Leesburg, Florida
City
City of Leesburg
Leesburg City Hall
Leesburg City Hall
Motto: 
"The Lakefront City"
Location in Lake County and the state of Florida
Location in Lake County and the state of Florida
Coordinates: 28°47′36″N 81°54′38″W / 28.79333°N 81.91056°W / 28.79333; -81.91056
Country United States of America
State Florida
County Lake
Government
 • City ManagerAl Minner
Area
[1]
 • Total41.94 sq mi (108.61 km2)
 • Land38.45 sq mi (99.58 km2)
 • Water3.49 sq mi (9.04 km2)
Elevation
[2]
89 ft (27 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total27,000
 • Density702.27/sq mi (271.15/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP codes
34748, 34788
Area code352
FIPS code12-39875[3]
GNIS feature ID2404907[2]
Websitewww.leesburgflorida.gov

Leesburg is a city in Lake County, Florida, United States. The population was 20,117 at the 2010 census. As of 2019, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau was 23,671.[4]

Leesburg is in central Florida, between Lake Harris and Lake Griffin, at the head of the Ocklawaha River. It is part of the Orlando–Kissimmee–Sanford Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Lake–Sumter State College and Beacon College are located in Leesburg.

History

Mote-Morris House

Leesburg was first settled in 1857 by Evander McIver Lee. Several of his brothers followed him to the area. One of them, Calvin Lee, was credited with giving the town its name. The city was incorporated in 1875, and was designated as the county seat of Sumter County for a time. When Lake County was formed in 1887, Tavares was designated as its seat.

In the early 20th century, Leesburg was an important center for watermelon 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 the Great Depression, the Franklin D. Roosevelt administration invested in infrastructure and improvement projects across the county. Its Works 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 guitarist Randy Rhoads, as well as the band's makeup artist and bus driver, were killed in a plane crash at Flying Baron Estates.[5]

The citrus 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 nearby Orlando has resulted in demand for housing here, as many people commute to Orlando for work. In 2011 and 2017, the Leesburg High School boys' basketball team won the 4A state championship.

In spring 2017, the Holding Company of the Villages planned to acquire 2,600 acres north and south of County Road 470 along the east side of Florida’s Turnpike for future development. The deal with the mega-retirement community has passed due 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).[6] The initial plans call for building approximately 4,500 homes and some commercial development.[7]

Geography

According to the United 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 of Orlando, 270 miles N of Miami, and 221 miles SW of Tallahassee, the state capital.

Several major highways pass through Leesburg, including U.S. Highway 27, U.S. Highway 441 and S.R. 44. Florida's Turnpike passes just to the south and west of Leesburg. Leesburg was on the western leg of the Dixie Highway.

Climate

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)
Average precipitation 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[8][9]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1880200—
1890722261.0%
19007656.0%
191099129.5%
19201,83585.2%
19304,113124.1%
19404,68714.0%
19507,39557.8%
196011,17251.1%
197011,8696.2%
198013,19111.1%
199014,90313.0%
200015,9567.1%
201020,11726.1%
202027,00034.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[10] 2020[11]

2010 and 2020 census

Leesburg racial composition
(Hispanics excluded from racial categories)
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
Race Pop 2010[12] Pop 2020[13] % 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 or Alaska Native (NH) 55 63 0.27% 0.23%
Asian (NH) 340 520 1.69% 1.93%
Pacific Islander or Native 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 the 2020 United States census, there were 27,000 people, 9,142 households, and 5,782 families residing in the city.[14]

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 20,117 people, 8,684 households, and 5,144 families residing in the city.[15]

2000 census

As of the census[3] 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 per square mile (160.2/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% from other races, and 1.41% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino 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. The per capita income for the city was $15,762. About 16.2% of families and 19.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 35.3% of those under age 18 and 11.9% of those age 65 or over.

