"St. Cloud, not yet so well known especially by Brazilians, is a beautiful city, rich in lakes and landscapes, with easy access to the airport and shopping center. It has its historic center as well as Winter Garden and Winter Park. From an investment point of view, new developments and construction companies in the area are generating growth. The area has appreciated in value and offers an attractive cost-benefit ratio for those looking for long-term capital appreciation but who don't want to compromise on their budget." - Andrea Pointon.
St. Cloud is a small town in northern Osceola County, Florida, United States. It lies on the south shore of East Lake Tohopekaliga, about 26 miles (41.8 km) southeast of Orlando.
The population was 35,183 in the 2010 census and 54,579 in the 2019 census estimate. The city is part of the Orlando/Kissimmee/Sanford metropolitan area. St. Cloud was founded as a community for retired Civil War veterans and earned the nickname "Soldier Friendly City".
During the 1870s, Hamilton Disston of Philadelphia became interested in the development of the region while on fishing trips with Henry Shelton Sanford, founder of the town of Sanford. Disston contracted with the Florida Internal Improvement Fund, then in receivership, to pay $1 million to offset its Civil War and Reconstruction debt. In return, Disston received half of the land he drained from the state's swamps. He dug canals and, in 1886-87, established the St. Cloud sugarcane plantation, named after Minnesota's St. Cloud, although many long-time residents claim the town was named after Saint-Cloud in France.
It wasn't until June 1, 1915 that the Florida Legislature incorporated St. Cloud as a city. Downtown features landmark buildings designed by the Orlando architectural firm of Ryan & Roberts, a partnership formed by two women. The Ryan and Roberts buildings and others downtown are predominantly Spanish Renaissance.
St. Cloud has tried to separate itself from neighboring cities, and particularly theme parks, by promoting an image of small-town life and trying to become less economically dependent on Kissimmee. On March 6, 2006, St. Cloud launched CyberSpot, a program offering residents free wireless high-speed Internet access. The city then shut down CyberSpot, claiming it was too expensive. The city is served by the Osceola Library System.
St Cloud's main highway is US 192, which runs in conjunction with US 441 to the east and west. This six-lane highway is crisscrossed by boulevards running from north to south.
