Clermont, Florida facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Clermont, Florida
City
City of Clermont
Citrus Tower
Motto(s):  "Choice of Champions"
Location in Lake County and the state of Florida
Clermont, Florida Location in Florida Show map of Florida Clermont, Florida Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	Florida
County	Lake
Area
• Total	19.16 sq mi (49.61 km2)
• Land	18.07 sq mi (46.79 km2)
• Water	1.09 sq mi (2.82 km2)
Elevation	307 ft (93 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	43,021
• Density	2,381.32/sq mi (919.45/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP codes	34711-34715
Area code(s)	352
FIPS code	12-12925
GNIS feature ID	0280563
Website	http://www.clermontfl.gov/

Clermont is a city in Lake County, Florida, United States, about 22 miles (35 km) west of Orlando and 22 miles (35 km) southeast of Leesburg. The population was 43,021 in 2020. The city is residential in character and its economy is centered in retail trade, lodging, and tourism-oriented restaurants and bars. It is part of the Orlando–Kissimmee–Sanford Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Clermont is home to the 1956 Florida Citrus Tower, one of Florida's early landmarks.

Geography

Clermont is at 28°32′51″N 81°44′58″W / 28.54750°N 81.74944°W / 28.54750; -81.74944 (28.547584, -81.749519).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 11.5 square miles (30 km²), of which 10.5 square miles (27 km²) is land and 1.0 square mile (2.6 km²) (8.54%) is water.

Lake Sunnyside as seen from high above eastbound SR 50, one of many lakes in Clermont.

The Clermont area lies on the northern part of the Lake Wales Ridge. There are rolling hills atypical of the Florida peninsula. Nearby are the Clermont Chain of lakes and Lake Apopka.

Climate

The annual average variations of various measurements are:

Rainfall 36.6 to 51.2 inches (930 to 1,300 mm); Snowfall is zero; 25.2 Precipitation Days 101 to 107; Sunny Days 205 to 236; Avg. July High 86.5 to 91.7 °F (30.3 to 33.2 °C); Avg. Jan. Low 20.8 to 48.8 °F (−6.2 to 9.3 °C); Comfort Index (higher=better) 28 to 44; UV Index from 4.3 to 6.3; Elevation 116 to 307 feet (35 to 94 m).

The town gets 51 inches (1,300 mm) of rain per year, more than the US average of 37 inches (940 mm).

On average, there are 236 sunny days per year. The July high is around 92 °F (33 °C). The January low is 49. The comfort index, which is based on humidity during the hot months, is a 28 out of 100, where higher is more comfortable.

History

Clermont was founded in 1884 and named for the French birthplace of the manager of the Clermont Improvement Company, A.F. Wrotniski. The city was incorporated in 1916.

The historic downtown district appearance has not changed much since 1962.

Growth

The population grew 207% growth from 2000–2010, with commensurate economic growth, attracting big box retail stores. In spring 2010, the Clermont Landings shopping center opened with 20 shops and restaurants and the city's first cinema. The increased pollution has affected the city's lakes and other natural resources.

Places

Waterfront Park is located along Lake Minneola, The park includes picnic areas, a swimming area, fishing piers and a playground. There are rentals of paddleboards, kayaks and bicycles. A fitness trail that is part of a 30-mile system runs through the park.

Demographics

As of the census of 2010, there were 28,742 people living in the city in 11,216 households. The population density in 2000 was 812/mi² (314/km²). There were 12,730 housing units. In 2000 the average density of Clermont 380/mi² (147/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 78.5% White, 11.2% African American, 0.42% Native American, 4.4% Asian, 5.37% from other races, and 3.83% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 22.1% of the population.

21.28% of households had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.1% were married couples living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.5% were non-families. 26.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.73.

In the city, the population was distributed with 20.1% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 24.0% from 25 to 44, 24.7% from 45 to 64, and 24.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $39,290, and the median income for a family was $48,216. Males had a median income of $36,240 versus $26,571 for females. The per capita income for the city was $21,099. About 6.3% of families and 7.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.0% of those under age 18 and 4.5% of those age 65 or over.

The income per capita is $24,952, which includes all adults and children. The median household income is $45,980.

The median home value in town is $227,510. Home appreciation was –21.40% during 2009. Renters made up 23.21% of the population. 8.33% of houses and apartments were unoccupied (vacancy rate).

Transportation

The main roads through Clermont consist of State Road 50 and U.S. Route 27.

Education

Local schools include Minneola Elementary School, South Lake Charter Elementary (also known as Imagine Schools at South Lake), Cypress Ridge Elementary School, Lost Lake Elementary, Clermont Elementary School, Clermont Middle School, Windy Hill Middle School, East Ridge Middle School, Lake Minneola High School, East Ridge High School, South Lake High School, Sawgrass Bay Elementary, Pine Ridge Elementary, Real life Christian Academy, Grassy Lake Elementary and Pinecrest Lakes Academy.

Lake-Sumter State College and the University of Central Florida have a joint-use campus in Clermont.

A salesman wondered into town in 1904 and spoke promises of donating books to start a library if the town helped him sell his Chautauqua lectures to the folks. Many town members with money to spare put forth what they could, excited at the prospective to having a library open. However, come time for the lectures and only a few of the speakers showed- no salesman or books present. Not all money was handed over; the cost for the last lecture was still available, and with that amount they began to organize their own library. This was hosted in the Montrose Street home of Mrs. Payson Pierce, with the collection of books open to the town on Saturday afternoons. The Clermont Library Club also hosted their meetings at Mrs. Pierce's house with her permission. The books were moved to Isiah Benson's Lake Avenue house in 1910 and to the Baptist Church the following year due to the increase in library items but lack of shelving space.

Prior to this, residents paid 50 cents a year for their patronage which helped pay the dues to those that hosted the library. In the summer of 1914, the Friends of the Library fundraised for $600 to erect a one-room building on 630 DeSoto Street, a lot donated by Alice Cooper. The library was funded by the club and its small circulating collection staffed by Clermont Women's Club volunteers until the city took over in the 1950s and the Cooper Memorial Library Association was formed to administer the public library. In 1980, a former bank building was purchased, and to transfer the books from one location to another, a human chain of town volunteers was made between both locations. The books were passed "hand by hand via a people chain" across the empty lots to their new home. Mike Delaney, a Friends of the Library member, reflected on this event: "It was an amazing honor to be part of the early book brigade when I was seven ... it was an experience that I will never forget that brought the community together". In 1984, the building was expanded by more than 4,000 square feet, adding the Florida Room and Children's Room. In 1982, the Cooper Memorial Library joined the Lake County Library System, and is the only continuous member of that system. The Cooper Memorial Library in Clermont is staffed by the Lake-Sumter State College and the Lake County Library System.

Woman crosses finish line of a 5K run in Clermont's Victory Pointe park.

Notable people

• Dale Barnstable, retired professional basketball player
• Jack Castle, bestselling author
• Jason Couch, professional bowler, member of the PBA Hall of Fame
• Kate DiCamillo, author of children's books
• Norm Duke, professional bowler on the PBA Tour, PBA Hall of Famer
• Ryan Dungey, professional motocross racer
• Shane Greene, professional baseball player
• Tyson Gay, sprinter
• Peter Hooten, actor
• Brandon Larracuente, actor
• Marvin Musquin (born December 30, 1989, in La Reole, France), professional motocross racer
• Randy Pedersen, professional bowler on the PBA Tour, PBA Hall of Famer and bowling announcer
• Cassidy Rae, actor

See also

In Spanish: Clermont (Florida) para niños