Bay Lake, Florida

This article is about the city. For the lake, see Bay Lake (Florida).

Bay Lake, Florida
City
Seal
Location of Bay Lake in Orange County, Florida.
U.S. Census Map
Bay Lake Location in Florida Show map of Florida Bay Lake Bay Lake (the United States) Show map of the United States Bay Lake Bay Lake (North America) Show map of North America
Coordinates: 28°23′13″N81°34′31″W / 28.38694°N 81.57528°W / 28.38694; -81.57528
Country	United States
State	Florida
County	Orange
Incorporated	May 12, 1967 [1]
Named for	Bay Lake
Government
• Type	Council-Manager
•  Mayor	Todd Watzel
•  Mayor Pro Tem	Mark Krause
•  Council Members	Sue McCall, Bryan Swartz, and Tanya Peak-Smith
•  City Manager	Randy Singh
•  City Clerk	Erin O’Donnell
Area [2]
• Total	22.73 sq mi (58.88 km2)
• Land	21.51 sq mi (55.70 km2)
• Water	1.23 sq mi (3.18 km2)
Elevation [3]	85 ft (26 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	29
• Density	1.35/sq mi (0.52/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	32830
Area codes	407, 689
FIPS code	12-04150 [4]
GNIS feature ID	2403824 [3]
Website	cityofbaylakefl.gov

Bay Lake is a city in Orange County, Florida, United States. The population was 29 at the 2020 census. ^[5] It is named after a lake that lies east of the Magic Kingdom. All four of the Walt Disney World Resort theme parks, and one of Walt Disney World's two water parks, are in Bay Lake, though all Disney parks in the region have mailing addresses in nearby Lake Buena Vista.

Bay Lake is one of two Florida municipalities inside the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District (formerly the Reedy Creek Improvement District) which also includes Walt Disney World, the other being Lake Buena Vista. The Bay Lake is part of the Orlando–Kissimmee–Sanford Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Chapter 67-1104 of the Laws of Florida, incorporating the city of Bay Lake, was signed into law by Governor Claude R. Kirk, Jr. on May 12, 1967, the same day he also signed chapters 67-764 (creating the Reedy Creek Improvement District, or RCID), also known as the Reedy Creek Improvement Act, and 67-1965 (incorporating the City of Reedy Creek). It was and still is located fully inside the RCID, and all its duties have been taken care of by the RCID. As fully described in Reedy Creek Improvement District, the city has always been controlled by the Walt Disney Company and has allowed them powers that other area attractions have not had.

Chapter 69-836 of the Laws of Florida, which became a law on July 3, 1969, without the governor's approval, redefined the city boundaries to exclude the easternmost part of Bay Lake. Chapter 69–1527, which became a law the same day, completely moved the city of Reedy Creek, with the land given up by Bay Lake included in the new city. Since then, Bay Lake has expanded to fill the original RCID west of Bonnet Creek, but the Reedy Creek Improvement District has expanded to include new land not in the city.

The RCID had all the powers of the city and more, raising the question of why cities were incorporated inside of it. Walt Disney's original plans for the site included at least one futuristic living area, a planned "community of the future". This was never built, but some of the ideas were incorporated into the EPCOT theme park. The later Celebration, Florida was deannexed from the city and the RCID in 1994 so the Walt Disney Company would not lose control of the district.^{[ citation needed ]} The only residents of the city are Disney employees and their immediate family members who live in a community on the north shore of Bay Lake (on Bay Court). The only landowners are fully owned subsidiaries of The Walt Disney Company, rights-of-way for state and county roads, and five five-acre (2.0 ha) lots owned by senior Disney employees to give them voting power in the Reedy Creek Improvement District.

Geography

The approximate coordinates for the City of Bay Lake is located at 28°23′29″N81°34′0″W / 28.39139°N 81.56667°W / 28.39139; -81.56667 (28.391502, –81.566659). ^[6]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 22.8 square miles (59.1 km²), of which 21.5 square miles (55.7 km²) is land and 1.4 square miles (3.5 km²) (5.86%) is water. ^[7]

The principal border that divides the cities of Lake Buena Vista to the east and Bay Lake to the west is the canal called Bonnet Creek, adjacent to Bonnet Creek Parkway. Most of the attractions associated with the Walt Disney World Resort are actually located within the City of Bay Lake, including all four theme parks.

