Lake County, Florida

Lake County was created in 1887 from portions of Sumter and Orange counties. It was named for the many lakes contained within its borders{{cite book|title=Publications of the Florida Historical Society|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WZQ-AAAAYAAJ&pg=RA2-PA32|year=1908|publisher=Florida Historical Society.|page=32}} (250 named lakes and 1,735 other bodies of water{{cite web|url=http://www.lakecountyclerk.org/forms/pafr/2015_Citizens_Annual_Financial_Report.pdf |title=Financial report |publisher=lakecountyclerk.org |date=2015 |access-date=November 10, 2019}}).

In the 1800s, the two main industries in the area were growing cotton and breeding cattle. In the latter part of the 19th century, people started to grow citrus trees. Citrus was introduced by Melton Haynes.{{Cite book |last=Peter |first=Emmett |title=Lake County, Florida--A Pictorial History |publisher=Lake County Historical Society |year=1994 |isbn=978-0898659054 |location=Tavares, Florida |language=en}} Throughout the 1940s and 50s, citrus production increased and grew into the area's leading industry.{{citation needed|date=February 2021}} The December 1989 United States cold wave destroyed most of the citrus groves, dealing an economic blow from which many growers could not recover. Grove owners sold massive amounts of land to developers, resulting in increasing urban sprawl.{{cite web |last1=Omaye |first1=Jayna |title=Devastating 1989 freeze killed citrus, ushered in development in Lake County |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/lake/os-christmas-1989-citrus-freeze-25-anniversary-20141223-story.html |website=Orlando Sentinel |access-date=February 21, 2021 |date=December 13, 2014}}

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of {{convert|1157|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|938|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|219|sqmi}} (18.9%) is water.{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 23, 2011|date=February 1, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}

Sugarloaf Mountain is the highest point in peninsular Florida, at 312 feet (95 m) above sea level.{{Cite news|url=http://www.orlandosentinel.com/travel/destinations/florida/os-exfl-north-britton-hill-florida-highest-point-20170514-story.html|title=You won't get light-headed atop Florida's highest point|last=Crampton|first=Vincent|work=OrlandoSentinel.com|access-date=June 20, 2017|language=en-US}}

{{Div col}}

• Volusia County – northeast
• Orange County – east
• Seminole County – east
• Osceola County – southeast
• Polk County – south
• Sumter County – west
• Marion County – northwest

{{Div col end}}

• Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge (part)
• Ocala National Forest (part)

{{US Census population

|1890= 8034

|1900= 7467

|1910= 9509

|1920= 12744

|1930= 23161

|1940= 27255

|1950= 36340

|1960= 57383

|1970= 69305

|1980= 104870

|1990= 152104

|2000= 210528

|2010= 297052

|2020= 383956

|estyear=2023

|estimate=424462

|estref={{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.html|title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=March 31, 2024}}

|align-fn=center

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=June 14, 2014}}
1790–1960{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=June 14, 2014}} 1900–1990{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/fl190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=June 14, 2014}}
1990–2000{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=June 14, 2014}} 2010–2019

}}

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 383,956 people, 137,446 households, and 94,332 families residing in the county.

As of the census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/lakecountyflorida|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 7, 2020|title=U.S. Census website}} of 2010, there were 297,047 people and 130,190 households residing in the county. The population density was {{convert|316.6|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 163,586 housing units at an average density of {{convert|174.3|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the county was 83.4% White (68.7% non-Hispanic White), 11.5% Black or African American, 0.6% Native American, 2.3% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, and 2.1% from two or more races. 16.7% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 88,413 households, out of which 23.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.90% were married couples living together, 8.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.30% were non-families. 24.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.75.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 20.30% under the age of 18, 5.80% from 18 to 24, 23.80% from 25 to 44, 23.80% from 45 to 64, and 26.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $36,903, and the median income for a family was $42,577. Males had a median income of $31,475 versus $23,545 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,199. About 6.90% of families and 9.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.80% of those under age 18 and 6.30% of those age 65 or over.

Lake County is represented in the United States Senate by Republican senators Rick Scott and Ashley Moody.

Since redistricting following the 2020 U.S. Census, Lake County has been part of Florida's 6th and 11th congressional districts. They are represented by Republicans Randy Fine and Daniel Webster, respectively.

