Kissimmee is the county seat of Osceola County, located just south of Orlando in the heart of Central Florida. The city spreads along the southern shore of Lake Tohopekaliga—locally shortened to Lake Toho—a sprawling freshwater lake that anchors the community and shapes much of its outdoor life. Its position along major highways and a short distance from the region's theme-park corridor has made Kissimmee one of Florida's best-known vacation destinations, even as it functions as a working city with a large year-round population. The city grew from a 19th-century settlement tied to the Florida cattle industry, steamboat trade on the Kissimmee River, and later the railroad and citrus boom. That heritage survives in the Kissimmee Historic District, where more than 180 buildings from the late 19th and early 20th centuries line the streets around a restored downtown. Historic downtown Kissimmee clusters shops, restaurants, and community events around Lakefront Park and the lakefront boat ramp, giving the city a walkable core distinct from the resort sprawl to the north. Economically, Kissimmee is shaped by tourism, hospitality, retail, and service industries, with ongoing growth in health care and education. Its proximity to Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, and other attractions supports a large hospitality workforce, while vacation-home communities and short-term rental neighborhoods serve millions of visitors each year. At the same time, older neighborhoods and the lakefront retain a more traditional Central Florida feel. Residents can reach Orlando by SunRail, the region's weekday commuter rail running between DeLand in Volusia County and Poinciana in southern Osceola County, with a Kissimmee/Amtrak station within walking distance of downtown. The School District of Osceola County serves the city's students. For those drawn to water and open space, Lake Tohopekaliga, Lake Kissimmee State Park, and Shingle Creek Regional Park—part of the headwaters of the Everglades—offer fishing, paddling, and wildlife viewing close to home.