The only long-term residents in Bay Lake live in a mobile home park on Bay Court, a street which, in 1987, was a dirt road. As of that year many employees wished to live in Bay Lake or Lake Buena Vista due to their proximity to their jobs. ^[8]

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild winters. According to the Köppen climate classification, the City of Bay Lake has a humid subtropical climate zone (Cfa).

Climate data for Bay Lake, Florida
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °F (°C)	86 (30)	89 (32)	90 (32)	95 (35)	100 (38)	100 (38)	99 (37)	100 (38)	98 (37)	95 (35)	89 (32)	90 (32)	100 (38)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C)	71 (22)	74 (23)	78 (26)	83 (28)	87 (31)	90 (32)	91 (33)	91 (33)	89 (32)	84 (29)	78 (26)	73 (23)	82 (28)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C)	49 (9)	52 (11)	55 (13)	61 (16)	67 (19)	72 (22)	74 (23)	74 (23)	73 (23)	66 (19)	58 (14)	52 (11)	63 (17)
Record low °F (°C)	19 (−7)	29 (−2)	25 (−4)	38 (3)	51 (11)	53 (12)	64 (18)	65 (18)	57 (14)	44 (7)	32 (0)	20 (−7)	19 (−7)
Average precipitation inches (mm)	2.56 (65)	2.31 (59)	3.17 (81)	2.60 (66)	3.54 (90)	8.03 (204)	7.57 (192)	8.06 (205)	7.32 (186)	3.66 (93)	2.01 (51)	2.32 (59)	53.15 (1,350)
Source: [9] [10]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1970	24		—
1980	74		208.3%
1990	24		−67.6%
2000	23		−4.2%
2010	47		104.3%
2020	29		−38.3%
U.S. Decennial Census [11]

2010 and 2020 census

Bay Lake racial composition
(Hispanics excluded from racial categories)
(NH = Non-Hispanic)

Race	Pop 2010 [12]	Pop 2020 [13]	% 2010	% 2020
White (NH)	34	13	72.34%	44.83%
Black or African American (NH)	0	0	0.00%	0.00%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH)	0	0	0.00%	0.00%
Asian (NH)	3	0	6.38%	0.00%
Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian (NH)	0	0	0.00%	0.00%
Some other race (NH)	0	3	0.00%	10.34%
Two or more races/Multiracial (NH)	2	6	4.26%	20.69%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	8	7	17.02%	24.14%
Total	47	29	100.00%	100.00%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 29 people, 20 households, and 4 families residing in the city. ^[14]

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 47 people, 6 households, and 4 families residing in the city. ^[15]

2000 census

U.S. Census Bureau map showing city limits

As of the census ^[4] of 2000, there were 23 people, 9 households, and 6 families residing in the city. The population density was 1.2 inhabitants per square mile (0.4/km²). There were 9 housing units at an average density of 0.5 per square mile (0.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was twenty-two whites (95.7%) and one African American (4.3%). None of the people in Bay Lake were Asian, Native American, Pacific Islanders, other races, multiracial people, or Hispanics or Latinos.

In 2000, there were nine households in Bay Lake, out of which three had children under the age of 18 living with them, five had married couples living together, one had a female householder with no husband present, and three of the households were non-families. Three households were made up of individuals, and one consisted of someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.00.

In 2000, the median income for a household in the city was $86,288, and the median income for a family was $86,288. Males had a median income of $76,284 versus $21,667 for females. The per capita income for the city was $26,731. None of the population and none of the families were below the poverty line.

