African American history and literature in Eatonville
Eatonville, a few miles north of downtown Orlando, declares itself the “town that freedom built.” Founded in 1887, it was the first town in the country to be organized, governed and incorporated by African Americans, though it has played another important role in Black history as well. Eatonville is the setting of “Their Eyes Were Watching God,” authored by Zora Neale Hurston, who spent her formative years there. As a symbol of freedom and self-governance for its community, Eatonville continues to serve its residents. “It has lots and lots of activities and services. It brings in concerts. The town does a lot,’ says Alvin Moore, a broker with Morehouse Realty Inc. and the former vice mayor of the town. “It gives turkeys away to the senior citizens.”
Midcentury cottages and ranch-style homes, many occupied by tenants
Neatly groomed front lawns, juxtaposed with lush, tropical greenery, lead to cottages and ranch-style homes built throughout the 1950s and 1960s. Properties in Eatonville range between $150,000 and $340,000, some with carports and back or front patios. More than 70% of residents rent their homes, and a number of the single-family houses on the market are occupied by tenants.
Programming for students to seniors at the community center and pool
Colorful murals celebrating the legacy of Zora Neale Hurston and other prominent African American figures surround the basketball court at Elizabeth Park. The green space is next to the Eatonville Community Pool, which offers diverse programming — from children’s swimming lessons to “Wade in the Water Wednesdays” for seniors. About a 5-minute walk south, the Denton Johnson Community Center also offers activities for a wide age group, with after-school programs for kids and social groups for seniors. Catalina/Frances Jerry Park hosts pick-up basketball games near a playground and a wooden pier that extends over one of the area’s many lakes.
ZORA! Festival Season and the annual Martin Luther King Jr. parade
The ZORA! Festival Season runs almost all year long, honoring Zora Neale Hurston and the town’s African American heritage with visual art exhibitions, lectures and various live performances. The season begins in January with a celebration of the famous Harlem Renaissance writer’s birthday and the Outdoor Festival of the Arts, a three-day celebration of Hurston’s impact on American culture. Eatonville also hosts an Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Parade Celebration, which kicks off with a procession down Kennedy Boulevard and concludes with live music, food vendors and local artisan booths scattered across a field outside of the local elementary school.
Students from several schools come together at Edgewater High
Children may begin their K-12 journeys at Lake Weston or Hungerford elementary schools, both of which score C-plus grades from Niche. Those who live on the very eastern side of the community are zoned for A-rated Dommerich Elementary School. Students may move forward to Lockhart Middle School — receiving a C-plus — or Maitland Middle School, which maintains a B-plus. Children from these neighborhood schools may come together at Edgewater High School, which earns a B-plus and offers magnet programs, like the Center for Future Educators or the Engineering, Science and Technology program.
Kim’s soul food, Jamaican cuisine and several grocers nearby
Eatonville is known for its soul food. Kook’n With Kim serves homestyle chicken, pork chops, meatloaf and turkey wings, paired with sides like mac and cheese, collard greens with pork and candied yams, ready for takeout. “Kim has been doing a lot in the community,” Moore says. “Every time I’ve been by there, there’s a nice line outside.” Authentic Caribbean flavors, including curries, soups and coco bread stuffed with beef and chicken patties, can be found at Miller’s Jamaican Cuisine nearby. A Walmart Neighborhood Market is just south of the community, and more options — like Publix Super Market, Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s — are located along Orlando Avenue to the east.
An easy commute to Orlando and public transportation to nearby cities
Interstate 4 cuts through the center of Eatonville, taking drivers directly south to downtown Orlando, about 6 miles away. Kennedy Boulevard intersects the highway and runs through the entire community, past the Zora Neale Hurston National Museum and several Eatonville restaurants. LYNX bus routes 1 and 9 stop along Kennedy Boulevard before continuing throughout the nearby communities of Maitland and Winter Park. The area is studded with lakes, and Florida state Route 414 leads west to one of the region’s largest bodies of water — Lake Apopka.
