Leesburg, Florida | |
|---|---|
| City of Leesburg | |
 Leesburg City Hall | |
| Motto: "The Lakefront City" | |
 Location inLake County and the state ofFlorida | |
| Coordinates:28°47′36″N81°54′38″W / 28.79333°N 81.91056°W /28.79333; -81.91056 | |
| Country |  United States of America |
| State |  Florida |
| County |  Lake |
| Settled (Leesburg) | 1857[1] |
| Incorporated (city) | July 12, 1875[1] |
| Government | |
| • Type | Commission–Manager |
| • Mayor | Jimmy Burry |
| • Mayor Pro Tem | Jay Connell |
| • Commissioners | Allyson Berry, Alan Reisman, and Mike Pederson |
| • City Manager | Al Minner |
| • City Clerk | J. Andi Purvis |
| Area | |
• Total | 41.93 sq mi (108.61 km2) |
| • Land | 38.45 sq mi (99.58 km2) |
| • Water | 3.49 sq mi (9.04 km2) |
| Elevation | 89 ft (27 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 27,000 |
| • Density | 702.3/sq mi (271.15/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP codes | 34748, 34788 |
| Area code | 352 |
| FIPS code | 12-39875[4] |
| GNIS feature ID | 2404907[3] |
| Website | www |
Leesburg is a city inLake County,Florida, United States. As of 2020, the population had exactly 27,000 residents.
Leesburg is in central Florida, betweenLake Harris and Lake Griffin, at the head of theOcklawaha River. It is part of theOrlando–Kissimmee–Sanford Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Lake–Sumter State College andBeacon College are located in Leesburg.
Leesburg was first settled in 1857 by Evander McIver Lee and Susannah Lee.[5][1] Shortly after Evander purchased his first property in the area, his brother Josiah joined him, purchasing land near Montclair Road. Several of his brothers followed him to the area. One of them, John[5] Calvin Lee, was credited with giving the town its name. The city was incorporated in 1875, and was designated as the county seat ofSumter County for a time. WhenLake County was formed in 1887, Tavares was designated as its seat. It was officially incorporated as the "City of Leesburg" on July 12, 1875.[1]
In the early 20th century, Leesburg was an important center forwatermelon production. In 1930, it held its first Watermelon Festival, an annual tradition that lasted for nearly 30 years. But gradually watermelon production dwindled and, for the last festival in 1957, watermelons had to be brought to the city from outside the area.
In 1938, during theGreat Depression, theFranklin D. Roosevelt administration invested in infrastructure and improvement projects across the county. ItsWorks Progress Administration began work on the Venetian Gardens waterside park, located on the shores of Lake Harris. These canals and gardens have been a centerpiece of the community ever since.
Lake Square Mall, the city's major shopping mall, opened in 1980.
On March 19, 1982,Ozzy Osbourne's guitaristRandy Rhoads, as well as the band's makeup artist and bus driver, were killed in a plane crash at Flying Baron Estates.[6]
Thecitrus industry was the principal business in this area for decades, but devastating freezes in December 1983 and February 1985 persuaded growers to move their groves further south. In 1997, Leesburg Bikefest started. It has since become an annual spring tradition, with upwards of 250,000 people attending every year.
Today, most of Leesburg's growth and economic development is the result of its increasing popularity as a retirement destination. In addition, the rapid growth of nearbyOrlando has resulted in demand for housing here, as many people commute to Orlando for work. In 1977, 2011, 2016 and 2017, theLeesburg High School boys' basketball team won the FHSAA Class 4A State Championship, with the back to back 16/17 championships happening under head coach Sean Campbell.
In spring 2017, the Holding Company ofthe Villages planned to acquire 2,600 acres north and south of County Road 470 along the east side ofFlorida’s Turnpike for future development. The deal with the mega-retirement community has passeddue diligence by the Leesburg City Commission. Age-restricted zoning ordinance changes have already been approved by the Leesburg Planning Commission (with the city commission giving final approval).[7] The initial plans call for building approximately 4,500 homes and somecommercial development.[8]
The approximate coordinates for the City of Lessburg is located at28°47′36″N81°54′38″W / 28.79333°N 81.91056°W /28.79333; -81.91056. According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 24.4 square miles (63 km2), of which 18.7 square miles (48 km2) is land and 5.8 square miles (15 km2) (23.65%) is water.
