Editing Clewiston, Florida

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
<!--See the Table at Infobox Settlement for all fields and descriptions of usage-->
<!-- Basic info  ---------------->
| official_name            = City of Clewiston
| name                     = Clewiston, Florida
| other_name               = 
| native_name              = <!-- for cities whose native name is not in English -->
| nickname                 = 
| settlement_type          = [[City (Florida)|City]]
| motto                    = America's Sweetest Town
<!-- images and maps  ----------->
| image_skyline            = CITY LIMITS OF CLEWISTON - NARA - 544594.tif
| imagesize                = 
| image_caption            = 
| image_flag               = 
| flag_size                = 
| image_seal               = Seal of Clewiston.png
| seal_size                = 
| image_shield             = 
| shield_size              = 
| image_blank_emblem       = 
| blank_emblem_type        = 
| blank_emblem_size        = 
| image_map                = Hendry_County_Florida_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Clewiston_Highlighted.svg
| mapsize                  = 250px
| map_caption              = Location in [[Hendry County, Florida|Hendry County]] and the state of [[Florida]]
| image_map1               = 
| mapsize1                 = 
| map_caption1             = 
| image_dot_map            = 
| dot_mapsize              = 
| dot_map_caption          = 
| dot_x                    = 
| dot_y                    = 
| pushpin_map              = <!-- the name of a location map as per http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Location_map -->
| pushpin_label_position   = <!-- the position of the pushpin label: left, right, top, bottom, none -->
| pushpin_map_caption      = 
| pushpin_mapsize          = <!-- Location ------------------>
| subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name         = {{flag|United States}}
| subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1        = {{flag|Florida}}
| subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Florida|County]]
| subdivision_name2        = {{noflag|[[Hendry County, Florida|Hendry]]}}
| subdivision_type3        = 
| subdivision_name3        = 
| subdivision_type4        = 
| subdivision_name4        = <!-- Politics ----------------->
| government_footnotes     = 
| government_type          = [[Council-manager government|Commission-Manager]]
| leader_title             = [[Mayor]]
| leader_name              = James Pittman
| leader_title1            = [[Vice Mayor]]
| leader_name1             = Greg Thompson
| leader_title2            = [[City Council|Commissioners]]
| leader_name2             = Barbara Edmonds,<br>Mali Gardner, and<br>Hillary Hyslope
| leader_title3            = [[City Manager]]
| leader_name3             = Randy Martin
| leader_title4            = [[City Clerk]]
| leader_name4             = Kathy Combass
| established_title        = [[Settler colonialism|Settled]]
| established_date         = 1920
| established_title2       = <!-- Incorporated (town) -->
| established_date2        = 
| established_title3       = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
| established_date3        = 1925
<!-- Area    --------------------->
| area_magnitude           = 
| unit_pref                = Imperial
| area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_12.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=October 31, 2021}}</ref>
| area_total_km2           = 11.68
| area_land_km2            = 11.66
| area_water_km2           = 0.03
| area_total_sq_mi         = 4.51
| area_land_sq_mi          = 4.50
| area_water_sq_mi         = 0.01
| area_water_percent       = 
| area_urban_km2           = 
| area_urban_sq_mi         = 
| area_metro_km2           = 
| area_metro_sq_mi         = 
| area_blank1_title        = 
| area_blank1_km2          = 
| area_blank1_sq_mi        = <!-- Population   ----------------------->
| population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes     = 
| population_note          = 
| population_total         = 7327
| population_density_km2   = 628.54
| population_density_sq_mi = 1627.86
| population_metro         = 
| population_density_metro_km2 = 
| population_density_metro_sq_mi = 
| population_urban         = 
| population_density_urban_km2 = 
| population_density_urban_sq_mi = 
| population_blank1_title  = 
| population_blank1        = 
| population_density_blank1_km2 = 
| population_density_blank1_sq_mi = <!-- General information  --------------->
| timezone                 = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
| utc_offset               = -5
| timezone_DST             = EDT
| utc_offset_DST           = -4
| coordinates              = {{coord|26|45|N|80|56|W|region:US-FL|display=inline,title}}
| elevation_footnotes      = <!--for references: use <ref> </ref> tags-->
| elevation_m              = 5
| elevation_ft             = 16
<!-- Area/postal codes & others -------->
| postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code              = 33440
| area_code                = [[Area code 863|863]]
| blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info               = 12-13000<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=2008-01-31 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref>
| blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info              = 0280572<ref name="GR3">{{cite web|url=http://geonames.usgs.gov|access-date=2008-01-31|title=US Board on Geographic Names| publisher= [[United States Geological Survey]]|date=2007-10-25}}</ref>
| website                  = {{URL|www.clewiston-fl.gov}}
| footnotes                = 
| pop_est_as_of            = 
| pop_est_footnotes        = 
| population_est           = 
}}
'''Clewiston''' is a city in [[Hendry County, Florida]], United States. Its location is {{convert|80|mi|km}} northwest of [[Fort Lauderdale, Florida|Fort Lauderdale]] on the [[Atlantic coastal plain]]. The population was 7,327 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], up from 7,155 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city in the [[Clewiston micropolitan area]].

