Lake County, Florida

Infobox U.S. County
county = Lake County
state = Florida




founded = May 27 1887
seat = Tavares | area_total_sq_mi =1156
area_land_sq_mi =953
area_water_sq_mi =203
area percentage = 17.58%
census yr = 2000
pop = 210528
density_km2 =85
web = www.lakecountyfl.gov
|

Lake County is a county located in the state of Florida, United States. As of the 2000 Census, the population was 210,528. With a Census-estimated population of 290,435 in 2006 [http://www.census.gov/popest/counties/tables/CO-EST2006-01-12.xls] , it is the 23rd fastest-growing county in the United States. [http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/cb07-42tbl3.xls] Its county seat is Tavares, FloridaGR|6. Clermont, Florida, located in the southern portion of the county, is the largest city with a population of 22,882, based on 2007 census estimates. [http://edr.state.fl.us/population/population-1april07.pdf] Lake County is part of the Orlando-Kissimmee, Florida, Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Lake County was created in 1887 from portions of Sumter County, Florida and Orange County, Florida. It was named for the numerous lakes in the area. There are approximately 1,400 named lakes.

Lake County is also home to Sugarloaf Mountain, the highest point in peninsular Florida, at 312 feet (95 m) above sea level.

On New Year's Day of 1888, Flora Call and Elias Disney were married in the Lake County town of Kismet, and they lived for a short time in the adjoining town of Acron, Florida. [http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780307265968&view=excerpt] They were the parents of Walt Disney.

On February 2, 2007, Lake County was devastated by a series of early morning tornadoes, which killed at least 20 people in the area. Gov. Charlie Crist declared a state of emergency. [ [http://www.local6.com/weather/10910983/detail.html At Least 19 Dead After Central Fla. Storms - Orlando Weather News Story - WKMG Orlando ] ]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,156 square miles (2,995 km²), of which, 953 square miles (2,469 km²) of it is land and 203 square miles (526 km²) of it (17.58%) is water.

Adjacent Counties

*Volusia County, Florida - northeast
*Orange County, Florida - east
*Seminole County, Florida - east
*Osceola County, Florida - southeast
*Polk County, Florida - south
*Sumter County, Florida - west
*Marion County, Florida - northwest

National protected areas

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

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 210,528 people, 88,413 households, and 62,507 families residing in the county. The population density was 221 people per square mile (85/km²). There were 102,830 housing units at an average density of 108 per square mile (42/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 87.46% White, 8.31% Black or African American, 0.33% Native American, 0.79% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.88% from other races, and 1.18% from two or more races. 5.61% 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.

Communities

Incorporated

# Town of Astatula
# City of Clermont
# City of Eustis
# City of Fruitland Park
# City of Groveland
# Town of Howey-in-the-Hills
# Town of Lady Lake
# City of Leesburg
# City of Mascotte
# City of Minneola
# Town of Montverde
# City of Mount Dora
# City of Tavares
# City of Umatilla

Unincorporated

*Altoona
*Astor
*Citrus Ridge
*Ferndale
*Lake Kathryn
*Lake Mack-Forest Hills
*Lanier, Florida
*Lisbon
*Mount Plymouth
*Okahumpka
*Orange Bend
*Paisley
*Pine Lakes
*Pittman
*Silver Lake
*Sorrento
*The Villages
*Yalaha

References

External links

Government links/Constitutional offices

* [http://www.lakecountyfl.gov/ Lake County Board of County Commissioners]
* [http://elections.co.lake.fl.us/ Lake County Supervisor of Elections]
* [http://www.lakecopropappr.com/ Lake County Property Appraiser]
* [http://www.lcso.org/ Lake County Sheriff's Office]
* [http://www.laketax.com/ Lake County Tax Collector]

pecial districts

* [http://www.lake.k12.fl.us/ Lake County School Board]
* [http://www.sjrwmd.com St. Johns River Water Management District]
* [http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us Southwest Florida Water Management District]

Judicial branch

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

Tourism links

* [http://www.lakegovernment.com/visitors/ Lake County tourist information]

Miscellaneous links

* [http://ibistro.dos.state.fl.us/uhtbin/cgisirsi.exe/No9BDT6sMR/STA-FLA/138785558/18/X651/XSUBJECT/Lake+County+(Fla.) Photographs] From the State Library & Archives of Florida.