St. Cloud has been called "A Soldier's Colony," "The Friendly Soldier City," "The Wonder City" and "The City of Schools."

It's also been known as an inexpensive place for tourists to stay while visiting Walt Disney World, although city officials are now actively downplaying the once-ballyhooed tourism connection and promoting the charms of St. Cloud as a great place to live.

The military references hearken back to 1909, when the Grand Army of the Republic, an organization for Union soldiers who had served in the Civil War, bought 35,000 acres for development as a community for veterans.

Property in "The New Town of St. Cloud" was offered by lottery, and more than 1,200 old soldiers snatched up lots at $50 each. Within a year, more than 2,000 people had relocated. Following the stock market crash in 1929, city boosters actually gave away lots to attract more new residents, including veterans of all wars.

In the 1970s, St. Cloud teamed with much-larger Kissimmee to market itself internationally as an affordable alternative for vacationers wishing to explore the theme parks without paying resort hotel prices for accommodations.

Although the affiliation still exists, the city has recently begun an effort to reposition itself. A logo redesign has dropped Disney's ubiquitous Cinderella castle and replaced it with a sailboat and the words "Soldier City" and "Celebrating Small Town Life."

Indeed, St. Cloud already boasts one of Central Florida's most charming downtown districts, replete with antique shops occupying vintage storefronts. Several excellent restaurants, a historical museum and Veteran's Memorial Park are located downtown.

Although the ambience may be rustic, St. Cloud is leading-edge in many ways. For example, wireless Internet access is available throughout the city. And elected officials have embarked on an aggressive effort to annex rural land to the south and east of the city, mostly in an effort to control and direct growth.

And there's plenty of growth to direct. The city of roughly 22,000 is expected to add 24,000 residents as 10 new-home communities, including Stevens Plantation and Mallard Pond, are completed. And on the eastern shore of Lake Tohopekaliga, just outside the city limits, a 6,000-home project called Pineloch has been proposed. If annexed, Pineloch could potentially add another 20,000 people to St. Cloud's population.