Rev. 2008

Tour Lake County Florida

Lake County is located in the geographical center of the State between the Florida Cities of Orlando and Ocala.   The County contains over 1,000 lakes and 202 square miles of water. 

Lake County's terrain is very different from the rest of Florida, which is mostly flat.  Averaging 184' above sea level, it contains some of the highest elevations in the State.  Lake County is the home of the Harris Chain of Lakes covering over 76,000 acres connecting to the Atlantic Ocean through the Ocklawaha River.

The winters in Lake County are cooler than in South Florida or on the coasts.  The average January temperature is 59.7 degrees F, and the average August temperature is 82.4 degrees F.  The average rainfall is 47.57 inches, falling mostly in the rainy season between June and October.

We have distinct seasons with beautiful foliage color  changes, but our winters are mild.  There's just enough of a nip in the air to remind you that the cooler season is here.

The largest city is Leesburg with 15,409 residents.  Eustis comes in a close second with 15,379 residents.  Expanding Clermont has seen a 30% growth rate since 1980.  In 2000 the population of Clermont had expanded to a little over 9,000 residents.  Lake County continues to grow and is one of the fastest growing Counties in the State of Florida.

The City of Lady Lake is the home of "The Villages", one of the largest planned retirement communities in the United States with a population of over 50,000 residents.  

Lake County is bordered on the North by the Ocala National Forest.  The forest covers a total of 383,573 acres of pristine woodlands, ecological sites, trails and natural springs.  The City of Umatilla, with just over 2000 residents, is the gateway to the National Forest.

The heart of Lake County is the Golden Triangle Area.  The triangle is made up of the cities of Mount Dora, Tavares and Eustis.  Tavares is the county seat housing the County Court House and Government Centers.  Eustis is a small city that is rich in history.  Nestled along the eastern shore of Lake Eustis, the 7,000 acre lake provides a picturesque background for this beautiful small town where friendliness is not a thing of the past.

Mount Dora is the shinning jewel of the Golden Triangle.  Named by Money magazine as one of three "Best Places to Live" in America, the streets are lined with giant oaks, giving all who visit here a feeling of being in 19th Century England.

Historic and Interesting facts:

Lake County became a legal entity on July 27, 1887 when it was created out of portions of Orange and Sumter counties. 

It was named Lake County because there were over 1400 lakes within its proposed boundaries.  Tavares became the county seat after 3 elections that included political maneuvering and outright corruption.

As part of his effort to have Tavares named as County Seat, Major St. Clair Abrams, who founded Tavares, borrowed $10,000 and built a courthouse, which later was known as the Pioneer Building.  In 1922 the county floated a $250,000 Bond Issue and built a new courthouse which is now known as the Historic Courthouse.

The first Post Office was established in Okahumpka in 1845 when Florida was still a territory.  In 1890, the first census was formed and there were 8,034 people in the county. 

Agriculture was the main industry until the freezes of 1983, 1985 and 1989.

Walt Disney's parents were married in a small town named Kismet, which no longer exists, on December 27, 1887.  As a child, Walt used to spend vacations visiting his Aunt Jessie Perkins in Paisley.

If you have any questions or would like to tour any of our available homes, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Phil & Judy Kelley, Realtors
Coldwell Banker Camelot Realty
1898 N. Donnelly Street
Mount Dora, FL 32757
Toll Free at: 800 260-2829