion is located off of North Hiawassee Rd.
Geography
Pine Hills is located at 28°34′30"N 81°27′26"W (28.574876, -81.457267).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the CDP has a total area of 20.5 km² (7.9 mi²). 19.9 km² (7.7 mi²) of it is land and 0.6 km² (0.2 mi²) of it (3.03%) is water.
Demographics
As of the 2006-2008 American Community Survey, there were 42,055 people, 13,368 households, and 9,689 families residing in the CDP. The population densityPopulation density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 5,256.9/mi². There were 14,656 housing units at an average density of 1,832/mi². The racial makeup of the CDP was 63.3% African American, 18.4% White, 15.4% Hispanic or Latino, 3.6% Asian, 0.3% Native American, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 0.2% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.3% from two or more races.
There were 13,368 households out of which 38.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.5% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 28.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.5% were non-families. 21.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.11 and the average family size was 3.53.
In the CDP, the population was spread out with 32.9% under the age of 18, 10.2% from 18 to 24, 30.6% from 25 to 44, 18.4% from 45 to 64, and 7.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 92.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.2 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $37,790 and the median income for a family was $41,063. Males had a median income of $29,676 versus $27,435 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the CDP was $16,137. About 12.5% of families and 14.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.4% of those under age 18 and 14.8% of those age 65 or over.
Population history (from the U.S. Census Bureau)
- 1970 – 13,882
- 1980 – 35,771
- 1990 – 35,322
- 2000 – 41,764
Economy
The primary industry in Pine Hills is retailRetail
Retail consists of the sale of physical goods or merchandise from a fixed location, such as a department store, boutique or kiosk, or by mail, in small or individual lots for direct consumption by the purchaser. Retailing may include subordinated services, such as delivery. Purchasers may be...
. Major companies with a presence in Pine Hills are Target
Target Corporation
Target Corporation, doing business as Target, is an American retailing company headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is the second-largest discount retailer in the United States, behind Walmart. The company is ranked at number 33 on the Fortune 500 and is a component of the Standard & Poor's...
, The Home Depot
The Home Depot
The Home Depot is an American retailer of home improvement and construction products and services.The Home Depot operates 2,248 big-box format stores across the United States , Canada , Mexico and China, with a 12-store chain...
, Lowe's
Lowe's
Lowe's Companies, Inc. is a U.S.-based chain of retail home improvement and appliance stores. Founded in 1946 in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, the chain now serves more than 14 million customers a week in its 1,710 stores in the United States and 20 in Canada. Expansion into Canada began in...
, Sam's Club
Sam's Club
Sam's Club is a chain of membership-only retail warehouse clubs owned and operated by Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., founded in 1983 and named after Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton. , the Sam's Club chain serves more than 47 million U.S. members...
, Darden Restaurants
Darden Restaurants
Darden Restaurants, Inc. is a multi-brand restaurant operator headquartered in an unincorporated area in Orange County, Florida, near Orlando. The firm owns several casual dining restaurant chains, most notably Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, and Red Lobster...
, CVS/pharmacy, and Winn-Dixie
Winn-Dixie
Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc. is an American supermarket chain based in Jacksonville, Florida. Winn-Dixie has ranked number 24 in the 2010 "Top 75 North American Food Retailers" based on 2009 fiscal year estimated sales of $7.3 billion by Supermarket News. and was ranked the 43rd largest retailer in the...
.
The industrial sector is located along east Silver Star Road in Orlando's city limits
City limits
The terms city limits and city boundary refer to the defined boundary or border of a city. The area within the city limits is sometimes called the city proper. The terms town limits/boundary and village limits/boundary mean the same as city limits/boundary, but apply to towns and villages...
and includes a Frito-Lay
Frito-Lay
Frito-Lay North America is the division of PepsiCo that manufactures, markets and sells corn chips, potato chips and other snack foods. The primary snack food brands produced under the Frito-Lay name include Fritos corn chips, Cheetos cheese-flavored snacks, Doritos and Tostitos tortilla chips,...
manufacturing & distribution facility.
Due to its central location, Pine Hills is close to Orlando's business and tourism centers. Many residents commute to downtown Orlando
Downtown Orlando
Downtown Orlando is the historic core and central business district of Orlando, Florida, United States. It is bordered by East Marks St in the north, Mills Ave in the east, Orange Blossom Trail in the west, and Kaley Ave in the south...
, less than 5 miles (8 km) east, the northern suburb of Maitland
Maitland, Florida
Maitland is a suburban city in Orange County, Florida, United States, part of the Greater Metro Orlando area. The population was 12,019 at the 2000 census. As of 2006, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 14,172...
, or to the International Drive
International Drive
International Drive is the main tourist strip of Orlando, Florida, located several miles southwest of proper Downtown Orlando in the southernmost limits of the city...
, Universal Orlando Resort
Universal Orlando Resort
Universal Orlando Resort is a theme park resort in Orlando, Florida. It is wholly owned by NBCUniversal and its affiliates. The resort consists of two theme parks , Universal CityWalk , and three Loews Hotels...
, and Walt Disney World Resort
Walt Disney World Resort
Walt Disney World Resort , is the world's most-visited entertaimental resort. Located in Lake Buena Vista, Florida ; approximately southwest of Orlando, Florida, United States, the resort covers an area of and includes four theme parks, two water parks, 23 on-site themed resort hotels Walt...
tourist districts.