The city is located on the south bank of [[Lake Okeechobee]], and the [[Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail]] (LOST) passes through the edge of the city. It is home to the [[Clewiston Museum]] and the [[Dixie Crystal Theatre]]. The area has been home to [[Seminole]] tribe members and sugar plantations, with the [[Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Seminole Indian Museum]] located {{convert|32|mi|km}} south of the city.

==History==
{{More citations needed section|date=February 2024}}
[[File:Clewiston FL City Hall01.jpg|thumb|left|Clewiston City Hall]]
[[File:Clewiston ACL Depot.jpg|thumb|left|Former Clewiston railroad depot]]
The area beside [[Lake Okeechobee]] was once used as a [[fishing]] camp by the [[Seminole]] [[tribe (Native American)|tribe]]. The first permanent settlement began in 1920, when John O'Brien of [[Philadelphia]] and Alonzo Clewis (1864-1944) of [[Tampa, Florida|Tampa]] purchased a large tract of land to establish a town. They commissioned a town plan and built the [[Haines City Branch|Moore Haven & Clewiston Railway]] to connect the community to the [[Atlantic Coast Line Railroad]] at [[Moore Haven, Florida|Moore Haven]]. Incorporated as a city in 1925, Clewiston would become noted for its [[sport fishing]], particularly of [[largemouth bass]].

Large sugarcane farms were established around Lake Okeechobee. By the 1950s and 1960s, the cultivation of [[citrus]], [[vegetable]]s and [[cattle]] were also important to the economy. The [[US Sugar Corporation]], however, remained the dominant manufacturer in Clewiston, which became known as "America's Sweetest Town". On June 24, 2008, Governor [[Charlie Crist]] announced that the state of Florida had arranged to buy for $1.75 billion the company's {{convert|187000|acre|ha}}, including the [[sugar refinery|refinery]] in Clewiston.

On November 11, the plan was scaled back to $1.34 billion for {{convert|181000|acre|ha}} of [[arable land|farmland]], no longer including the mill, citrus processing facilities and other assets. This would allow the company to remain in business and leave open the possibility of preserving its 1,700 jobs. Over the next seven crop cycles, the farmland would be leased back from the state to US Sugar for $60 million. It would then be converted into [[reservoir]]s and water-filtering areas as part of the ongoing [[restoration of the Everglades]] [[ecosystem]].

==Geography==
Clewiston is located in the northeast corner of Hendry County at {{coord|26.753399|-80.933600|type:city_region:US|format=dms|display=inline}},<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2011-04-23|date=2011-02-12|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref> on the southwestern shore of [[Lake Okeechobee]]. It is part of the [[Florida Heartland]] region. To the south it borders the CDP of [[Harlem, Florida|Harlem]].

[[U.S. Route 27]] passes through the center of Clewiston, leading west then north {{convert|15|mi}} to [[Moore Haven, Florida|Moore Haven]], and southeast {{convert|16|mi}} to [[South Bay, Florida|South Bay]]. [[Florida State Road 80]] runs with US 27 through Clewiston but leads west {{convert|31|mi}} to [[LaBelle, Florida|LaBelle]], the Hendry County seat.

According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], Clewiston has a total area of {{convert|12.2|km2|order=flip}}, of which {{convert|0.07|km2|order=flip}}, or 0.54%, are water.

