Editing Tavares, Florida

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
<!-- Basic info  ---------------->
|name                     = Tavares
|official_name            = 
|other_name               = 
|native_name              = <!-- for cities whose native name is not in English -->
|nickname                 = "America's Seaplane City!" 
|settlement_type          = [[City]]
|motto                    = 
<!-- images and maps  ----------->
|image_skyline            = Lakectych-Tavares01.jpg
|imagesize                = 250x200px
|image_caption            = The [[Old Lake County Courthouse (Florida)|Old Lake County Courthouse]] in March 2007
|image_flag               = 
|flag_size                = 
|image_seal               = 
|seal_size                = 
|image_shield             = 
|shield_size              = 
|image_blank_emblem       = Tavares Logo CMYK.png
|blank_emblem_type        = 
|blank_emblem_size        = 250x200px
|image_map                = Lake_County_Florida_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Tavares_Highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 250x200px
|map_caption              = Location in [[Lake County, Florida|Lake County]] and the state of [[Florida]]
|image_map1               = 
|mapsize1                 = 
|map_caption1             =  
|pushpin_map              = Florida#USA <!-- the name of a location map as per http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Location_map -->
|pushpin_label            = Tavares
|pushpin_label_position   = <!-- the position of the pushpin label: left, right, top, bottom, none -->
|pushpin_map_caption      = Location in Florida##Location in the United States
|pushpin_mapsize          = <!-- 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          = 
|leader_title             = 
|leader_name              = 
|leader_title1            = <!-- for places with, say, both a mayor and a city manager -->
|leader_name1             = 
|leader_title2            = 
|leader_name2             = 
|leader_title3            = 
|leader_name3             = 
|leader_title4            = 
|leader_name4             = 
|established_title        = <!-- Settled -->
|established_date         = 
|established_title2       = <!-- Incorporated (town) -->
|established_date2        = 
|established_title3       = Incorporated
|established_date3        = 1880
<!-- 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=December 2, 2021}}</ref>
|area_total_km2           = 36.17
|area_land_km2            = 32.03
|area_water_km2           = 4.14
|area_total_sq_mi         = 13.96
|area_land_sq_mi          = 12.37
|area_water_sq_mi         = 1.60
|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         = 19003
|population_est           = 
|pop_est_as_of            = 
|population_density_km2   = 593.34
<!-- 2018 est. -->
|population_density_sq_mi = 1536.71
|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|28|47|47|N|81|43|26|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
|elevation_ft             = 118
<!-- Area/postal codes & others -------->
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 32778
|area_code                = [[Area code 352|352]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 12-71225<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              = 2405571<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2405571}}</ref>
|website                  = {{URL|www.tavares.org}}
|footnotes                = 
|pop_est_footnotes = 
}}

'''Tavares''' ({{IPAc-en|t|ʌ|v|ˈ|ɛ|ə|ɹ|i|z|}}, {{respell|tuh|VAIR|ees}}) is a city and the [[county seat]] of [[Lake County, Florida]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=2011-06-07|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> The population at the 2020 census was 19,003,<ref name="Census 2010">{{cite web|date=April 1, 2020|title=Tavares city, Florida|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/tavarescityflorida/PST045219|access-date=October 9, 2021|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau}}</ref> and in 2019 the population was estimated to be 17,749.<ref name="USCensusEst2019">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.2019.html|title=Population and Housing Unit Estimates|access-date=May 21, 2020}}</ref> It is part of the [[Greater Orlando|Orlando&ndash;Kissimmee&ndash;Sanford Metropolitan Statistical Area]].

==History==
[[File:Tavares FL Union Congreg Church spano01.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Union Congregational Church in Tavares.]] 
Organized in 1885, and completed in 1888 on land donated by St. Clair-Abrams, the [[Union Congregational Church (Tavares, Florida)|Union Congregational Church]] was the first church in Tavares.

Tavares was founded in 1880 by [[Alexander St. Clair Abrams|Alexander St. Clair-Abrams]], a newspaper and railroad man from a [[Creole peoples|Creole]] family in [[New Orleans]]{{Citation needed|date=November 2022}} . He gave it the surname of a [[Portuguese people|Portuguese]] ancestor. In 1883 a post office was established; by the next year, a hotel, three stores, a sawmill, and eight cottages were built.<ref>{{cite news |title = History of Tavares Includes Explorers, Developers |url = https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2000/03/01/history-of-tavares-includes-explorers-developers/|newspaper=Orlando Sentinel |date=1 March 2000 |access-date = 15 September 2015}}</ref> Investing over half a million dollars of his own money.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Grenier |first=Bob |title=Tavares |date=2011 |publisher=Arcadia Pub |isbn=978-0-7385-9107-0 |series=Images of America |location=Charleston, S.C}}</ref> St. Clair-Abrams's dream of Tavares as the state capital was not realized, but in 1887 it was designated the county seat of Lake County. St. Clair-Abrams later chartered a railroad from Tavares to [[Orlando, Florida|Orlando]]. In 1919, Tavares incorporated as a town.