Arts and culture

The Leesburg Public Library was founded in 1875.[16] The library moved to the Venetian Gardens in 1953 when Leesburg established a library charter,[16] and in 2007, it moved to a 42,000-square-foot (3,900 m2) building.[17] The library joined the Lake County Library System in 2002.[18]

The Leesburg Center for the Arts is a nonprofit founded in 2000 to provide art education and exhibitions.[19]

The Leesburg African American Museum contains African-American artifacts.[20]

The Melon Patch Players is a nonprofit theater group founded in 1951.[21]

Sports

Baseball

From 1922 to 1924, the city's Cooke Field was used by the Philadelphia Phillies for their spring training sessions.[22] On March 14, 1923, the stadium was used for the site of an exhibition game between the Phillies and the St. Louis Cardinals.[23] In 1936, the city built the Ballpark at Venetian Gardens, which was used by several minor league baseball clubs that played in the Florida State League from 1937 to 1968. The city won league titles in 1941 and 1946.[24] Since 2007, the city has been the home of the Leesburg Lightning, a wood-bat collegiate summer baseball team in the Florida Collegiate Summer League.

Shooting exhibitions

During the 1920s, sharpshooter Annie Oakley, who had a residence in Leesburg, performed shooting exhibitions at Cooke Field, including one for the Philadelphia Phillies.[25]

Education

Leesburg High School

Public schools

Lake County Schools operates public primary and secondary schools:

  • Leesburg High School
  • Carver Middle School
  • Oak Park Middle School
  • Leesburg Elementary School
  • Beverly Shores Elementary School
  • Tredway Elementary School
  • Rimes Early Learning and Literacy Center

Private schools

  • First Academy-Leesburg[26]
  • Saint Paul Catholic School-Leesburg[27]

Colleges

Infrastructure

Leesburg International Airport is a small hub airport at the intersection of CR 44 and US 441, in front of Lake-Sumter State College. It is a hub of JetSky airlines, and serves Lake, Sumter, and Marion Counties.

Notable people

References

  1. ↑ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 31, 2021.
  2. 1 2 U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Leesburg, Florida
  3. 1 2 "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  4. ↑ "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved May 21, 2020.
  5. ↑ "This Day in Music Spotlight: The Final Flight of Randy Rhoads". March 19, 2011. Archived from the original on July 14, 2018.
  6. ↑ Corder, David R. (December 30, 2017). "Villages Expansion Plans Energize Sumter Economy". The Villages Daily Sun. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
  7. ↑ Stanfield, Frank (January 18, 2018). "The Villages expansion deal nears completion". Daily Commercial. Retrieved January 19, 2018.
  8. ↑ "NOWData - NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved May 28, 2021.
  9. ↑ "Summary of Monthly Normals 1991-2020". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved May 28, 2021.
  10. ↑ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  11. ↑ "2020 Census".
  12. ↑ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Leesburg city, Florida". United States Census Bureau.
  13. ↑ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Leesburg city, Florida". United States Census Bureau.
  14. ↑ "S1101 HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES - 2020: Leesburg city, Florida". United States Census Bureau.
  15. ↑ "S1101 HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES - 2010: Leesburg city, Florida". United States Census Bureau.
  16. 1 2 Tolle, Lois B. (1965). Torch Bearers: The Story of the Leesburg Public Library. Leesburg, FL: Friends of the Leesburg Library Association, Inc.
  17. ↑ Mahoney, Cathy (2007). Leesburg Finally Gets a New Library. Leesburg, FL: PowerPoint
  18. ↑ "Everybody Wins in Library Merger". Orlando Sentinel. April 28, 2002.
  19. ↑ "Leesburg - Arts". LCFA. Retrieved December 4, 2019.
  20. ↑ ONE CENTRAL FLORIDA | Small Museum, Big Story | Season 2013 | Episode 18 | PBS, retrieved October 14, 2022
  21. ↑ "Melon Patch Theatre, Leesburg FL". melonpatchplayers.org. Retrieved October 14, 2022.
  22. ↑ Reed, Rick (August 29, 2014). "Baseball played an important role in early Leesburg". Daily Commercial. Archived from the original on April 23, 2015. Retrieved February 9, 2017.
  23. ↑ Reed, Rick (October 3, 2014). "Some of baseball's best got their start in Leesburg". Daily Commercial. Archived from the original on April 23, 2015. Retrieved February 9, 2017.
  24. ↑ "1949 Leesburg Dodgers Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 14, 2022.
  25. ↑ Kasper, Shirl (1992). Annie Oakley. University of Oklahoma Press. pp. 231–232. ISBN 0806124180.
  26. ↑ "Welcome to First Academy-Leesburg". FALeesburg.com. Retrieved October 14, 2022.
  27. ↑ "St. Paul Catholic School |". Retrieved October 14, 2022.
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