Editing Leesburg, Florida

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
<!--See the Table at Infobox Settlement for all fields and descriptions of usage-->
<!-- Basic info  ---------------->
 | name                     = Leesburg, Florida
 | official_name            = City of Leesburg
 | other_name               = 
 | native_name              = <!-- for cities whose native name is not in English -->
 | nickname                 = 
 | settlement_type          = [[City (Florida)|City]]
 | motto                    = "The Lakefront City"
<!-- images and maps  ----------->
 | image_skyline            = Leesburg FL city hall01.jpg
 | imagesize                = 250x200px
 | image_caption            = Leesburg City Hall
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 | image_map                = Lake County Florida Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Leesburg Highlighted.svg
 | mapsize                  = 250x200px
 | map_caption              = Location in [[Lake County, Florida|Lake County]] and the state of [[Florida]]
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<!-- Location ------------------>
 | subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
 | subdivision_name         = {{nowrap|{{flag|United States of America}}}}
 | subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
 | subdivision_name1        = {{flag|Florida}}
 | subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Florida|County]]
 | subdivision_name2        = {{flagicon image|Flag of Lake County, Florida.svg}} [[Lake County, Florida|Lake]]
 | subdivision_type3        = 
 | subdivision_name3        = 
 | subdivision_type4        = 
 | subdivision_name4        = 
<!-- Politics ----------------->
 | government_footnotes     = 
 | government_type          = [[Council-manager government|Commission–Manager]] 
 | leader_title             = [[Mayor]]
 | leader_name              = Jimmy Burry
 | leader_title1            = [[Mayor Pro Tem]]
 | leader_name1             = Jay Connell
 | leader_title2            = [[City Council|Commissioners]]
 | leader_name2             = Allyson Berry,<br>Alan Reisman, and<br>Mike Pederson
 | leader_title3            = [[City Manager]]
 | leader_name3             = Al Minner
 | leader_title4            = [[City Clerk]]
 | leader_name4             = J. Andi Purvis
 | established_title        = [[Settler colonialism|Settled (Leesburg)]]
 | established_date         = 1857<ref name=LeeInc>{{Cite web|title=HISTORY|url=https://www.leesburgflorida.gov/my_city/history.php|website=www.leesburgflorida.gov}}</ref>
 | established_title2       = <!-- Incorporated (town) -->
 | established_date2        = 
 | established_title3       = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated (city)]]
 | established_date3        = July 12, 1875<ref name=LeeInc/>
<!-- 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           = 108.61
 | area_land_km2            = 99.58
 | area_water_km2           = 9.04
 | area_total_sq_mi         = 41.94
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<!-- Population   ----------------------->
 | population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
 | population_footnotes     = 
 | population_note          = 
 | population_total         = 27000
 | population_density_km2   = 271.15
 | population_density_sq_mi = 702.27
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<!-- General information  --------------->
 | timezone                 = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
 | utc_offset               = -5
 | timezone_DST             = EDT
 | utc_offset_DST           = -4
 | coordinates              = {{coord|28|47|36|N|81|54|38|W|region:US-FL|display=inline,title}}
 | elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
 | elevation_ft             = 89
<!-- Area/postal codes & others -------->
 | postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]s
 | postal_code              = 34748, 34788
 | area_code                = [[Area code 352|352]]
 | blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
 | blank_info               = 12-39875<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              = 2404907<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2404907}}</ref>
 | website                  = {{URL|https://www.leesburgflorida.gov/}}
 | footnotes                = 
 | pop_est_as_of            = 
 | pop_est_footnotes        = 
 | population_est           = 
}}

'''Leesburg''' is a city in [[Lake County, Florida|Lake County]], [[Florida]], United States. As of 2020, the population had exactly 27,000 residents.

Leesburg is in central Florida, between [[Lake Harris (Florida)|Lake Harris]] and Lake Griffin, at the head of the [[Ocklawaha River]]. It is part of the [[Greater Orlando|Orlando&ndash;Kissimmee&ndash;Sanford Metropolitan Statistical Area]].