=== Groveland Four ===
{{Main|Groveland Four}}
In 1949, the [[Groveland Four]], were wrongly accused of raping a white woman in 1949.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Accused Of Florida Rape 70 Years Ago, 4 Black Men Get Posthumous Pardons|url=https://www.npr.org/2019/01/11/684540515/accused-of-florida-rape-70-years-ago-4-black-men-get-posthumous-pardons|access-date=2021-06-21|website=NPR.org|language=en}}</ref> One was killed after fleeing, and three were convicted at trial in Tavares. The two adults were sentenced to death and the minor to life in prison. The [[Supreme Court of the United States]] overturned the verdict and ordered a new trial for the two capital defendants. One was killed while being transported to Tavares in 1951. Walter Irvin survived the shooting by the sheriff and was convicted again at trial.<ref>{{Cite web|title=PBS - Freedom Never Dies: The Story of Harry T. Moore - Florida Terror - Groveland - Introduction|url=https://www.pbs.org/harrymoore/terror/groveland.html|access-date=2021-06-21|website=www.pbs.org}}</ref> In 1955, his death sentence was commuted to life. He was paroled in 1968 and died in 1970. In 2016, the city of Groveland and Lake County formally apologized to families of all the men for injustice; in 2017, the Florida Legislature issued a formal apology and exonerated the men, calling on the governor to officially pardon them.<ref>{{Cite web|title='It's all or nothing': Families of 4 black men accused of 1949 rape ask for exoneration|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/groveland-four-black-men-pardoned-after-1949-rape-accusation-honored-n1140556|access-date=2021-06-21|website=NBC News|language=en}}</ref>

==Geography==

Tavares is at {{Coord|28|48|6|N|81|44|1|W|type:city}} (28.801670, –81.733548).<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> It sits on an [[isthmus]] between [[Lake Eustis]] to the north and [[Lake Dora (Florida)|Lake Dora]] to the south. The city of [[Eustis, Florida|Eustis]] borders Tavares to the northeast, and [[Lake Harris (Florida)|Lake Harris]] is to the west.

[[U.S. Route 441]] passes through the north side of Tavares, leading east {{convert|6|mi|0}} to [[Mount Dora, Florida|Mount Dora]] and west {{convert|10|mi|0}} to [[Leesburg, Florida|Leesburg]]. [[Florida State Road 19]] joins US 441 through part of Tavares, but leads northeast {{convert|5|mi|0}} to Eustis and southwest {{convert|14|mi}} to [[Florida's Turnpike]] in the outskirts of [[Groveland, Florida|Groveland]]. Tavares is {{convert|32|mi}} northwest of [[Orlando, Florida|Orlando]] and {{convert|43|mi}} southeast of [[Ocala, Florida|Ocala]].

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], Tavares has a total area of {{convert|35.6|km2|order=flip}}; of this, {{convert|31.5|km2|order=flip}} are land and {{convert|4.1|km2|order=flip}}, or 11.62%, are water.<ref name=Gazetteer>{{cite web| url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_place_12.txt| title=U.S. Gazetteer Files: 2019: Places: Florida| website=U.S. Census Bureau Geography Division| access-date=November 8, 2019}}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1900= 113
|1910= 175
|1920= 359
|1930= 1090
|1940= 1119
|1950= 1763
|1960= 2724
|1970= 3261
|1980= 4398
|1990= 7383
|2000= 9700
|2010= 13951
|2020= 19003
|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"
|+'''Tavares 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) - Tavares city, Florida|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Tavares+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) - Tavares city, Florida|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Tavares+city;+Florida+&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!% 2010
!% 2020
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] (NH)
|11,047
|12,932
|79.18%
|68.05%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] (NH)
|1,349
|2,304
|9.67%
|12.12%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] (NH)
|48
|56
|0.34%
|0.29%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] (NH)
|235
|725
|1.68%
|3.82%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] or [[Native Hawaiian]] (NH)
|7
|7
|0.05%
|0.04%
|-
|[[Other races (U.S. Census)|Some other race]] (NH)
|22
|103
|0.16%
|0.54%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Two or more races/Multiracial]] (NH)
|160
|653
|1.15%
|3.44%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|1,083
|2,223
|7.76%
|11.70%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''13,951'''
|'''19,003'''
|
|
|-
|}

