Lake County

In between, there's an expanding economic base due in part to the burgeoning populations of picturesque small cities--those with more than 10,000 full-time are Leesburg (15,500), Eustis (13,800) and Lady Lake (11,500).The area remains popular with snowbirds. In Leesburg, population soars 25 percent in the winter season; within an eight-mile radius of the city, the number of people in residence increases 50 percent during the winter months. Still, it's essentially a quiet, laid-back place, and that's the way all the residents--full time and part time--prefer it.

Home Sweet Home

Eight connecting lakes form a unique chain that boaters can travel all the way to the Atlantic Ocean. And in addition to its 1,400 lakes, Lake County possesses hills and lots of trees, not simply palm trees, says the Greater Lake County Association of Realtors. Desirable property is affordable here. Waterfront property is available starting at about $75,000; golf-course property starts at about $90,000. Although there are good buys all over the county and in every section, Hicks says that existing homes are today's best buys. In Lake County, for example, the median sales price of existing homes was $103,300 in January of 1999, up 8 percent from 1998. Hicks notes that for that amount you could probably purchase a two-bedroom, two-bath home of 1,300 to 1,500 square feet or a three-bedroom, two-bath home of approximately 1,400 to 1,600 square feet.

Lake County still enjoys lots of open countryside. Another Lake County plus is its central location, convenient to both coasts and to Orlando's attractions and airport. Several new communities are currently being built. They include homes starting at $170,000 on the east side of Lake Joanna (Eustis and north of Mount Dora) in The Porches of Park Place; The Palisades in south Lake County; Kings Cove in Leesburg with homes ranging from $80,000 to $200,000; and The Villages at Lady Lake, featuring homes in the $60,000 to $200,000 range.

Vital Stats

Lake County is part of the Orlando Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) that also includes Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties. Unless otherwise indicated, statistics are for the Orlando MSA.

Population: 202,207 (Lake County)
Median age: 48.2
New citizens: 4,740 yearly
New job creation: 4.4 percent (1999)
Unemployment rate: 3.3 percent in August, 1999
Cost of living: 94.21 percent (U.S. average: 100 percent)
Per capita income: $20,108
Median household income: $28,327

Rain & Shine

Lake County is part of Florida's Central Highlands, so it has a relatively high elevation (about 50-190 feet above sea level) compared to most of this predominately flat state.

The landscape features beautiful rolling hills and helps create a climate that can spoil the residents because it's warm in the winter and comparatively cool in the summer. The average temperature in January is 59.7 degrees Fahrenheit; the August average is 82.4 degrees Fahrenheit. An average annual rainfall of 50 inches keeps the area lush and green most of the year.

Job Market

Citrus has long been Lake County's primary industry. But the economy is diversifying; metal fabrication, concrete and mobile home construction are growing industries. The labor force includes more than 85,000 people, with most non-farm employment centered in services and retail trade. There are 18 industrial parks throughout the county.

With a population that's grown to over 200,000 in 2000, the county's economic base is rapidly expanding.

The county's top 10 employers are: Village of Lake-Sumter, Inc. (1,651), Florida Hospital/Waterman, Inc. (1,500), Leesburg Regional Medical Center (1,300), Winn Dixie Stores (1,190), Publix Supermarkets, Inc. (1,001), Sprint (650), Golden Gem Growers (629), Florida Crushed Stone Company (600), Lester Coggins Trucking, Inc. (500) and Dura-Stress, Inc. (450).

Class Notes

Extensive information about the schools in this area is online at the state's Department of Education (http://www.firn.edu/doe/doehome.htm). There you'll discover everything you'll need to know about Florida schools -- in general and in particular. All you need is the name of your county and the names of the schools students from your neighborhood attend.

Use links from the DOE home page for general information about entrance requirements, immunizations and so forth.

For the nitty-gritty details that really matter, click on the logo for the "Florida School Indicators Report."