List of current elected officials:

County commissioners:

• District 1 – Anthony Sabatini{{cite web |url=https://www.lakecountyfl.gov/Board-of-County-Commissioners |title=Lake County Board of County Commissioners |website=lakecountyfl.gov |access-date=March 28, 2025}}
• District 2 – Sean M. Parks
• District 3 – Kirby Smith
• District 4 – Leslie Campione
• District 5 – Timothy Morris

School board members:

• District 1 - Bill Mathias (vice chair){{cite web |url=https://www.lake.k12.fl.us/o/lcs/page/board-members |title=Lake County Schools |website=lake.k12.fl.us |access-date=March 28, 2025}}
• District 2 - Tyler Brandeburg (chair)
• District 3 - Marc Dodd
• District 4 - Mollie Cunningham
• District 5 - Stephanie Luke

County constitutional officers:

• Sheriff – Peyton Grinnell{{cite web |url=https://www.lcso.org/leadershipteam/?sheriff |title=Leadership Team |website=lcso.org |access-date=March 28, 2025}}
• Clerk of the courts – Gary J. Cooney{{cite web |url=https://www.lakecountyclerk.org/ |title=Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller |website=lakecountyclerk.org |access-date=March 28, 2025}}
• Property appraiser – Mark V. Jordan{{cite web |url=https://www.lakecopropappr.com/ |title=Lake County Property Appraiser |website=lakecopropappr.com |access-date=March 28, 2025}}
• Tax collector – David W. Jordan{{cite web |url=https://laketax.com/ |title=Lake County Tax Collector |website=laketax.com |access-date=March 28, 2025}}
• Supervisor of elections – Alan Hays

The county lies within one state senatorial district:

• the 13th (covering the entire county and parts of Orange County, held by Republican Keith Truenow)

The county lies within three state representative districts:

• the 27th (covering the northeastern part of the county, held by Republican Richard Gentry)
• the 26th (covering the north-central part of the county, held by Republican Nan Cobb)
• the 25th (covering the central and southern part of the county, held by Republican Taylor Yarkosky)

The Florida Department of Corrections has Region III Correctional Facility Office on the grounds of the Lake Correctional Institution in an unincorporated area in Lake County."[http://www.dc.state.fl.us/facilities/region3/index.html Region III – Correctional Facility Office] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080613000200/http://www.dc.state.fl.us/facilities/region3/index.html |date=2008-06-13 }}." Florida Department of Corrections. Retrieved on January 8, 2010."[http://www.dc.state.fl.us/facilities/region3/312.html Lake Correctional Institution]." Florida Department of Corrections. Retrieved on January 8, 2010.

The Lake County Library System was established in 1982 by Lake County Ordinance 1982-18 following the establishment of the Lake County Library Planning Advisory Board in 1975. Today it is governed by the Lake County Board of County Commissioners. The library system is made up of 6 branch libraries and 10 municipal libraries:

