Greetings from Kissimmee Florida - History of the Name

Local historians have offered many variations of the origin of the city's name. Most agree that Kissimmee is a modern spelling of a tribal word. The book, Florida Indians and the Invasion from Europe by Jerald T. Milanich, links "Kissimmee" to a village of the Jororo, one of Florida's lesser-known tribes. Historian John Hann researched Spanish documents about missions estabilshed to convert the Jororo and other groups to Christianity in the late 1600's.

Spanish records indicate that a mission was built near the tribe's main village, also called Jororo. Another mission was called Atissimi. Milanich writes, "Hann suggests that the name Atissimi, sometimes given as Jizimi and Tisimi, may be the source of the modern place name Kissimmee."

A 1752 Spanish map used the name "Cacema" which has evolved into today's spelling, Kissimmee.

Chief Osceola was a member of a native American tribe in Florida. Although most tribes did not oppose the white encroachment, Osceaol was furious about the way the Seminoles were treated. He was determined to help maintain the Seminole heritage and homeland. This determination led to his willingness to take a leadership role within the tribe even though he never had the formal title of Chief.

The County was named in honor of "Chief" Osceola in 1887 when Osceola County became Florida's 40th county.

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