Tavares, Florida
Encyclopedia
Tavares is a city in central Florida
in the United States
. It is the county seat
of Lake County
. The population was 9,700 at the 2000 census. The Census Bureau
estimated the population in 2008 to be 13,746. It is part of the Orlando
–Kissimmee
Metropolitan Statistical Area. The name is a popular Portuguese surname and toponym.
in 1880 and named for a Portuguese
ancestor. While St. Clair-Abrams did not achieve his dream that Tavares become the state capital of Florida (Tallahassee
has held the spot since 1823), in 1887 the city was named the seat of Lake County. St. Clair-Abrams later chartered a railroad to run from Tavares to Orlando
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 7.4 square miles (19.2 km²). 7.1 square miles (18.4 km²) of it is land and 0.4 square miles (1 km²) of it (4.84%) is water.
of 2000, there were 9,700 people, 4,471 households, and 2,821 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,368.3 inhabitants per square mile (528.2/km²). There were 5,475 housing units at an average density of 772.3 per square mile (298.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 88.98% White, 7.70% African American, 0.30% Native American, 0.80% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 1.04% from other races
, and 1.10% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.46% of the population.
There were 4,471 households out of which 16.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.8% were 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 the city the population was spread out with 14.1% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 19.8% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 38.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 56 years. For every 100 females there were 92.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $31,337, and the median income for a family was $36,243. Males had a median income of $28,911 versus $20,271 for females. The per capita income
for the city 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 age 65 or over.
is a city-owned, public-use seaplane
base located on Lake Dora in Tavares.
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Lake County
Lake County, Florida
Lake County is a county located in the state of Florida, United States. As of the 2000 Census, the population was 210,528. The Census Bureau estimated the population in 2008 to be 307,243. Its county seat is Tavares...
. The population was 9,700 at the 2000 census. The Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
estimated the population in 2008 to be 13,746. It is part of the Orlando
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
–Kissimmee
Kissimmee, Florida
Kissimmee is a city in Osceola County, Florida, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 59,682. It is the county seat of Osceola County...
Metropolitan Statistical Area. The name is a popular Portuguese surname and toponym.
History
The city was founded by newspaper and railroad man Alexander St. Clair-AbramsAlexander St. Clair-Abrams
Alexander St. Clair-Abrams was a writer who owned newspapers and railroads in the Southern United States and also published under the names A.S. Abrams and A. Sinclair Abrams.-Civil War:...
in 1880 and named for a Portuguese
Portuguese people
The Portuguese are a nation and ethnic group native to the country of Portugal, in the west of the Iberian peninsula of south-west Europe. Their language is Portuguese, and Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion....
ancestor. While St. Clair-Abrams did not achieve his dream that Tavares become the state capital of Florida (Tallahassee
Tallahassee, Florida
Tallahassee is the capital of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat and only incorporated municipality in Leon County, and is the 128th largest city in the United States. Tallahassee became the capital of Florida, then the Florida Territory, in 1824. In 2010, the population recorded by...
has held the spot since 1823), in 1887 the city was named the seat of Lake County. St. Clair-Abrams later chartered a railroad to run from Tavares to Orlando
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
.
Geography
Tavares is located at 28°48′6"N 81°44′1"W (28.801670, -81.733548)According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 7.4 square miles (19.2 km²). 7.1 square miles (18.4 km²) of it is land and 0.4 square miles (1 km²) of it (4.84%) is water.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 9,700 people, 4,471 households, and 2,821 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,368.3 inhabitants per square mile (528.2/km²). There were 5,475 housing units at an average density of 772.3 per square mile (298.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 88.98% White, 7.70% African American, 0.30% Native American, 0.80% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 1.04% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.10% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.46% of the population.
There were 4,471 households out of which 16.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.8% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
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 the city the population was spread out with 14.1% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 19.8% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 38.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 56 years. For every 100 females there were 92.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $31,337, and the median income for a family was $36,243. Males had a median income of $28,911 versus $20,271 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city 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 age 65 or over.
Transportation
The Tavares Seaplane BaseTavares Seaplane Base
Tavares Seaplane Base is a city-owned, public-use seaplane base located one nautical mile southeast of the central business district of Tavares, a city in Lake County, Florida, United States.- Facilities :...
is a city-owned, public-use seaplane
Seaplane
A seaplane is a fixed-wing aircraft capable of taking off and landing on water. Seaplanes that can also take off and land on airfields are a subclass called amphibian aircraft...
base located on Lake Dora in Tavares.
Notable residents
- Allan HoltzAllan HoltzAllan Holtz is a comic strip historian who researches and writes about newspaper comics for his Stripper's Guide, launched in 2005. His research encompasses some 7,000 American comic strips and newspaper panels...
, comic strip historian - Mallory HorneMallory HorneMallory E. Horne was the Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives, and President of the Florida Senate.- Background :Horne was an United States Army Air Force pilot during World War II...
, Florida State Legislature - Fireball RobertsFireball RobertsEdward Glenn Roberts, Jr. , nicknamed "Fireball", was one of the pioneering race car drivers of NASCAR.-Background:...
, NASCARNASCARThe National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
driver - Jermaine Taylor (basketball)Jermaine Taylor (basketball)Jermaine Taylor is an American professional basketball player. Taylor was a starting guard for the University of Central Florida basketball team...
NBA player for the Houston Rockets