Tavares, Florida facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tavares
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The Old Lake County Courthouse in March 2007
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| Nickname(s):
"America's Seaplane City!"
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Location in Lake County and the state of Florida
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 Tavares
Location in Florida
Tavares
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States of America |
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| State |  Florida |
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| County |  Lake |
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| Incorporated | 1880 | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 13.96 sq mi (36.17 km2) | |
| • Land | 12.37 sq mi (32.03 km2) | |
| • Water | 1.60 sq mi (4.14 km2) | |
| Elevation | 118 ft (36 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 19,003 | |
| • Density | 1,536.71/sq mi (593.34/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) | |
| ZIP code |
32778
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| Area code(s) | 352 | |
| FIPS code | 12-71225 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 2405571 | |
Tavares (pronounced "tuh-VAIR-ees") is a city in Lake County, Florida. It is the main city where the county government is located, also known as the county seat. In 2020, about 19,003 people lived there. Tavares is part of the larger Orlando area.
Contents
History of Tavares
A man named Alexander St. Clair-Abrams started the city of Tavares in 1880. He named it after one of his ancestors from Portugal. In 1883, Tavares got its own post office. By 1884, it had a hotel, three stores, a sawmill, and eight small houses.
St. Clair-Abrams hoped Tavares would become the capital city of Florida. However, Tallahassee has been the capital since 1823. Even so, Tavares became the "county seat" of Lake County in 1887. This means it's where the county's main offices are. Later, St. Clair-Abrams also started a railroad that went from Tavares to Orlando. In 1919, Tavares officially became a town.
Where is Tavares Located?
Tavares is located in Florida at these coordinates: 28 degrees, 48 minutes, 6 seconds North and 81 degrees, 44 minutes, 1 second West.
The city covers a total area of about 7.4 square miles (19.2 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 7.1 square miles (18.4 square kilometers), is land. The rest, about 0.4 square miles (1.0 square kilometer), is water.
Population Growth
Tavares has grown a lot over the years. Here's how its population has changed:
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1900 | 113 | — | |
| 1910 | 175 | 54.9% | |
| 1920 | 359 | 105.1% | |
| 1930 | 1,090 | 203.6% | |
| 1940 | 1,119 | 2.7% | |
| 1950 | 1,763 | 57.6% | |
| 1960 | 2,724 | 54.5% | |
| 1970 | 3,261 | 19.7% | |
| 1980 | 4,398 | 34.9% | |
| 1990 | 7,383 | 67.9% | |
| 2000 | 9,700 | 31.4% | |
| 2010 | 13,951 | 43.8% | |
| 2020 | 19,003 | 36.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2010, there were 13,951 people living in Tavares. By 2020, the population had grown to 19,003 people.
Libraries in Tavares
- Tavares Public Library
- The main office for the Lake County Library System is in Tavares.
How to Get Around Tavares
Seaplane Base
The Tavares Seaplane Base is a special airport for seaplanes. These are planes that can land and take off from water. The base is on Lake Dora and is owned by the city. It's very popular, which is why Tavares is called "America's Seaplane City!"
Public Transportation
LakeXpress is the public bus service for Lake County. It started in May 2007. The buses run every hour. They travel from Lady Lake to Mount Dora, with extra routes in Leesburg and Mount Dora.
Famous People from Tavares
- Alfred St. Clair-Abrams: A politician.
- Alexander St. Clair Abrams: The person who founded Tavares and was also a politician.
- Mallory Horne: A member of the Florida Legislature, which makes laws for Florida.
- Fireball Roberts: A famous NASCAR race car driver.
- Jermaine Taylor: A professional basketball player in the NBA.
Images for kids
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ALS Restaurant
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Dock
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Dora Canal
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Royal Palm Railway Experience Station
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Police boat
See also
In Spanish: Tavares (Florida) para niños
