Eustis, Florida facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Eustis, Florida
City
City of Eustis
City hall
Motto(s):  America's Hometown
Location in Lake County and the state of Florida
Country	United States of America
State	Florida
County	Lake
Area
• Total	13.03 sq mi (33.75 km2)
• Land	11.10 sq mi (28.75 km2)
• Water	1.93 sq mi (5.00 km2)
Elevation	79 ft (24 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	23,189
• Density	2,088.72/sq mi (806.50/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP codes	32726, 32727, 32736
Area code(s)	352
FIPS code	12-21350
GNIS feature ID	2403580
Website	City of Eustis official website: http://www.eustis.org/

Eustis is a city in Lake County, Florida, United States. It is located near the beautiful Greater Orlando area. In 2020, about 23,189 people lived there.

Eustis is famous for its annual GeorgeFest celebration. This festival starts on the last Friday of February and lasts through Sunday. It has been held every year since 1902. GeorgeFest is known as the longest-running event in the world that honors George Washington, who was the first President of the United States.

History of Eustis

New Ocklawaha Hotel Golf Grounds

The city of Eustis is on the east side of Lake Eustis. The lake itself was named around 1825 after General Abraham Eustis. He was a key figure in the Seminole Wars. Before it was called Eustis, the area had a few other names like Highlands and Pendryville.

In 1876, A.S. Pendry started a farm and planted a citrus grove. He also opened the Ocklawaha Hotel in 1877. The post office inside his hotel was called "Pendryville."

Before railroads arrived in the 1880s, Eustis was a busy port. Steamboats traveled through the nearby lakes like Harris, Eustis, Dora, and Griffin. In 1883, the word "Lake" was dropped from the town's name, and it became simply Eustis.

The U.S. government opened the area for settlement in the 1850s. However, the American Civil War delayed people from moving there. Serious settlement began in 1875 after the land was surveyed. One of the first settlers was Guilford David "G.D." Clifford. He opened a store and started the first mail service. The town's first churches met on the second floor of Clifford's General Store before they had their own buildings.

The first homes were built by D.W. Herrick, A.D. Herrick, and Henry Key. In 1881, Clifford and Smith built the first general store. A big step for the town was in 1878 when a telegraph line connected Eustis to Leesburg and Sanford. The railroad arrived in 1880. The first train came from Astor to Fort Mason, where people could then take steamboats to other towns.

Eustis officially became a town in 1883. D.W. Herrick was the first mayor. G.D. Clifford planned his dream home in 1894. But a very cold winter in 1894–1895, known as the "Big Freeze," caused problems for the town's economy. Mr. Clifford kept his store open and helped people by letting them buy things on credit until they could recover. His home was finally finished in 1911.

The Clifford Store was a very important place. It sold many things like groceries, tools, and building materials. The second floor of the store had an opera house. This was a cultural center for Eustis and the surrounding areas. Today, the Clifford House is the Eustis Historical Museum. It shows visitors what life was like over a hundred years ago.

In 1886, Dr. J. H. Potter helped start the Eustis Seminary. This school taught students from first to twelfth grade. It was located near where Eustis High School is today. The school closed around 1895 due to money problems. By the early 1900s, Eustis was already a popular place for winter vacations. The Ocklawaha Hotel was a favorite spot for wealthy visitors. Eustis is still a popular place to visit in the winter.

Geography of Eustis

Eustis covers an area of about 9.6 square miles (25 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 8.4 square miles (21.7 square kilometers), is land. The rest, about 1.3 square miles (3.4 square kilometers), is water.

The city's boundaries are set by different roads and natural features. To the east, you'll find Eudora, Abrams, and CR 44. CR 44 is also to the north. To the south is US Highway 441. On the west side, the city borders Lake Eustis and Florida Hospital Waterman.

People of Eustis

Eustis has grown quite a bit over the years. In 1900, there were only 411 people living here. By 2020, the population had grown to 23,189 people.

In 2020, there were 8,106 households in Eustis. About 2.55 people lived in each home on average. Most households, about 92.8%, had a computer, and 87.1% had internet access.

Many people in Eustis have completed their education. In 2020, about 86.9% of adults over 25 had a high school degree or higher. Also, 19.0% of adults had a Bachelor’s degree or higher.

The median household income in Eustis was about $52,074 in 2020. This means half of the households earned more than this amount, and half earned less.

Schools in Eustis

The schools in Eustis are part of the Lake County Schools system. There are several schools that serve the children and teens of Eustis:

• Eustis Heights Elementary School
• Eustis Elementary School
• Eustis Middle School
• Eustis High School
• Alee Academy

Historic Places in Eustis

Eustis has several buildings and areas that are important to its history. These places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are recognized for their historical value and are protected.

• Clifford House
• Eustis Commercial Historic District
• Ferran Park and the Alice McClelland Memorial Bandshell
• Gould Hyde Norton House
• Moses J. Taylor House
• Purdy Villa
• William Kimbrough Pendleton House
• Woman's Club of Eustis

Famous People from Eustis

Many talented people have come from Eustis, Florida. Here are a few:

• Keon Ellis – A professional basketball player in the NBA.
• Edgar James Banks – A diplomat, someone who works with other countries, and a writer.
• Tzimon Barto – A classical pianist, known for playing the piano.
• Gwendolyn B. Bennett – A poet and artist from the Harlem Renaissance era.
• Rod Brewer – A professional baseball player in MLB.
• Joe Burnett – A professional football player in the NFL.
• Kerry Carpenter – A professional baseball player in MLB.
• Jeff Coffey – A musician who joined the famous rock band Chicago.
• Anthony Fieldings – A professional football player in the NFL.
• Kenny Green – A professional basketball player in the NBA.
• David Hobby – A photojournalist and the founder of Strobist.com, a popular photography website.
• Solomon Jones – A professional basketball player in the NBA.
• Kathryn Joosten – An actress known for her roles in TV shows.
• Hughie Lee-Smith – A well-known artist.
• Jonathan Lucroy – A professional baseball player in MLB.
• Kristin Ludecke – A beauty queen.
• Thomas McClary – A singer, songwriter, and one of the founding members of the band The Commodores.
• Chris Okey – A professional baseball player in MLB.
• Michael Ray – A country music singer.
• Jon Schneck – A guitarist in the alternative rock band Relient K.
• John Robert Schrieffer – A physicist who won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1972.
• Brady Singer – A professional baseball player in MLB.
• Patricia Sullivan – A political activist.
• David Walker – An astronaut.
• Gunner Wright – An actor.

Images for kids

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  Clifford House

See also

In Spanish: Eustis (Florida) para niños