Winter Springs is a city in Seminole County, Florida, within the Orlando–Kissimmee–Sanford metropolitan area, set just south of Lake Jesup and about 20 minutes northeast of downtown Orlando. With a 2020 population of about 38,300, it is a mid-sized, family-oriented suburb known for its planned communities and its schools. The city's modern identity is tied to Tuscawilla, a large master-planned community developed between Winter Springs and neighboring Oviedo, whose neighborhoods — including Glen Eagle, its largest — have long anchored the eastern side of the city. On the western side, older neighborhoods reflect the city's earlier development and have been the focus of renewal and infrastructure investment. The city has also pursued a substantial Town Center, described as the largest of its kind in Seminole County. The land's history reaches back to the early nineteenth century, when much of present-day Winter Springs was part of vast Spanish land grants acquired by New York merchant Moses Levy before the United States took control of Florida in 1821. The area around Lake Jesup later passed through a series of agricultural owners before Seminole County's suburban growth transformed it in the late twentieth century. Education is a defining feature of the community. Winter Springs is served by Seminole County Public Schools, and the city is home to Winter Springs Elementary, Layer Elementary, and Winter Springs High School, which offers an International Baccalaureate program. The district also provides charter, virtual, and voluntary pre-K options, giving families a range of choices. Recreation runs through the community in the form of Central Winds Park, a large neighborhood park with sports fields and playgrounds, and the Cross Seminole Trail, a regional multi-use path. Lake Jesup, a large natural lake just to the north, frames the city's edge and supports boating and fishing. Winter Springs suits households seeking a quiet, well-schooled suburban setting with convenient access to the employment, entertainment, and services of the Orlando metro area.