• Astor County Library, Astor{{cite web |url=http://www.mylakelibrary.org/libraries/astor_county_library.aspx |title=Astor County Library |access-date=April 12, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190412215709/http://www.mylakelibrary.org/libraries/astor_county_library.aspx |archive-date=April 12, 2019 |url-status=dead }}
• Cagan Crossings Community Library, built in 2008 in Clermont
• Cooper Memorial Library: The Cooper Memorial Library's history began in 1905 when a traveling salesman stopped by a boarding house run by the Benjamin McCain family and promised to donate enough books to start a town library if he was able to sell his Chautauqua lectures. Money was contributed, but very few lectures occurred, and books were never donated. Money that was to be used for the final payment for the lecture series was instead used to start a library. The first librarian of the library was Ms. Payson Pierce, who offered her own home for book storage as well as opened her home to the public. In 1914, a permanent structure was built. Women of the Library Club supported the library until 1936 when the Clermont City Council agreed to maintain it. In 2002, Cooper Memorial became a branch of the Lake County Library System.Bloodsworth, Doris. A Library Love Affair: How the Love of Books Helped Shape the History of Clermont, Florida. Florida Libraries. Vol. 53, No. 2, Fall 2010. pp. 4–6.
• East Lake County Library, Sorrento
• Eustis Memorial Library, Eustis{{cite web|url=http://eustismemoriallibrary.org/|title=Eustis Memorial Library}}
• Fruitland Park Library first began in 1916 from the donation of books from the Bosanquet and Dwight families.{{cite web|url=https://www.fruitlandpark.org/library/page/historic-trail-fp|title=Historic Trail of FP | City of Fruitland Park Florida|website=www.fruitlandpark.org}} Twenty years later, under the joint support of the women of St. Paul's Catholic Church, Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, and the Community Methodist Church, it became a community library. In 1970, Fruitland Park Library employed its first salaried librarian.
• Helen Lehmann Memorial Library, Montverde{{cite web |url=http://www.mylakelibrary.org/libraries/helen_lehmann_memorial_library.aspx |title=Helen Lehmann Memorial Library |access-date=April 12, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190412215622/http://www.mylakelibrary.org/libraries/helen_lehmann_memorial_library.aspx |archive-date=April 12, 2019 |url-status=dead }}
• Lady Lake Public Library, Lady Lake{{cite web |url=http://www.mylakelibrary.org/libraries/lady_lake_public_library.aspx |title=Lady Lake Public Library |access-date=April 12, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190412215621/http://www.mylakelibrary.org/libraries/lady_lake_public_library.aspx |archive-date=April 12, 2019 |url-status=dead }}
• Leesburg Public Library, Leesburg{{cite web|url=https://www.leesburgflorida.gov/government/departments/library/index.php|title=Welcome to Leesburg|website=leesburgflorida.gov}}
• Marianne Beck Memorial Library: The Marianne Beck Memorial Library began in 1989 as an Eagle Scout project in a former carport in Howey-in-the-Hills, Florida. The local community raised $50,000 to remodel a former convenience store that was purchased by the town for the new library.{{cite web |title=Marianne Beck Memorial Library |url=https://www.howey.org/library |website=howey.org |access-date=May 1, 2020}}
• Marion Baysinger Memorial Library, Groveland{{cite web |url=http://www.mylakelibrary.org/libraries/marion_baysinger_memorial_library.aspx |title=Marion Baysinger Memorial Library |access-date=April 12, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190412215733/http://www.mylakelibrary.org/libraries/marion_baysinger_memorial_library.aspx |archive-date=April 12, 2019 |url-status=dead }}
• Minneola Schoolhouse Library, Minneola{{cite web |url=https://www.mylakelibrary.org/libraries/minneola_schoolhouse_library.aspx |title=Minneola Schoolhouse Library |access-date=April 12, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190412215634/http://www.mylakelibrary.org/libraries/minneola_schoolhouse_library.aspx |archive-date=April 12, 2019 |url-status=dead }}
• Paisley County Library, Paisley
• Tavares Public Library, Tavares{{cite web|url=https://www.tavares.org/379/Library|title=Tavares Public Library | Tavares, FL – Official Website|website=www.tavares.org}}
• Umatilla Public Library, Umatilla{{cite web|url=https://www.umatillalibrary.org/|title=HOME|website=Umatilla Library}}
• W.T. Bland Public Library, Mount Dora{{cite web|url=https://ci.mount-dora.fl.us/1045/WT-Bland-Public-Library|title=W.T. Bland Public Library | Mount Dora, FL – Official Website|website=ci.mount-dora.fl.us}}Lake County Library System. Online, available: https://www.mylakelibrary.org/ {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170312062439/https://www.mylakelibrary.org/ |date=March 12, 2017}}

Lake County has voted Republican in U.S. presidential races since 1948.

{{PresHead|place=Lake County, Florida|whig=no|source1={{cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=June 15, 2018}}}}

