Welcome to Lady Lake, the Jewel of Central Florida

A community whose lifestyle is as gentle as its name, with its spacious countryside and lakes, Lady Lake is also the setting for one of the largest retirement developments in Florida, The Villages. Newcomers find the southern hospitality and peaceful surroundings very attractive. Nestled in north Lake County, Lady Lake truly exhibits the flavor of hometown America and a proud heritage.

At the heart of town is the landmark Heritage Park, with its charming gazebo and carpet of colorful flowers shaded by a 200-year-old oak tree. This is where the community gathers for special celebrations, or just to relax. Just a few blocks north on US 27 is the Log Cabin Park, home to the Lady Lake Area Chamber of Commerce where you can learn about the present... relive the past at the Train Depot Museum... and enjoy a picnic under the canopy of stately oaks planted by the forefathers of Lady Lake.

In 1883, workers building the Florida Southern Railroad between Ocala and Leesburg founded the town of Cooperstown, originally named after the railroad line contractor. Later, townspeople changed the name to the more picturesque Lady Lake after its largest lake which represented the body of a lady to it’s earliest residents. Lady Lake became incorporated in 1925. The town’s original wood frame school was built in 1888 and a larger elementary school came in 1928. Lady Lakes’ major growth came in the early 1980’s when Orange Blossom Gardens, now The Villages, began their retirement developments. The population grew from 1,193 in 1980 to 8,071 in 1990, currently the population is 14,228.

A five member Commission governs the Town of Lady Lake with the Town Manager serving as chief administrator. The millage rate is one of the lowest in Lake County, 2.72. The town continues to prepare for the area’s growth with the recent completion of its modern Municipal Complex on Fennell Blvd., on land donated by one of the families of early settlers to the town. Also, the complex houses police headquarters with a full 24-hour dispatcher and professional police force.

Lady Lake continues to keep up with its bustling population with additional new facilities including The Villages Elementary School of Lady Lake. Middle and high school students currently attend local schools in neighboring districts just outside Lady Lake. A stylish library was recently completed on Guava Street just next door to the Community Center and recreational and sport complex a few blocks from Log Cabin Park.