===Climate===
Clewiston has a [[humid subtropical climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]]: Cfa).
{{Weather box|width=auto
|location = Clewiston, Florida, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 2002&ndash;2016
|single line = Y

|Jan record high F = 89
|Feb record high F = 92
|Mar record high F = 96
|Apr record high F = 99
|May record high F = 99
|Jun record high F = 102
|Jul record high F = 100
|Aug record high F = 100
|Sep record high F = 99
|Oct record high F = 97
|Nov record high F = 93
|Dec record high F = 90

| Jan high F = 73.6
| Feb high F = 77.4
| Mar high F = 80.2
| Apr high F = 84.6
| May high F = 88.4
| Jun high F = 90.4
| Jul high F = 91.8
| Aug high F = 91.6
| Sep high F = 90.0
| Oct high F = 86.8
| Nov high F = 81.4
| Dec high F = 75.8
|year high F = 
|Jan mean F = 62.3
|Feb mean F = 65.8
|Mar mean F = 68.4
|Apr mean F = 73.2
|May mean F = 77.9
|Jun mean F = 81.1
|Jul mean F = 82.7
|Aug mean F = 82.8
|Sep mean F = 81.4
|Oct mean F = 77.2
|Nov mean F = 70.3
|Dec mean F = 64.7
|year mean F = 
| Jan low F = 51.0
| Feb low F = 54.2
| Mar low F = 56.6
| Apr low F = 61.8
| May low F = 67.4
| Jun low F = 71.9
| Jul low F = 73.5
| Aug low F = 73.9
| Sep low F = 72.9
| Oct low F = 67.6
| Nov low F = 59.2
| Dec low F = 53.7
|year low F =

|Jan record low F = 24
|Feb record low F = 28
|Mar record low F = 33
|Apr record low F = 42
|May record low F = 52
|Jun record low F = 64
|Jul record low F = 67
|Aug record low F = 69
|Sep record low F = 63
|Oct record low F = 42
|Nov record low F = 36
|Dec record low F = 28

|precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation inch = 2.06
| Feb precipitation inch = 1.77
| Mar precipitation inch = 2.27
| Apr precipitation inch = 2.38
| May precipitation inch = 4.29
| Jun precipitation inch = 7.21
| Jul precipitation inch = 7.27
| Aug precipitation inch = 7.88
| Sep precipitation inch = 6.20
| Oct precipitation inch = 2.10
| Nov precipitation inch = 1.05
| Dec precipitation inch = 1.74
|year precipitation inch = 
| unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
| Jan precipitation days = 3.3
| Feb precipitation days = 4.0
| Mar precipitation days = 4.5
| Apr precipitation days = 4.6
| May precipitation days = 6.5
| Jun precipitation days = 12.9
| Jul precipitation days = 14.0
| Aug precipitation days = 15.1
| Sep precipitation days = 12.7
| Oct precipitation days = 5.2
| Nov precipitation days = 3.9
| Dec precipitation days = 4.4
| year precipitation days = 
|Jan snow inch =
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|unit snow days = 0.1 in
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|source 1 = NOAA<ref name = NOAA>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00081651&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|title = U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Clewiston #2, FL
|access-date = May 6, 2023
}}
</ref>
|source 2 = XMACIS2<ref name = XMACIS2>
{{cite web
|url = https://xmacis.rcc-acis.org/
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|title = xmACIS2
|access-date = May 6, 2023
}}
</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1940= 1338
|1950= 2499
|1960= 3114
|1970= 3896
|1980= 5219
|1990= 6085
|2000= 6460
|2010= 7155
|2020= 7327
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}

===2010 and 2020 census===
{| class="wikitable"
|+'''Clewiston racial composition'''<br> (Hispanics excluded from racial categories)<br> (''NH = Non-Hispanic'')<br>
!Race
!Pop 2010<ref>{{Cite web|title=P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Clewiston city, Florida|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Clewiston+city;+Florida+&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!Pop 2020<ref>{{Cite web|title=P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Clewiston city, Florida|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Clewiston+city;+Florida+&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!% 2010
!% 2020
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] (NH)
|2,517
|2,259
|35.18%
|30.83%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] (NH)
|873
|970
|12.20%
|13.24%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] (NH)
|51
|20
|0.71%
|0.27%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] (NH)
|160
|210
|2.24%
|2.87%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] or [[Native Hawaiian]] (NH)
|2
|1
|0.03%
|0.01%
|-
|[[Other races (U.S. Census)|Some other race]] (NH)
|16
|24
|0.22%
|0.33%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Two or more races/Multiracial]] (NH)
|50
|104
|0.70%
|1.42%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|3,486
|3,739
|48.72%
|51.03%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''7,155'''
|'''7,327'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|-
|}

As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 7,327 people, 2,532 households, and 1,921 families residing in the city.<ref>{{Cite web|title=S1101 HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES - 2020: Clewiston city, Florida|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Clewiston+city;+Florida+&tid=ACSST5Y2020.S1101|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>

As of the [[2010 United States census]], there were 7,155 people, 2,269 households, and 1,643 families residing in the city.<ref>{{Cite web|title=S1101 HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES - 2010: Clewiston city, Florida|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Clewiston+city;+Florida+&tid=ACSST5Y2010.S1101|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=2008-01-31 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> of 2000, there were 6,460 people, 2,174 households, and 1,632 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|1,381.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 2,434 housing units at an average density of {{convert|520.3|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 75.79% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 10.93% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.39% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.18% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 9.64% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 2.07% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 40.94% of the population.