[[Lake–Sumter State College]] and [[Beacon College]] are located in Leesburg.

==History==

Leesburg was first settled in 1857 by Evander McIver Lee and Susannah Lee.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Fahs |first=Glorianne Seymour |title=Leesburg |last2=Grenier |first2=Bob |date=2013 |publisher=Arcadia Publishing |isbn=978-0-7385-9079-0 |series=Images of America |location=Charleston, South Carolina}}</ref><ref name=LeeInc/> Shortly after Evander purchased his first property in the area, his brother Josiah joined him, purchasing land near Montclair Road. Several of his brothers followed him to the area. One of them, John <ref name=":1" /> Calvin Lee, was credited with giving the town its name. The city was incorporated in 1875, and was designated as the county seat of [[Sumter County, Florida|Sumter County]] for a time. When [[Lake County, Florida|Lake County]] was formed in 1887, Tavares was designated as its seat. It was officially incorporated as the "City of Leesburg" on July 12, 1875.<ref name=LeeInc/>

In the early 20th century, Leesburg was an important center for [[watermelon]] production. In 1930, it held its first Watermelon Festival, an annual tradition that lasted for nearly 30 years. But gradually watermelon production dwindled and, for the last festival in 1957, watermelons had to be brought to the city from outside the area.

[[Image:Motemorris02.jpg|thumb|left|Mote-Morris House]]
In 1938, during the [[Great Depression]], the [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] administration invested in infrastructure and improvement projects across the county. Its [[Works Progress Administration]] began work on the Venetian Gardens waterside park, located on the shores of Lake Harris. These canals and gardens have been a centerpiece of the community ever since.

[[Lake Square Mall]], the city's major shopping mall, opened in 1980.

On March 19, 1982, [[Ozzy Osbourne]]'s guitarist [[Randy Rhoads]], as well as the band's makeup artist and bus driver, were killed in a plane crash at Flying Baron Estates.<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 19, 2011 |title=This Day in Music Spotlight: The Final Flight of Randy Rhoads |url=http://www.gibson.com/News-Lifestyle/Features/en-us/spotlight-0319-2011.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180714081636/http://www.gibson.com/News-Lifestyle/Features/en-us/spotlight-0319-2011.aspx |archive-date=2018-07-14}}</ref>

The [[citrus]] industry was the principal business in this area for decades, but devastating freezes in December 1983 and February 1985 persuaded growers to move their groves further south. In 1997, Leesburg Bikefest started. It has since become an annual spring tradition, with upwards of 250,000 people attending every year.

Today, most of Leesburg's growth and economic development is the result of its increasing popularity as a retirement destination. In addition, the rapid growth of nearby [[Orlando, Florida|Orlando]] has resulted in demand for housing here, as many people commute to Orlando for work. In 1977, 2011, 2016 and 2017, the [[Leesburg High School (Leesburg, Florida)|Leesburg High School]] boys' basketball team won the FHSAA Class 4A State Championship, with the back to back 16/17 championships happening under head coach Sean Campbell.

In spring 2017, the Holding Company of [[the Villages]] planned to acquire 2,600 acres north and south of County Road 470 along the east side of [[Florida’s Turnpike]] for future development. The deal with the mega-retirement community has passed [[due diligence]] by the Leesburg City Commission. Age-restricted zoning ordinance changes have already been approved by the Leesburg Planning Commission (with the city commission giving final approval).<ref>{{cite news |last= Corder |first=David R. |url=http://www.thevillagesdailysun.com/news/villages/villages-expansion-plans-energize-sumter-economy/article_e142e4b6-ed1e-11e7-b473-efc2331776d7.html |title=Villages Expansion Plans Energize Sumter Economy |work=The Villages Daily Sun |date=2017-12-30 |access-date=2017-12-30 }}</ref> The initial plans call for building approximately 4,500 homes and some [[commercial development]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Stanfield |first=Frank |url=http://www.dailycommercial.com/news/20180118/villages-expansion-deal-nears-completion |title=The Villages expansion deal nears completion |work=[[Daily Commercial]] |date=2018-01-18 |access-date=2018-01-19 }}</ref>