As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 19,003 people, 7,610 households, and 4,337 families residing in the city.<ref>{{Cite web|title=S1101 HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES - 2020: Tavares city, Florida|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Tavares+city;+Florida+&tid=ACSST5Y2020.S1101|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>

As of the [[2010 United States census]], there were 13,951 people, 6,070 households, and 3,749 families residing in the city.<ref>{{Cite web|title=S1101 HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES - 2010: Tavares city, Florida|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Tavares+city;+Florida+&tid=ACSST5Y2010.S1101|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 9,700 people, 4,471 households, and 2,821 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|1,368.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 5,475 housing units at an average density of {{convert|772.3|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The city's racial makeup was 88.98% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 7.70% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.30% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.80% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.07% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 1.04% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.10% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 3.46% of the population.

In 2000, there were 4,471 households, of which 16.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.8% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.9% were non-families. 33.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 21.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.01 and the average family size was 2.48.

In 2000, in the city, 14.1% of the population was under the age of 18, 5.8% between 18 and 24, 19.8% between 25 and 44, 22.2% between 45 and 64, and 38.0% over 64. The median age was 56. For every 100 females, there were 92.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.9 males.

In 2000, the median household income was $31,337, and the median family income $36,243. Males had a median income of $28,911 versus $20,271 for females. The [[per capita income]] was $19,942. About 6.6% of families and 10.3% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 18.2% of those under age 18 and 6.9% of those 65 or older.

==Libraries==
*Tavares Public Library
*The [[Lake County Library System]] is headquartered in Tavares.

== Transportation ==
The [[Tavares Seaplane Base]]<ref>{{cite web | url = http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2008-11-22/news/ltavares22_1_seaplane-tavares-wooton-park | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100428090528/http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2008-11-22/news/ltavares22_1_seaplane-tavares-wooton-park | url-status = dead | archive-date = April 28, 2010 | title = Tavares keeps it simple in naming seaplane base | author = Show, Christine | work = Orlando Sentinel | date = November 22, 2008}}</ref> is a city-owned, public-use [[seaplane]] base on [[Lake Dora (Florida)|Lake Dora]] in Tavares.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.tavares.org/index.aspx?NID=899 | title = Tavares Seaplane Base & Marina | publisher = City of Tavares | access-date = 16 June 2010}}</ref> The base is popular and gives rise to the city's nickname, "America's Seaplane City".

{{Wide image|Tavares Marina.JPG|800px|Panorama of the Tavares Seaplane Base and Marina on Lake Dora}}

The LakeXpress is Lake County's public transportation and has been active since May 2007. It is a fixed-route transportation service that runs every hour from Lady Lake to Mount Dora with circulator routes in [[Leesburg, Florida|Leesburg]] and [[Mount Dora, Florida|Mount Dora]].<ref>{{Cite web|title = LakeXpress - Lake County's Fixed-Route Public Transportation Service|url = http://www.ridelakexpress.com/|website = www.ridelakexpress.com|access-date = 2015-11-20}}</ref>

==Notable people==
*[[Alfred St. Clair-Abrams]], politician
*[[Alexander St. Clair Abrams]], politician and town's founder
* [[Melton Haynes]], early settler
* [[Mallory Horne]], member of the [[Florida Legislature]]
* [[Fireball Roberts]], NASCAR driver
* [[Jermaine Taylor (basketball)|Jermaine Taylor]], NBA player
*[[ Rob Grill ]] Lead singer of the Grass Roots rock band.

== Gallery ==
<gallery class="center">
Image:Night photo of ALS Restaurant on the water in the City of Tavares.jpg|ALS Restaurant
Image:City_of_Tavares_Dock.jpg|Dock
Image:Dora Canal.JPG|Dora Canal
Image:TE&G - Tavares Station.jpg|[[Tavares, Eustis & Gulf Railroad#Orlando & Northwestern Railway|Royal Palm Railway Experience]] Station
Image:Marine_unit.JPG|Police boat
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{Official website}}
* [https://www.mylakelibrary.org/libraries/tavares_public_library.aspx/ Tavares Public Library]
* [http://www.visittavares.com VisitTavares.com]
{{Portal bar|North America|United States|Florida|Cities}}
{{Lake County, Florida}}
{{Metro Orlando}}
{{Florida}}
{{Florida county seats}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:1880 establishments in Florida]]
[[Category:Cities in Florida]]
[[Category:Cities in Lake County, Florida]]
[[Category:County seats in Florida]]
[[Category:Cities in the Greater Orlando]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1880]]