Getting Around

Lake County residents enjoy the best of two worlds: they're not far from major urban amenities, yet they have the space provided by a suburban/rural environment. Florida's Turnpike cuts right through Lake County and Interstate 75 is also easily accessible. Other key highways serving the area include State Road 50 and U.S. highways 27 and 441. Area shortline railroads, Florida Central and Florida Midland, interline with regional and national railroad lines. Numerous trucking firms serve the area as well.

Orlando International Airport--among the nation's busiest and most highly rated--is just 45 miles from the county's center. There are two executive airports as well: Leesburg Municipal features a 5,000-foot asphalt runway; Mid-Florida at Eustis has a 3,200-foot grass runway.

Great Outdoors

Here's where Lake County truly shines day after day, year after year. From bass fishing to bicycling and from golf to glider flying, residents have a multitude of ways to revel in the great outdoors. Among the natural stars in its crown, Lake County is especially proud of the lake Griffin State Recreation Area in Fruitland Park, Lake Louisa State Park on the edge of the Green Swamp and Rock Springs Run State Preserve in Sorrento, noted for its unspoiled Wekiva River frontage. And the impressive and extensive Ocala National Forest, on the county's northwestern boundary, attracts campers and hikers throughout the year.

Anglers from the around the world come to Lake County to fish for bass, blue bream, shellcrackers, stripers, speckled perch and catfish. There are more than a dozen fish camps throughout the county offering easy access to popular fishing spots and sometimes providing comfortable accommodations.

With more than a thousand lakes dotting the landscape, pleasure boating of all kinds is also popular. The legendary Harris Chain of Lakes can take you, via the St. Johns River, all the way to the Atlantic Ocean. The late sportswriter Grantland Rice once called the Dora Canal, which links Lake Dora and Lake Eustis, "the most beautiful half-mile of water in the world." Many locals agree with him. If you don't have a boat of your own, there are planned cruises to enjoy that depart from Tavares, Mount Dora or the Mission Inn Golf and Tennis Resort.

Lake County has been described as a golfer's paradise, and with good reason. There are more than a dozen courses public courses, the best known being the Mission Inn Golf and Tennis Resort at Howey-in-the-Hills. It has been ranked among the top 20 of the state's 1,100 golf courses. Another favorite is Clermont's Swiss Fairways Club, which is surrounded by water.

This area is also a haven for bicyclists, who find the rolling hills and spectacular scenery a perfect backdrop for a leisurely ride or competitive race. A recently renovated "rails-to-trails" bike and skating trail runs from Clermont to Ocoee. Eustis features a nature center, Lady Lake has a petting farm, Sorrento offers a water park and there's horseback riding in Altoona. If you're looking for something a little more fast-paced in the way of outdoor activity, you can learn to water ski in Groveland, Okahumpka and Clermont. Or you might go skydiving in Umatilla, biplaning in Eustis, seaplaning in Tavares and glider flying in Clermont.

Good Sports

Lake County is part of the Central Florida Sports Commission and hosts a wide variety of competitive events including world-class fishing tournaments such as Crappie USA and the Lake County Governor's Cup Bass Fishing. Hickory Point Recreational Facility (Tavares) ranked as the premier multipurpose fishing and sports facility by Fish & Game Finder Magazine, and has hosted a wide array of events including the 1997 Governor's Cup Bass Tournament, and the Guys & Dolls Bass Regional Qualifier.

The USA Triathlon National Training Center (Clermont) debuted in 2000, a state-of-the-art complex that serves as the training center and headquarters for USA Triathlon. The Sunset Lakes Ski Center (Okahumpka) has three man-made lakes perfect for slalom, trick, jumping and wakeboarding, and has hosted the World Disabled Championships, U.S. Olympic Team Trials and Florida State Championships. In The Villages (Lady Lake) Florida's largest self-contained 55-plus community with over 99 holes of golf, 64 lanes of bowling, two polo fields and a multitude of other recreational facilities. It's currently a stop on the Senior Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Tour and host site for 1998 Samsung World Championship of Women's Golf.