==Geography==
The approximate coordinates for the City of Lessburg is located at {{coord|28|47|36|N|81|54|38|W|}}. According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|24.4|sqmi|km2}}, of which {{convert|18.7|sqmi|km2}} is land and {{convert|5.8|sqmi|km2}} (23.65%) is water.

Leesburg is located 44.5 miles NNW of [[Orlando, Florida|Orlando]], 270 miles N of [[Miami, Florida|Miami]], and 221 miles SW of [[Tallahassee, Florida|Tallahassee]], the state capital.

Several major highways pass through Leesburg, including [[U.S. Route 27 (Florida)|U.S. Highway 27]], [[U.S. Route 441 (Florida)|U.S. Highway 441]] and [[Florida State Road 44|S.R. 44]]. [[Florida's Turnpike]] passes just to the south and west of Leesburg. Leesburg was on the western leg of the [[Dixie Highway]].

===Climate===
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild winters. According to the [[Köppen climate classification]], the City of Leesburg has a [[humid subtropical climate]] zone (''Cfa'').

{{Weather box|width=auto
|location = Leesburg, Florida ([[Leesburg International Airport]]), 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1958&ndash;present
|single line = Y

|Jan record high F = 86
|Feb record high F = 89
|Mar record high F = 92
|Apr record high F = 95
|May record high F = 99
|Jun record high F = 100
|Jul record high F = 100
|Aug record high F = 101
|Sep record high F = 100
|Oct record high F = 97
|Nov record high F = 90
|Dec record high F = 87

|Jan avg record high F = 81.5
|Feb avg record high F = 84.3
|Mar avg record high F = 86.5
|Apr avg record high F = 89.7
|May avg record high F = 94.3
|Jun avg record high F = 96.2
|Jul avg record high F = 96.4
|Aug avg record high F = 96.0
|Sep avg record high F = 94.4
|Oct avg record high F = 90.7
|Nov avg record high F = 85.7
|Dec avg record high F = 82.4
|year avg record high F = 97.8

| Jan high F = 69.9
| Feb high F = 73.3
| Mar high F = 77.3
| Apr high F = 82.7
| May high F = 88.1
| Jun high F = 90.7
| Jul high F = 91.1
| Aug high F = 91.7
| Sep high F = 89.7
| Oct high F = 84.5
| Nov high F = 77.3
| Dec high F = 72.4
|year high F = 82.4
|Jan mean F = 59.4
|Feb mean F = 62.6
|Mar mean F = 66.6
|Apr mean F = 72.2
|May mean F = 77.9
|Jun mean F = 81.9
|Jul mean F = 83.0
|Aug mean F = 83.3
|Sep mean F = 81.4
|Oct mean F = 75.3
|Nov mean F = 67.2
|Dec mean F = 62.2
|year mean F = 72.8
| Jan low F = 48.9
| Feb low F = 52.0
| Mar low F = 56.0
| Apr low F = 61.7
| May low F = 67.7
| Jun low F = 73.1
| Jul low F = 74.9
| Aug low F = 75.0
| Sep low F = 73.1
| Oct low F = 66.1
| Nov low F = 57.1
| Dec low F = 52.0
|year low F = 63.1

|Jan avg record low F = 31.4
|Feb avg record low F = 35.2
|Mar avg record low F = 39.7
|Apr avg record low F = 48.3
|May avg record low F = 57.7
|Jun avg record low F = 67.3
|Jul avg record low F = 70.6
|Aug avg record low F = 71.3
|Sep avg record low F = 66.2
|Oct avg record low F = 51.9
|Nov avg record low F = 41.6
|Dec avg record low F = 35.9
|year avg record low F = 29.8

