Central Florida is a region located in the southern part of Florida. It is one of the state’s three directional regions and covers not only the Orlando area but also several counties including Marion, Lake, Manatee, Osceola, Pasco, Seminole, and Sumter.
When it comes to outdoor activities and places for recreation, Central Florida has a lot to offer. One of the reasons why this region has become a popular tourist destination is because it is home to well-known theme parks such as Disneyland, SeaWorld Orlando, and LEGOLAND Florida Resort.
Central Florida also has several zoos: Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens, Brevard Zoo, and Busch Gardens Tampa Bay Animal Park. It likewise has many natural springs where people can go boating or look for manatees and alligators. For golf enthusiasts, Central Florida has 39 public-access golf courses, so finding an area to suit your golf skills will not be a problem.
As for the weather, Central Florida experiences a humid subtropical climate. Expect hot, sunny days during summer, and moderate temperatures during fall and spring.
Central Florida attracts people of all ages who are looking for a new place of residence. If you want to move to this region, one of the things that you should look into is the sinkhole situation. Here are some of the things that you need to know:
Sinkholes in Florida
Historical Sinkhole Situation in Central Florida
Central Florida is also known as Sinkhole Alley, and through the years, residents had seen sinkholes that come in different sizes. Here are some of the sinkhole incidents in the past:
- January 2015 – A sinkhole opened on the roadway at Beacon Street NW, Jupiter Blvd. NW. Officials closed Beacon Street NW to assess and repair the hole.
- October 2016 – A hole formed in a commercial area on Sand Pond Road, near Lake Emma Road in Lake Mary, Seminole County.
- July 2017 – A sinkhole that stretched up to 225 feet wide and 50 feet deep swallowed a boat and damaged two homes. Residents from around 12 homes evacuated as the hole threatened to destroy another house.
- July 2017 – A small hole opened in The Villages, while a cluster of sinkhole formed at a nearby retention pond, draining the water in it.
- July 2017 – A sinkhole opened at Land O’Lakes in Pasco County. It was 225 feet wide and at least 50 feet deep. The hole swallowed a boat and two homes.
- September 2017 – A hole opened in Central Florida. It started with just a small crack in the back wall of a home, then a depression formed on the ground near the crack, swallowing a portion of the house.
- September 2017 – At least three sinkholes opened in The Villages during Hurricane Irma.  One of the holes was 20 feet deep.
- September 2017 – A sinkhole opened underneath a building called Landmark at West Place Apartment.
- October 2017 – A sinkhole formed outside a home in Palm Bay, located at La Maderia Drive in the Sawgrass Subdivision. The hole was about 14 feet by 20 feet.
- October 2017 – A sinkhole opened at an intersection in the Rolling Greens Subdivision. It formed about 20 to 25 feet away from a home and was 30 feet wide and 15 feet deep.
- February 2018 – At least three sinkholes formed in the Village of Calumet Grove. Officials said one of the holes was about 18 feet wide and 35 feet deep.
- February 2018 – Multiple sinkholes threatened at least two homes in The Villages. These opened at 17092 SE 79th McLawren Terrace. The largest hole was almost 20 feet wide and 35 feet deep.
- March 2018 – A large sinkhole formed in the backyard of a home at 5925 Harrington Drive in Orlando. The hole was about 20-30 feet across and 13 feet deep.
- March 2018 – A hole opened at Long Pond Road near Markham Woods Road in Seminole County.
- March 2018 – A sinkhole opened on a road near Orlando, causing a driving detour in Seminole County. Since water was bubbling up, the cause could be an underground water main break.
- March 2018 – A sinkhole opened at Seminole County, swallowing part of the street near Lake Mary.
- March 2018 – A hole that was 13 feet across opened near a home in Pine Hills, forcing the residents to evacuate.
- April 2018 – Multiple sinkholes appeared in the Fore Ranch area near Southwest 43rd Circle in Ocala. Residents from eight homes across a pond evacuated.
- April 2018 – Another sinkhole opened in the area of Fore Ranch neighborhood in Ocala. The cause might be a private irrigation water main break.
- April 2018 – A hole formed in Gemini Springs Park in DeBary, Volusia County. The hole was several feet across and 10 feet deep.
- May 2018 – Four more sinkholes opened at The Villages. The largest hole was about 25 feet across and 30 feet deep, located at Southeast 79th McLawren Terrace.
- May 2018 – Multiple sinkholes opened around a retention pond in the Wynchase at Fore Ranch Subdivision.
- June 2018 – A sinkhole formed in the middle of one of the roads at a retirement community in Lake County.
Are you planning to move to Central Florida? Make sure to be aware of the sinkhole situation in the area. Sinkholes appear more frequently in Florida than any other state in the country. Also, Central Florida is called Sinkhole Alley for a reason. Do your research and ask for feedback from city officials and residents.
If you want to know more about the sinkholes in your area, check out sinkholemaps.com, an online sinkhole resource for many places in Florida. You can search sinkhole-related incidents in your area for your peace of mind.