On July 8, 1886, the Orlando City Council officially approved the creation of the Orlando Street Railway Company, marking a significant milestone in the city’s early development. The system introduced mule-drawn streetcars as the first form of public transportation in Orlando.
The original route ran along Orange Avenue from Church Street northward, with streetcars traveling at just six miles per hour. A second car was later added to accommodate growing use. This 5-cent ride provided residents a faster and more reliable way to move through downtown, laying the foundation for modern urban transit in Central Florida.
Though short-lived and eventually replaced by electric trolleys and automobiles, the Orlando Street Railway helped shape the city’s infrastructure and economic growth in the late 19th century.
