To be the Center of Good Living.

The City of Ocoee is just one of many government agencies that provide services to Ocoee residents and businesses. The City of Ocoee Government has many parts that make it run. First and foremost are the citizens. Citizens elect four commissioners and a mayor to represent their needs. Citizens also contribute by being a part of volunteer and advisory boards. There are also many community events where volunteers can help their fellow citizens.

These five elected officials consist of four Commissioners and a Mayor. Each of the Commissioners is elected by and represents a specific district (section) of the City. The Mayor is elected by and represents all citizens of Ocoee.

The elected officials hire a City Manager who is responsible for the daily operations of the City. The City Manager delegates management of specific functions of the City to Department Directors.

The settlement of Ocoee began when Dr. J. D. Starke led a group of slaves into the area in the mid 1850s. Many of the men, including Starke, were stricken with malaria and hoped by moving they could escape further outbreaks.

They established a camp along the northern shores of a lake with open pine woods and found that the clear, clean water did indeed bring them better health. So Starke and his slaves worked in the fields near Lake Apopka during the day and retired to this haven at night.

It was around this nucleus in which the community of Starke Lake began to grow. Though the town would eventually change its name, the lake which brought such good health to the man who originally settled here still bears his name - Starke Lake.