In 2000, there were 2,174 households, out of which 39.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.9% were married couples living together, 12.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.9% were non-families. 18.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.93 and the average family size was 3.32.

In 2000, in the city, the population was spread out, with 29.7% under the age of 18, 10.3% from 18 to 24, 28.3% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 10.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 103.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 104.4 males.

In 2000, the median income for a household in the city was $37,143, and the median income for a family was $38,652. Males had a median income of $31,139 versus $21,049 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $15,527. About 14.8% of families and 18.8% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 25.9% of those under age 18 and 7.1% of those age 65 or over.

==Education==
The following are public schools located in the area, operated by Hendry County Schools:
*Eastside Elementary
*Westside Elementary
*Central Elementary
*Clewiston Middle School
*[[Clewiston High School]]

Private school:
*Clewiston Christian School

Native American School:
*There is a tribal school affiliated with the [[Bureau of Indian Education]], [[Ahfachkee School]], that has a Clewiston postal address but is outside the city limits, on the [[Big Cypress Reservation]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bie.edu/schools/directory/ahfachkee-school|title=Ahfachkee Day School|publisher=[[Bureau of Indian Education]]|accessdate=2021-08-05|quote=30290 Josie Billie Hwy PMB 1005, Clewiston, FL, 33440}}</ref>

===Libraries===
The Hendry County Library Cooperative in Florida includes the Clewiston Library, Barron Library (located in [[LaBelle, Florida|LaBelle]], the county seat) and the Harlem Library.

All three libraries provide Hendry County residents with materials and general information, and each library has a secondary individualized area of focus.  The Clewiston Library has a Florida room to house historical reference material and books pertinent to local and state history.  The Harlem Community Library is located in a former school building which also houses the Harlem Academy daycare center and its specialty is a growing African American collection. The Barron Library collects genealogical materials.

The Clewiston Library also recently sought and received an [[LSTA]] grant to digitize their local newspaper, ''[[The Clewiston News]]'' and have the digital versions added to the free, open access [[Florida Digital Newspaper Library]].

==Sites of interest==
* [[Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Seminole Indian Museum]], {{convert|32|mi|km}} south of Clewiston in the [[Big Cypress Indian Reservation]]
* [https://billieswamp.com/ Billie Swamp Safari]
* [[Clewiston Inn]]
* [[Clewiston Museum]]
* [[Dixie Crystal Theatre]]
* [[Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail]] (LOST)
* [[Tony's Mound]]
* [[U.S. Sugar|U.S. Sugar Headquarters & Factory]]

==Notable people==
* [[Archie Boston Jr.]], graphic artist and retired professor.
* [[Steffon Bradford]], professional basketball player
* [[Hayward H. Davis]], former member of [[Florida Senate]]
* [[Randy Dixon]], former [[National Football League|NFL]] football player
* [[Titus Dixon]], former NFL football player
* [[Reggie Freeman (American football)|Reggie Freeman]], former NFL football player
* [[Glenn Glass]], former NFL football player
* [[Eric Green (cornerback)|Eric Green]], former NFL football player
* [[Deon Humphrey]], former NFL football player
* [[Goodwin Liu]], associate justice of the [[Supreme Court of California]]
* [[Alfonso Marshall]], former NFL football player
* [[Roland Martin (fisherman)|Roland Martin]], professional [[fisherman]]
* [[Anthony Midget]], NFL coach and former NFL football player
* [[Dan Miller (American football)|Dan Miller]], former NFL football player
* [[Quorey Payne]], former professional [[Arena football]] player
* [[Junior Tucker]], singer

==See also==
*[[Executive House]]

==References==
<references />
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20071014041010/http://clewiston.org/city.htm History of Clewiston, Florida]

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* [http://www.clewiston-fl.gov/ City of Clewiston official website]
* [http://www.hendrylibraries.org/clewiston.htm Clewiston Public Library]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20180125103047/http://www.clewiston.org/ Clewiston Chamber of Commerce]

{{Hendry County, Florida}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Hendry County, Florida]]
[[Category:Micropolitan areas of Florida]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1920]]
[[Category:Cities in Florida]]
[[Category:Populated places on Lake Okeechobee]]