Mount Dora, Florida

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Mount Dora is a city in Lake County, Florida, United States. The population was 9,418 at the 2000 census. As of 2005, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 11,474^[1]. Mount Dora, which hosts an annual Antique Boat Show, is a picturesque resort community in Central Florida.

1 History
2 Geography
3 Demographics
4 External links

[edit] History

Railroad Station in c. 1920

The town was settled in 1874 by David M. Simpson, his wife and 2 children. In 1880, it was named "Royellou" by the postmaster, Ross Tremain, after his children Roy, Ella and Louis. In 1883, The Alexander House opened, a 2 story hotel with 10 rooms, and the community was renamed "Mount Dora." It took the name of Lake Dora, which had been named by surveyors in 1846 for Dora Ann Drawdy, who lived with her husband 2 miles south of Mount Dora. The arrival of the railroad in 1887 stimulated the economy, carrying tourists and freight. A popular winter retreat for hunting, fishing and boating, The Alexander House would be renamed The Lake House in 1893. Mount Dora was incorporated in 1910, with a railway depot built in 1915.

R.C. Tremain & Son built the first orange packing house in 1891, although surrounding groves would be destroyed by the great freezes of 1894 and 1895. Box and fertilizer factories were established, as well as a cannery. In 1903, The Lake House would be renamed Lakeside Inn, and remains in operation. Visitors included President Calvin Coolidge, Thomas Edison, Henry Ford and President Dwight D. Eisenhower. The John P. Donnelly House, a Queen Anne style landmark built in 1893 by the first mayor, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. The town today is noted for its crafts and antique shops. The 1981 movie Honky Tonk Freeway was filmed here.

Historic Sites & Museums

[edit] Geography

Mount Dora is located at 28°48′23″N, 81°38′35″W (28.806519, -81.642996)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 14.9 km² (5.8 mi²). 12.7 km² (4.9 mi²) of it is land and 2.2 km² (0.8 mi²) of it (14.58%) is water. Overlooking lakes Dora, Gertrude and Beauclair, Mount Dora is situated on a plateau 184 feet (56 meters) above sea level.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 9,418 people, 4,123 households, and 2,589 families residing in the city. The population density was 739.1/km² (1,915.3/mi²). There were 4,630 housing units at an average density of 363.3/km² (941.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 77.27% White, 19.18% African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.69% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 1.49% from other races, and 1.16% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.67% of the population.

There were 4,123 households out of which 21.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.6% were married couples living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.2% were non-families. 31.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.75.

In the city the population was spread out with 20.5% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 21.7% from 25 to 44, 24.2% from 45 to 64, and 27.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females there were 86.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $36,086, and the median income for a family was $47,310. Males had a median income of $31,049 versus $24,353 for females. The per capita income for the city was $22,550. About 11.1% of families and 15.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.6% of those under age 18 and 9.8% of those age 65 or over.