Spectacular natural beauty and the timeless charm of a bygone era, combined with a healthy economy and all the conveniences of city life make the Leesburg area a unique and diverse community.
Located in Lake County (with its southern tip extending to Walt Disney World’s door and a northern arm embracing the Ocala National Forest), easy access to Central Florida’s most famous attractions adds to the active but leisurely lifestyle sought by so many newcomers. Hundreds of lakes and surrounding green, rolling hills create an oasis from the nearby metropolitan Orlando area. Opportunities for fishing, hunting, camping, hiking, horseback riding and swimming in deep, clear springs set the stage for an “endless” vacation.
A healthy, growing economy completes the picture, offering a complete range of job opportunities and all the amenities of big-city life. Many retirement communities offer restaurants, recreation, entertainment, shopping and medical amenities on-site for the convenience of their residents. Leesburg residents of all ages find a wide range of housing, businesses and shopping centers. Lake County also boasts some of the best schools in the state, including Lake-Sumter Community College.
Yet, it is to the community’s credit that Lake County has refused to sacrifice the natural beauty of the lakes and wooded areas which are home to snowy egrets, herons, cranes and other wildlife that form its special backdrop. It’s not the Florida most people expect to find. Lake County has all the advantages of Florida living: warm weather, world-class activities, as well as pleasures not found farther south. Located in the “Florida Alps,” land elevations here dip to a low of 53 feet above sea level and rise to a high of 192 feet. The county even has its own “mountain,” Sugarloaf, the second highest point in Florida.
Lakes form where the land falls, and communities naturally surround the “Chain of Lakes” (Lake Harris, Little Lake Harris, Lake Eustis, Lake Griffin and Lake Dora), a waterway that includes connecting canals and rivers that eventually lead to the Atlantic Ocean.
Since its creation in 1953, the Lake County Water Authority has worked hard to protect, conserve and enhance the water resources and recreational opportunities that make Lake County so appealing to visitors and new residents.Over the years, the programs and activities that have been carried out by the Water Authority have evolved, just as the county, the size and composition of its population and its economic base have also changed. Topics that continue to receive emphasis include stormwater management, water conservation, water quality and quantity, and environmental education.
Where the land rises, towns form: Leesburg, Tavares, Eustis, Lady Lake, Clermont, Umatilla and Mount Dora are among the 14 separate communities.
Good things are happening in Leesburg, an award-winning municipality. Lake County’s most full-service city recently won awards for innovations in technology, communications and financial reporting, and was also recently awarded a Tree City USA designation.
Nestled within three of the larger and most beautiful bodies of water in Lake County, and in the heart of Central Florida’s major transportation network, Leesburg offers a high-quality lifestyle for all ages. In order to maintain that quality of life, the city fathers have continued to embrace the things that have made the community a beautiful place to visit and live. The emphasis on controlled growth has allowed the community to move forward economically by bringing in clean businesses and industry that will support that philosophy.