Because of Bay Lake statistics, legislators have to be careful not to use the words "maximum" and "average" in the computations used for the State of Florida's 2007 property tax reform debate. For example, in 2006, the "per capita levy" of property tax in Bay Lake was $176,230. Since the statewide average that year was $475, legislators have had to be careful to distinguish the phrase "average savings" from the phrase "savings by the average taxpayer."^{[ citation needed ]}

Points of interest

• Walt Disney World:
  • Magic Kingdom
  • Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground
  • Magnolia and Palm Golf Courses
  • Disney's BoardWalk Resort
  • Epcot
  • Disney's Animal Kingdom
  • Disney's Blizzard Beach
  • Disney's Hollywood Studios
  • ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex
  • Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge

Government and infrastructure

Reedy Creek Improvement District Fire Department Emergency Services fire station

The Central Florida Tourism Oversight District has its Fire Department Emergency Services station in Bay Lake (it has a Lake Buena Vista postal address). ^{[16] [17]}

Education

Residents of Bay Lake (Bay Court) are zoned to schools in the Orange County Public Schools: ^[17]

• Bay Lake Elementary School ^[18]
  • It opened in 2016, relieving Horizon West area elementary schools and making it one of three schools to open that year in the county. Myrlene Kimble was the school's first principal. The 94,279-square-foot (8,758.8 m²) building, with a capacity of 837 students, is on a 15-acre (6.1 ha) property. In fall 2016 it had 785 students. ^[19] Its design is similar to that of Independence Elementary School. ^[20]
• Bridgewater Middle School ^[21]
• Windermere High School ^[22]

Formerly it was zoned to the following:

• Independence Elementary School (prior to 2016) ^[23]
• Windermere Elementary School^{[ citation needed ]}
• Lakeview Middle School^{[ citation needed ]}
• West Orange High School (prior to 2017) ^[24]

References

1. "FLORIDA CITIES BY INCORPORATION YEAR WITH INCORPORATION & DISSOLUTION INFO" (PDF). www.flcities.com.
2. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 31, 2021.
3. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Bay Lake, Florida
4. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
5. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved April 22, 2022.
6. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
7. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Bay Lake city, Florida". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved September 20, 2012.
8. Hill, John (January 12, 1987). "It Is Indeed A Small World After All Residents Of Bay Lake And Lake Buena Vista Live In Desired Isolation". Orlando Sentinel . Retrieved April 21, 2017.
9. "MSN". MSN .
10. "Almanac: Historical Information". myforecast.co. MyForecast. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
11. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
12. "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Bay Lake city, Florida". United States Census Bureau .
13. "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Bay Lake city, Florida". United States Census Bureau .
14. "S1101 HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES - 2020: Bay Lake city, Florida". United States Census Bureau .
15. "S1101 HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES - 2010: Bay Lake city, Florida". United States Census Bureau .
16. "Executive Board Archived 2017-04-18 at the Wayback Machine ." Florida Fire Marshalls and Fire Inspectors Association. Retrieved on April 19, 2017. "Reedy Creek Fire Department 651 Buena Vista DR Lake Buena Vista, Fl 32830"
17. "2010 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP (INDEX): Bay Lake city, FL." U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on April 19, 2017. Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4
18. "Bay Lake Elementary School Zone Archived 2017-04-21 at the Wayback Machine ." Orange County Public Schools Office of Planning & Governmental Relations and Student Enrollment. April 29, 2016. Retrieved on April 21, 2017.
19. Nesslar, Jennifer (August 15, 2016). "Bay Lake Elementary is Horizon West's newest school". Orange Observer . Retrieved April 21, 2017.
20. "Introducing Bay Lake Elementary". Orange Observer. August 10, 2016. Retrieved April 21, 2017.
21. "Bridgewater Middle School Zone Archived 2017-04-22 at the Wayback Machine ." Orange County Public Schools Office of Planning & Governmental Relations and Student Enrollment. April 28, 2016. Retrieved on April 22, 2017.
22. "Windermere High School Attendance Zone map, effective 08/2017" (PDF). OCPS Department of Student Enrollment. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 22, 2017.
23. "Rezoning Fall 2015 Archived 2017-04-22 at the Wayback Machine ." Orange County Public Schools. Retrieved on April 21, 2017.
24. "Rezoning Spring 2016 Archived 2017-02-04 at the Wayback Machine ." Orange County Public Schools. Retrieved on April 22, 2017.

External links

• Official Website for the City of Bay Lake
• Media related to Bay Lake, Florida at Wikimedia Commons
• Information Archived May 8, 2017, at the Wayback Machine at Reedy Creek Improvement District website