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About the Town of Windermere

The Town of Windermere, Florida, is located in Southwestern Orange County, between Lake Bessie, Lake Down, Lake Butler, and Wauseon Bay(part of Lake Butler.) There are the headwaters of the Butler Chain of Lakes. The Butler Chain of Lakes consist of 9 Lakes that include Lake Down, Wauseon Bay, Lake Butler, Lake Blanche, Lake Louise, Lake Chase, Lake Palmer (now Lake Isleworth), Lake Tibet, Lake Sheen, Pocket Lake, and Fish Lake. Windermere was founded on May 5, 1915, when 110 acres of land between James Avenue to the north, Lamar Avenue to the south, Main Street to the west, and 5th Street to the east were sold at auction and incorporated under the council-manager form of government.

The Timucuan Indians lived there before the 1500s, and by 1564 the Spanish had taken over. Florida became a state in 1845 after the United States bought the eastern half of the state from Spain in 1821. For his sons Stanley and Douglas, Englishman Joseph Hill Scott purchased roughly 150 acres on the west shore of Lake Butler around 1885. Many people think that Dr. Stanley Scott, who homesteaded the land, called the region Windermere after Lake Windermere in England. More settlers arrived, many of them from England. Planting citrus orchards and building the Florida Midland Railway through the region.

When Wauseon, Ohio natives Dr. J.H. Johnson and J.C. Palmer rediscovered the region in 1910, they did surveys, looked up title information, and bought every parcel of land in the ancient town as well as some adjacent acreage. This marked the start of an era of modern growth. The Windermere Improvement Company was also founded by them. Palmer and Johnson’s vision and ability to lead played a big part in the growth of the town. Soon, new people moved in and bought homesites and land for citrus orchards.

The population was 320 in 1920. Windermere became a town by incorporation in 1925. Between 1922 and 1924, the Women’s Club was established, and a clubhouse was constructed. The clubhouse was relocated to the town’s center in 1927 when it eventually became—and is still—the Town Hall.

The town has 2,855 residents overall as of the 2013 census, living in 784 households and 591 families. In order to preserve its charm and small-town atmosphere, many of the ancient sand roads in Windermere have been left unpaved. 2nd Ave. is one of the few paved streets in Windermere. According to a legend, the city of Windermere paved 2nd Avenue at the mayor’s request years ago when he lived there.

But despite its charm and history, this town is only 14 miles from downtown Orlando, 6 miles from the Florida Turnpike, 7 miles from a large mall, and 10 miles from Disney World. This puts it close to the fine dining, entertainment, and recreational opportunities that your lifestyle demands.