Leesburg is located 44.5 miles NNW ofOrlando, 270 miles N ofMiami, and 221 miles SW ofTallahassee, the state capital.
Several major highways pass through Leesburg, includingU.S. Highway 27,U.S. Highway 441 andS.R. 44.Florida's Turnpike passes just to the south and west of Leesburg. Leesburg was on the western leg of theDixie Highway.
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild winters. According to theKöppen climate classification, the City of Leesburg has ahumid subtropical climate zone (Cfa).
| Climate data for Leesburg, Florida (Leesburg International Airport), 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1958–present | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 86 (30) | 89 (32) | 92 (33) | 95 (35) | 99 (37) | 100 (38) | 100 (38) | 101 (38) | 100 (38) | 97 (36) | 90 (32) | 87 (31) | 101 (38) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 81.5 (27.5) | 84.3 (29.1) | 86.5 (30.3) | 89.7 (32.1) | 94.3 (34.6) | 96.2 (35.7) | 96.4 (35.8) | 96.0 (35.6) | 94.4 (34.7) | 90.7 (32.6) | 85.7 (29.8) | 82.4 (28.0) | 97.8 (36.6) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 69.9 (21.1) | 73.3 (22.9) | 77.3 (25.2) | 82.7 (28.2) | 88.1 (31.2) | 90.7 (32.6) | 91.1 (32.8) | 91.7 (33.2) | 89.7 (32.1) | 84.5 (29.2) | 77.3 (25.2) | 72.4 (22.4) | 82.4 (28.0) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 59.4 (15.2) | 62.6 (17.0) | 66.6 (19.2) | 72.2 (22.3) | 77.9 (25.5) | 81.9 (27.7) | 83.0 (28.3) | 83.3 (28.5) | 81.4 (27.4) | 75.3 (24.1) | 67.2 (19.6) | 62.2 (16.8) | 72.8 (22.7) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 48.9 (9.4) | 52.0 (11.1) | 56.0 (13.3) | 61.7 (16.5) | 67.7 (19.8) | 73.1 (22.8) | 74.9 (23.8) | 75.0 (23.9) | 73.1 (22.8) | 66.1 (18.9) | 57.1 (13.9) | 52.0 (11.1) | 63.1 (17.3) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | 31.4 (−0.3) | 35.2 (1.8) | 39.7 (4.3) | 48.3 (9.1) | 57.7 (14.3) | 67.3 (19.6) | 70.6 (21.4) | 71.3 (21.8) | 66.2 (19.0) | 51.9 (11.1) | 41.6 (5.3) | 35.9 (2.2) | 29.8 (−1.2) |
| Record low °F (°C) | 16 (−9) | 23 (−5) | 25 (−4) | 32 (0) | 46 (8) | 53 (12) | 62 (17) | 62 (17) | 52 (11) | 39 (4) | 24 (−4) | 16 (−9) | 16 (−9) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 2.51 (64) | 2.08 (53) | 3.22 (82) | 2.04 (52) | 2.68 (68) | 6.98 (177) | 5.88 (149) | 6.63 (168) | 5.21 (132) | 2.62 (67) | 1.76 (45) | 2.17 (55) | 43.78 (1,112) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.01 in) | 8.6 | 7.6 | 6.8 | 6.2 | 6.7 | 15.2 | 16.9 | 16.6 | 13.5 | 7.7 | 7.5 | 8.4 | 121.7 |
| Source: NOAA[9][10] | |||||||||||||
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 | 200 | — | |
| 1890 | 722 | 261.0% | |
| 1900 | 765 | 6.0% | |
| 1910 | 991 | 29.5% | |
| 1920 | 1,835 | 85.2% | |
| 1930 | 4,113 | 124.1% | |
| 1940 | 4,687 | 14.0% | |
| 1950 | 7,395 | 57.8% | |
| 1960 | 11,172 | 51.1% | |
| 1970 | 11,869 | 6.2% | |
| 1980 | 13,191 | 11.1% | |
| 1990 | 14,903 | 13.0% | |
| 2000 | 15,956 | 7.1% | |
| 2010 | 20,117 | 26.1% | |
| 2020 | 27,000 | 34.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[11] 2020[12] | |||
| Race | Pop 2010[13] | Pop 2020[14] | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White (NH) | 11,917 | 13,978 | 59.24% | 51.77% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 5,560 | 6,811 | 27.64% | 25.23% |
| Native American orAlaska Native (NH) | 55 | 63 | 0.27% | 0.23% |
| Asian (NH) | 340 | 520 | 1.69% | 1.93% |
| Pacific Islander orNative Hawaiian (NH) | 43 | 78 | 0.21% | 0.29% |
| Some other race (NH) | 17 | 190 | 0.08% | 0.70% |
| Two or more races/Multiracial (NH) | 380 | 1,115 | 1.89% | 4.13% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 1,805 | 4,245 | 8.97% | 15.72% |
| Total | 20,117 | 27,000 |