|Jan record low F = 16
|Feb record low F = 23
|Mar record low F = 25
|Apr record low F = 32
|May record low F = 46
|Jun record low F = 53
|Jul record low F = 62
|Aug record low F = 62
|Sep record low F = 52
|Oct record low F = 39
|Nov record low F = 24
|Dec record low F = 16

|precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation inch = 2.51
| Feb precipitation inch = 2.08
| Mar precipitation inch = 3.22
| Apr precipitation inch = 2.04
| May precipitation inch = 2.68
| Jun precipitation inch = 6.98
| Jul precipitation inch = 5.88
| Aug precipitation inch = 6.63
| Sep precipitation inch = 5.21
| Oct precipitation inch = 2.62
| Nov precipitation inch = 1.76
| Dec precipitation inch = 2.17
|year precipitation inch = 43.78
| unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
| Jan precipitation days = 8.6
| Feb precipitation days = 7.6
| Mar precipitation days = 6.8
| Apr precipitation days = 6.2
| May precipitation days = 6.7
| Jun precipitation days = 15.2
| Jul precipitation days = 16.9
| Aug precipitation days = 16.6
| Sep precipitation days = 13.5
| Oct precipitation days = 7.7
| Nov precipitation days = 7.5
| Dec precipitation days = 8.4
| year precipitation days = 121.7
|Jan snow inch =
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|unit snow days = 0.1 in
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|source 1 = NOAA<ref>{{cite web
| url = https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=mlb
| title = NOWData - NOAA Online Weather Data
| publisher = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]
| accessdate = May 28, 2021
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
| url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USW00012819&format=pdf
| title = Summary of Monthly Normals 1991-2020
| publisher = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]
| accessdate = May 28, 2021
}}</ref> }}

==Demographics==

{{US Census population
|1880= 200
|1890= 722
|1900= 765
|1910= 991
|1920= 1835
|1930= 4113
|1940= 4687
|1950= 7395
|1960= 11172
|1970= 11869
|1980= 13191
|1990= 14903
|2000= 15956
|2010= 20117
|2020= 27000
|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> 2020<ref name="QF2020">{{Cite web |title=2020 Census |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/leesburgcityflorida/PST045219 |website=}}</ref>
}}

===2010 and 2020 census===
{| class="wikitable"
|+'''Leesburg 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) - Leesburg city, Florida|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Leesburg+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) - Leesburg city, Florida|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Leesburg+city;+Florida+&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!% 2010
!% 2020
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] (NH)
|11,917
|13,978
|59.24%
|51.77%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] (NH)
|5,560
|6,811
|27.64%
|25.23%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] (NH)
|55
|63
|0.27%
|0.23%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] (NH)
|340
|520
|1.69%
|1.93%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] or [[Native Hawaiian]] (NH)
|43
|78
|0.21%
|0.29%
|-
|[[Other races (U.S. Census)|Some other race]] (NH)
|17
|190
|0.08%
|0.70%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Two or more races/Multiracial]] (NH)
|380
|1,115
|1.89%
|4.13%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|1,805
|4,245
|8.97%
|15.72%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''20,117'''
|'''27,000'''
|
|
|-
|}

As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 27,000 people, 9,142 households, and 5,782 families residing in the city.<ref>{{Cite web|title=S1101 HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES - 2020: Leesburg city, Florida|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Leesburg+city;+Florida+&tid=ACSST5Y2020.S1101|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>

As of the [[2010 United States census]], there were 20,117 people, 8,684 households, and 5,144 families residing in the city.<ref>{{Cite web|title=S1101 HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES - 2010: Leesburg city, Florida|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Leesburg+city;+Florida+&tid=ACSST5Y2010.S1101|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 15,956 people, 6,775 households, and 4,078 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|854.8|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 7,742 housing units at an average density of {{convert|414.8|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the city was 66.60% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 29.12% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.27% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.33% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.01% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 1.26% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.41% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 4.12% of the population.