Elementary schools
- Hiawassee Elementary
- Lake Gem Elementary
- Mollie E. Ray Elementary
- Pine Hills Elementary
- Rolling Hills Elementary
- Ridgewood Park Elementary
High schools
- Maynard Evans High SchoolMaynard Evans High SchoolMaynard Evans High School is a high school located in Orlando, Florida, United States served by Orange County Public Schools. The school's name is often shortened to "Evans High School" and the mascot for the school are the Trojans....
- Wekiva High SchoolWekiva High SchoolWekiva High School is a high school located in Apopka, in northwest Orange County, Florida, United States. The school mascot is the mustang.The school colors are maroon, gold, and navy. It was established in 2007 as a relief school for Apopka High School and Ocoee High School. It's principal is Dr...
- while technically not in Pine Hills, this school serves students from that area
Colleges
- Valencia Community CollegeValencia Community CollegeValencia College, formerly known as Valencia Community College, is a public state college in Orlando, Florida, United States. Valencia is the third-largest member institution of the Florida College System....
West Campus - is less than 3 miles (4.8 km) south of Pine Hills.
There are several private schools in Pine Hills offering Pre K-Grade 12 curriculum.
Parks and recreation
Public parks in Pine Hills are serviced by Orange County Parks and Recreation. Admission is free to all parks. There are four parks in Pine Hills:- Barnett Park - The signature park of Pine Hills and also the largest. Home to Lawne Lake, a professional BMXBMXBicycle motocross or BMX refers to the sport in which the main goal is extreme racing on bicycles in motocross style on tracks with inline start and expressive obstacles, and it is also the term that refers to the bicycle itself that is designed for dirt and motocross cycling.- History :BMX started...
track, biking & nature trails, football fields, ball fields, dog parks, and event pavilions. - Rolling Hills Park - Located on north Pine Hills Rd, this park has several ball fields and playgrounds.
- Signal Hill Park - Located near Rolling Hills Elementary School.
- Willows Park - Located in Orlando city limits
Arterial highways
- West Colonial Drive State Road 50
- State Road 408
- Kirkman Road Florida State Road 435
- Silver Star Road - East-west connector to U.S. Route 441U.S. Route 441 in FloridaU.S. Route 441 in Florida is a north–south United States Highway. It runs from Miami in South Florida northwest to the Georgia border north of the Lake City area....
(Orange Blossom Trail)
Secondary roads
- Pine Hills Road - North to south
- Hiawassee Road - another North to South road paralleling Pine Hills road.
- Clarcona-Ocoee Road - northern border of Pine Hills and another east-west connector to Orange Blossom Trail.
Mass transit
LYNXLynx (transportation)
LYNX is a bus system run by the Central Florida Regional Transportation Authority, serving the Orlando, Florida region. Bus routes are referred to as Links. Standard adult one-way fare is $2 with free single transfers valid for 90 minutes...
is the public bus transportation system serving Greater Orlando; it has many stops throughout Pine Hills.
Notable people
- Chucky AtkinsChucky AtkinsKenneth Lavon "Chucky" Atkins is an American professional basketball player. He is currently a free agent.-Basketball career:...
– NBA basketball player - Alex HaynesAlex HaynesAlex Haynes is an American football running back who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 2005...
– NFL Baltimore RavensBaltimore RavensThe Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his... - Chris JohnsonChris Johnson (running back)Christopher Duan Johnson is an American football running back for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League...
– NFL Tennessee TitansTennessee TitansThe Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter... - Kenard LangKenard LangKenard Dushun Lang was an American football defensive end who played in the National Football League...
– NFL Denver BroncosDenver BroncosThe Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... - Brandon Siler – NFL San Diego ChargersSan Diego ChargersThe San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
- Mike Sims-Walker – NFL Jacksonville JaguarsJacksonville JaguarsThe Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
- Darius Washington – NBA San Antonio SpursSan Antonio SpursThe San Antonio Spurs are an American professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas. They are part of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association ....
- Jeff ZimmermanJeff ZimmermanJeffrey Ross Zimmerman is a former professional baseball pitcher. He pitched in Major League Baseball from 1999-2001 for the Texas Rangers.-Independent baseball:...
– NFL Dallas CowboysDallas CowboysThe Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
Hip-Hop
Given the area's large African-American population, Pine Hills is the nexus of Orlando's underground hip-hop scene. Artists Smilez and SouthstarSmilez and Southstar
Smilez and Southstar hip-hop duo based in Orlando, Florida. They had a Top 40 hit with the song "Tell Me" in late 2002. Their music has been played on stations nationwide and their videos have appeared on MTV and BET-Early success 2002-2003:...
, Wes Fif, and Jon Young are from Pine Hills. While the music produced from Pine Hills artists is primarily Gangsta Rap
Gangsta rap
Gangsta Rap is a subgenre of hip hop music that evolved from hardcore hip hop and purports to reflect urban crime and the violent lifestyles of inner-city youths. Lyrics in gangsta rap have varied from accurate reflections to fictionalized accounts. Gangsta is a non-rhotic pronunciation of the word...
, it is an accurate representation of life inside some of Pine Hills' worst areas.