{{PresRow|2024|Republican|140,500|84,546|2,468|Florida}}

{{PresRow|2020|Republican|125,859|83,505|1,950|Florida}}

{{PresRow|2016|Republican|102,188|62,838|6,773|Florida}}

{{PresRow|2012|Republican|87,643|61,799|1,702|Florida}}

{{PresRow|2008|Republican|82,802|62,948|1,621|Florida}}

{{PresRow|2004|Republican|74,389|48,221|1,340|Florida}}

{{PresRow|2000|Republican|50,010|36,571|2,030|Florida}}

{{PresRow|1996|Republican|35,097|29,752|9,074|Florida}}

{{PresRow|1992|Republican|30,825|23,200|15,762|Florida}}

{{PresRow|1988|Republican|37,327|16,766|479|Florida}}

{{PresRow|1984|Republican|35,319|12,217|7|Florida}}

{{PresRow|1980|Republican|26,798|13,128|1,602|Florida}}

{{PresRow|1976|Republican|19,976|14,369|442|Florida}}

{{PresRow|1972|Republican|23,079|4,803|48|Florida}}

{{PresRow|1968|Republican|11,763|4,599|8,442|Florida}}

{{PresRow|1964|Republican|12,897|7,773|0|Florida}}

{{PresRow|1960|Republican|12,979|4,936|0|Florida}}

{{PresRow|1956|Republican|10,888|4,326|0|Florida}}

{{PresRow|1952|Republican|9,132|3,797|0|Florida}}

{{PresRow|1948|Republican|3,579|3,474|1,226|Florida}}

{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|2,693|4,323|0|Florida}}

{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|2,659|5,322|0|Florida}}

{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|2,034|4,045|0|Florida}}

{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|1,867|3,070|0|Florida}}

{{PresRow|1928|Republican|3,383|1,474|112|Florida}}

{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|948|1,381|271|Florida}}

{{PresRow|1920|Democratic|734|1,720|86|Florida}}

{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|330|886|91|Florida}}

{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|92|596|123|Florida}}

{{PresRow|1908|Democratic|200|487|146|Florida}}

{{PresRow|1904|Democratic|148|529|51|Florida}}

{{PresRow|1900|Democratic|143|492|60|Florida}}

{{PresRow|1896|Democratic|302|870|68|Florida}}

{{PresFoot|1892|Democratic|0|1,137|190|Florida}}

Data comes from the Florida Division of Elections.[https://dos.myflorida.com/elections/data-statistics/voter-registration-statistics/voter-registration-reports/voter-registration-by-county-and-party/ Voter Registration - By County and Party] dos.myflorida, August 31, 2022

{{clarify|reason=missing private schools which do not have their own article, nor will ever have|date=January 2015}}

{{main|Lake County Schools}}

There are a number of public schools in the county.

The following colleges are in the county:

• Lake-Sumter State College
• Beacon College
• Southern Technical College
• Lake Technical College

The Tavares Seaplane Base{{cite news | url = http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2008-11-22/news/ltavares22_1_seaplane-tavares-wooton-park | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100428090528/http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2008-11-22/news/ltavares22_1_seaplane-tavares-wooton-park | url-status = dead | archive-date = April 28, 2010 | title = Tavares keeps it simple in naming seaplane base | author = Show, Christine | newspaper = Orlando Sentinel | date = November 22, 2008}} is a city-owned, public-use seaplane base on Lake Dora in Tavares.{{cite web | url = http://www.tavares.org/tavaresseaplanebase.html | title = Tavares Seaplane Base & Marina | publisher = City of Tavares | access-date = June 16, 2010 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100617073418/http://www.tavares.org/tavaresseaplanebase.html | archive-date = June 17, 2010 }}

Image:Tavares Marina.JPG{{clear}}

The Leesburg International Airport is a former Army Airfield and municipal airport along Lake Harris east of downtown Leesburg, Florida.

Mid Florida Air Service Airport is on State Road 44 east of Eustis.{{cite web|url=http://www.cfaspp.com/FASP/AirportPDFs/mid-florida-air-service_%28oct2009%29.pdf|title=Mid Florida Air Services Airport}}

• Umatilla Municipal Airport

{{See also|List of county roads in Lake County, Florida}}

• 25px Florida's Turnpike runs north and south from Southeastern and Central Florida. Four interchanges exist in the county; Hancock Road (Exit 278), US 27/SR 19 (Exit 285), southbound US 27 (Exit 289) and County Road 470 (Exit 296).
• 25px US 27 is the main local road through western Lake County, running south to north. It spans from Four Corners to The Villages.
• 25px US 441 is another south to north US highway running through Mount Dora from Orange County around Lake Dora, where it merges with SR 44, has a wrong-way concurrency with SR 19 in Tavares, and lets go of SR 44 in Leesburg only to join US 27 as they both head into Marion County.
• 25px SR 19 is a mostly scenic north and south road from SR 50 in Groveland through Tavares, Eustis, and Ocala National Forest.
• 25px SR 33 is the north–south road from Lakeland in Polk County to Groveland. A county extension exists as a hidden route along SR 50 to Mascotte, where it becomes an exposed county road leading to US 27 in Okahumpka.
• 25px SR 40 is the northernmost east–west route in Lake County, and runs through Ocala National Forest.
• 25px SR 44 runs east and west through Central Lake County from west of Leesburg where it joins southbound US 441 until it breaks away near Mount Dora and heads northeast into Volusia County.
• 25px SR 46 starts at an interchange with US 441 and County Road 46 in Mount Dora and through Sorrento and Mount Plymouth along the northern border of Orange County.
• 25px SR 50 is the main east–west road through southern Lake County.

