Maitland

Understand

History

Maitland is part of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. Until the latter half of the 20th century, the region Maitland now occupies was a rural agricultural district between the major urban centers of Orlando and Sanford. Rapid urbanization of Central Florida led to the development of much of this agricultural corridor, and Orlando expanded and consumed surrounding towns. Today, Mainland and Winter Park form one of Orlando's wealthiest and most developed pockets, with many upscale retailers and tourist-oriented businesses in the two neighborhoods. During the early 21st century, a sustained population boom and high demand for affordable housing led to Maitland becoming one of the most densely-populated cities in the entire region and by the 2020s, Maitland's transition from rural to urban was complete. As a relic of the pre-integration era, Maitland remains largely segregated: Eatonville, a neighborhood west of the railroad, is largely African-American while other parts of the city are majority-white.

The population of Maitland was 20,000 at the 2020 census.

Climate

Maitland is typical of Florida cities, with a subtropical climate that is transitioning into a savanna climate, with humid summers and warm but dry winters. It is, however, exposed to the polar vortex, a cold front frequently experienced in the South caused by cold air masses far to the northwest. As a result, there are a few cold days per year, but many "winter" days are similar to summer days experienced in temperate climates. Maitland has some small hills and numerous lakes due to the topography of the region, but is flat compared to the towns to its north.

Get in

By car

The main highway, US-17, passes through the city from north to south, connecting Maitland to Casselberry and Sanford to the north and Winter Park to the south. The road is a major thoroughfare, and is particularly busy during rush hour, in part due to the series of intersections and traffic signals throughout the Maitland area. I-4 passes the city to the west, with Lee Rd providing access to the southern side of the town from the interstate.

By public transit

Lynx bus 102 or the SunRail from Orlando take just over 30min.

Get around

Although non-car transportation options fall short, Maitland is surprisingly walkable for a Florida city, with all commercial zones within a few blocks of each other. Traffic on the major roads, including Maitland Blvd and US-17/92, can be heavy.

Stay safe

Maitland is one of the safest parts of the Orlando metro area.

Go next

• Altamonte Springs
• Orlando