In 2000, there were 6,775 households, out of which 24.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.6% were married couples living together, 16.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.8% were non-families. 33.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.86.

In 2000, in the city, the population was spread out, with 23.5% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 22.7% from 25 to 44, 19.7% from 45 to 64, and 26.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 83.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.2 males.

In 2000, the median income for a household in the city was $25,988, and the median income for a family was $33,250. Males had a median income of $25,840 versus $20,888 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $15,762. About 16.2% of families and 19.8% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 35.3% of those under age 18 and 11.9% of those age 65 or over.

== Arts and culture ==
The Leesburg Public Library was founded in 1875.<ref name=":0" /> The library moved to the Venetian Gardens in 1953 when Leesburg established a library charter,<ref name=":0">Tolle, Lois B. (1965). ''Torch Bearers: The Story of the Leesburg Public Library.'' Leesburg, FL: Friends of the Leesburg Library Association, Inc.</ref> and in 2007, it moved to a {{convert|42000|sqft|m2|sigfig=2|adj=on}} building.<ref>Mahoney, Cathy (2007). ''Leesburg Finally Gets a New Library.'' Leesburg, FL: PowerPoint</ref> The library joined the [[Lake County Library System]] in 2002.<ref>{{Cite news |date=April 28, 2002 |title=Everybody Wins in Library Merger |work=Orlando Sentinel |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-2002-04-28-0204280026-story.html}}</ref>

The Leesburg Center for the Arts is a nonprofit founded in 2000 to provide art education and exhibitions.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.leesburgarts.com/about|title=Leesburg - Arts|website=LCFA|language=en-US|access-date=2019-12-04}}</ref>

The Leesburg African American Museum contains African-American artifacts.<ref>{{Citation |title=ONE CENTRAL FLORIDA {{!}} Small Museum, Big Story {{!}} Season 2013 {{!}} Episode 18 {{!}} PBS |url=https://www.pbs.org/video/one-small-museum-big-story/ |language=en |access-date=2022-10-14}}</ref>

The Melon Patch Players is a nonprofit theater group founded in 1951.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Melon Patch Theatre, Leesburg FL |url=https://melonpatchplayers.org/ |access-date=2022-10-14 |website=melonpatchplayers.org}}</ref>

==Sports==
===Baseball===
From 1922 to 1924, the city's [[Cooke Field]] was used by the [[Philadelphia Phillies]] for their [[spring training]] sessions.<ref>{{cite news|last=Reed|first=Rick|title=Baseball played an important role in early Leesburg|url=http://www.dailycommercial.com/lifestyles/article_6a983168-8820-5a34-8082-1a54e37c7978.html|newspaper=Daily Commercial|date=August 29, 2014|access-date=February 9, 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20150423162923/http://www.dailycommercial.com/lifestyles/article_6a983168-8820-5a34-8082-1a54e37c7978.html|archive-date=April 23, 2015}}</ref> On March 14, 1923, the stadium was used for the site of an exhibition game between the Phillies and the [[St. Louis Cardinals]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Reed|first=Rick|title=Some of baseball's best got their start in Leesburg|url=http://www.dailycommercial.com/lifestyles/article_e5c730d0-daaa-5ed5-9a92-fc89e8f88a71.html|newspaper=Daily Commercial|date=October 3, 2014|access-date=February 9, 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20150423162923/http://www.dailycommercial.com/lifestyles/article_e5c730d0-daaa-5ed5-9a92-fc89e8f88a71.html|archive-date=April 23, 2015}}</ref> In 1936, the city built the [[Ballpark at Venetian Gardens]], which was used by [[Leesburg Athletics|several minor league baseball clubs]] that played in the [[Florida State League]] from 1937 to 1968. The city won league titles in 1941 and 1946.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1949 Leesburg Dodgers Statistics |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi |access-date=2022-10-14 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> Since 2007, the city has been the home of the [[Leesburg Lightning]], a wood-bat [[collegiate summer baseball]] team in the [[Florida Collegiate Summer League]].