LakeXpress is the public transportation agency that serves the Lake County, Florida area since 2007.

File:Citrus Tower in June 2024.jpg, an historic landmark located in Clermont]]

{{div col}}

• Clermont
• Eustis
• Fruitland Park
• Groveland
• Leesburg
• Mascotte
• Minneola
• Mount Dora
• Tavares
• Umatilla

{{div col end}}

• Astatula
• Howey-in-the-Hills
• Lady Lake
• Montverde

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

• Altoona
• Astor
• Ferndale
• Four Corners
• Lake Kathryn
• Lake Mack-Forest Hills
• Lisbon
• Mount Plymouth
• Okahumpka
• Paisley
• Pine Lakes
• Pittman
• Silver Lake
• Sorrento
• Yalaha

{{div col end}}

{{Div col}}

• Bassville Park
• Fort Mason
• Grand Island
• Lanier
• Orange Bend
• The Villages (partly)

{{Div col end}}

• Flora Call and Elias Disney were married January 1, 1888, in the Lake County town of Kismet.{{cite web|url=http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780307265968&view=excerpt |title=Walt Disney by Neal Gabler – eBook – Random House – Read an Excerpt |publisher=Random House |date=October 3, 2006|access-date=July 22, 2010}} They were the parents of Walt Disney.{{cite web|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/features/os-xpm-2011-10-28-os-dickinson-florida-history-1030-20111017-story.html|title=Walt Disney's ties to Central Florida reach back far beyond debut of Magic Kingdom 40 years ago|first=Joy Wallace|last=Dickinson|website=OrlandoSentinel.com|date=October 28, 2011 }}
• The Groveland Four (Earnest Thomas, Charles Greenlee, Samuel Shepherd and Walter Irvin), who were falsely accused of raping a 17-year-old white woman and assaulting her husband.
• Willis V. McCall, sheriff of Lake County, who shot one and wounded another of the Groveland Four while they were in his custody
• Randy Rhoads, American heavy metal guitarist, killed in a plane crash in Leesburg on March 19, 1982. Played in the Ozzy Osbourne solo band following his tenure in Quiet Riot.
• Ginger Minj, drag queen; best known for being a runner-up on the seventh season of RuPaul's Drag Race and competing on the second season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars

• Lake County Schools
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Lake County, Florida

{{notelist}}

{{reflist}}

{{commons category}}

• [https://www.lakecountyfl.gov/ Lake County Board of County Commissioners]
• [https://www.lakevotes.com/ Lake County Supervisor of Elections]
• [https://www.lakecopropappr.com/ Lake County Property Appraiser]
• [https://www.lcso.org/ Lake County Sheriff's Office]
• [https://www.laketax.com/ Lake County Tax Collector]

• [https://www.lake.k12.fl.us/ Lake County School Board]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20140808170102/http://projectstudentsafety.org/ Project Student Safety]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20190930221300/https://www.sjrwmd.com/ St. Johns River Water Management District]
• [https://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us Southwest Florida Water Management District]

• [https://www.lakecountyclerk.org/ Lake County Clerk of Circuit and County Courts]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20041206225520/http://www.co.hernando.fl.us/judicial/ Public Defender, 5th Judicial Circuit of Florida] serving Citrus, Hernando, Lake, Marion, and Sumter counties
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20041015194321/http://jud5.flcourts.org/sao/ Office of the State Attorney, 5th Judicial Circuit of Florida]
• [https://circuit5.org/ 5th Judicial Circuit of Florida]

• Workforce Central Florida
• [https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/omeka2/collections/show/136 Lake County Collection on RICHES Mosaic Interface]

{{Geographic Location

|Centre = Lake County, Florida

|North =

|Northeast = Volusia County

|East = Orange County and Seminole County

|Southeast = Osceola County

|South = Polk County

|Southwest =

|West = Sumter County

|Northwest = Marion County

}}

{{Lake County, Florida}}

{{Metro Orlando}}

{{Geography of Florida}}

{{authority control}}

{{coord|28.77|-81.72|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-FL_source:UScensus1990}}

Category:Florida counties

Category:Populated places established in 1887

Category:Counties in Greater Orlando

Category:1887 establishments in Florida

Category:Randy Rhoads