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whether it’s from another state or another part of Central Florida.
New residents will find a bounty of cultural and recreational
opportunities, along with new developments and historic
downtowns. Let’s have a look:
CLERMONT
The city’s current population of more than 35,000 is expected
to climb to more than 54,000 in the next decade. Part
of that growth is driven by the Wellness Way Urban Service
Area, a 16,000-acre mixed-use project south of the city. It will
include about 16,000 homes and 12 million square feet of nonresidential
uses. Clermont also is home to the annual Pig on
the Pond community festival that features barbecue, live entertainment
and carnival rides.
LEESBURG
Lake County’s oldest city, with a population of more than
21,000, lies along U.S. Highway 441 and is sandwiched between
Lakes Harris and Griffin. It is home of Lake-Sumter State College
and the annual Leesburg Bike Fest, which attracts thousands of
festivalgoers for music and entertainment — and motorcycles.
MOUNT DORA
The city of nearly 14,000 may be the most famous city in
Lake County because of national publicity. For example,
Southern Living magazine in a story on “Small Towns We Love”
called it one of “five great little communities that are well
worth a visit — or perhaps even a move.” It hosts several large
festivals throughout the year, including the annual Mount Dora
Arts Festival. Growth is heading to the eastern edge of the city
because of the Wekiva Parkway (State Road 429), which will
connect the city to Interstate 4 in Sanford and complete the
beltway around metro Orlando by 2022.
TAVERES
The county seat is home to about 16,000 residents, with another
10,000 expected to live there in the next 10 years. The Tavares
Seaplane Base & Marina is a seaplane airport and recreational
boating marina located on the Lake Dora waterfront in
Wooton Park. Visitors can take seaplane rides and learn to fly.
EUSTIS
Along with Tavares and Mount Dora, Eustis makes the third
point of the so-called Golden Triangle of cities in Lake County.
About 20,000 people live in the city that sits on the east side
of Lake Eustis. Residents enjoy Ferran Park on Lake Eustis, the
Bay Street Players community theater and the George Washington
Birthday Festival and Parade, which is the second longest
ongoing annual event held in honor of the first president
of the U.S.