===Shooting exhibitions===
During the 1920s, sharpshooter [[Annie Oakley]], who had a residence in Leesburg, performed shooting exhibitions at Cooke Field, including one for the Philadelphia Phillies.<ref>{{cite book|last=Kasper|first=Shirl|title=Annie Oakley|pages=231–232|date=1992|publisher= University of Oklahoma Press|ISBN=0806124180}}</ref>

==Education==
[[File:Lhsleesburg.jpg|thumb|[[Leesburg High School (Leesburg, Florida)|Leesburg High School]]]]

===Public schools===
[[Lake County Schools]] operates public primary and secondary schools:

====Public high school====
* [[Leesburg High School (Leesburg, Florida)|Leesburg High School]]

====Public middle schools====
* Carver Middle School
* Oak Park Middle School

====Public elementary schools====
* Beverly Shores Elementary School
* Leesburg Elementary School
* Treadway Elementary School

====Other public school====
* Rimes Early Learning and Literacy Center

===Private schools===
* First Academy-Leesburg<ref>{{Cite web |title=Welcome to First Academy-Leesburg |url=https://faleesburg.com/ |access-date=2022-10-14 |website=FALeesburg.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
* Saint Paul Catholic School-Leesburg<ref>{{Cite web |title=St. Paul Catholic School {{!}} |url=http://www.saintpaulschool.com/ |access-date=2022-10-14 |language=en-US}}</ref>

===Colleges===
*[[Beacon College]]
*[[Lake–Sumter State College]]

==Infrastructure==
[[Leesburg International Airport]] is a small hub airport at the intersection of [[County Road 44 (Lake County, Florida)|CR 44]] and [[US 441]], in front of [[Lake-Sumter State College]]. It is a hub of [[JetSky]] airlines, and serves [[Lake County, Florida|Lake]], [[Sumter County, Florida|Sumter]], and [[Marion County, Florida|Marion]] Counties.

==Notable people==
* [[Abe Anellis]], a food microbiologist born in [[Mahilyow, Belarus]], retired in Leesburg in 1977
* [[Vince Fechtel Jr.]], politician
* [[Susan Harrison]], actress
* [[Virgil D. Hawkins]], African-American attorney and civil rights activist
* [[Syd Herlong]], politician
* [[Jonathan Hay (Producer)|Jonathan Hay]], music producer, publicist
* [[Dan Hinote]], [[St. Louis Blues]] [[Centre (ice hockey)|center]], born in Leesburg
* [[Bill McBride (politician)|Bill McBride]], former candidate for Florida governor, husband of former Florida CFO [[Alex Sink]], grew up in Leesburg
* [[David McCheyne Newell]], author, journalist
* [[Ginger Minj]] (Joshua Allen Eads), drag queen, three-time contestant on ''[[RuPaul's Drag Race]]''
* [[George Stephen Morrison]], raised in Leesburg, father of [[Jim Morrison]] of [[The Doors]]
* [[Red Robbins|Austin "Red" Robbins]], [[American Basketball Association|ABA]] player, born in Leesburg
* [[Brady Singer]], professional baseball pitcher for the [[Kansas City Royals]]
* [[Robert S. Singleton|Robert S Singleton]], American engineer and scientist, graduated from Leesburg High School
* [[Johnny Thunder (singer)|Johnny Thunder]], singer
* [[Lillian Vickers-Smith]], first female newspaper sports editor and writer for the Leesburg Commercial

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{Official website|http://www.leesburgflorida.gov/}}

{{Lake County, Florida}}
{{Metro Orlando}}
{{Florida}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Leesburg, Florida| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Lake County, Florida]]
[[Category:Cities in the Greater Orlando]]
[[Category:Cities in Florida]]
[[Category:Former county seats in Florida]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1857]]
[[Category:1857 establishments in Florida]]