Decline of Rural Agricultural Communities: Growth of Apopka

Abstract

The decline of rural agricultural communities is a national trend that includes Apopka, Florida. Over time, instead of the city annexed into the larger city of Orlando, Florida, Apopka has grown into the second-largest city in Orange County. The following questions beg to be answered: Why did Apopka become the second-largest city instead of cities closer to Orlando? What is special about Apopka that draws people to this city? The research-based on secondary sources illustrates the national trends of change in small agricultural towns, not only in the southeast but also in other regions of the country. The primary sources cover the local causes and effects of the changes that have occurred in Apopka and in the Central Florida region, which has produced the growth of Apopka. The decline in agriculture and expansion of size is from environmental elements and a shift in the economic base from agriculture to tourism. The primary sources include articles from local newspapers, the Orlando Business Journal, and environmental research results from the University of Florida. The research will include the effects on Apopka’s residents and the impact of environmental causes on the farmworkers who labored on the different farms in the area. The proposed project is an Omeka website that would help the Museum of the Apopkans to update its exhibits by moving into the 21st century.