Day 42: Mills 50 District, Orlando, Florida

📌APIA Every Day (42) - The Mills 50 district in Orlando, Florida, has evolved into an ethnic enclave for Asian American businesses, particularly of Vietnamese origin, hosting over 13,000 Vietnamese residents. Following the Vietnam War, refugees settled in West Florida, Texas, and Louisiana, initially engaging in shrimping. In these regions, Vietnamese communities flourished and gradually established businesses. Central Florida became a primary settlement for 1,100 refugees, who chose Mills 50 as their central area due to the bustling nature of other neighborhoods. In 1987, Mills 50 was filled with Vietnamese doctors, dentists, and tailors who operated several storefronts. Since then, the area has only expanded, now representing various Asian cultures, including Indian, Chinese, Vietnamese, Filipino, Korean, Thai, and Japanese populations.

With approximately 78,000 Asian American residents in Orange County, Florida—constituting 6% of the total population according to the 2020 census—Mills 50 stands out for its unique concentration in the area. The district symbolizes Orlando's multiculturalism, hosting authentic Asian-owned establishments that enrich the city's diverse fabric. Mills 50 has also become a neighborhood hub for the LGBTQIA+ community.

LEARN MORE:

My News 13: Vietnamese Americans Create Community in Orlando

Click Orlando: How Orlando’s Mills 50 District Turned into Thriving Asian American Community

Tasty Chomps: A Brief Walk Through “Little Vietnam” in Mills 50 District

ACLUFL: Florida’s Diversity Includes the AAPI Community Too

Orlando Magazine: Orlando's Little Vietnam

Tampa Bay: The Evolving Identity of Orlando's Little Vietnam

wusf: Spotlight on the Immigration Divide: Mills-50's Role in Orlando Culture

Modern Cities: An Up & Coming Neighborhood: Orlando's Mills 50

Your Community: ‘Little Vietnam’: A Brief history of Vietnamese Restaurants in Mills 50

#apiaeveryday #vietnamese #vietnameseamerican #vietnameseamericanhistory #littlesaigon #mills50 #chineseamerican #japaneseamerican #koreanamerican #thaiamerican #orlando #asiansinorlando #multiculturalism #orangecounty #indianamerican #filipinoamerican #aapi #aapihistory #historicpreservation