Other highlights of a year-long calendar of sports include: Annual Mount Dora Sailing Regatta; Superstars Water Ski Tournament in Groveland; Florida Junior Invitational (Golf) Championship in Howey-in-the-Hills; the Boys Ranch Professional Rodeo in Altoona; and, the Annual Seniors Soaring Championship, the only U.S. glider competition for pilots 55 and older.

A little longer drive will take you to Orlando Magic National Basketball Association games, National Football League games in Tampa and top Division 1-A sports at the University of Florida, Florida State University and the University of Central Florida.

Hot Times in the City

What's your pleasure: Shakespeare in the Park, a wine tasting, cool jazz, an old-fashioned Fourth of July parade? You'll find them all in Lake County, which hosts a veritable cornucopia of festivals, celebrations and events. Or for a pleasant, short outing, Orlando, Walt Disney World, Sea World and Universal Studios Florida are only a very short drive from Lake County's southeastern boundary.

The temperate climate means there's something going on every month. Many are surprised at all they find. The 15-story Florida Citrus Tower in Clermont has long been a must-see in Lake County, because it provides dramatic panoramic views of the countryside. And along with world-renowned citrus, Lake County also produces wine. Free tours leave almost every 20 minutes from the Lakeridge Winery and Vineyards in Clermont.

Events held each year include the Mount Dora Art Festival, Lake County WineFest, Seniors Soaring Championship (only U.S. glider competition for pilots 55 and older), Leesburg Art Festival, Bobbie Clampett NCCAA Pro-Am Golf Classic, Muscadine Grape Festival, Mount Dora Craft Festival, Lights of Lake Festival, and Antique Boat Festival.

Shop 'til You Drop

Residents and tourists alike flock to the quaint downtown districts of Lake County to find antiques and other collectibles. Among the state's most popular haunts is Renninger's Antique Market in Mount Dora. Open Saturday and Sunday, it typically showcases the wares of between 150 and 500 dealers. Mount Dora, Eustis, Tavares, Leesburg and Clermont also contain many shops and galleries for browsing, along with a bonus--turn-of-the-century homes--for those who admire both old buildings and old furniture.

Nightlife

Dining in Lake County encompasses a number of family-style restaurants, complemented by a select few fine-dining establishments. The Mission Inn Golf and Tennis Resort is recognized for its cuisine. Other local favorites include the historic Lakeside Inn in Mount Dora, the Fifth Street Cafe in downtown Leesburg and Vic's Embers on U.S. Highway 441. Lake County's small towns, especially Mount Dora, are popular with people living in Seminole and Orange counties for short dinner-and-drive outings or antique-hunting day trips. Residents in the southern part of the county sometimes return the compliment by dining at Orlando-area restaurants or attending a show in the neighboring counties.

College Scene

Lake-Sumter Community College in Leesburg on U.S. Highway 441 is close at hand for residents. It offers a variety of academic and vocational programs that can either lead to a two-year degree or enhance job skills. Orlando's Valencia Community College and Sanford's Seminole Community College aren't far away. All three schools are respected members of the state's two-year community college system. Additionally, three vocational-technical schools are located in the region, including the Lake County Area Vocational Technical Center in Eustis.

The state-operated University of Central Florida in Orlando and private Rollins College in Winter Park attract Lake County students; so do Stetson University, a private liberal arts school in nearby DeLand, and the University of Florida in Gainesville.

Just for Seniors

A delightful year-round climate, relaxed pace, recreational amenities and affordable housing all make Lake County a popular retirement locale. About 28 percent of the county's residents are age 65 or older. Active seniors enjoy the county's lakes, golf courses, parks and volunteer opportunities.

The county is equipped with six hospitals. The largest are the Leesburg Regional Medical Center, which is currently adding almost 30,000 square feet, and Florida Hospital Waterman, with a 182 bed acute care facility. Special senior services include home-delivered meals, homemaker services, transportation to congregate meal sites and respite care centers. All have waiting lists currently, but many fee-based services are available almost immediately from private providers. For information and referral, call the Senior Helpline at 352/326-5304.