As of the2020 United States census, there were 27,000 people, 9,142 households, and 5,782 families residing in the city.[15]
As of the2010 United States census, there were 20,117 people, 8,684 households, and 5,144 families residing in the city.[16]
As of thecensus[4] of 2000, there were 15,956 people, 6,775 households, and 4,078 families residing in the city. The population density was 854.8 inhabitants per square mile (330.0/km2). There were 7,742 housing units at an average density of 414.8 units per square mile (160.2 units/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 66.60%White, 29.12%African American, 0.27%Native American, 1.33%Asian, 0.01%Pacific Islander, 1.26% fromother races, and 1.41% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 4.12% of the population.
In 2000, there were 6,775 households, out of which 24.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.6% were married couples living together, 16.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.8% were non-families. 33.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.86.
In 2000, in the city, the population was spread out, with 23.5% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 22.7% from 25 to 44, 19.7% from 45 to 64, and 26.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 83.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.2 males.
In 2000, the median income for a household in the city was $25,988, and the median income for a family was $33,250. Males had a median income of $25,840 versus $20,888 for females. Theper capita income for the city was $15,762. About 16.2% of families and 19.8% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 35.3% of those under age 18 and 11.9% of those age 65 or over.
The Leesburg Public Library was founded in 1875.[17] The library moved to the Venetian Gardens in 1953 when Leesburg established a library charter,[17] and in 2007, it moved to a 42,000-square-foot (3,900 m2) building.[18] The library joined theLake County Library System in 2002.[19]
The Leesburg Center for the Arts is a nonprofit founded in 2000 to provide art education and exhibitions.[20]
The Leesburg African American Museum contains African-American artifacts.[21]
The Melon Patch Players is a nonprofit theater group founded in 1951.[22]
From 1922 to 1924, the city'sCooke Field was used by thePhiladelphia Phillies for theirspring training sessions.[23] On March 14, 1923, the stadium was used for the site of an exhibition game between the Phillies and theSt. Louis Cardinals.[24] In 1936, the city built theBallpark at Venetian Gardens, which was used byseveral minor league baseball clubs that played in theFlorida State League from 1937 to 1968. The city won league titles in 1941 and 1946.[25] Since 2007, the city has been the home of theLeesburg Lightning, a wood-batcollegiate summer baseball team in theFlorida Collegiate Summer League.
During the 1920s, sharpshooterAnnie Oakley, who had a residence in Leesburg, performed shooting exhibitions at Cooke Field, including one for the Philadelphia Phillies.[26]
Lake County Schools operates public primary and secondary schools:
Leesburg International Airport is a small hub airport at the intersection ofCR 44 andUS 441, in front ofLake-Sumter State College. It is a hub ofJetSky airlines, and servesLake,Sumter, andMarion Counties.
Municipalities and communities ofLake County, Florida,United States | ||
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| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Ghost towns | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
Tallahassee (capital) | |
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